Nicaragua: Ortega withdraws the nationality of 94 citizens, considering them "traitors to the homeland"

Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega ordered the withdrawal of the nationality of 94 citizens shortly after expatriating 222 political prisoners. In addition, Judge Ernesto Rodriguez Mejia, head of the Court of Appeals, announced the expropriation of all assets of these former citizens by the state.

Through a press release, Rodriguez Mejia described the 94 as "traitors to the homeland" and informed that they are charged with the crimes of "conspiracy to commit a concurring crime of undermining national integrity" and "propagation of fake news," all "to the detriment of the State of Nicaragua and Nicaraguan society."

Among the nearly one hundred people affected by the communist regime's decision are religious leaders such as Auxiliary Bishop of Managua Silvio José Báez Ortega, who is living in exile in the United States, and Sergio Ramirez, who was Nicaragua's vice president during Ortega's first term in office (1979-1990). Also included are other dissidents such as Luis Carrion, former Supreme Court Justice Rafael Solís, journalists such as Wilfredo Miranda; as well as writers, researchers and academics.

Religious persecution

One of the most representative dictatorial measures taken by Ortega during his more than 21 years at the helm of the Nicaraguan government has been tireless religious persecution. The expatriation of Baez Ortega and other clergymen such as Edwin Roman, Harving Padilla and Uriel Vallejos is the latest example of this.

A few days ago, the Nicaraguan president sentenced three church officials to 10 years in prison, including a deacon and two seminarians, for treason and the dissemination of fake news.