CSOs demanded the release of journalist Víctor Ticay

Expression

The InterAmerican Press Association (IAPA) joined the public campaign by independent journalists in Nicaragua, which also included more than 20 CSOs, to demand the release of their colleague Víctor Ticay, director of the digital web portal La Portada and a Channel 10 correspondent. Ticay was unjustly imprisoned by the Daniel Ortega regime for two months. On 6th April 2023, authorities arrested Ticay after he reported on Holy Week - a religious procession - on his personal Facebook account. On 9th June, in a trial without due process, the judge found Ticay guilty of the “propagation of fake news” and “undermining national integrity”.

Association

From 8th May to 19th June 2023, the Mechanism for the Recognition of Political Prisoners, a civil society initiative, documented 33 politically motivated arrests, of which 12 people remain in prison and 18 under house arrest at the time of writing. The Mechanism has registered at least 64 political prisoners since April 2018. In this reporting period for the CIVICUS Monitor, civil society raised concern over the repressive trend against freedom of conscience and belief. The Nicaraguan regime arbitrarily detained four priests and at least 16 people belonging to the parishioner and working with Catholic organisations. All these measures deepen the fear among the population who feel afraid to denounce the violations of their rights as the authorities could threaten, harass, detain or even expel them from the country.

At least 81 Catholic leaders and nuns have left Nicaragua due to pressure from the Ortega regime. According to Israel González, a journalist on religious issues, the state pressure on the Catholic Church stems from its criticism of rights violations committed by the current government. Catholics have been forced into exile due to the repression.