A report by a group of human rights experts backed by the UN has accused the government of Nicaragua under dictator Daniel Ortega of systematic human rights abuses that are "tantamount to crimes against humanity."

Since the Nicaraguan government cracked down on protests back in 2018, the country has gone after all forms of dissent, with any form of opposition being suppressed, often violently. From media organizations being shut down to the government taking over schools to make sure there is no dissent from the students, reports of oppression are everywhere in Nicaragua.

One of the most oppressed groups is Catholics, which is actually the majority religion in the country. Since the 2018 crackdowns, the state has confiscated properties owned by the Roman Catholic Church, deported missionaries, and arrested and exiled priests and bishops.

The independent group of UN experts began their investigation in March 2022 and almost two years later, they found that the Nicaraguan government was focusing on "incapacitating any kind of opposition in the long term." The Guardian noted that while the experts do not speak for the UN, their mandate comes directly from the UN High Council on Human Rights.

"Serious systematic human rights violations, tantamount to crimes against humanity, continue to be perpetrated by the Nicaraguan government for political reasons," the group found, with the state persecuting "all forms of opposition, whether real or perceived, both domestically and abroad."

UN Report Finds Nicaragua Targeting Civilians, Including Children

Of the various crimes against humanity that the UN report accused Nicaragua of, one of those that stood out was its constant targeting of civilians. The most common targets of persecution were university students, Indigenous and Black Nicaraguans, and members of the Catholic Church.

However, the independent experts found that the Nicaraguan government also went after children. According to the Associated Press, under Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, authorities in the country also targeted children just because their parents raised their voices against the regime.

The report also found that power has been firmly consolidated in Ortega and Murillo's favor, with their ally, Gustavo Porras, the head of the country's National Assembly, pushing legislation that further represses the populace.

The Supreme Court, which should be independent from the executive branch, also takes direct orders from Ortega, and it commands judges to fall in line as well. Prosecutors are also under government control and are accused of fabricating evidence against perceived opponents.

Daniel Ortega Regime Continues Crackdown vs. Religious Groups in Nicaragua

Meanwhile, as the report accused Nicaragua of crimes against humanity, the country continued cracking down against religious groups, many of which helped the country out when Hilary and Idalia flooded Nicaragua's coast last August and September.

These included protestant evangelical groups, as well as the usual target of the government's repression, the Roman Catholic Church. The Nicaraguan government has ordered the closure of 10 churches belonging to the evangelical group, Mountain Gateway.

According to Christianity Today, 11 of the ministry's pastors were also arrested. It was noted, however, that while that specific evangelical group and Catholics were targeted, many local Protestant pastors and foreign ministry leaders have largely chosen to keep quiet and were not targeted.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: UN Experts Allege Crimes Against Humanity In Nicaragua | Press Conference - UN Human Rights Council