Washington, DC (May 30, 2012) – The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has ruled that the Government of Nicaragua’s detention of David House Agency client, 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.
Opinion No. 10/2012 is available here:http://freejason.squarespace.com/storage/UNWGAD%20Opinion%20No.%2010-2012%20ENG.pdf