Aug 25, 2022
August 25 marks the fifth anniversary of the start of the Burmese military’s genocidal campaign against the Rohingya people. The violence resulted in thousands of Rohingya dead, hundreds of thousands internally displaced, and millions dispersed throughout the region. On March 21, 2021, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken announced that the U.S. government had determined that the atrocities committed against the Rohingya by Burmese authorities constituted genocide.
USCIRF Policy Analyst Patrick Greenwalt joins us today to discuss the beginnings of the genocide, the situation of Rohingya inside and outside of Burma, and the steps the international community could take going forward.
Read USCIRF’s Factsheet on Pursuing Justice and Accountability for the Rohingya Community of Burma
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: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Subversion
Sergio Cárdenas was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.
On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Cárdenas, a cameraman, 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, Cárdenas, 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 Cárdenas and sent him to the Evaristo Vásquez Sánchez Police Complex.
On October 4, 2022, it was revealed that Cárdenas was charged with "conspiracy to undermine national integrity" and "propagation of false news."
On January 26, 2023, Cárdenas 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 Cárdenas to 10 years in prison.
On February 9, 2023, Cárdenas was released from prison and exiled to the United States.
Related Cases: Rolando Álvarez, Ramiro Tijerino, Sadiel Eugarrios, Raúl Antonio Vega, José Luis Díaz, Darvin Leiva, Melkin Sequeira
"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: No
Most Recent Type of Abuse: Imprisonment
Reason for Persecution: Criticizing Religious Freedom Conditions Human Rights Work for Religious Communities Religious Activity
Nature of Charges: Spreading Propaganda & False or Misleading Ideas, Information, or Materials Subversion
Melkin Sequeira was imprisoned in relation to criticism of religious freedom conditions.
On August 4, 2022, police prevented several people, including Sequeira, a seminarian, 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, Sequeira, 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 Sequeira and sent him to the Evaristo Vásquez Sánchez Police Complex.
On October 4, 2022, it was revealed that Sequeira was charged with "conspiracy to undermine national integrity" and "propagation of false news."
On January 26, 2023, Sequeira 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 Sequeira to 10 years in prison.
On February 9, 2023, Sequeira was released from prison and exiled to the United States.
Related Cases: Rolando Álvarez, Ramiro Tijerino, Sadiel Eugarrios, Raúl Antonio Vega, José Luis Díaz, Darvin Leiva, 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)