Venezuelans who express “hate or intolerance” will be jailed for up to 25 years under a bill pending in the country’s newly-formed constituent assembly, a measure the opposition fears will be used by the government to further crack down on dissent. President Nicolas Maduro has faced a cacophony of international criticism – from the United Nations to Pope Francis – since he installed the 545-member assembly stacked with Socialist Party allies earlier this month. The president defends the new legislative superbody as Venezuela’s only hope for peace and prosperity The OPEC member has been rocked by anti-government unrest that has left more than 120 people dead while the country sinks further into a recession compounded by triple-digit inflation and acute food shortages. Local rights group Penal Forum estimated […]