Nicaraguan Crackdown on Christians Continues with Bible Ban on Tourists

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The Nicaraguan government has reportedly banned tourists from bringing Bibles into the country as part of an ongoing crackdown against Christians.

The ban, confirmed by regional transport company Tica Bus, also includes newspapers, magazines, books, drones, and cameras among prohibited items at the border, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reported.

According to a Tica Bus spokesperson in El Salvador, passengers traveling to Managua are not allowed to bring “Bibles, newspapers, magazines, books of any kind, drones, and cameras.”

Additionally, a representative from the company’s Honduras office said the restrictions had been in place for more than six months.

Anna Lee Stangl, CSW’s Director of Advocacy and Americas Team Leader, urged the Nicaraguan government, led by President Daniel Ortega, to lift the ban “immediately.”

“The Nicaraguan government’s efforts to restrict the entry of Bibles, other books, newspapers, and magazines into the country are highly concerning given the current context of repression. We call on the government of Nicaragua to lift this ban immediately, and to cease its continued efforts to stifle freedom of religion or belief and expression in the country,” said Stangl in a statement.

“We also reiterate our call on the international community to seek creative ways to support and strengthen independent Nicaraguan voices both inside the country and in exile.”

The ban comes as Nicaragua continues to limit religious freedom and civil liberties, including thousands of civil society groups being shut down, and religious organizations facing surveillance, detention, and the cancellation of public events, according to The Christian Post.

The church has been one of the few institutions that have stood against President Daniel Ortega's government, including mass protests in 2018.

Since April 2018, over 5,000 independent civil society organizations have had their legal status revoked, including over 1,300 religious groups.

In 2024 alone, a report by CSW, titled “Total Control: The Eradication of Independent Voices in Nicaragua,” found 222 cases of religious persecution were documented, with 46 religious leaders detained.

The Central American country withdrew from the U.N. Human Rights Council in March after a U.N. report accused the Ortega administration of systematically dismantling democracy and violating religious freedom.

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Milton Quintanilla is a freelance writer and content creator. He is a contributing writer for CrosswalkHeadlines and the host of the For Your Soul Podcast, a podcast devoted to sound doctrine and biblical truth. He holds a Masters of Divinity from Alliance Theological Seminary.