Christian Leaders Bodies Found in Mass Grave
The victims-James Caicedo, Óscar García, Máryuri Hernández, Maribel Silva, Isaid Gómez, Carlos Valero, Nixon Peñaloza, and Jesús Valero-were conducting humanitarian and spiritual outreach in the region, according to the office of the attorney general, cited by Christian Daily International.
The region is marked by power struggles between dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN).
This massacre represents the largest recorded in Colombia in 2025, according to the Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz).
Christians are often targeted in Columbia because they oppose the country's drug cartels and guerrilla groups, according to Open Doors' 2025 World Watch Report of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian
The Christian leaders were summoned by members of the FARC's Armando Ríos Front, led by Iván Mordisco, prior to their disappearance, according to initial reports from the attorney general's office.
The FARC was trying to block the influence of a rival ELN cell in the area, but authorities have not found any evidence of any links between the Christians and the guerrilla group.
The victims' identities and backgrounds were confirmed by Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Open Doors, which highlighted that Colombian Christian leaders, particularly those working with youth, are frequent targets of cartel or guerrilla violence.
The mass grave was identified after authorities detained a guerrilla in May whose cellphone contained photos of the victims and the crime, making it possible to locate the grave.
Colombian President Gustavo Petro called this massacre a grave human rights violation and called for a stronger security presence in regions affected by conflict.
The Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL) said in a statement: "We ask for prayers for peace and consolation for these families. We raise a firm voice of cry and demand that the authorities ensure that these crimes do not go unpunished, that the investigations move forward swiftly, and that real guarantees are provided for the protection of the lives and integrity of those who exercise spiritual leadership in the most vulnerable regions of the country."
The daughter of one of the victims told SEMANA newspaper that the Petro administration should be "present and to avoid these types of situations, because currently two armed groups are fighting over territory, and the peasantry is caught in the middle, and there is no response from the state, no protection from the state. In other words, we are truly alone in a war between two armed groups."
Investigations are ongoing by the Colombian attorney general's office, and the Evangelical Confederation has called for urgent protection measures.
International organizations are monitoring further developments and urging the Colombian government to address violence against religious and social leaders in rural regions
Related Articles
Colombian Ambassador: When Alliances Matter Most, Look South: Colombia and the US-Partners Against Transnational Crime | OpinionHow a Favored Migrant Route Became Invasive Species Superhighway to USGen Z Man Wants To Live off Grid-Buys 7.5 Acres of Colombian JungleHow to Watch Argentina vs Colombia: Live Stream FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, TV Channel
2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Business Insider
14 hours ago
- Business Insider
At least 13 are dead and 20 missing from a girls camp in a catastrophic Texas flood
Extreme flooding in Central Texas left at least 13 dead and at least 20 girls missing from Camp Mysitic, a Christian camp along the Guadalupe River. Kerr County Sheriff Larry Leitha said at a press conferences on Friday afternoon that there were 13 confirmed fatalities resulting from the torrential rains that hit Kerville early in the morning. "There's still several people unaccounted for," Leitha added. Camp Mystic, located in Hunt, Texas, has 750 campers, according to the New York Times; 20 girls are unaccounted for, according to Lt. Gov. Dan Patrick. The Kerr County Sheriff's Department said on Facebook that it was respondng to a "catastrophic flooding event." "Our Office is working with a wide variety of local and state agencies to respond to calls and rescues," the deparmtnet wrote on facebook. "The entire county is an extremely active scene. Residents are encouraged to shelter in place and not attempt travel. Those near creeks, streams, and the Guadalupe River should immediately move to higher ground." This is a developing story. Check back for updates.
Miami Herald
17 hours ago
- Miami Herald
Christian Leaders Bodies Found in Mass Grave
The bodies of eight Christian leaders who disappeared in April were discovered in a mass grave in Colombia. The victims-James Caicedo, Óscar García, Máryuri Hernández, Maribel Silva, Isaid Gómez, Carlos Valero, Nixon Peñaloza, and Jesús Valero-were conducting humanitarian and spiritual outreach in the region, according to the office of the attorney general, cited by Christian Daily International. The region is marked by power struggles between dissident factions of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) and the National Liberation Army (ELN). This massacre represents the largest recorded in Colombia in 2025, according to the Institute for Development and Peace Studies (Indepaz). Christians are often targeted in Columbia because they oppose the country's drug cartels and guerrilla groups, according to Open Doors' 2025 World Watch Report of the 50 countries where it is most difficult to be a Christian The Christian leaders were summoned by members of the FARC's Armando Ríos Front, led by Iván Mordisco, prior to their disappearance, according to initial reports from the attorney general's office. The FARC was trying to block the influence of a rival ELN cell in the area, but authorities have not found any evidence of any links between the Christians and the guerrilla group. The victims' identities and backgrounds were confirmed by Christian Solidarity Worldwide and Open Doors, which highlighted that Colombian Christian leaders, particularly those working with youth, are frequent targets of cartel or guerrilla violence. The mass grave was identified after authorities detained a guerrilla in May whose cellphone contained photos of the victims and the crime, making it possible to locate the grave. Colombian President Gustavo Petro called this massacre a grave human rights violation and called for a stronger security presence in regions affected by conflict. The Evangelical Confederation of Colombia (CEDECOL) said in a statement: "We ask for prayers for peace and consolation for these families. We raise a firm voice of cry and demand that the authorities ensure that these crimes do not go unpunished, that the investigations move forward swiftly, and that real guarantees are provided for the protection of the lives and integrity of those who exercise spiritual leadership in the most vulnerable regions of the country." The daughter of one of the victims told SEMANA newspaper that the Petro administration should be "present and to avoid these types of situations, because currently two armed groups are fighting over territory, and the peasantry is caught in the middle, and there is no response from the state, no protection from the state. In other words, we are truly alone in a war between two armed groups." Investigations are ongoing by the Colombian attorney general's office, and the Evangelical Confederation has called for urgent protection measures. International organizations are monitoring further developments and urging the Colombian government to address violence against religious and social leaders in rural regions Related Articles Colombian Ambassador: When Alliances Matter Most, Look South: Colombia and the US-Partners Against Transnational Crime | OpinionHow a Favored Migrant Route Became Invasive Species Superhighway to USGen Z Man Wants To Live off Grid-Buys 7.5 Acres of Colombian JungleHow to Watch Argentina vs Colombia: Live Stream FIFA World Cup Qualifiers, TV Channel 2025 NEWSWEEK DIGITAL LLC.
New York Post
20 hours ago
- New York Post
Girls at Christian summer camp missing after ‘catastrophic' Texas floods
Young girls at a Christian summer camp are missing after their cabins were apparently washed away by 'catastrophic' and fatal flooding in Texas, according to a report. An undisclosed number of children are unaccounted for at Camp Mystic alongside the Guadalupe River in Hunt, a suburb of San Antonio, two camp directors told The Austin American-Statesman. Water rises from severe flooding along the Guadalupe River in Kerr County, Texas on Friday, July 4, 2025. AP Advertisement The staff was in need of urgent air assistance after their roads were washed out by the severe flooding, which also apparently flooded some cabins and washed others away. Camp Mystic is a Christian sleep-away summer camp for girls in Hunt. At least six people in Hill County have been killed in the floods.
