Over 200 religious figures have been forced into exile.

Omissions

• The most widely cited figure comes from a single researcher, Martha Patricia Molina, rather than an official governmental or international body. No primary official source (e.g., UN, OAS, or Vatican) independently confirms the exact number.
• The 304 figure encompasses not only those formally forced into exile by the government, but also those who fled voluntarily or were denied reentry after traveling abroad — a broader category than 'forced into exile' alone.
• The definition of 'religious figures' in the cited research includes nuns and seminarians in addition to priests and bishops, which is a broader scope than what listeners might assume.
• The claim of 'over 200' is actually a conservative estimate; the documented figure is at least 304, suggesting the MEP may have been cautious or relying on older data.

Sources

• SecondaryNational Catholic ReporterAt least 304 prelates, priests, nuns and seminarians have been exiled, forced to flee Nicaragua or denied reentry after traveling abroad, according to Molina.
• SecondaryTexas CatholicAt least 304 prelates, priests, nuns, and seminarians have been exiled, forced to flee Nicaragua or denied reentry after traveling abroad, according to Molina.
• SecondaryCatholic World ReportSeven out of 10 priests have been forced into exile or banishment.
• SecondaryHuman Rights WatchPresident Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, intensified repression. They have expanded the use of forced exile and citizenship stripping.