The Nicaraguan dictatorship, led by President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, has declared the Catholic Church a “political enemy of the state,” according to a report by International Christian Concern (ICC). The ICC’s 2025 Global Persecution Index reveals that authoritarian regimes worldwide are increasingly viewing the free exercise of religion as a threat to their power. In Nicaragua, the government has revoked the operating licenses of over 300 non-profit religious organizations, including 38 linked to the Catholic Church, and has confiscated their assets.
The dictatorship’s persecution of the Catholic Church has escalated in recent years, with hundreds of churches, aid groups, and other religious organizations being targeted. Christian schools have also been attacked, and hundreds of people, including dozens of priests and other leaders, have been arrested for allegedly opposing the government. Many have been released, but others remain in prison or have been exiled from the country.
A Nicaraguan Catholic priest, who was detained, beaten, and imprisoned before fleeing the country, shared his testimony at an ICC-sponsored event in 2024. He described how every Sunday, police patrol cars are parked outside Catholic churches, and the faithful are photographed and recorded. This type of surveillance is similar to that imposed by China on its religious communities, a country with which Nicaragua maintains a close relationship.
The ICC report highlights the growing transnational repression in Nicaragua, where the families of exiled priests are being targeted. The organization warns that persecution is a global issue, and it is essential to raise awareness and support for those fighting for freedom and human rights in Nicaragua.