In 2015, members of a religious minority living in neighbouring villages in the Huasteca region of Hidalgo State, Mexico were informed by their village leaders that they would no longer be permitted to perform their assigned acts of community service.
To outsiders, this might seem insignificant, especially when compared to violations of freedom of religion or belief (FoRB) elsewhere in Mexico and the world. Being told to do less work might even seem like a positive development. Those in the villages of Rancho Nuevo and Coamila, both located in the municipality of Huejutla de los Reyes, however, understood that the non-completion of this work would mean the loss of recognition as members of the community. And, associated with that recognition are rights, including access to health care, government benefit programmes and education.
The situation grew worse in 2016, as members of the religious minority were warned against accessing or using their land for cultivating crops, their main source of sustenance and income. Individuals who helped the group, who all belong to the Great Commission Baptist Church, to build a place of worship on privately owned land were threatened and violently assaulted. The Baptists were repeatedly forced to attend community meetings where local leaders demanded that they take part in Roman Catholic festivals including by making financial contributions and actively participating in acts of worship. The leaders warned them that more severe punishment, including permanent removal from the community membership rolls, would follow if they did not comply.
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