Additional Name(s): Óscar José Escoto Salgado, Óscar Escoto Salgado
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Date of Detainment: December/21/2023
Date of Release: December/24/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Detainment
Reason for Persecution: Religious Activity Religious Association Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Óscar Escoto
Extra Bio Info:
Óscar Escoto was detained for his religious belief and activity and his religious leadership role.
On August 4, 2022, the Nicaraguan police prevented several people, including Escoto, from leaving the residence of Bishop Rolando Álvarez as the bishop was on his way to perform mass at a local cathedral. Álvarez had criticized the government’s recent closure of several Catholic radio stations and its human rights record. Alvarez, Escoto, and the other individuals in the residence remained under de facto house arrest as authorities investigated them for “organizing violent groups” and encouraging them “to carry out acts of hate against the population.”
On August 19, 2022, Escoto was released from de facto house arrest.
On December 21, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities arrested Escoto, the Vicar of the Diocesis of Matagalpa.
On December 22, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities released Escoto. Shortly after his release, Escoto was arrested again.
On December 24, 2023, the Nicaraguan authorities released Escoto.
On January 14, 2024, Escoto was exiled to the Vatican.
Related Cases: Rolando Álvarez, Ramiro Tijerino, Sadiel Eugarrios, Raúl Antonio Vega, José Luis Díaz, Darvin Leiva, Melkin Sequeira, Sergio Cárdenas
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Date of Detainment: December/20/2023
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 Association Religious Belief Religious Expression Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role Religious Freedom Advocacy Religious Identity
Nature of Charges: Unknown
Isidro Mora
Extra Bio Info:
Isidro Mora was detained for criticizing religious freedom conditions and for his religious leadership role.
On December 20, 2023, Nicaraguan police arrested Mora, a bishop from the diocese of Siuna, after he reportedly offered prayers for the wrongly imprisoned Bishop Rolando Álvarez during mass. Mora's arrest comes amid a crackdown on the Catholic Church in Nicaragua.
On January 14, 2024, Mora was released from prison and exiled to the Vatican.
Related cases: Rolando Álvarez, Alester Sáenz, Tony Palacios
Sources:
- "Ortega Regime Jails Monsignor Isidoro Mora" Confidencial
- "Nicaragua arrests Catholic bishop Isidro Mora: media" Voz de America (VOA)
Dec 19, 2023
USCIRF Releases New Report on Religious Freedom Conditions in Libya
Washington, D.C. – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Religious Freedom Conditions in Libya – This report provides an overview of concerning trends affecting freedom of religion or belief in Libya. Religious freedom and other human rights have suffered amid the country’s prolonged crisis of governance, in which the interim government in Tripoli and rival administrations based in eastern cities remain stalled on the path to long-postponed and critical elections. Authorities in both the west and east—as well as affiliated security actors and independent militias—have targeted for abuse and restricted the liberties of religious minorities, accused apostates and proselytizers, atheists, and people who have expressed dissenting interpretations of Islam. The report emphasizes Libya’s dire need for free and fair elections, a central government, and substantial constitutional and legislative reform to equip authorities and civil society to substantially improve freedom of religion or belief.
In 2022, USCIRF demonstrated that governments with an official or favored religion, which include Libya, are far more likely than those without them to maintain laws restricting religious freedom and other human rights on the basis of religion. Libya also currently has anti-conversion legislation and blasphemy laws on the books.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected].