Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/4/2022
Date of Sentencing: February/3/2023
Date of Release: February/9/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Subversion
Sadiel Eugarrios was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.
On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Eugarrios, a priest, from leaving the residence of Bishop Rolando Álvarez as the bishop was on his way to perform mass at a local cathedral. Álvarez had criticized the government’s recent closure of several Catholic radio stations and its human rights record. Alvarez, Eugarrios, and the other individuals in the residence remained under de facto house arrest as authorities investigated them for “organizing violent groups” and encouraging them “to carry out acts of hate against the population.”
On August 19, 2022, police detained Eugarrios and sent him to the Evaristo Vásquez Sánchez Police Complex.
On October 4, 2022, it was revealed that Eugarrios was charged with "conspiracy to undermine national integrity" and "propagation of false news."
On January 26, 2023, Eugarrios was reportedly found guilty. Prosecutors reportedly requested 10 years in prison.
On February 3, 2023, a judge from the Second Criminal District Court of Trials of Managua sentenced Eugarrios to 10 years in prison.
On February 9, 2023, Eugarrios was released from prison and exiled to the United States.
Related Cases: Rolando Álvarez, Ramiro Tijerino, Raúl Antonio Vega, José Luis Díaz, Darvin Leiva, Melkin Sequeira, Sergio Cárdenas
"Release of Political Prisoners from Nicaragua" Secretary Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Department of State
"Estos son los presos políticos desterrados a EE. UU." La Prensa
"Sentencian a diez años de cárcel a seis sacerdotes y un laico de Matagalpa" Confidencial
"Régimen condena a 10 años de prisión a religiosos y laico de Matagalpa" La Prensa
"Nicaragua's government ups Catholic persecution" Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News)
USCIRF Hearing: Crackdown on Religious Freedom in Nicaragua November 15, 2022
"Régimen acusa a sacerdotes y laicos de Matagalpa de 'conspiración'" Confidencial
"Bispo e padres continuam presos pela ditadura da Nicarágua" Aletia
"El Chipote: La cárcel de torturas donde la dictadura de Nicaragua retiene a sacerdotes" Aciprensa
"Roman Catholic leaders imprisoned" Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
"Catholics hope and pray for freedom of Bishop Alvarez in Nicaragua" Vatican News
"Nicaraguan bishop arrested after two-week standoff at Matagalpa residence" The Guardian
"Nicaraguan police detain bishop who criticized government" Los Angeles Times
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom in Nicaragua in 2022 August 11, 2022
“Bishops in Nicaragua ‘close’ to Bishop Alvarez under house arrest” Vatican News
“Nicaraguan police accuse bishop of inciting violence” Deutsche Welle (DW)
“Nicaragua police investigating bishop critical of government” Associated Press (AP)
Gender: Male
Perpetrator: Nicaragua
Religion or Belief: Christian – Catholic
Reports of Torture: No
Reports of Medical Neglect: No
Sentence: 10 Years' Imprisonment
Date of Detainment: August/4/2022
Date of Sentencing: February/3/2023
Date of Release: February/9/2023
Current Status: Released
Religious Leader: Yes
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity Religious Figure & Religious Leadership Role
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Subversion
Ramiro Tijerino was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.
On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Tijerino, a priest, from leaving the residence of Bishop Rolando Álvarez as the bishop was on his way to perform mass at a local cathedral. Álvarez had criticized the government’s recent closure of several Catholic radio stations and its human rights record. Alvarez, Tijerino, and the other individuals in the residence remained under de facto house arrest as authorities investigated them for “organizing violent groups” and encouraging them “to carry out acts of hate against the population.”
On August 19, 2022, police detained Tijerino and sent him to the Evaristo Vásquez Sánchez Police Complex.
On October 4, 2022, it was revealed that Tijerino was charged with "conspiracy to undermine national integrity" and "propagation of false news."
On January 26, 2023, Tijerino was reportedly found guilty. Prosecutors reportedly requested 10 years in prison.
On February 3, 2023, a judge from the Second Criminal District Court of Trials of Managua sentenced Tijerino to 10 years in prison.
On February 9, 2023, Tijerino was released from prison and exiled to the United States.
Related Cases: Rolando Álvarez, Sadiel Eugarrios, Raúl Antonio Vega, José Luis Díaz, Darvin Leiva, Melkin Sequeira, Sergio Cárdenas
"Release of Political Prisoners from Nicaragua" Secretary Antony J. Blinken, U.S. Department of State
"Estos son los presos políticos desterrados a EE. UU." La Prensa
"Sentencian a diez años de cárcel a seis sacerdotes y un laico de Matagalpa" Confidencial
"Régimen condena a 10 años de prisión a religiosos y laico de Matagalpa" La Prensa
"Nicaragua's government ups Catholic persecution" Union of Catholic Asian News (UCA News)
USCIRF Hearing: Crackdown on Religious Freedom in Nicaragua November 15, 2022
"Régimen acusa a sacerdotes y laicos de Matagalpa de 'conspiración'" Confidencial
"Bispo e padres continuam presos pela ditadura da Nicarágua" Aletia
"El Chipote: La cárcel de torturas donde la dictadura de Nicaragua retiene a sacerdotes" Aciprensa
"Roman Catholic leaders imprisoned" Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW)
"Catholics hope and pray for freedom of Bishop Alvarez in Nicaragua" Vatican News
"Nicaraguan bishop arrested after two-week standoff at Matagalpa residence" The Guardian
"Nicaraguan police detain bishop who criticized government" Los Angeles Times
USCIRF Country Update: Religious Freedom in Nicaragua in 2022 August 11, 2022
“Bishops in Nicaragua ‘close’ to Bishop Alvarez under house arrest” Vatican News
“Nicaraguan police accuse bishop of inciting violence” Deutsche Welle (DW)
“Nicaragua police investigating bishop critical of government” Associated Press (AP)
Aug 23, 2022
USCIRF Releases New Report Highlighting Religious Freedom in Afghanistan
Washington, DC – The United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) today released the following new report:
Afghanistan Country Update – This report analyzes the severe decline of freedom of religion or belief since the Taliban’s takeover in August 2021 and their de facto rule over Afghanistan. The Taliban’s imposition of their narrow interpretation of Sunni Islam poses a grave threat to the religious freedom and all Afghans who do not subscribe to that interpretation. The Taliban’s harsh enforcement of its religious interpretation violates the religious freedom of minorities, women, members of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, and intersex (LGBTQI+) community, Afghans with differing interpretations of Islam, and Afghans who follow no religion. Despite continued promises to protect all ethnic and religious communities residing in Afghanistan, the Taliban de facto government has been unable to provide safety and security to religious minorities against attacks from Islamic State-Khorasan (ISIS-K). While some religious minority communities face the threat of extinction, others struggle to practice their faith in hiding due to fear of reprisal.
In its 2022 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended the U.S. Department of State designate Afghanistan under the de facto Taliban government as a “country of particular concern,” or CPC, for engaging in systematic, ongoing, and egregious violations of religious freedom, as defined by IRFA. In the months following the Taliban seizing control of Afghanistan, USCIRF hosted a virtual event discussing religious communities at extreme risk of persecution. USCIRF also highlighted the Hazara Community Threatened in Afghanistan and Christians in Extreme Danger in Afghanistan during episodes of the USCIRF Spotlight Podcast.
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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan federal government entity established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a Commissioner, please contact USCIRF at [email protected]