[Congressional Bills 118th Congress]
[From the U.S. Government Publishing Office]
[H. Res. 1019 Introduced in House (IH)]

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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.
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