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🇫🇷 France /Crime & Justice

Nicaragua arrests, then frees bishop critical of government

From Le Figaro · () French

Translated from French, summarized and contextualized by DistantNews.

At a glance

News Named sources Outcome reported
  • Nicaraguan Bishop Abelardo Mata, known for criticizing the government, was arrested on corruption charges.
  • The Ministry of the Interior stated Mata was released after providing statements about alleged offenses.
  • The US State Department condemned the arbitrary arrest, calling it part of ongoing religious persecution by the Ortega-Murillo regime.

Nicaraguan Bishop Abelardo Mata, a vocal critic of the ruling couple Daniel Ortega and Rosario Murillo, was arrested on corruption charges, sparking condemnation from exiled opposition figures and the United States. The 80-year-old bishop emeritus was detained as part of an investigation into the origin of his assets and family ties that "do not align with his priesthood," according to the Interior Ministry.

When he celebrates Mass, he prays for the Church and its bishops, including those in exile.

— Martha Patricia MolinaAn exiled Nicaraguan lawyer and expert on ecclesiastical affairs, explaining the likely reason for Bishop Mata's arrest.

Following the investigation, the ministry announced that Mata had returned home after providing statements concerning "various acts constituting offenses." However, the circumstances of his arrest have drawn sharp criticism. He had reportedly celebrated Mass just two days prior to his detention, and while initially held for several hours and sent back to his home under surveillance, he was later arrested and taken to an "unknown destination."

We demand the immediate and unconditional release of Nicaraguan Bishop Abelardo Mata, who was arbitrarily arrested by the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship.

— U.S. Department of State Bureau of Western Hemisphere AffairsCondemning the arrest on the social platform X.

The U.S. State Department's Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs denounced the arrest as arbitrary, demanding the bishop's "immediate and unconditional release." The statement highlighted that the octogenarian bishop "poses no threat to the regime and his health is fragile," while condemning the "cruel and continuous religious persecution" by the "Murillo-Ortega dictatorship" and demanding an end to attacks on religious freedom.

The octogenarian bishop poses no threat to the regime and his health is fragile.

— U.S. Department of State Bureau of Western Hemisphere AffairsDescribing Bishop Mata's condition and perceived threat level.

Ortega, who returned to power in 2007, is accused of establishing an autocracy with his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo. The opposition blames them for persecuting the Catholic Church, which they hold responsible for supporting the 2018 protests that resulted in around 300 deaths. Hundreds of Catholic priests have been expelled since then. Bishop Mata, who retired in 2021, is considered one of the Catholic Church's most influential figures in Nicaragua, known for his critical stance towards the government.

We condemn the continuous and cruel religious persecution and repression by the Murillo-Ortega dictatorship. Attacks on religious freedom must cease.

— U.S. Department of State Bureau of Western Hemisphere AffairsFurther denouncing the actions of the Nicaraguan government.
DistantNews Editorial

Originally published by Le Figaro in French. Translated, summarized, and contextualized by our editorial team with added local perspective. Read our editorial standards.

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