32Nicaragua

Christians in Nicaragua are increasingly being silenced under the dictatorial rule of the co-presidents Daniel Ortega and his wife, Rosario Murillo.

Believers who raise their voices against the government over issues including human rights violations have faced surveillance, intimidation and imprisonment. Some even face exile and loss of citizenship. Meanwhile, churches and other Christian institutions (e.g. schools and charities) are deemed a threat to the regime. They have had assets seized, activities disrupted, and buildings vandalised. Rather than being seen as a valuable part of the country’s fabric, many Christians are viewed as “destabilising agents”.

This growing suffocation of Christian freedoms goes back to 2018, when nationwide protests broke out against the government. This worsened following the 2021 elections and the 2025 constitutional reform. Both have been used to make legal changes to justify the crackdown on dissenting voices further – and that includes further silencing the Church.

Meet Pastora

“Those who preach the Gospel without censorship – proclaiming Jesus’ love and the freedom the Holy Spirit brings – are exactly the ones they want to silence. The kind of Christianity rooted in Scripture, that dares to confront the brokenness of our country with the truth of the Gospel – that’s the kind they label an enemy.”

Pastora* (name changed), a woman who bravely refuses to be silenced by the authorities.

What does Open Doors do to help?

Open Doors strengthens the Church in Nicaragua amid persecution through livelihood support, legal assistance, persecution-survival training, and leadership care.