An Aid Worker’s Airport Disappearance Stirs Fear of Repression Following Disputed Venezuela Election

In this undated family photo, Venezuelan Edni Lopez, a political science professor and award-winning poet, flashes a vee sign at her home in Caracas, Venezuela. Courtesy of family via AP

CARACAS, Venezuela—The last time anyone heard from Edni López was Sunday. The 33-year-old political science professor and award-winning poet was preparing to board a flight to Argentina to visit a friend when she texted from the airport that something was wrong with her passport.

“Migration took my passport because it’s showing up as expired,” she wrote her boyfriend in the message shared with The Associated Press. “I pray to God I don’t get screwed because of a system error.”