Nicaragua: murderous repression against the evangelicals
The Evangelical Community of Nicaragua is going through a period of great vulnerability, marked by an intensification of repressive practices on the part of the authorities. In August 2025, Mauricio Alonso Pieto, activist engaged in the defense of religious freedoms, was arrested during a police operation targeting pastors and their families in Jinotpe. These interventions explicitly targeted evangelical churches, constituting a new stage in the control strategy of the Ortega-Murillo government on independent religious expressions.
Mauricio Alonso Pieto died during his official detention, in circumstances that the authorities have not clarified to date. The silence of state representatives on the precise causes of this death arouses concern among families, local evangelical officials and human rights defenders. The latter condemn a “serious injustice” and demand immediate explanations as well as the end of hostilities against evangelical leaders.
This tragic fact, relayed by the international evangelical press, highlights the extreme precariousness of Protestant communities in Nicaraguan territory. It is the reflection of a generalized repressive policy, accentuated in recent months, aimed not only to restrict freedom of worship but also to limit the autonomy of the ecclesial authorities. Calls for solidarity and the protection of fundamental rights of Christian communities intensify on a global scale, revealing the urgency of mobilization in the face of the seriousness of the situation.
Statistics and contextual data
- More than 200 religious officials expelled or prohibited from entry since 2023.
- 5,600 NGOs closed and 58 media deleted between 2018 and 2025.
- In August 2025, 11 evangelical pastors arrested and expelled, according to HRW.
Sources:
Mundo Cristiano – CBN News
The Lupa Press
IACHR – Organization of American States
Human Rights Watch – World Report 2025
