{"id":20706,"date":"2023-11-30T22:14:33","date_gmt":"2023-11-30T21:14:33","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/?p=20706"},"modified":"2023-12-01T07:49:00","modified_gmt":"2023-12-01T06:49:00","slug":"aviso-u-s-congressional-subcommittee-to-host-hearing-on-the-unjust-imprisonment-of-nicaraguan-bishop-rolando-alvarez-2","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/news\/congressional-hearing-bishop-alvarez","title":{"rendered":"\u201cWe appeal to President Daniel Ortega \u2026 let Bishop \u00c1lvarez go\u201d: US Congress holds hearing for unjustly imprisoned Nicaraguan Catholic Bishop"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"20706\" class=\"elementor elementor-20706\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-2e9a25f elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"2e9a25f\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5cd8203\" data-id=\"5cd8203\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-d43af20 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"d43af20\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<ul><li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"1\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Foreign Affairs subcommittee today heard testimony on case of Bishop Rolando \u00c1lvarez, sentenced to 26 years in prison for preaching on the human rights violations perpetrated by the Nicaraguan government.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><li data-leveltext=\"\uf0b7\" data-font=\"Symbol\" data-listid=\"1\" data-list-defn-props=\"{&quot;335552541&quot;:1,&quot;335559684&quot;:-2,&quot;335559685&quot;:720,&quot;335559991&quot;:360,&quot;469769226&quot;:&quot;Symbol&quot;,&quot;469769242&quot;:[8226],&quot;469777803&quot;:&quot;left&quot;,&quot;469777804&quot;:&quot;\uf0b7&quot;,&quot;469777815&quot;:&quot;hybridMultilevel&quot;}\" aria-setsize=\"-1\" data-aria-posinset=\"2\" data-aria-level=\"1\"><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ADF International, which petitioned the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of the bishop, submitted a statement for the hearing record.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/li><\/ul>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-3ef06577 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"3ef06577\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-862ba01\" data-id=\"862ba01\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-8d4c6c2 elementor-widget__width-initial elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"8d4c6c2\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">WASHINGTON, DC<\/span><\/b><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> (30 November 2023) Members of the House Foreign Affairs\u2019 Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights, and International Organizations hosted a <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5myQuDKH950\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">hearing<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> today titled \u201cAn Urgent Appeal to Let Bishop \u00c1lvarez go\u201d. Witness and expert testimony was provided on the ongoing human rights crisis in Nicaragua. US Members of congress, including Congressman Chris Smith (R-New Jersey), Congresswoman Susan Wild (D-Pennsylvania), and Congresswoman Maria Salazar (R-Florida) led and asked questions during the hearing that featured testimonies from three members of the Nicaraguan Catholic Church, who served as anonymous witnesses for their safety.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">ADF International, which has submitted a petition to the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights on behalf of the bishop regarding violations of his rights to religious freedom and freedom of expression, has also submitted a statement to the record regarding legal abuses during his sham conviction and greater human rights violations of his case.\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWe are grateful to the subcommittee for raising the critical issue of religious persecution in Nicaragua and for hosting this vital congressional hearing,\u201d said Kristina Hjelkrem, legal counsel for Latin America for ADF International, and lead lawyer on the bishop\u2019s case.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Hjelkrem continued: \u201cBishop \u00c1lvarez has been harassed and unjustly imprisoned by the Nicaraguan government for simply fulfilling his duties as a Catholic bishop. No person should be punished or prosecuted for expressing their faith, and we are thankful to the US Congress members who are joining us in advocating for the rights of Bishop \u00c1lvarez and all Nicaraguans whose rights have been violated. We will continue to seek justice for the bishop, and hopefully, put an end to the suppression of religious freedom in Nicaragua.