Daniel Ortega's regime continues its crusade against the Church in Nicaragua. A judge has sentenced three priests, a deacon and two seminarians, to 10 years in prison for treason and the dissemination of fake news, according to the Nicaraguan Center for Human Rights.
The convicted persons have been sentenced to 5 years in prison for the crime of "conspiracy to undermine the national integrity" of Nicaragua and another 5 years for "propagation of false news." In addition, a further penalty of 800 days was added to the sentences.
New blow to religious freedom in Nicaragua
Although at first there was talk of four priests being detained, in reality there are three priests and a deacon, as well as two seminarians and a layman. All of them were together with Bishop Rolando Álvarez during the retention of the latter in the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa last year by security forces of the regime.
🔴🔴🇳🇮 URGENTE URGENTE| El régimen ORMU arremete sin piedad contra el clero en Nicaragua, el día de hoy condenó a 10 años de prisión a 4 sacerdotes, 2 seminaristas y al camarógrafo que junto con monseñor Rolando Álvarez estuvieron secuestrados en la curia episcopal de Matagalpa. pic.twitter.com/Xk4ZgJMaPP
— Cenidh (@cenidh) February 6, 2023
Trial of Bishop Rolando Álvarez on February 15
The convicted priests are Ramiro Reynaldo Tijerino Chávez, rector of the Universidad Juan Pablo II; Sadiel Antonio Eugarrios Cano, former vicar of the Cathedral of Matagalpa; and José Luis Díaz Cruz, current vicar of the Cathedral of Matagalpa. Deacon Raúl Antonio Vega González; seminarians Darvin Esteylin Leiva Mendoza and Melkin Antonio Centeno Sequeira; and photographer Sergio José Cárdenas Flores who will also share in the grief.
This sentence is in addition to the one imposed on February 4 on a priest critical of the regime, Óscar Benavídez, who received an identical sentence for the same reasons. In addition, Bishop Rolando Alvarez will be tried on February 15.
