Question to the Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office:

To ask His Majesty's Government what representations they have made to the government of Nicaragua about the human rights implications of the arbitrary detention of Juan Abelardo Mata Guevara, Bishop Emeritus of Estelí, and other religious leaders on 29 and 30 June, and the subsequent surveillance of them.

As set out in the UK's statement at the UN Human Rights Council on 16 March, we remain deeply concerned by the continued deterioration of the human rights situation in Nicaragua. This includes ongoing harassment and the arbitrary detention of members of the Church. We will continue to monitor developments closely and urge the Nicaraguan authorities to release all political prisoners immediately and unconditionally, including those held because of their faith or belief.