Religious Freedom in Venezuela

Religious freedom in Venezuela is under attack. Led by Nicolás Maduro, Venezuela’s socialist regime is waging a campaign against those who dare to maintain religious autonomy in opposition of state control.

As the latest report from VOC’s Latin America Programs team, Religious Freedom in Venezuela: An Unprecedented Risk outlines, regime aggression against religious institutions has intensified in both volume and sophistication over the past two years, becoming part of a broader pattern of democratic restrictions. Targeting faith expressions not overtly aligned with the regime, Maduro is attempting to co-opt religious organizations through parallel structures and selective benefit programs. Religious leaders have also witnessed a systematic pattern of legal and discursive harassment against those who refuse to fall in line. Further, the regime is restricting religious freedom outside places of worship, shutting down faith‑based media outlets, suspending educational agreements with religious institutions, and even restricting spiritual care in prisons.  
 
Despite these attacks, Venezuelans have not given up hope. Read the full report to learn more about the deteriorating state of religious freedom in Venezuela.