Yonarqui Martínez García

Activity
Attorney and human rights defender of political prisoners

Attacks experienced
Attack on home, harassment and threats

THE FACTS – On Monday night, November 4, unknown assailants fired at least four shots into the home of , Yonarqui Martínez. At the time of the attack, the defender was inside her house with her children. For the last two weeks she has reported threats that have been made against her, and on Sunday, November 3, she was followed by four individuals on motor vehicles.

Yonarqui Martínez is a highly esteemed lawyer, well-known for accompanying political prisoners during the socio-political and human rights crisis that Nicaragua has suffered since April of 2018. That is why she has repeatedly been the target of different types of attacks, including criminalization, threats, harassment and arbitrary detentions.

We of IM-Defensoras condemn this attack and hold the Nicaraguan government responsible for any attempt whatsoever on the integrity of Yonarqui Martínez and her family.

We demand an immediate end to the violence perpetrated by the State and by groups aligned with the government against human rights defenders and persons who exercise their legitimate right to dissent and social protest in Nicaragua.

We call on the international community to continue to follow the situation in the country, where the crisis that began in April of 2018 is still in force; civil and political rights are systematically violated and the people are repressed, with serious restrictions imposed on the freedom of expression and information and the right to defend human rights.