Authorities in Nicaragua have banned tourists from bringing Bibles into the country, according to a report by CentroAmérica360, which outlines restrictions issued by President Daniel Ortega, the country’s leader and dictator, and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, who rules along with him.
The international transport company Tica Bus informed its users about a new set of items prohibited from entering Nicaragua…
In addition to the usually restricted items —firearms, sharp objects and perishable food— the list now includes drones, magazines, printed newspapers and Bibles , generating concern among travelers and human rights organizations.
…The company stated that the restrictions stem from regulations notified by Nicaraguan authorities to international transport companies operating in the region.
CA360 notes that banning magazines and newspapers makes sense in this authoritarian context, given that Ortega and his wife shut down the independent press in 2022 and have jailed or killed hundreds of opponents, real or perceived, but that banning Bibles is unprecedented.
It was not, however, completely unforeseen, as Ortega and his wicked wife accused the church of supporting an attempted coup d’état in 2018, which saw rare mass protests against his leadership and resulted in hundreds of imprisonments.
Since 2018, Nicaragua has experienced a sustained decline in religious freedom. Dozens of Catholic priests have been arrested, exiled, or placed under surveillance.
At the same time, entire congregations, including orders and movements of consecrated life, have been expelled from the country.
…In the case of evangelical churches, several community leaders have been arrested in recent years on charges related to “conspiracy” or alleged financial irregularities.