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cThe international community can no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening to the people of Nicaragua\u201d<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">A part of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, the Subcommittee on Global Health, Global Human Rights and International Organizations has oversight of issues and legislation pertaining to the implementation of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, and other matters relating to internationally-recognized human rights.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The subcommittee hosted today\u2019s hearing, which included testimony from two anonymous prisoners of conscience who were exiled from Nicaragua, and testimony from a mother of a Nicaraguan prisoner of conscience, who also remained anonymous. The hearing also featured testimony from Deborah Ullmer, the National Democratic Institute\u2019s Regional Director for Latin America and the Caribbean.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cBishop \u00c1lvarez is an innocent man enduring unspeakable suffering. Today, we appeal to President Daniel Ortega: release him from prison, let Bishop \u00c1lvarez go,\u201d<\/span> <span data-contrast=\"auto\">said Congressman Chris Smith, who also serves as the subcommittee chairman. \u201cThe international community can no longer turn a blind eye to what is happening to the people of Nicaragua, including, and especially, people of faith. Bishop \u00c1lvarez deserves to be respected and revered and free, not persecuted and incarcerated. We again appeal to President Daniel Ortega, let Bishop \u00c1lvarez go. Release him from prison. The United States needs to act quickly and use every single tool at our disposal,\u201d he further stated.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">\u201cWhat is inconceivable is that Daniel Ortega meddles or interferes with the Catholic Church. He\u2019s holding as a prisoner one of the most important members of the Catholic Church of Nicaragua for more than a year now,\u201d said Congresswoman Maria Salazar of Florida.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The hearing can be viewed in its entirety <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=5myQuDKH950\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">here<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\">.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><b><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Imprisoned for the faith\u00a0<\/span><\/b><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The persecution of <\/span><a href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/cases\/bishop-rolando-alvarez\"><span data-contrast=\"none\">Bishop \u00c1lvarez<\/span><\/a><span data-contrast=\"auto\"> by Nicaraguan authorities started on August 4, 2022, when police agents prevented him from leaving his residence, the Episcopal Curia of Matagalpa, to celebrate Mass at a nearby cathedral. The Bishop, along with seminarians, priests, and a cameraman, was forcibly detained by police in the diocesan offices for 15 days.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Later, on August 19, 2022, police forcibly entered the residence, and arbitrarily arrested Bishop \u00c1lvarez and seven other members of the Catholic Church without a warrant. Bishop \u00c1lvarez then was placed under house arrest by authorities.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Following the arrest, Nicaraguan authorities opened a criminal investigation into the bishop for the crimes of \u201cundermining national integrity\u201d and \u201cpropagation of false news through information and communication technologies\u201d. Bishop \u00c1lvarez later was found guilty of these crimes, along with \u201caggravated obstruction of functions\u201d and \u201cdisobedience of contempt for authority\u201d.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">The Bishop\u2019s charges were based on sermons that he had delivered from the pulpit as a result of what he considered a religious duty to preach on God-given freedoms and about governmental human rights violations. He was convicted after a trial that he did not know was taking place, and at which he, therefore, could not testify nor cross-examine witnesses.\u00a0<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">Bishop \u00c1lvarez was deprived of his nationality and citizenship rights according to a problematic national law, and sentenced to 26 years and 4 months in prison, in addition to being ordered to pay 800 days worth of fines, amounting to almost $5000 USD.