Nicaragua: 5 Ways the Daniel Ortega Regime Violated Human Rights

The Daniel Ortega regime is one of the most brutal and repressive regimes in Latin America, with Nicaragua becoming infamous for its brutal and often deadly put-downs of any form of dissent, from student protesters to the free press to the Roman Catholic Church, to even the country's very first Miss Universe winner.

As the UN High Commissioner on Human Rights described the situation, its investigations have found that under Daniel Ortega, Nicaragua has committed crimes against humanity targeting civilians, including children and students. All of this for its own political ends, with Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo aiming to stay in power indefinitely, through any means possible.

The Many Human Rights Violations of Nicaragua's Daniel Ortega Regime

The conjugal dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo has been blasted by the US and the EU, as well as the UN and various human rights organizations. It has been described as a humanitarian crisis by Ortega's critics, with many fleeing to other countries like Costa Rica and the US so that they would be safer. It is also fueling the mass migration out of Nicaragua, which remains one of Latin America's poorest countries. Here are five ways Nicaragua is violating its people's human rights:

Protests and Religious Processions Are Not Allowed

Since the 2018 protests, Nicaragua has banned any form of protest whatsoever, and it got so bad that even going around the streets waiving the Nicaraguan flag was banned unless it was a rally for Ortega. This was extended to religious processions too, as an escalation of Ortega's feud with the Roman Catholic Church.

Arbitrary Arrests and Detentions

Speaking of its feud with the Catholic Church, Nicaragua's arrest of Ortega critic and Matagalpa Bishop Rolando Alvares continues to be one of the most high-profile cases of arbitrary arrests and detentions happening all over Nicaragua. Critics, or even just those who spoke ill of the government are arbitrarily detained and undergo unfair trials, leading to people going to one of the worst and most inhumane prison systems on Earth.

Lack of Rights for Indigenous People

According to Amnesty International, aside from the Catholic Church, one of the groups most targeted by the Ortega government are indigenous peoples, with many of their leaders being targeted for arbitrary arrests and unfair trials.

Stripping Daniel Ortega Critics of Their Citizenship

This is something that is unique to the Ortega regime, as the Nicaraguan government often strips its people of their citizenship as a form of punishment. Bishop Alvarez, several prominent opposition members, and exiled critics have all been stripped of their citizenship, as Human Rights Watch pointed out.

Lack of Freedom of Religion

Ortega's feud with not just the Catholic Church and indigenous people, but also protestant churches, has resulted in religion being all but banned in Nicaragua.

Under the regime, several NGOs and charities connected to various churches, be it Catholic or protestant, have been shut down. He also kicked out Mother Teresa's Sisters of Charity and seized the country's largest university that was run by the Jesuits.

This article is owned by Latin Post.

Written by: Rick Martin

WATCH: Hundreds of Nicaraguan Americans in Miami raise awareness of Ortega's regime - CBS Miami