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[Congressional Bills 118th Congress] [From the U.S. Government Publishing Office] [H. Res. 1019 Introduced in House (IH)]
118th CONGRESS 2d Session H. RES. 1019
Condemning the Nicaraguan Government's unjust imprisonment of individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Ministry.
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IN THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
February 16, 2024
Mr. Moore of Alabama (for himself, Mr. Aderholt, Ms. Sewell, Mr. Roy, Mr. Carl, and Mr. Palmer) submitted the following resolution; which was referred to the Committee on Foreign Affairs
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RESOLUTION
Condemning the Nicaraguan Government's unjust imprisonment of individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Ministry.
Whereas, in December 2023, eleven individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Ministry, Marcos Sergio Hernandez Jiron; Harry Lening Rios Bravo; Manuel de Jesus Rios Flores; Jose Luis Orozco Urrutia; Alvaro Daniel Escobar Caldera; Juan Carlos Chavarria Zapata; Juan Luis Moncada; Orvin Alexis Moncada Castellano, Cesar Facundo Burgalin Miranda, Walner Omier Blandon Ochoa, and Maricela de Fatima Mejia Ruiz were arrested by the Government of Nicaragua; Whereas there is concern the Nicaraguan Government has charged each of the listed individuals for crimes on baseless claims of money laundering and organized crime; Whereas the accused do not have adequate access to legal counsel; Whereas there is concern that United States citizens affiliated with Mountain Gateway Ministry are being targeted for arrest and extradition by the Nicaraguan Government; Whereas this follows a pattern by the Nicaraguan Government to quell the free speech and religious rights of Christians and other non-governmental organizations in Nicaragua; Whereas, on November 30, 2022, in accordance with the International Religious Freedom Act of 1998, the Secretary of State designated Nicaragua a "Country of Particular Concern" for having engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious freedom; Whereas the Nicaraguan Government's actions are yet another example of an extreme intolerance of religious organizations; and Whereas Congress has a vested interest in upholding international religious freedom and human rights: Now, therefore, be it Resolved, That the House of Representatives-- (1) condemns the targeting and imprisonment of individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Ministry without due process of law; and (2) calls on the Nicaraguan Government to take prompt action to address these violations of religious freedom and international human rights.