Central America: Criminal groups harass and kill church leaders

• In El Salvador: Diario Libre reported on 4 November 2018 that unknown gunmen shot dead the Evangelical pastor of "The Voice of God" church outside his house in Atiquizaya, Department of Ahuachapƒ¡n.
• In Guatemala: Prensa Libre reported on 12 February 2019 that the Evangelical pastor of the "Abundant Life" church in Estanzuela was attacked with firearms and machetes and killed together with his 28 year old son. It is suspected that this attack was in response to the pastor"s decision to start up a new church community in the area.
• In Honduras: According to La Prensa reporting on 1 November 2018, the Evangelical pastor of the Foursquare Church in Intibucƒ¡ was kidnapped in his own van. Despite a ransom being demanded, police officers managed to rescue him unharmed.
• In Mexico: El Heraldo reported on 13 February 2019 that a criminal group pretended they had abducted a Roman Catholic priest and demanded ransom money from the archbishop"s headquarters in San Luis Potosƒ­. The attempt failed.

Rossana Ramirez, persecution analyst at World Watch Research, comments: "According to an investigation into the homicide rates in Latin America and the Caribbean published by Insight Crime on 22 January 2019, the mafia groups Mara Salvatrucha (MS13) and Barrio 18 are the main sources of violence in Central America and have control over whole regions. Due to the high levels of violence and mafia control in the most vulnerable areas, thousands of citizens are trying to escape insecurity through joining the so-called "migrant caravan" (BBC News, 26 November 2018). Rossana Ramirez continues: "Christians remaining in areas co-opted by violent gangs are particularly targeted when their church work is viewed as a hindrance to criminal activities. Death-threats and assassinations not only aim to stop church outreach in the communities, they also discourage other Christians from setting up ministries in the area. Church leaders are particularly targeted for extortion and abduction since the criminals involved presume that church congregations will donate the sums of money demanded or sell off valuable religious objects in order to raise the amount needed."