Reinaldo Araujo, a Venezuelan opposition activist from the Vente Venezuela party, died in jail after being arrested during protests against Nicolás Maduro’s government. His health issues were reportedly ignored while in custody. The incident has sparked outrage, with calls to end political repression as his death marks the ongoing crisis of political prisoners in the country.
Reinaldo Araujo, a Venezuelan opposition activist and member of the Vente Venezuela party, has died while in custody, according to his party. Araujo was arrested on January 9 during protests against the government and had ongoing health issues that were reportedly neglected in prison. His death has sparked outrage, with Vente Venezuela’s leader, María Corina Machado, blaming Nicolás Maduro’s regime, holding it accountable for Araujo’s deteriorating health and eventual death.
Luis Almagro, head of the Organization of American States (OAS), condemned Araujo’s passing, labeling it a “new atrocity of the regime.” He called for an end to political imprisonment and torture in Venezuela. Araujo had been detained after attending a protest against the inauguration of Maduro for a third term as president. Reports indicate that 20 political prisoners have died in Venezuelan jails in recent years, reflecting the country’s dire prison conditions.
Araujo’s wife alleges that officials denied her husband medical care despite being notified of his declining health. She emphasized that he was an innocent bystander at the protest, not an active participant. This incident occurred amid a wave of arrests targeting anti-government protesters surrounding Maduro’s inauguration, raising alarm about human rights abuses in the country.
The Venezuelan opposition and electoral observers have disputed the legitimacy of Maduro’s election victory, asserting that the electoral council’s results are biased. They reject the claim that Maduro won without presenting justifying voting data. In the days preceding Maduro’s swearing-in, numerous arrests were reported, including that of Rafael Tudares, the son-in-law of opposition candidate Edmundo González, who also faces government pressures while in exile.
Reinaldo Araujo’s death in custody has intensified criticism against Nicolás Maduro’s government, highlighting severe human rights violations and health neglect in Venezuelan jails. The ongoing plight of political prisoners in Venezuela underscores an urgent need for accountability and reform. Calls for an end to political repression continue to grow, as opposition figures and international observers demand justice for victims like Araujo.
Original Source: www.bbc.com
