Venezuelan Doctor Sentenced to 30 Years in Prison for WhatsApp Criticism of Maduro Government

A 65-year-old Venezuelan physician has received a 30-year prison sentence for criticizing President Nicolas Maduro's administration through a WhatsApp audio message, according to human rights organizations who confirmed the information to AFP on Monday.

Marggie Orozco was handed the maximum punishment after being convicted of "treason, incitement to hatred, and conspiracy" following reports from community leaders who considered her message disloyal to the government.

The specific content of the audio message and its intended recipient have not been disclosed to the public.

Authorities arrested Orozco in San Juan de Colon, a western Venezuelan town, in August 2024 during a period of intense political turmoil following Maduro's controversial reelection. The electoral results were rejected as fraudulent by opposition groups and numerous international governments.

The disputed election triggered widespread demonstrations that led to approximately 2,400 arrests, though most detainees were subsequently released within several months.

In the aftermath of these protests, President Maduro encouraged his supporters to report individuals he labeled as "fascists" – a term he frequently applies to opposition members.

The Venezuelan human rights organization JEP reports that Orozco has experienced two cardiac episodes while in detention.

According to the rights group Foro Penal, approximately 882 individuals classified as "political prisoners" are currently held in Venezuelan detention facilities.