Wilber Pérez

Wilber Alberto Pérez, the evangelical pastor who asked for a “Christmas without political prisoners”

Wilber Alberto Pérez, 44 years old, a bricklayer, originally from Managua, has been an evangelical pastor for more than 12 years. He is a relative of political prisoner John Christopher Cerna Zúñiga, which motivated him to demand his freedom and was a member of the Association of Relatives of Political Prisoners (AFPP) and a member of the political movement “March 16”.

Wilber actively participated in fasting and prayer campaigns for the release of political prisoners. He believed that electoral reforms were necessary in Nicaragua, so that free elections could be held. Wilber was also involved in a campaign for political prisoners who did not have access to Covid prevention supplies and did not receive adequate medical attention when they had Covid-related symptoms.

In December 2020, he participated in a campaign “Christmas without political prisoners”, whose objective was to obtain the release of political prisoners. A few days later, Wilber was arbitrarily detained on December 15, 2020. He was captured while walking with his family on the Malecón in Managua, when two motorized agents in civilian clothes and a motorcycle with two policemen on board arrived, who forced him and then put him in a patrol car and aggressively took him away.

Wilber was falsely accused by the Public Prosecutor’s Office for the crime of trafficking narcotics, psychotropic and other controlled substances. After hearing the guilty verdict Wilber told the judge: “if justice is not done, God will do justice”.

In the Penitentiary System Jorge Navarro known as “la Modelo” has presented physical and psychological health problems, without receiving adequate medical attention. From prison Wilber managed to write a letter, which was made public where he lamented that “for demanding justice, freedom and democracy he has been imprisoned and that from there he has more strength and courage to continue fighting for Nicaragua”.

Freedom for Wilber Alberto Pérez!

We demand to the Ortega regime: Free Nicas Now!