By Gloria Ogbonna
Venezuelan journalist and former political prisoner Carlos Julio Rojas on Sunday publicly accused the country’s socialist regime—now led by “acting President” Delcy Rodríguez—of effectively criminalizing the Catholic Easter tradition known as the “Burning of Judas.”
Rojas, a longtime activist from Caracas’ La Candelaria parish, said members of the Bolivarian National Police (PNB) prevented his community from carrying out this year’s ceremony. The journalist, who was detained in 2024 shortly after participating in the same tradition, argued that the government’s actions represent an attempt to silence dissent under the guise of law enforcement.
A Centuries-Old Religious and Cultural Tradition
The “Burning of Judas” is a Catholic custom observed in several Latin American and European countries during Easter weekend. The ritual involves crafting and burning an effigy of Judas Iscariot, symbolizing the apostle’s betrayal of Jesus Christ—an act that Christians believe led to the crucifixion and ultimately the resurrection celebrated on Easter Sunday.
In Venezuela, the tradition is typically held on Easter Sunday and is believed to have first taken place in 1499 in the city of Cumaná, Sucre. Over centuries, the ceremony evolved beyond its purely religious symbolism. In many Hispanic communities, it also became a form of social and political expression, with effigies sometimes representing unpopular public figures or controversial issues.
In recent years, Venezuelan dissidents have burned effigies of former socialist strongman Nicolás Maduro, while government supporters have burned representations of foreign leaders such as Donald Trump. The tradition, while rooted in Catholic observance, has increasingly served as a symbolic outlet for political frustration.
2024 Effigy and Arrest
In 2024, Rojas helped organize La Candelaria’s Burning of Judas ceremony. That year’s effigy was particularly provocative: a two-headed figure representing Maduro and opposition politician Manuel Rosales, a former Zulia state governor who had initially announced a presidential challenge before withdrawing from what critics described as a sham election.
Days after the ceremony, Rojas was arrested by regime officials and accused of plotting to assassinate Maduro—charges widely criticized by human rights advocates as politically motivated. He was detained for 21 months at El Helicoide, widely regarded as Venezuela’s most notorious detention center.
El Helicoide has long been associated with allegations of torture and mistreatment of political prisoners. Rojas remained there until mid-January, when he was released amid shifting political developments in Caracas.
Political Shifts and Amnesty Controversy
Rojas’ release came shortly after a U.S. law enforcement operation reportedly authorized by President Donald Trump targeted Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores. Following Maduro’s arrest, National Assembly head Jorge Rodríguez—brother of Delcy Rodríguez—announced that the government would release a number of political detainees.
Weeks later, the socialist-controlled legislature approved a “Mass Amnesty Law.” Critics, however, argued that the law’s scope was limited and that many cases remained stalled in the courts.
Rojas says his own amnesty request has been delayed for over a month, preventing him from formally clearing his legal status. According to him, the delay conveniently coincided with Easter celebrations, effectively barring him from participating in this year’s Burning of Judas ceremony.
He contends that the regime is using procedural delays as a tactic to intimidate him and discourage public criticism of Delcy Rodríguez’s interim leadership.
Police Presence and Alleged Intimidation
On Sunday, Rojas reported that an “impressive” number of Bolivarian National Police officers stationed themselves at the corner of Tracabordo in La Candelaria—the site where the parish has held the Burning of Judas for more than 15 years.
“I’ve been arrested five times,” Rojas said in remarks reported by local outlet Monitoreamos. “The last time, I spent nearly two years in prison at El Helicoide for the crime of burning an effigy of Judas. Believe it or not, this centuries-old cultural tradition in Venezuela is considered a terrorist act by Chavismo.”
He added that authorities accused him of attempted assassination in connection with the 2024 ceremony.
Allegations of Torture and Inhumane Conditions
In early February, shortly after his release, Rojas gave an interview to Colombian news channel NTN24 despite alleged warnings from regime officials to “behave” and avoid speaking to the press.
During the interview, he described harsh conditions at El Helicoide, including psychological torture, prolonged isolation, and denial of medical care. Rojas claimed he spent 70 consecutive days without exposure to sunlight and four months in complete isolation. He also said he was denied medication for high blood pressure and chronic pain.
Among the punishments he described was confinement in a small cell known as the “Tigrito” (“Little Tiger”), reportedly measuring approximately two meters by two meters, lacking beds, and maintained in unsanitary conditions.
Human rights organizations have long accused Venezuelan security forces of mistreating political detainees, although government officials have consistently denied systemic abuse.
Future of El Helicoide
In late February, Venezuelan authorities announced plans to convert El Helicoide into what they described as a “social, sports, cultural, and commercial center” for police families and surrounding communities. Critics view the proposal with skepticism, given the facility’s longstanding reputation as a detention center for political prisoners.
For Rojas, the issue extends beyond a single Easter ceremony. He argues that preventing communities from carrying out the Burning of Judas tradition reflects a broader effort to suppress dissent and curtail freedom of expression.
“By criminalizing a cultural event like the Burning of Judas out of fear of criticism,” Rojas said, “we are reminded once again that Venezuela is living under a dictatorship that has merely replaced Nicolás Maduro with Delcy Rodríguez—for now.”
Source Breitbart
Original article
Comments