The Center for Inter-American Legal Assistance in Human Rights (Calidh) affirms that it is closely following and with “concern” the process against the bishop of Matagalpa, Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, classifying the cause as “arbitrary” for lacking legal guarantees that correspond to him. to the religious leader.
“The process opened against Bishop Álvarez is arbitrary and violates the international human rights commitments assumed by the State of Nicaragua. It lacks the guarantees, which do not need to be written in any law because they are part of unchangeable international law. Rights such as being immediately brought before the judicial authority, the right to be released in the absence of an accusation within a reasonable time, the right to defense, to be protected by judicial authorities in the face of manifest arbitrariness were violated before this began. process against him”, highlights the international organization.
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They add that they are concerned that, “without there being any well-founded reason for the monsignor to flee or obstruct the process, in accordance with the Nicaraguan criminal procedure law, he will not be allowed the precautionary measure of release, despite his health condition. This shows that the judicial authorities deny Álvarez the humanitarian purpose of the criminal process in Nicaragua. Any deterioration in the bishop’s health is the responsibility of the State.
Calidh denounces that the criminal process followed against the bishop of Matagalpa is part of the systematic pattern of attacks against religious freedom, association and expression of the Catholic Church in Nicaragua as a whole and of certain clergymen in particular. “The State has defamed, criminalized, and forced religious and secular people into exile in order to silence and punish voices like Álvarez’s,” he asserted.
Some 15 priests, lay people, seminarians, journalists from Diocese Media and Bishop Rolando Álvarez are part of the more than 230 political prisoners of the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo. Most are accused of crimes under the Law of Sovereignty and the Special Law on Cybercrimes, two legal instruments invented to imprison opponents and religious.
“Religious freedom is not limited to a clergyman performing the duties of his rite, but rather encompasses his right to express his opinion regarding the social, political and economic situation of the country. Silencing them constitutes improper attacks and persecution against a religious group that are not acceptable under any circumstances. Attacks against religious groups are sanctioned by International Criminal Law, “says the organization.
Álvarez Lagos, 56, is the first bishop arrested and accused since Ortega returned to power in Nicaragua in 2007. The hierarch, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa, apostolic administrator of the diocese of Estelí, both in northern Nicaragua, He was abducted at dawn on Friday, August 19, by police officers from the provincial episcopal palace along with four priests, two seminarians and a cameraman, after having been confined for 15 days.
