Venezuelan Regime Accused of Kidnapping Family, Including a Toddler, as Political Prisoner Numbers Grow

A Venezuelan human rights organization has denounced the disappearance of four members of a family, including an elderly woman and a 2-year-old girl, after they were detained without a warrant in the state of Carabobo earlier this month. The case has fueled accusations against the government of Nicolás Maduro, which faces mounting criticism over a pattern of political persecution and arbitrary arrests.

According to the Committee for the Freedom of Political Prisoners of Venezuela (CLIPPVE), Miriam Fernández Ruiz, 72, her 17-year-old grandson Miguel Ángel Guillén Ibarra, her granddaughter Chantal Niulany Guillén, 21, and Chantal's daughter Nicole, 2, were detained between September 4 and 5. Officers of the National Bolivarian Police allegedly carried out the arrests without presenting a judicial order. Since then, authorities have denied the family access to communication, legal representation, or information about their whereabouts.

CLIPPVE called the case a "forced disappearance" and stressed that it is part of a broader system of repression in Venezuela. The group compared the tactic to Sippenhaft, collective punishment against relatives, noting it has become a tool to intimidate the public.

Political Prisoners Under Maduro

Venezuela has one of the highest numbers of political prisoners in the Americas. According As of August, 2025, human rights group Foro Penal reported 816 political prisoners remaining in detention remain behind bars in Venezuela for reasons, ranging from opposition activists to journalists and military personnel accused of disloyalty. Many of these detainees face prolonged imprisonment without trial, torture, or fabricated charges.

Groups such as Foro Penal and Human Rights Watch have repeatedly documented cases in which the regime targets not only political opponents but also their relatives, creating an atmosphere of fear. Families are pressured into silence while detainees are used as bargaining chips in negotiations with international actors.

This latest case, which involves a toddler and an elderly woman, underscores how Maduro's security apparatus applies collective punishment to silence dissent. Human rights defenders argue that this practice violates international law and amounts to crimes against humanity.

Opposition Blames Maduro

Opposition leader and elected president of Venezuela Edmundo González Urrutia condemned the arrests on social media, calling the toddler a "hostage of power." His party Vente Venezuela, led alongside Corina Machado, issued a statement directly holding Maduro, Attorney General Tarek William Saab, and senior ruling party official Diosdado Cabello responsible for the safety of the Guillén family.

By placing blame at the top of the government structure, the opposition highlighted how the arrests are not isolated actions by police but part of a state policy of repression that extends to children, young people, and senior citizens.

International Pressure Mounts

CLIPPVE has urged UN agencies, particularly UNICEF, to document the case and demand accountability. The group reminded the international community that forced disappearance of minors and elderly citizens is considered a crime against humanity with no statute of limitations.

For the United States, which has imposed sanctions on Maduro and his inner circle, the case could intensify calls to keep human rights conditions at the center of any policy toward Venezuela. The detention of a toddler and her family illustrates the extent to which Maduro's government uses fear and punishment to maintain control.