Leader in Mexico orders mob to attack Christians

OAXACA, Mexico — Traditionalist Catholics abducted, jailed and beat a group of evangelical Christians in Oaxaca, Mexico, in early November on orders from the head of a municipality, according to human rights officials.

A mob sent by San Juan Ozolotepec President Pedro Cruz Gonzalez on Nov. 4, attacked the Christian’s unfinished church structure with sledgehammers and pick-axes, and four of the Christians were jailed from Nov. 5 to Nov. 8.

Conflict between the “uses and customs” law — designed to protect the rights of indigenous communities to practice native rites — according to Christian Solidarity Worldwide, “has allowed local authorities to violate the rights of members of the local communities. … In addition, the Mexican government’s aversion to involving itself in religious issues has allowed such situations to escalate.”