{"id":34548,"date":"2026-04-23T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2026-04-22T23:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/csw-yeo.1wp.site\/blog\/claims-of-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-in-nicaragua-are-greatly-7710\/"},"modified":"2026-09-18T22:09:03","modified_gmt":"2026-09-18T21:09:03","slug":"claims-of-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-in-nicaragua-are-greatly-7710","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.csw.org.uk\/zh\/blog\/claims-of-freedom-of-religion-or-belief-in-nicaragua-are-greatly-7710\/","title":{"rendered":"Claims of freedom of religion or belief in Nicaragua are greatly exaggerated"},"content":{"rendered":"\n

On 2 April, during a Maundy Thursday Chrism Mass, Cardinal Leopoldo Brenes addressed hundreds of Roman Catholic Church leaders who had filled the Metropolitan Cathedral in the Nicaraguan capital of Managua. He delivered a full sermon, but one particular quote of his was seized upon by Sputnik World<\/a>, a Russian state-owned news agency:<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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\u2018People have been able to approach their churches with complete generosity, with complete freedom, and are living their faith. I believe that is the most important thing.\u2019<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

The next day \u2013 Good Friday \u2013 the state-controlled media outlet Canal 4 Nicaragua shared a photo<\/a> of the cardinal leading a procession outside a church on its Facebook page. The post generated 248 comments, among which the following stood out, each receiving dozens of likes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n

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\u2018How difficult it is for human beings to understand that you can\u2019t hide the sun with just one finger.\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Hahaha, the cardinal is afraid of [infamous prison] El Chipote.\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018Oh yeah? And what are the riot police outside the Guadalupe Church and the El Redentor Hermitage for?\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018And the police at the church doors to prevent the procession from going out into the street?\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\u2018In Rama [Municipality], there are more riot police than parishioners at the processions.\u2019<\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

These comments, among many others along similar lines, highlight the manner in which the Nicaraguan government \u2013 now seemingly in collusion with Russian state media \u2013 remains desperate to paint a false picture of the situation of freedom of religion or belief in the country. The cardinal\u2019s words may have played into their hands in this instance, but this has been a strategy of the regime for years.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Public religious activities, including\u00a0Holy Week reenactments, Stations of the Cross processions, and pilgrimages\u00a0have been\u00a0prohibited in Nicaragua\u00a0since\u00a02021.\u00a0Such religious traditions\u00a0are only\u00a0permitted\u00a0to take place inside\u00a0church\u00a0buildings. This year, religious leaders were even prevented from using outdoor spaces located on church property.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In northern Nicaragua, processions were forced to take place inside churches, with photos and videos shared on social media depicting believers crammed inside, without enough space to complete the Stations of the Cross. Some Roman Catholic churches adapted by moving a smaller effigy of Jesus Christ which children carried so they could walk through the crowd. In other churches, statues remained at the centre during services. In some churches parishioners remained standing during readings, as there was no room to walk around, nor was there any opportunity to go out to the church atrium or courtyard.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

As in previous years, police officers also set up checkpoints at the\u00a0borders of municipalities across the country to\u00a0monitor\u00a0the movement of civilians and to prevent any large gatherings from taking place.\u00a0In Matagalpa Department in central Nicaragua, people reported the presence of uniformed soldiers on the roads across 12 municipalities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In previous years, National Police\u00a0have\u00a0surrounded\u00a0religious buildings including cathedrals, parish churches, chapels and hermitages throughout the country, with an increased presence on\u00a0holy days.\u00a0In 2026, sources in the north of the country told\u00a0CSW\u00a0the authorities took a more subtle approach, with\u00a0officers and members of paramilitary and Sandinista militant groups entering churches in plainclothes to monitor religious activities, including by recording and photographing attendees and priests.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In Nueva Guinea, in the South Caribbean Coast Autonomous Region, some communities reported a limited National Police presence accompanied by members of the military in plainclothes ,but identifiable due to their boots and haircuts, inside churches.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

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These developments are emblematic of a wider deterioration in the situation of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) which has been ongoing in Nicaragua since 2018.<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n

CSW recorded<\/a> 309 separate FoRB cases in 2025. Most involved multiple FoRB violations and many affected large numbers of people, with a significant percentage of violations likely going unreported due to the climate of fear created by the government led by Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

More than 260 members of religion or belief communities and religious leaders, nuns, including both Nicaraguan nationals and individuals holding foreign citizenship, were forcibly exiled by either being forced to leave the country, or prevented from re-entering the country after travel abroad. Religious leaders and members of religion or belief communities were subjected to short- and long-term arbitrary detention in inhumane conditions, in some cases incommunicado.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Agents identifying themselves as being from the\u00a0intelligence services regularly visit churches to request passwords and the names of those responsible for churches\u2019 media accounts. Religious leaders are warned that any content must be approved by the authorities before publication. Speaking about democracy or liberty in sermons or mentioning political prisoners even in prayers is considered a crime.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Despite this, many religious leaders continue to bravely speak out. The international community owes them the same. States that are committed to justice and democracy must insist that the government of Nicaragua cease its surveillance of places of worship and restrictions on religious leaders, that it respect freedom of expression from the pulpit and allow traditions to be celebrated freely in the streets. Its efforts to stifle the work of independent civil society and religious institutions through taxes, fines and the arbitrary cancellation of their legal status must stop.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

By CSW\u2019s Research and Advocacy Officer for Nicaragua<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Click here to read CSW\u2019s latest report on the situation of freedom of religion or belief in Nicaragua<\/a>.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

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