[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[S. Res. 607 Introduced in Senate (IS)]

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118th CONGRESS
  2d Session
S. RES. 607

     Condemning the Nicaraguan Government's unjust imprisonment of 
        individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, Inc.


_______________________________________________________________________


                   IN THE SENATE OF THE UNITED STATES

                             March 21, 2024

   Mr. Scott of Florida (for himself, Mr. Tuberville, Mr. Cruz, Mrs. 
 Britt, and Mr. Cramer) submitted the following resolution; which was 
             referred to the Committee on Foreign Relations

_______________________________________________________________________

                               RESOLUTION


 
     Condemning the Nicaraguan Government's unjust imprisonment of 
        individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, Inc.

Whereas, in December, 2023, 11 individuals affiliated with Mountain Gateway 
        Order, Inc. were arrested by the Government of Nicaragua, namely: 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 Marisela de Fatima Mejia Ruiz;
Whereas there is concern that the Government of Nicaragua has charged each of 
        these individuals for crimes on baseless claims of money laundering and 
        organized crime;
Whereas the accused individuals do not have adequate access to legal counsel;
Whereas there is concern that United States citizens affiliated with Mountain 
        Gateway Order, Inc. are being targeted for arrest and extradition by the 
        Government of Nicaragua;
Whereas this follows a pattern by the Government of Nicaragua to quell the free 
        speech and religious rights of Christians and other nongovernmental 
        organizations in Nicaragua;
Whereas, on November 30, 2022, in accordance with the International Religious 
        Freedom Act of 1998 (22 U.S.C. 6401 et seq.), the Secretary of State 
        designated Nicaragua as a ``Country of Particular Concern'' for having 
        engaged in or tolerated particularly severe violations of religious 
        freedom;
Whereas the Government of Nicaragua's actions are 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 Senate--
            (1) condemns the targeting and imprisonment of individuals 
        affiliated with Mountain Gateway Order, Inc. without due 
        process of law; and
            (2) calls on the Government of Nicaragua to take prompt 
        action to address these violations of religious freedom and 
        international human rights.
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