According to the sources, Bishop Isidoro Mora of the Siuna church on the Caribbean coast of the nation was taken into custody following his participation in a mass commemorating the anniversary of the Matagalpa church.
For more information regarding Mora’s legal status and apprehension, CNN has gotten in contact with the Nicaraguan government.
According to one of the sources who spoke with CNN, they saw the events that preceded the arrest, Mora had mentioned Rolando Álvarez, the detained bishop and outspoken critic of the government, in passing during a 10-minute homily.
“We are here praying for Matagalpa church, praying for bishop Rolando,” according to a source quoting Mora.
“Unfortunately, (Mora) was arrested the next day,” the source continued.
The Matagalpa bishop, Álvarez, is incarcerated for 26 years after being found guilty of treason and conspiracy. After he and 200 other government opponents refused to leave the nation, he was sentenced.
Since the circumstances surrounding Mora’s arrest were unclear, one of the sources—who wished to remain anonymous in case the Nicaraguan government retaliated—told CNN about his condition.
According to the other source, there is a lot of persecution of churches in Nicaragua. We keep quiet because we risk being threatened if we speak out. Though we know the world is aware, we still feel the hurt.
Human Rights Watch reports that since Ortega’s government clamped down on widespread anti-regime protests in 2018, hundreds of people have died, thousands have been injured, and many have been arbitrarily detained. As a result, tens of thousands of Nicaraguans have left their country to escape persecution.
During that time, protesters and their families occasionally went inside the nation’s churches and cathedrals to hide from attacks by forces loyal to the government.
The Catholic church is now seen by Nicaragua’s authoritarian government, led by President Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, as an enemy, and the protests are called a “coup attempt.”
Months had passed since two nuns from Costa Rica were banished from Nicaragua in April, also for their prayers for Álvarez, when Mora was arrested.
Expert Yader Morazán stated, “This is a part of a repressive pattern against the Catholic church.”
In addition to imprisoning numerous laymen and priests, Morazán claimed that “they have expelled or prevented the return of over 200 people, including priests and nuns.”
El19digital, a state-owned website, announced in a news release on Monday that 11 individuals connected to Christian organizations have been arrested on suspicion of money laundering.
2021 saw Ortega declare for a fifth term in office. Prior to the elections, in June of that year, his government started imprisoning opposition presidential candidates and leaders, journalists, and human rights activists under the ambiguous national security law.