\u00a0He now has been held in prison for 9 months, deprived of contact with legal representation. <\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">In a clear media stunt aimed at diverting the international community\u2019s attention ahead of today\u2019s congressional hearing, the day immediately after the notice of the hearing was made, Nicaraguan authorities published a press release with the following statement, along with pictures and videos of Bishop \u00c1lvarez: \u201cthe conditions of confinement are preferential and the regime of medical consultations, family visits, remission and receipt of packages is strictly complied with, contrary to what slanderous campaigns pretend to make believe\u00a0\u00bb. Reliable sources assure that \u00c1lvarez&rsquo;s prison conditions are terrifying. <\/span><\/p><p><span data-contrast=\"auto\">An appeal to the Managua Court of Appeals against the conviction resulting from the sham trial was refused on procedural grounds for failing to challenge specific parts of the judgment, which the court had not provided. Further, the Bishop initially was denied his lawyer of choice, and his legal representation since has been refused basic information about his case. There is no further effective legal recourse available to him in Nicaragua.<\/span><span data-ccp-props=\"{&quot;201341983&quot;:0,&quot;335559739&quot;:160,&quot;335559740&quot;:259}\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-4443fd4 elementor-widget-divider--view-line elementor-widget elementor-widget-divider\" data-id=\"4443fd4\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"divider.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-divider\">\n\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-divider-separator\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-00aa1c6 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"00aa1c6\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\tImages for free use in print or online in relation to this story only\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-608988c elementor-widget elementor-widget-gallery\" data-id=\"608988c\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-settings=\"{&quot;aspect_ratio&quot;:&quot;1:1&quot;,&quot;lazyload&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;gallery_layout&quot;:&quot;grid&quot;,&quot;columns&quot;:4,&quot;columns_tablet&quot;:2,&quot;columns_mobile&quot;:1,&quot;gap&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_tablet&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;gap_mobile&quot;:{&quot;unit&quot;:&quot;px&quot;,&quot;size&quot;:10,&quot;sizes&quot;:[]},&quot;link_to&quot;:&quot;file&quot;,&quot;overlay_background&quot;:&quot;yes&quot;,&quot;content_hover_animation&quot;:&quot;fade-in&quot;}\" data-widget_type=\"gallery.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery__container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Bishop-Rolando-Alvarez-2-CROPPED-2.jpeg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"608988c\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Bishop-Rolando-Alvarez-2-CROPPED.jpeg\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MjA2MTcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyM1wvMTFcL0Jpc2hvcC1Sb2xhbmRvLUFsdmFyZXotMi1DUk9QUEVELTIuanBlZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjYwODk4OGMifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Bishop-Rolando-Alvarez-2-CROPPED-2.jpeg\" data-width=\"640\" data-height=\"802\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Bishop-Rolando-Alvarez-1-CROPPED-1.jpeg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"608988c\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Bishop Rolando Alvarez 1 CROPPED\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MjA0NjEsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyM1wvMTFcL0Jpc2hvcC1Sb2xhbmRvLUFsdmFyZXotMS1DUk9QUEVELTEuanBlZyIsInNsaWRlc2hvdyI6IjYwODk4OGMifQ%3D%3D\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Bishop-Rolando-Alvarez-1-CROPPED-1.jpeg\" 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data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/09\/Kristina_Hjelkrem_Smiling_400x400.jpg\" data-width=\"400\" data-height=\"400\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"e-gallery-item elementor-gallery-item elementor-animated-content\" href=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Kristina-Hjelkrem-at-US-Capitol.jpg\" data-elementor-open-lightbox=\"yes\" data-elementor-lightbox-slideshow=\"608988c\" data-elementor-lightbox-title=\"Kristina Hjelkrem At US Capitol\" data-e-action-hash=\"#elementor-action%3Aaction%3Dlightbox%26settings%3DeyJpZCI6MjA3MDcsInVybCI6Imh0dHBzOlwvXC9hZGZpbnRlcm5hdGlvbmFsLm9yZ1wvd3AtY29udGVudFwvdXBsb2Fkc1wvMjAyM1wvMTFcL0tyaXN0aW5hLUhqZWxrcmVtLWF0LVVTLUNhcGl0b2wuanBnIiwic2xpZGVzaG93IjoiNjA4OTg4YyJ9\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"e-gallery-image elementor-gallery-item__image\" data-thumbnail=\"https:\/\/adfinternational.org\/wp-content\/uploads\/2023\/11\/Kristina-Hjelkrem-at-US-Capitol-1024x1024.jpg\" data-width=\"1024\" data-height=\"1024\" aria-label=\"\" role=\"img\" ><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-gallery-item__overlay\"><\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Foreign Affairs subcommittee today heard testimony on case of Bishop Rolando \u00c1lvarez, sentenced to 26 years in prison for preaching on the human rights violations perpetrated by the Nicaraguan government. 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