Organised crime threatens religious freedom in Mexico

The Mexican government is not doing enough to protect citizens from violations of Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB), a new report says.

Organised crime and independent governance in indigenous villages are proving problematic, it states.

According to Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW), the report reveals that many indigenous villages are governed under a “uses and customs” system, which grants village leaders the right to govern by means of traditional law and authority.

However, some have used this privilege to dictate religious belief according to the majority belief of the community, even stipulating financial and practical involvement by locals, with failure to comply risking the removal of democratic, birth and burial rights and, potentially, even violent repercussions.

The report also revealed that many organised criminal groups are restricting free movement as they work against rival groups and the authorities, with such restrictions often extending to religious activities. Religious leaders who do not submit to such authoritarianism face brutal consequences, ranging from threats to killings, highlighting the inadequacy of the government’s response to violations of FoRB.

Persecution of Christians is not new in Mexico, but the government’s negligence of FoRB violations has allowed a “culture of impunity” to develop amongst perpetrators of abuse which is “reinforced through inaction at the very top”, as Impulso 18 (CSW’s Latin American operating name) National Director Pablo Vargas told en.

He said that indigenous people, who account for about 20% of Mexico’s population, are “likely” to experience FoRB violations, while non-indigenous people living in urban areas will likely avoid such experiences. Some statistics also suggest that over 3 million people belonging to a religious minority suffer some level of discrimination.

While acknowledging the complexities of trying to address FoRB violations when many concern local indigenous governance, Vargas pointed to two major challenges which must be addressed to improve the situation.

He said: “The first challenge is for [the authorities] to recognise the problem and its magnitude. Mexican law is very clear: FoRB for all is protected and indigenous self-governance must be implemented in compliance with respect for all human rights, including FoRB. In the vast majority of FoRB cases involving indigenous communities, the people responsible for the violations are easily identifiable.

“The second challenge is raising awareness and providing training within the government at all levels, starting with those who receive or assist the victims of these violations. The government of Mexico should prioritise education on FoRB at all levels – federal, state and municipal – so that authorities are equipped to understand its fundamental importance, the ways in which it can be violated, and how to take effective action to protect victims.”