United Nations Calls on Nicaragua to Immediately Release Wrongly Imprisoned U.S. Citizen Jason Puracal

Washington, DC (May 30, 2012) – The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled that the Government of Nicaragua’s detention of Jason Puracal is in violation of international law and he should be released immediately.  Puracal, an American citizen from the Seattle/Tacoma area, has been illegally detained since November 2010 in Nicaragua’s infamous La Modelo prison.  Under Opinion No. 10/2012 – which was issued by renowned experts from Chile, Norway, Pakistan, Senegal, Ukraine – the United Nations urged immediate action.  Puracal’s appeal hearing has been delayed for nine months and remains unscheduled.

There are more than 3,000 U.S. citizens detained worldwide for various alleged and actual offenses.  Puracal is the only American currently being detained even though there is an independent finding that the detention is unlawful.   The UN found the Nicaraguan judicial system failed to provide Puracal with a trial consistent with its obligations under international law, resulting in an arbitrary verdict.  He was denied the right to a competent tribunal established by law, the right to a fair trial, the presumption of innocence, and the right to be tried without undue delay.

Opinion No. 10/2012 is available here:  http://freejason.squarespace.com/storage/UNWGAD%20Opinion%20No.%2010-2012%20ENG.pdf.

“We are gratified that the United Nations has found Jason is being held in violation of international law,” said Puracal’s international attorney, Jared Genser.  “We call on the Nicaraguan government to release him immediately in accordance with this important ruling.”

Earlier this month, 43 members of the United States House of Representatives sent a letter urging President Ortega take immediate action by ordering an independent review of the case.  The letter is available here:  http://www.freejasonp.com/storage/Congressional_Ltr_to_Ortega_May 2012.pdf.

May 31 marks Jason’s 35th birthday and 568th day in prison.  For more information, please visit www.freejasonp.com