Christians petition for defense of pastors in Colombia following murders

A recent campaign has been launched geared toward restoring special protection to non secular leaders in Colombia, following a series of killings and kidnappings by armed groups.

The campaign zeroes in on Decrees 1066 and the National Protection System (NPS). In 2023 the federal government removed religious leaders from the list of individuals considered particularly vulnerable to attack, meaning they now not have access to special security and protection programmes.

Christian Solidarity Worldwide, which is behind the campaign, said that since December 2024, 11 religious leaders have been killed, disappeared or kidnapped.

Among them was Pastor José Otoniel Ortega, who was shot and killed by gunmen while celebrating at a New Year event.

In one other case a mass grave holding the stays of eight religious and social leaders was discovered. The Colombian prosecutor’s office claimed the dead were murdered by a bunch called Frente Armando Ríos, an offshoot of the FARC guerrilla group.

The six men and two women were allegedly called to a gathering by the group, who wanted to research rumours that a rival militia could be organising a cell within the local area.

Religious leaders are sometimes targeted by such groups, who can perceive them as a focus of opposition to their activities.

CSW’s campaign goes hand in hand with a petition that can be handed to the winner of the presidential election, which is as a consequence of happen on 31 May.

CSW’s Director of Advocacy and Americas Team Leader, Anna Lee Stangl, said, “Over the past two years Colombia has returned to levels of violence paying homage to the darkest days of the country’s decades-long internal conflict.

“As voices of peace, justice and freedom of their communities, religious leaders are obvious targets for the illegal armed and criminal groups that proceed to spread fear throughout the country.

“Whoever wins the upcoming presidential election in Colombia must make the guarantees of ‘total peace’ on which the present government was elected an utmost priority, including by recognising the particular vulnerability of non secular leaders and restoring their access to government protection programs and security mechanisms.”