On July 1, the bodies of seven Evangelical Christians and one relative were discovered in a shallow mass grave in Guaviare, Colombia. These individuals had been missing since April, when the illegal armed group Frente Armando Ríos (FARC) reportedly summoned them for interrogation over suspected ties to a rival faction. The FARC has a known history of violating religious freedom, and shortly after the interrogation, the victims disappeared.

The deceased—Isaíd Gómez, Maribel Silva, Carlos Valero, James Caicedo, Jesús Valero, Maryuri Hernández, Nixon Peñalosa, and Oscar García—were affiliated with the Evangelical Alliance of Colombia (DEAC) and the Foursquare Gospel Church (ICCG). Many had fled religious persecution in Arauca and were in the region providing humanitarian aid. President Gustavo Petro has expressed solidarity with the families and vowed justice as investigations continue. This tragic event underscores the growing dangers Christians face in conflict zones where both their faith and humanitarian work put them at risk.

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SOURCE: ICC