Nicaragua Continues its Unrelenting Campaign to Eliminate Religious Freedom 

Nicaragua Continues its Unrelenting Campaign to Eliminate Religious Freedom 

Washington, DC – The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) released the following report:  

Nicaragua Country Update – In 2026, the government of President Daniel Ortega and self-appointed Co-President Rosario Murillo weaponized laws on treason, sovereignty, and various crimes that restricted freedom of religion or belief (FoRB). The government used arbitrary arrest and detention, closure of nongovernmental organizations, and transnational repression to harass, intimidate, and repress religious individuals. Catholic and Protestant churches continue to face severe restrictions on their FoRB. Ortega and Murillo increasingly target indigenous populations and Nicaraguans in exile—many of whom are expelled clergy or laypeople—as they seek to maintain power. Nicaragua has resisted efforts by the international community, including the United States, to alter the regime’s actions.    

In its 2026 Annual Report, USCIRF recommended Nicaragua be designated as a Country of Particular Concern (CPC). USCIRF has reported on the authoritarian repression of FoRB in Nicaragua, Cuba, and Venezuela, and held a hearing on Nicaragua’s religious freedom violations.  

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The U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) is an independent, bipartisan legislative branch agency established by the U.S. Congress to monitor, analyze, and report on religious freedom abroad. USCIRF makes foreign policy recommendations to the President, the Secretary of State, and Congress, intended to deter religious persecution and promote freedom of religion and belief. To interview a commissioner, please contact USCIRF at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..