Teenager Detained in Caracas, Sparking Concerns of Political Targeting
A 16-year-old was arrested Wednesday in El Valle, Caracas, by state security officials, prompting condemnation from human rights organizations and opposition parties who allege teh detention is part of a pattern of targeting relatives of individuals politically persecuted in Venezuela.
Justice, Encounter and forgiveness (JEP), a non-governmental organization, expressed alarm over the arrest, stating it “adds to an increasingly widespread pattern of arrests of relatives of politically persecuted people, apparently with the purpose of exerting pressure, intimidation and emotional exhaustion on family units already violated by previous actions of the State.”
JEP is calling for the teenager’s immediate release and guarantees for her physical and emotional well-being, advocating for a swift reunion with her family. The organization also demands full openness regarding the teen’s legal status, location of detention, and conditions of confinement, including access to legal counsel and adequate support. https://x.com/JEPvzla/status/1991279895599603854
Vente Venezuela (VV), an opposition party led by María Corina Machado, has alerted the international community, asserting the detention not only harms the minor but also “re-victimizes a Venezuelan family that has been persecuted.”
According to Foro Penal, an NGO that provides assistance to political prisoners, there were 882 individuals detained in Venezuela as of November 10th, including four teenagers.
The Venezuelan government and Prosecutor’s office maintain that those detained have been arrested for committing crimes, a claim disputed by numerous NGOs and opposition groups.
