Nicaraguan authorities release 1,200 prisoners for Holy Week

Liberation of prisoners in Nicaragua. Photo: El 19 Digital

Nicaraguan authorities have released 1,200 prisoners serving sentences in criminal cases, timing the move to coincide with Holy Week. The report was published by the Religion Digital website.

Those released were allowed to leave prison under a so-called family cohabitation regime, meaning they may live at home under certain conditions. The decision was announced during an official ceremony held within the national prison system, including its largest facility, La Modelo, near Managua.

Interior Minister María Amelia Coronel Kinloch said the step was linked to the spiritual meaning of the Easter season. “Holy Week reminds us of the sacrifice of Jesus Christ, of His Resurrection, and gives us the opportunity to begin a new life – one we must build better with each passing day,” she said, adding that April is regarded in the country as a “month of peace.”

At the same time, such measures have repeatedly drawn criticism. A number of civil society organizations argue that mass early releases of convicted offenders may contribute to rising crime. According to the authorities, more than 53,000 prisoners have been released in the country over the past ten years, and some of them later reoffended.

As the UOJ previously reported, the authorities in Nicaragua had earlier banned tourists from bringing Bibles into the country.

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