In a significant escalation of its authoritarian measures, Nicaragua's government declared the Jesuit religious order illegal on August 23, and subsequently ordered the confiscation of all its property. This move comes just one week after President Daniel Ortega's administration seized control of the Jesuit-run University of Central America, claiming it to be a "center of terrorism."
The official confiscation order, issued on August 23, alleges that the Roman Catholic order, known as the Society of Jesus, had not complied with tax reporting requirements. This development is part of a series of increasingly repressive actions taken by the Nicaraguan government, targeting not only the Catholic Church but also opposition figures.
The University of Central America in Nicaragua played a crucial role as a focal point for the 2018 protests against the Ortega regime. In response to the seizure of the university, the Society of Jesus of Central America released a statement emphasizing that these actions are indicative of a government policy that systematically violates human rights, seemingly aimed at consolidating a totalitarian state.
The recent measures against the Jesuit order are emblematic of a broader trend of government crackdowns on dissent. Since December 2021, a total of 26 Nicaraguan universities have been forcibly closed and their assets seized under the direction of the Ortega government. Shockingly, seven of these universities were foreign institutions.
The situation escalated further in April when the Vatican closed its embassy in Nicaragua after the government proposed suspending diplomatic relations. This move highlighted the deteriorating relationship between the country's authorities and the international religious community. Furthermore, the country expelled two congregations of nuns, including the Missionaries of Charity order founded by Mother Teresa, in the previous year.
The crackdown on civil society has extended beyond religious institutions. More than 3,000 civic groups and non-governmental organizations have been either outlawed or forcibly shut down. In May, the Nicaraguan government ordered the closure of the Nicaraguan Red Cross, accusing it of undermining peace and stability during the anti-government protests of 2018. In contrast, the local Red Cross maintained that its activities focused solely on providing medical aid to injured protesters.
In a disturbing trend, the government seized properties belonging to 222 opposition figures in June, who had been forced into exile in February following imprisonment by Ortega's regime. This group included seven presidential hopefuls who were barred from participating in the 2021 election, along with lawyers, human rights activists, journalists, and former members of the Sandinista guerrilla movement.
These actions are a grim reminder of the mass anti-government protests that were violently suppressed by Nicaraguan security forces in 2018, prompting thousands to flee into exile. Ortega claims that these protests were an attempted coup backed by foreign interests, all aimed at overthrowing his leadership.
As the Nicaraguan government continues to tighten its grip on various aspects of the nation's civil society, including religious institutions and opposition voices, the international community watches closely to see how the situation unfolds and whether any relief can be provided to those affected by these oppressive measures.
