13 December- PEN International and PEN Nicaragua express deep concern at the arbitrary detention of writer and academic Freddy Quezada by the Nicaraguan authorities.

According to public reports and information received by PEN International, Freddy Quezada was arrested at his home on 29 November 2023. We understand that police did not inform the family of his whereabouts until five days after he was arrested.

On 5 December 2023, Quezada was transferred to the Jorge Navarro Penitentiary System in Tipitapa, known as “La Modelo”, without access to legal representation or being informed of the reasons for his detention. The family members have not had access to official information, nor do they know Quezada's status in prison.

"The Nicaraguan authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Freddy Quezada and end the continuous persecution of writers, cultural workers and journalists for simply doing their job. His arrest is yet another example of how Daniel Ortega has created a climate of near-total censorship and silencing of a country," said Ma Thida, Chair of the Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International.

Quezada was arrested hours after posting messages on social media (under the pseudonym "Uliteo") that were critical of the Nicaraguan government. In one of his last posts before he was detained, Quezada referred to the government as a “dictatorship” and criticised its public narrative around its detention of a prominent bishop who is a vocal critic of the government. In 2018, Quezada was dismissed from his academic role at the National Autonomous University of Nicaragua (UNAN) due to his outspoken criticism of the Nicaraguan government’s violent repression of student protests.

PEN International and PEN Nicaragua demand the immediate release of Freddy Quezada and continue to call on the Nicaraguan authorities to end to the persecution and arbitrary detention of critical journalists, writers, and academics. Pending his release, Quezeda should receive adequate detention conditions including regular access to legal representatives, medical care, and relatives. Quezada’s family should also receive current information about his whereabouts and condition.

PEN International calls the international community to join in demanding the immediate release of imprisoned writers, journalists and others detained for their peaceful expression, and to strongly condemn all forms of censorship in Nicaragua.

For more information about our work in Nicaragua, click here.

For more information, please contact Alicia Quiñones, Head of the Americas Region, at PEN International, email: alicia.quinones@pen-international.org. For media enquiries, please contact Sabrina Tucci, Communications and Campaigns Manager, at Sabrina.tucchi@pen-international.org

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