How are Christians persecuted in Mexico?
“My suffering started when I accepted Lord Jesus. The authorities imprisoned me and my wife for 24 hours, and finally, they took away our drinking water and public services.”
Mauricio
- Young people, including Christians, are often targeted by criminal gangs – boys are at risk of indoctrination and forced recruitment (and refusal can carry huge consequences), whilst girls can be abducted and forced into sexual slavery.
- Church leaders often face serious threats from armed criminal groups.
- Christians who come from indigenous backgrounds can face ostracism, fines, incarceration and forced displacement, as well as property damage, restriction of access to schools for their children, and threats.
- Given that indigenous leaders are those who administer justice in such areas, believers have no one they can rely on to investigate wrongdoing and protect their religious freedom.
Why are Christians persecuted in Mexico?
- Although most of Mexico’s population is Christian, many believers live in growing danger of persecution from criminal gangs, drug cartels and indigenous groups – because Christians speak out against their activities.
- Particularly at risk are those involved in community work or evangelism, especially with young people, drug addicts and migrants.
- In some indigenous communities, those who decide to leave ancestral and traditional beliefs to follow Jesus face hostility for their faith as they are considered to have betrayed their community.
- Mexico is a strictly secular state, and hostility toward Christian faith and values has increased in general, while public expressions of Christianity face increasingly strong legal scrutiny.
“We are being watched because the children we serve are considered a possible ‘human resource’ for the cartels.”
Marcos Lara
Who is particularly vulnerable in Mexico?
- There are believed to be around 150 active criminal groups throughout Mexico, with at least one operating in each state. Persecution is a real risk for any Christian living in these areas who is deemed a threat to cartel activity.
- In the south of Mexico, Christians who leave traditional indigenous beliefs for Christianity are especially at risk of hostility and displacement.
What has changed in Mexico in the past year?
- Mexico has risen six places on the World Watch List, with increases in persecution and pressure across almost all spheres of life.
- Mexico elected its first female and Jewish president in June, but increasing levels of criminality made the run-up to the elections the most violent in its democratic history.
- There have also been increasing reports of churches and Christian leaders being targeted for criminal violence.
How can I help Christians in Mexico?
Open Doors strengthens persecuted believers in Mexico with biblical training, legal support, trauma care and socio-economic aid.ining, legal support, trauma care and socio-economic aid.
Heavenly Father, thank You for our brothers and sisters in Mexico, and for their courage in standing up to the violence and crime that is so rife in the country. Strengthen them and fill them with Your Holy Spirit; give them the right words to say as they continue to stand against injustice. Protect believers from being recruited by criminal gangs and bring an end to the hold that these groups have over the nation. Help believers from indigenous backgrounds to find safe places to meet and worship – may their testimonies shine Your light in dark places, Amen.
