Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Date of Detainment: December/20/2023
Date of Release: January/14/2024
Current Status: Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Tony Palacios
Extra Bio Info:
Tony Palacios was detained for his religious leadership role.
On December 20, 2023, Nicaraguan police arrested Palacios, a seminarian, alongside Bishop Isidro Mora after the bishop reportedly offered prayers for the wrongly imprisoned Bishop Rolando Álvarez during mass. Palacios's arrest comes amid a crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.
On January 14, 2024, Palacios was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.
Related cases: Rolando Álvarez, Isidro Mora, Alester Sáenz
Sources:
- "Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo's regime puts priests in the crosshairs at Christmas" El Pais
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"Dictadura ejecuta gran redada “Navidad negra” contra sacerdotes" Confidencial
-
"Dictadura sandinista secuestra a Monseñores Miguel Mántica, Silvio Fonseca y tres sacerdotes más" 100% Noticias
- "Ortega Regime Jails Monsignor Isidoro Mora" Confidencial
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Date of Detainment: December/20/2023
Date of Release: January/14/2024
Current Status: Released
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Alester Sáenz
Extra Bio Info:
Alester Sáenz was detained for his religious leadership role.
On December 20, 2023, Nicaraguan police arrested Sáenz, a seminarian, alongside Bishop Isidro Mora after the bishop reportedly offered prayers for the wrongly imprisoned Bishop Rolando Álvarez during mass. Sáenz's arrest comes amid a crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.
On January 14, 2024, Sáenz was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.
Related cases: Rolando Álvarez, Isidro Mora, Tony Palacios
Sources:
- "Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo's regime puts priests in the crosshairs at Christmas" El Pais
-
"Dictadura ejecuta gran redada “Navidad negra” contra sacerdotes" Confidencial
-
"Dictadura sandinista secuestra a Monseñores Miguel Mántica, Silvio Fonseca y tres sacerdotes más" 100% Noticias
- "Ortega Regime Jails Monsignor Isidoro Mora" Confidencial
Additional Name(s): Gustavo Sandino Ochoa
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Date of Detainment: December/31/2023
Date of Release: January/14/2024
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Religious Activity Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Freedom Advocacy
Nature of Charges: Unknown
José Gustavo Sandino Ochoa
Extra Bio Info:
José Gustavo Sandino Ochoa was detained for his religious leadership role.
On December 31, 2023, police reportedly arrested Sandino, parish priest of Our Lady of Sorrows parish in the Diocese of Jinotega, under unclear circumstances. His arrest comes amid a crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.
On January 14, 2024, Sandino was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.
Sandino reportedly suffers from unspecified health issues.
Sources:
- "Bishop Álvarez freed in Nicaragua, exiled to Vatican" The Pillar
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"Nicaragua: Secuestran a seminarista y sacerdote se exilia" 100% Noticias
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"Dictatorship in Nicaragua closes out 2023 with 2 bishops and 15 priests in custody" Catholic News Agency (CNA)