Recent examples of how Christians are being targeted in El Salvador, Guatemala. Mexico and Peru are listed below:
- El Salvador: The online magazine El Salvador reported on 7 February 2020 that an Evangelical pastor had been shot dead by gunmen on a motorcycle in the El Carmen neighborhood of Ayutuxtepeque while engaged in evangelistic work.
- Guatemala: Crux Now reported on 25 January 2020 that a Catholic priest and staff providing shelter and humanitarian aid for migrants heading for the USA received death-threats serious enough for the Guatemalan authorities to bring in 24 hour protection.
- Mexico: 1) Aciprensa reported on 9 January 2020, that a Catholic priest from the Diocese of Tlaxcala had been abducted. On his release the kidnappers opened fire, injuring him seriously. 2) La Silla Rota reported on 7 February 2020 that the Catholic Church in Morelos is suffering from rising levels of insecurity. The father of a parish priest was shot dead, churches have been robbed and nuns have been subjected to extortion. Evening church services have also been moved to a safer time earlier in the afternoon.
- Peru: RPP Noticias reported on 13 January 2020 that an Evangelical pastor was assassinated with a shot to the head while dining in a restaurant in San Juan de Lurigancho. Besides being the director of a local educational center, he had previously received death-threats three years ago when in charge of a local paving project. At that time, the death-threats were issued by civil construction firms.
Rossana Ramirez, Persecution analyst at World Watch Research (WWR), comments: "Christians in various countries in Latin America are exposed to violence and insecurity caused by criminal groups. Christians who carry out mission work in areas coopted by gangs or who advocate for the defense of immigrants, face serious risks. Criminal groups also threaten and attack the families of their targets to intimidate them further and pressurize them into stopping activities which hamper criminal operations. Although the authorities are sometimes able to offer protection, there is little that Christians can do to stay safe if they become a target for criminal attack."
