CSW Urges Protection for Religious Leaders After Pastor’s Murder

Rising Violence Against Religious Leaders in Colombia Sparks Calls for Enhanced Protection

In the wake of a tragic incident on New Year’s Eve, Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) is urging the Colombian government to provide heightened security measures for religious leaders. This appeal follows the targeted killing of Protestant pastor José Otoniel Ortega in the Santa Elena neighborhood of Fundación Municipality.

Pastor Ortega was celebrating the holiday with his family when he was shot by unidentified gunmen, resulting in his untimely death. CSW highlights that such attacks are part of a troubling pattern where religious figures are seen as threats by armed groups and gangs seeking to dominate regions of Colombia.

Evidence of this ongoing violence includes the discovery last year of a mass grave containing the bodies of eight religious and community leaders. The Colombian prosecutor’s office has linked the killings to Frente Armando Ríos, a faction of the FARC guerrilla group. The victims, comprising six men and two women, were reportedly lured to a meeting under the guise of investigating a rival militia’s activities.

Since December 2024, further incidents have occurred, including the murder of two other Protestant pastors and the kidnapping, and subsequent release, of a Catholic priest. These events underscore the persistent danger faced by religious leaders in the region.

Anna Lee Stangl, CSW’s advocacy director, expressed her condolences: “CSW extends our deepest condolences to the family and church community of Pastor José Otoniel Ortega for this loss. The nature of the attack on Mr Otoniel Ortega, whilst he was celebrating New Year’s Eve with his family, makes it clear that this was a premeditated, targeted assassination.”

Stangl also emphasized the need for governmental action: “We welcome calls from the Colombian government to bring those responsible to justice. However, it is past time that the Colombian government take action to reverse its changes to Decree 1066 and to restore the specific protection protocol which addresses the unique needs of religious leaders.

“Religious leaders, as vulnerable civil society leaders, must be reinstated under the National Protection System as a matter of urgency.”