the Jesuit Nicaragua’s Central American University (UCA) announced the suspension of all its activities on Wednesday after a court ordered the confiscation of her assets and funds, after accusing her of being a “center of terrorism”.

“The measures were taken in accordance with baseless allegations that Central American University acted as a center of terrorism and organized criminal groups,” the UCA said in a note addressed to the university community, referring to the 2018 protests, which saw more than 300 dead.

The university explained that it received a letter on Tuesday afternoon notifying the seizure, ordered by the Tenth Criminal Court of Managua Circumscription Hearings, headed by Judge Gloria Maria Saavedra Corrales.

The official letter “orders the seizure of all assets described […] for the state of Nicaragua, which will guarantee the continuity of all educational programs,” the university said.

The government of Daniel Ortega maintains a conflictual relationship with the Catholic Church. He Bishop Rolando Álvarez has been in prison since August 2022 and has been sentenced to 26 years in prison since February on charges including undermining national integrity. At least two other priests are in jail for alleged common crimes.

The Nicaraguan authorities had ordered the freezing of UCA bank accounts last week, although the official media did not announce any action against the university.

The government of President Daniel Ortega has also not commented on charges against the center.

“Central American University (UCA) is suspending as of today [miércoles] all academic and administrative activities, until it is possible to resume them in the usual way, which will be reported through the university’s official communication channels,” the academic center added.

The Central American provincial headquarters of the Society of Jesus deemed the allegations against the UCA “totally false and baseless” and asked Managua to reverse “the drastic, unexpected and unfair measure”.

“This is a government policy that systematically violates human rights and appears to be aimed at consolidating a totalitarian state,” the San Salvador-based Jesuit province said in a statement.

Classes for the second semester of the year were scheduled to start at UCA on Monday, August 21.

Founded in July 1960 by priests of the Society of Jesus, the UCA has about 5,000 students and describes itself as an “autonomous, non-profit, public, Christian-inspired educational institution”.

The authorities governing the higher education system of 10 public and 27 private universities met in a meeting on Wednesday to address academic issues, according to official media, but they made no reference to the Jesuit university.