CSW is repeating its call for religious leaders to be covered under special security mechanisms for vulnerable categories of people.
This follows the New Year’s Eve assassination of a Protestant pastor in Northern Colombia.
Pastor José Otoniel Ortega, a leader in the Foursquare Gospel denomination, was shot to death by armed individuals on 31 December 2025 in the Santa Elena neighbourhood of Fundación Municipality, Magdalena Department, Colombia.
The pastor was celebrating the start of the New Year with his family at the time of the attack. He was immediately transferred to a medical clinic but died from the severity of his wounds.
Religious leaders have long been a target of illegal armed and criminal groups within the context of Colombia’s long-running internal armed conflict. Illegal armed and criminal groups often perceive religious leaders as an obstacle because of their influence in their communities, their willingness to encourage a rejection of violent and criminal activities, and the role of many of them play as peacemakers.
At least ten protestant leaders were extrajudicially executed or assassinated, and one Catholic priest was kidnapped, in Colombia between December 2024 and November 2025, including another pastor in Magdalena Department in January 2025.
CSW’s Advocacy Director Anna Lee Stangl said: ‘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.’
Pastor José Otoniel Ortega was described by his denomination as a beloved pastor, a faithful servant, a man who walked with God, who preached the word with love and gave his life to Kingdom service.
The Colombian Council of Evangelical Churches (CEDECOL) said in a statement, ‘This event brings sorrow not only to his family and congregation, but to the entire Christian church in Colombia. We raise our voice in defence of life, calling for justice, peace and an end to all forms of violence that continue to shatter homes and communities.’
The Colombian Ministry of the Interior also put out a statement, calling ‘...upon local civil and police authorities to locate the perpetrators and bring them to justice. ...[and urging] all individuals to respect all rights derived from religious freedom, beginning with respect for the life and integrity of religious leaders and their congregations.'
Anna Lee Stangl continued: ‘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. We call on the international community to actively monitor attacks on and threats against religious leaders alongside other violations of freedom of religion or belief and to support efforts to ensure that those responsible for these violations are held to account.’