Mexico Sees Protests Against the Violation of Religious Freedom for Protestant Community
by Karen Faulkner, Worthy News Correspondent
(Worthy News) – Mexico last week saw demonstrations against the violation of religious freedoms as protestors gathered in Mexico City and the city of Oaxaca to show their anger about how authorities have subjected a Protestant minority community to discrimination, violence, and arbitrary detention, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) reports.
The August 22 demonstrations took place to protest serious violations of freedom of religion or belief in the community of San Isidro Arenal, San Juan Lalana Municipality, Oaxaca State, CSW reports.
Explaining the background to the protests, CSW said in its report: “In November 2023, community leaders in the Chinanteco speaking community moved to enforce a 1993 community accord mandating Roman Catholicism as the only religion permitted in San Isidro Arenal. Following this move, 13 families belonging to the Protestant Interdenominational Christian Church (ICIAR) began to experience threats and acts of violence encouraged by community leaders, despite the fact that they were fulfilling all of their community responsibilities, including participating in Roman Catholic activities even though they are not members of that religious group.”
In a statement to CSW, Porfirio Flores, lawyer and representative of the Fellowship of Pastors, said: “Greater attention must be paid to the issue of religious freedom in Oaxaca.” Moreover, Flores added: “Fundamental change is needed regarding the problems arising from civil and religious charges within internal normative systems while respecting the secular state.”
CSW’s Head of Advocacy Anna Lee Stangl emphasized: “It is imperative that the governments of the San Juan Lalana Municipality and Oaxaca State, and at the federal level, take urgent action to uphold the Mexican Constitution and ensure that freedom of religion or belief is a right enjoyed by all, regardless of where they live or teir ethno-linguistic identity.”
Strictly secular Mexico ranks 37 on the Open Doors World Watch List 2024 of the top 50 countries where Christians are persecuted.
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