Freedom of the press is something we often take for granted in the United States, but the desire for that freedom is not unique to our country. Nicaraguans desire that same freedom; however, new laws passed in Nicaragua have limited the press. Under the “Special Cybercrime Law,” passed in October 2020, a journalist who writes information that is false according to the government can receive jail time.
Journalists in Nicaragua have recently reported on the true outcome of the November election results and how the pandemic has affected the country. Two independent news outlets that published these reports were then raided by police, and two journalists were imprisoned and tortured in police custody. Over seventy journalists have fled the country. As a result, journalists around the world are calling for investigation into the restriction of the press in Nicaragua. The truth must be told. True news and the freedom to tell it are worth fighting for.