U.S. subcommittee and OAS report spotlight persecution of religious communities in Nicaragua

Washington — International scrutiny of Nicaragua intensified this week as an Organization of American States report and a U.S. congressional subcommittee condemned what they described as a campaign of persecution against religious communities.

The U.S. subcommittee "rejected in particular the harassment that the religious community is experiencing in the country," the news segment reported, citing congressional discussion of the issue. Congresswoman María Elvira Salazar said the Nicaraguan leadership was attempting to supplant religious authority, a point the segment attributed to her remarks.

Why this matters: The OAS documentation and congressional attention bring the question of religious freedom in Nicaragua to international fora, increasing diplomatic pressure on the Ortega-Murillo government and raising the profile of complaints from exiled activists and church leaders.

Jonathan Duarte, identified in the segment as a Nicaraguan political leader speaking from exile, told Martinoticias that his contacts have documented "más de 800 ataques documentados contra la iglesia católica" and that "más de 220 sacerdotes, monjas y agentes pastorales" have been forced into exile. Those figures were presented by Duarte as evidence of a systematic campaign of pressure and expulsions.

Rosa María Payala, the IACHR relator for Nicaragua named in the segment, was reported as saying the commission has documented religious persecution through "detención arbitraria y expulsión de personas religiosas sin garantías al debido proceso," prohibitions on religious acts and masses, and the forced closure of radio stations, study centers and universities linked to Catholic congregations.

The segment also placed the developments in a regional context, saying recent events in Venezuela and increased pressure on Cuba have helped focus U.S. attention on Nicaragua. One speaker in the segment said the United States and President Donald Trump have Nicaragua "en la mirilla," noting Venezuela and Cuba as prior examples of U.S. scrutiny.

What the record shows: The broadcast cites the OAS report and the IACHR relator’s statements and reports Duarte’s counts; it does not provide vote counts, official U.S. congressional language, or independent verification of the numerical totals cited on air. The segment reports that a congressional subcommittee "rejected" the harassment of religious communities but does not supply a text of a resolution or vote record in the report.

Action noted: The segment reports a congressional subcommittee condemnation of harassment toward religious groups in Nicaragua; no formal resolution number, vote tally, or mover/second was provided in the segment.

The report closed with the outlet identifying the reporter, Janoi Martínez, and the program Martinoticias.