Florida Rep. Maria Elvira Salazar (R) co-hosted a hearing regarding human rights violations that have occurred in Nicaragua. Co-hosting a hearing with Human Rights Subcommittee Chairman Christ Smith (R), Salazar discussed human rights abuse Daniel Ortega is committing against Nicaraguan catholics.
Rep. Salazar explained that Nicaragua Catholics have faced system persecution under the Ortega-Murillo regime.
Salazar commented that "the only way communism can impose itself is by replacing God with the government," adding that "to Daniel Ortega, I say this: You would be wise to remember the Church has defeated greater demons than you and your satanic wife."
It's estimated that around three-quarters of Nicaraguans are members of the Catholic Church, which amounts to more than 5 million members. In recent years, the Church has been at the receiving end of over 400 attacks. In 2018, an incident took place wherein police and paramilitaries went into the Divine Mercy parish in Managua. Young protestors were locked in, and they were shot. In 2020, another attack saw a firebomb thrown into the Managua Cathedral, which destroyed the famous image of the Blood of Christ, which is a 382-year-old crucifix.
Salazar has been a vocal critic of the Ortega-Murillo regime, passing the RENACER ACT that aimed “to hold the brutal Ortega regime accountable for their Human Rights abuses and promote democratic elections." Witnesses that were present during the hearing included recently released political prisoners and leading dissidents against the regime.
The witnesses present were:
- Félix Maradiaga, J.D.
- President and Founder, Fundación para la Libertad de Nicaragua
- Dr. Juan Sebastián Chamorro
- Executive Director, Civic Alliance for Justice and Democracy
- Deborah Ullmer
- Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean Programs National Democratic Institute
- Bianca Jagger
- Founder, President, and Chief Executive, Bianca Jagger Human Rights Foundation
The Ortega-Murillo regime recently issued an order for all Catholic media outlets to be closed while breaking relations with the Vatican by expelling the Apostolic Nuncio.
