In Nicaragua, police conduct raid and arrest bishop, other priests

Nicaraguan police on Friday raided and arrested Roman Catholic Bishop Rolando Álvarez and other priests amid a crackdown against church and opposition leaders.

MEXICO CITY — Nicaraguan police on Friday raided the residence of a Roman Catholic bishop who is an outspoken critic of President Daniel Ortega’s government, apparently detaining the senior clergyman and several other priests who had been holed up inside for two weeks after police set up a cordon.

The pre-dawn raid came after Nicaraguan authorities had accused Matagalpa Bishop Rolando Álvarez of “organizing violent groups” and inciting them “to carry out acts of hate against the population.”

President Daniel Ortega’s government has moved systematically against voices of dissent. Dozens of political opposition leaders were arrested last year, including seven potential candidates to challenge him for the presidency. They were sentenced to prison his year in quick trials closed to the public.

The congress, dominated by Ortega’s Sandinista National Liberation Front, has ordered the closure of more than 1,000 nongovernmental organizations, including Mother Teresa’s charity.

Police block the main entrance of Matagalpa's Archbishop Curia to prevent Monsignor Rolando Alvarez from leaving in Matagalpa, Nicaragua, on Aug. 4.AFP - Getty ImagesEarly Friday, the Matagalpa diocese posted on social media, “#SOS #Urgente. At this time the National Police have entered the Episcopal rectory of our Matagalpa diocese.”

https://www.nbcnews.com/news/latino/nicaragua-police-conduct-raid-arrest-bishop-priests-rcna43932


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