Christians in Nicaragua have faced an escalation in persecution, as their government has cracked down on church services throughout the Easter period.
Tensions rode especially high this year, as Good Friday fell on the anniversary of the 2018 protests which triggered an ongoing crackdown on civil society.
Armed police officers were stationed outside churches, with leaders warned not to mention anyone arrested during the 2018 marches in prayer.
On Good Friday, three police vehicles carrying 24 riot officers were stationed outside Santiago Apostol Cathedral in Boaco Municipality while the church celebrated the Via Crucis, marking Jesus’ journey to Calvary. The Nuestra Señora de la Asunción Cathedral in Juigalpa Municipality also reported a police vehicle with six riot and four police officers sat outside, as well as the presence of local state-controlled media.
Anti-persecution watchdog Christian Solidarity Worldwide say things have been worsening under President Ortega, who regards Christianity as a threat to his authority.
CSW’s Public Affairs Officer, Ellis Heasley told Premier News: “Pesident Ortega and his co-president and wife, Rosario Murillo, have over the past four years, overseen this significant crackdown on churches, Protestant and Roman Catholic alike.
“If a church leader prays about peace or justice in democracy in Nicaragua, they may take it as the church leaders saying: ‘There's not enough of it at the moment.’”
On 24th February, the UN Group of Human Rights Experts on Nicaragua, a group tasked with investigating human rights violations - some of which amount to crimes against humanity - committed in the country since April 2018, published its latest report to the Human Rights Council. A day later, Nicaragua announced its withdrawal from the Council and all related mechanisms.  
CSW’s CEO Scot Bower said:  “The presence of riot police and National Police officers during peaceful Easter celebrations is both excessive and unwarranted. It is unconscionable that religious leaders and their communities simply wishing to peacefully practice their faith continue to be targeted relentlessly by a regime set on silencing its critics.
“Given Nicaragua’s withdrawal from the United Nations Human Rights Council, we urge the international community to seek creative ways to hold President Daniel Ortega, his wife Rosario Murillo, and their regime to account for the deteriorating situation of human rights in the country.’