Nicaragua’s National Assembly, dominated by Daniel Ortega’s regime, has passed a law allowing for the prosecution and asset confiscation of individuals or organizations committing crimes from outside the country. The law targets those promoting economic sanctions or blockades against the State, with penalties ranging from six months to life imprisonment.
Critics argue this law aims to silence Nicaraguans in the diaspora, forcing them to remain “quiet, silent, without saying anything.” Former Minister of Education Humberto Belli, now in exile, warns that this law enables the government to accuse and punish individuals without proof or right to appeal, even targeting their relatives.
The law is part of a broader crackdown on dissent, including the persecution of the Catholic Church. The regime has expelled missionaries, closed religious radio stations, and cancelled the legal status of thousands of NGOs, including Catholic and Evangelical organizations.
The international community has condemned Nicaragua’s human rights abuses, with the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights warning of a “serious deterioration” of fundamental freedoms. The White House recently announced the release of 135 political prisoners, including religious leaders and lay Catholics, who were sent to Guatemala.