Nicaraguan Government Revokes Legal Status of 1,500 Nonprofits in Major Crackdown

Nicaraguan Government Clamps Down on Nonprofits

In a sweeping move on Monday, the Nicaraguan government revoked the legal status of 1,500 nonprofit organizations, a significant number of which were evangelical religious groups. This action marks a continuation of the authoritarian regime’s efforts to suppress individuals and institutions that do not align themselves with the government’s agenda. Since 2018, over 5,000 nonprofit organizations, including various church groups, have been dissolved in Nicaragua. The latest crackdown represents the largest single-day closure of civic and religious organizations to date.

This decision follows closely after the government expelled two Catholic priests who had been detained earlier in the month, signaling a broader pattern of repression against religious figures. Until now, President Daniel Ortega’s administration had predominantly targeted the Roman Catholic Church, particularly in areas where prominent bishops and priests have vocally opposed human rights abuses.

However, the recent actions against evangelical pastors indicate a troubling expansion of the government’s campaign to silence all religious leaders and eliminate any independent spaces that are not directly affiliated with the regime. Martha Patricia Molina, a Nicaraguan lawyer who monitors attacks on churches and clergy, emphasized the significance of this development, stating,
“All of their properties are going to be confiscated. This is an attack against religious freedom.” Molina, who fled Nicaragua in 2021 and now resides in Texas, highlighted the gravity of this situation for the country’s religious communities.