Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Reuters
Reuters
Politics

Nicaragua shuts Catholic radio stations led by bishop critical of regime

FILE PHOTO: Rolando Alvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa and Esteli and critical of the Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, prays at a Catholic church where he is taking refuge alleging he had been targeted by the police, in Managua, Nicaragua May 20, 2022. REUTERS/Maynor Valenzuela

The Nicaraguan government ordered the closure on Monday of seven Catholic radio stations linked to a bishop who has been critical of the country's president, Daniel Ortega.

Bishop Rolando Alvarez, who serves as the radio's coordinator and leads the remote northern Matagalpa diocese, announced the closures on Monday.

"All our radio stations have been closed, but they will not cancel the word of God," Alvarez said on Twitter.

FILE PHOTO: Rolando Alvarez, bishop of the Diocese of Matagalpa and Esteli and critical of the Nicaraguan President Daniel Ortega, conducts a mass online at a Catholic church where he is taking refuge alleging he had been targeted by the police, in Managua, Nicaragua May 20, 2022. REUTERS/Maynor Valenzuela

The Nicaraguan telecommunications agency said the radio stations did not meet the technical requirements to be on air, but did not specify what those requirements were.

Ortega has become increasingly isolated and condemned internationally for leading a political crackdown in the Central American country since he returned to power 15 years ago.

Relations between the Catholic Church and the Ortega government have deteriorated since 2018 when there were sustained protests against the president's rule and a subsequent crackdown by the government.

Priests lead a mass for parishioners at Santo Domingo de Guzman church in Managua, Nicaragua, August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Maynor Valenzuela

In the northern town of Sebaco, protests erupted after a priest, Uriel Vallejos, refused to hand over the radio equipment and asked parishioners for help via a live video stream on Facebook.

Videos shared on social media showed Nicaraguan police firing shots into the air and tear gas on Monday night, before taking control of the parish and the radio station.

Vallejo took refuge in the parish house and, as of Tuesday morning, was still locked inside with eight accompanying parishioners, according to a tweet sent by the priest.

Parishioners place candles during a mass at Santo Domingo de Guzman church in Managua, Nicaragua, August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Maynor Valenzuela

Vallejos said that authorities had cut off his electricity, injured two parishioners and detained several young people who had responded to his call for help.

(Reporting by Reuters Staff; Writing by Isabel Woodford; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)

A man prays during a mass at Santo Domingo de Guzman church in Managua, Nicaragua, August 2, 2022. REUTERS/Maynor Valenzuela
Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
One subscription that gives you access to news from hundreds of sites
Already a member? Sign in here
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.