This is the Bishop of Siuna, Isidoro Mora, who was arrested after praying for Dom Rolando Álvarez, Bishop of Matagalpa, sentenced without trial to 26 years in prison and has been in prison since last February. The UN denounces: The country is moving further and further away from the rule of law.
News from the Vatican
The Nicaraguan police arrested on Wednesday December 20th the Bishop of Siuna, Dom Isidoro del Carmen Mora Ortega. He is the second prelate imprisoned in the country after Dom Rolando José Álvarez Lagos, Bishop of Matagalpa and Apostolic Administrator of the Diocese of Estelí, who was sentenced to 26 years in prison without due process for conspiracy and spreading false news. Obstruction of justice and contempt for authorities, who has been in prison since last February after being under house arrest since August 2022.
Dom Mora was reportedly arrested by police and paramilitaries “on his way to the confirmation ceremony in the parish of La Cruz de Rio Grande.” Along with him, “the seminarians Alester Sáenz and Tony Palacio were also arrested.” The whereabouts of the three men are currently unknown.
Dom Isidoro Mora
Arrested after praying for Dom Álvarez
According to the country's independent press, citing ecclesiastical sources, the sermon delivered by Dom Mora on December 20 in the Cathedral of the Apostle Peter was the reason for the arrest of the Bishop of Siuna. On this occasion, the prelate reported that the Episcopal Conference of Nicaragua continues to pray for Dom Álvarez. “We are always united in prayer for the beloved Diocese of Matagalpa,” said Dom Mora, “and we pray for Dom Rolando and for each one of you.” He then concluded: “We are united in prayer, in communion, in faith, in love, in tenderness.”
Dom Isidoro Mora
A country that is moving further and further away from the rule of law
In recent days, UN Deputy High Commissioner for Human Rights Nada AlNashif said that Nicaragua is moving “further and further” away from the rule of law and, in particular, from fundamental freedoms, exacerbating people’s suffering and fueling youth exodus and undermining the future of democratic institutions.” He then denounced the fact that authorities in Managua continue to persecute “those who can bring an alternative vision to the public, such as political and indigenous leaders, members of the Catholic Church, activists and journalists.” In this context,” he stressed, “restrictions on civic space continue, with repeated arbitrary detentions of people exercising their fundamental freedoms.”