Mรฉrida Doctor Abductedโข Following Support for โคChurch & Opposition โfigures
Venezuelan urologist Dr.โข pedro Fernรกndez, a member of Doctors United for Venezuela, was forcibly abducted fromโ his workplaceโ in Mรฉrida state onโ Monday afternoon. Witnesses report that several hooded individuals entered the Marcial Rรญos โฃClinical Center and took dr. Fernรกndez.
The abduction comes shortly after Dr. Fernรกndezโค publicly expressed support for both Cardinal โขBaltazar Porras and opposition leader Marรญa Corina โคMachado on socialโ media. Last week, he posted a birthday message to Cardinal Porras, celebrating his role in the recent canonization of Venezuelanโ saints Josรฉ โขGregorio Hernรกndez and Sister Rendiles, stating, “We celebrate the miracle of the canonizationโ of ourโ saints, thanks to all your work and dedication.”
Dr.Fernรกndez also shared a post anticipating a Nobel โPeace Prize for Machado, writing, “Our leader, our strength and โguide โขfor โfreedom has been recognized with the highest award for world peace. marรญa Corina, Nobel Peace Prize โค2025!” He previously thanked Cardinal โขPorras for his dedication toโ the sainthood processes, praising his “tenacity and firm attachment to our values.”
The timing of the abduction coincidesโค with โincreased repression by the Venezuelan regime.โข As Venezuelans marked the canonization of Josรฉ Gregorioโ Hernรกndez with calls for the release of political prisoners, authorities have reportedly escalated arbitrary arrests. A councilor in Trujillo was detained during a religious ceremony in Isnotรบ, Hernรกndez’s birthplace, and in Barquisimeto, aโ journalist โคwas arrested alongside his mother and brother.
The abduction of Dr. Fernรกndez raises concerns about the targeting of individuals perceivedโ to support โthe Catholic Church and political โคopposition in Venezuela.
