The move was part of an attack on civil society with the closure of 1,500 nongovernmental organisations.

Announced last week, the increasingly totalitarian regime of President Daniel Ortega and his wife, Vice President Rosario Murillo, further eliminated civic spaces beyond their control, while further attacking freedom of worship.

The latest closures especially targeted evangelical congregations, many of which were described as modest by independent media.

Catholic Churches have long been spied upon, according to sources, with priests having to watch their words, even during homilies. The regime has also forbidden expressions of faith, shuttering Catholic media outlets, cancelling church charitable projects and halting processions and patron saint celebrations outside of church property.