Christians in Latin America Face Intensifying Persecution
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Christians across Latin America, most notably in Cuba, Mexico and Nicaragua, are facing intensified persecution for their faith, International Christian Concern (ICC) reports.
In its annual report published this year, the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF) stated that religious freedom in communist Cuba is “extremely” poor. “The government maintained an oppressive legal framework that severely restricted peaceful religious activity, regularly harassed religious leaders and worshipers, and continued to wrongfully imprison individuals for their peaceful religious activity,” the USCIRF said.
“In May 2023, the Cuban government approved the Social Communication Law, which codifies broad prohibitions on peaceful expression, including religious expression that is critical of the government,” the USCIRF noted.
The USCIRF also found that in Nicaragua, which is ruled by communist dictator President Daniel Ortega, religious freedom conditions “worsened significantly” at the end of last year. “The government of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo intensified its efforts to arbitrarily arrest, imprison, and expel Catholic clergymen and laypeople,” the USCIRF said. “The government also canceled the legal status of Catholic organizations, confiscated their property, and harassed and intimidated worshipers.”
Concerning Mexico, International Christian Concern itself reports there has been an “uptick” in oppression experienced by Christians at the hands of criminal cartels.
“Mexico is undergoing persistent threats from drug cartels who continue to challenge the authority of the Mexican government,” ICC said in its report.“Christians living in the country who oppose the cartel’s illegal activities are viewed as a threat and become targets of the organizations. As the cartels gain strength and legitimate Mexican authorities lose ground, Christians continue to be vulnerable.”
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