The Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights (Cenidh) condemned the “illegal hearing” against Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, Bishop of Matagalpa and administrator of the Diocese of Estelí, whom the Ortega Prosecutor’s Office accuses of alleged crimes of conspiracy to undermine National Integrity and spread of fake news.
Through your account Twitter, the organization also denounced that in the images disseminated by the official media it is possible to observe the physical deterioration of the head of the Nicaraguan Catholic Church. Monsignor Álvarez looks pale and underweight.
The Judiciary, controlled by the ruling party, formalized the accusation against the bishop on Tuesday. In the same case, the dictatorship accused Father Uriel Vallejos, parish priest of the Divine Mercy Church, located in Sébaco.
Related news: Bishop Álvarez was taken from the house of his relatives and taken to another one administered by the regime
According to the official communication, Monsignor Álvarez was placed under house arrest and against Father Vallejos they ordered his capture and circulated through interpol.
Faced with this situation, Cenidh urged the leaders of the Catholic Church, especially Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes, “to express their position regarding these criminal acts of the regime.”
In addition, “we demand the immediate release of Monsignor Rolando Álvarez, his life is at risk, we call all DD protection agencies. HHI and the international community to raise their demands and use all their efforts. No more persecution against the Catholic Church.
Monsignor Rolando Álvarez was taken by force at dawn on Friday, August 19, by police officers from the provincial episcopal palace together with four priests, two seminarians and a cameraman, after having been confined for 15 days.
The Police at the service of the dictatorship accused the high official at that time of trying to “organize violent groups”, supposedly “with the purpose of destabilizing the State of Nicaragua and attacking the constitutional authorities.”
