WASHINGTON, DC (29 November 2023) The House Foreign Affairs’ Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations will host a hearing titled “An Urgent Appeal to Let Bishop Álvarez go” on 30 November.  

Following a sham criminal trial, Bishop Rolando Álvarez of the Catholic Diocese of Matagalpa was unjustly convicted of “undermining national integrity” and “propagation of false news through information and communication technologies” for his preaching on themes of God-given human dignity and justice. In his sermons, Bishop Álvarez denounced the human rights violations perpetrated by the Nicaraguan government against the Catholic Church, its faithful, and the people generally.  

As there are no effective avenues for legal recourse available in Nicaragua, ADF International brought his case to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights, filing a petition on 12 September 2023. ADF International is awaiting a response from the Commission.  

“For simply fulfilling his duties as a bishop and preaching on the teachings of Christ and the Catholic Church, Bishop Álvarez has been unjustly convicted and imprisoned. We are grateful to the subcommittee members for hosting this critical hearing, and we implore all who are able to continue speaking out for the people of faith being wrongfully persecuted in Nicaragua. Nobody should be persecuted or imprisoned for sharing their faith, and ADF International will continue to seek justice for Bishop Álvarez and the people of Nicaragua,” said Kristina Hjelkrem, legal counsel for Latin America for ADF International, and lead lawyer on the bishop’s case.   

ADF International is submitting a statement to the record on behalf of Bishop Álvarez during the hearing, which can be live streamed here on 30 November at 10 AM ET. The statement will call on Congress to “demand an end to the Nicaraguan government’s persecution of the Catholic Church and demand the immediate release of Bishop Rolando Álvarez”. 

Both the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights and Inter-American Court of Human Rights ordered the government of Nicaragua to immediately release the bishop and take steps to protect his life, health, and personal integrity. However, the government of Nicaragua has ignored these measures. 

“The U.S. Congress should strongly condemn the Nicaraguan government’s actions against Bishop Rolando Alvarez, and strongly advocate that Nicaragua comply with its human rights obligations by releasing the bishop from prison and restoring his full rights,” noted Hjelkrem in anticipation of the hearing. 

More information on the Bishop’s case is available here.