Mountain Gateway, a U.S.-based missionary group, announced on Friday that it will file appeals against the convictions of 11 of its members who were jailed by Nicaragua in December on money laundering charges. The 11 individuals are Nicaraguans who worked with the Texas-based group. The government of President Daniel Ortega has a history of using charges of money laundering to target and expel faith groups and non-governmental organizations in Nicaragua. Mountain Gateway’s leader, Jon Britton Hancock, stated that the 11 members faced sentences ranging from 12 to 15 years in prison. Although Hancock and two other Americans also faced charges, they were not present in Nicaragua at the time of the arrests. The group maintains that it followed all government regulations to operate in Nicaragua and possesses documentation to support its claim that funding was managed appropriately.
Nicaragua’s government has been cracking down on various religious and educational institutions in recent years. In 2023, the Jesuit religious order was declared illegal, and all its property in Nicaragua was confiscated. The government argued that the Jesuit-run University of Central America was a “center of terrorism.” Since December 2021, the Ortega government has closed at least 26 Nicaraguan universities and seized their assets through similar procedures, including seven foreign institutions. In April, the Vatican closed its embassy in Nicaragua following a proposal from the government to suspend diplomatic relations. Additionally, two congregations of nuns, including those from the Missionaries of Charity order founded by Mother Teresa, were expelled from Nicaragua last year.
The targeting of religious and educational institutions is part of a broader crackdown on civil society in Nicaragua. Over 3,000 civic groups and non-governmental organizations have been outlawed or closed by the government. In May, the government ordered the shutdown of the Nicaraguan Red Cross, accusing it of destabilizing peace and stability during anti-government demonstrations in 2018. The local Red Cross denies the allegations, stating that it only provided medical assistance to injured protesters during the protests. The actions taken against these organizations demonstrate the government’s efforts to suppress dissent and control various aspects of society in Nicaragua.
The closures, confiscations, and expulsions carried out by the Ortega government have raised concerns about human rights and freedom of expression in Nicaragua. International organizations and human rights groups have criticized the government’s actions as a violation of fundamental rights and freedoms. The targeting of faith groups, educational institutions, and civil society organizations has sparked condemnation from the international community. The United States and other countries have expressed concerns about the deteriorating human rights situation in Nicaragua and called for the release of individuals unjustly detained on politically motivated charges.
Mountain Gateway’s decision to appeal the convictions of its members highlights the ongoing challenges faced by civil society and religious organizations in Nicaragua. The group’s commitment to pursuing legal avenues to seek justice for its members reflects a broader pushback against the government’s crackdown on dissent and independent voices. As the situation in Nicaragua continues to evolve, the actions taken by organizations like Mountain Gateway serve as a reminder of the importance of upholding the rights of individuals and organizations to operate freely and without fear of persecution. The outcome of the appeals filed by Mountain Gateway could have significant implications for the future of religious freedom and civil society in Nicaragua.
