At least 11 arrested for the dictatorship of Nicaragua since July, including Christians

In a new attack against religious freedom, freedom of expression and human rights, Nicaragua’s dictatorship would have arrested at least 11 people in the country, including several evangelical Christians, such as the pastor of the Protestant church La Roca, Rudy Palacios Vargas.

In a communication Published on August 6, the UN Human Rights Commissioner Office said that on July 17 they were arrested, in Jinotepe, Palacios Vargas with their sister Jessica, Pedro López, Armando Bermúdez Mojica and María Lara Rojas, “who also belonged to Evangelical Churches”.

“These people would currently be in a situation of forced disappearance. Since July, at least 11 people would have been arbitrarily arrested for being considered political opponents. In some cases their whereabouts would be unknown,” adds the text of the United Nations Agency.

The statement also indicates that in total and “to date, at least 54 people (47 men and 7 women) would be arbitrarily detained in Nicaragua. In addition, 15 of these people would be in a situation of forced disappearance.”

For its part, the organization Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) He indicated that the detainees on July 17 include three other people: Arely Palacios Vargas, also sister of Pastor Rudy; and Mauricio Alonso Prieto (father) and Mauricio Alonso Prieto (son).

This organization also explains that “Pastor Palacios Vargas has been an open critic of the Government since the 2018 protests, when he condemned government violence against protesters, most students.”

The pastor fled that year from Nicaragua after receiving death threats and “two days later, at least three members of his church were killed by security and paramilitary forces.”

“In 2019, the Association of Iglesias La Roca de Nicaragua, which maintained six branches in Carazo and other departments of the Pacific coast, was arbitrarily stripped of its legal status,” adds CSW.

“After being diagnosed with cancer, Pastor Palacios Vargas returned to Nicaragua in December 2020. Since January 2021 he was under close police supervision, which is essentially equivalent to house arrest,” says the Christian organization.

Persecution against Christians in Nicaragua

Another case of persecution of the Government of Nicaragua against Christian leaders occurred in 2024, when the regime sentenced 11 Christian leaders of the Puerta de la Montaña church, which previously allowed him to hold massive events in places like Managua.

“We urge the Government of Nicaragua to proceed with the immediate release of all arbitrarily detained persons for political reasons, to inform their relatives about their whereabouts, and to guarantee access to adequate medical care,” said the statement of the UN Human Rights High Commissioner.

The Nicaraguan researcher and lawyer in exile, Martha Patricia Molina, is the author of the report: Nicaragua, a persecuted churchwhich in its last edition accounts for almost 1,000 attacks by the dictatorship of Daniel Ortega and his wife Rosario Murillo against the Catholic Church.

In June of this 2025, ACI Prensa interviewed a Nicaraguan priest in exile, who preferred to stay anonymity to protect him and his family before possible reprisals. The presbyter shared his experience of living far from his homeland and details how the Catholic Church survives in the midst of a systematic and growing persecution.

The priest expressed his hope that Pope Leo XIV can “help a lot” to improve the tense relationship between the Church and the State in the Central American country; and revealed the reality of a people under constant surveillance, where fear and repression are part of day to day.