Mexico

“We were afraid. We heard the mob say they were going to burn down our house.”
– Ascuncion, Mexican believer.

What Does Persecution Look Like?
The increasing presence of criminal groups and their struggle for territorial control means Christians face constant risk of violence. Believers are perceived as a threat to criminal activities because they oppose corruption and drug use and reject the requests of criminal organisations.

Christians who are outspoken about the hope of Jesus are often targeted by gangs, who try to remove any obstacle in their quest for control.

In indigenous communities, anyone who decides to abandon the community’s religious beliefs can face rejection, fines, incarceration or forced displacement. Churches have been attacked and graffitied by protestors who resent Christian ethics and their influence.

Who Is Most Vulnerable To Persecution?
The persecution of Christians inside indigenous communities occurs particularly in the southern part of the country. In some indigenous communities, forced marriage is still common despite the government trying to eradicate it. This puts indigenous Christian women particularly at risk.