Nicaragua Shutters 1,500 NGOs Including Red Cross

Nicaragua has revoked the registration of 1,500 non-governmental organizations, including many religious and civic groups, in an ongoing crackdown against entities deemed hostile to President Daniel Ortega's authoritarian regime. This move is part of a broader effort that has seen the closure of over 5,000 NGOs since 2018, following anti-regime protests that resulted in significant violence and numerous arrests. Among the targeted groups are the Nicaraguan Red Cross, various Catholic charities, and hundreds of evangelical organizations. The government claims these organizations failed to report their financial statements, although critics argue the charges are largely spurious. Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, have expanded their repression to include both Catholic and evangelical churches, labeling religious figures as threats to the state. International bodies, including the United Nations, have expressed grave concerns over the systematic human rights abuses in Nicaragua.