Father Frutos is a diabetic suffering from hypertension. He became ill in the police car when they seized him on the 26th of July. Officials placed him under house arrest at the National Inter-Diocesan Seminary of Our Lady of Fátima.

The National Police also arrested two senior church executives – Father Ulises René Vega Matamoros and Father Edgard Sacasa – on the 1st of August. During the next two days, they also detained Father Jairo Pravia and Vicar Víctor Godoy of the Immaculate Conception of María de Sebáco Church, Franciscans Friar Silvio José Romero, Friar Ramón Morras, Father Antonio López and Father Salvador López. They were placed under house arrest at the Managua-based seminary. Authorities seized Father Jarvin Tórrez, who serves as rector of the Matagalpa seminary and parish priest of Santa María de Guadalupe Church in Matagalpa, on the 5th of August. Father Raúl Francisco Villegas from Matiguás Matagalpa parish, originally from Mexico, and Maron Velásquez Flores, vicar of Santa Lucía parish, were also detained at the seminary.

Founding President of Christian Solidarity Worldwide, Mervyn Thomas, stated: “The continued detention and arrests of religious leaders by the Nicaraguan government are both unwarranted and unconscionable. We urge the international community to emphasize to the Nicaraguan government that the ongoing crackdown on independent civil society, the relentless targeting of religious leaders and the continual violations of the right to freedom of religion or belief are unacceptable. More must be done to hold President [Danie] Ortega, his wife, and their regime accountable for the deteriorating situation of human rights in the country.”

In March 2023, Nicaragua forced the Vatican to close its nunciature in Managua. According to a report from the Nicaragua Nunca Mas collective, a human rights organization, over 200 religious figures have been compelled to leave the country. The U.S. State Department refers to Nicaragua as a “Country of Particular Concern” regarding ongoing religious freedom violations.

Source: https://www.christianpost.com/