Jesuit priest Marcelo Perez was killed in a shooting Sunday, October 20, in the Mexican town of San Cristobal de Las Casas, shortly after celebrating Sunday mass, according to Chiapas state prosecutors.
“Father Marcelo”as his parishioners called him, was known for his defense of indigenous and worker rights, but also for his public denunciations of cartels and their harmful influence in public life in Mexico. Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum said an investigation had been opened.
A priest committed and threatened for a long time
On August 2, Father Marcelo Perez denounced death threats: “They put a price on my life: 150,000, 400,000, a million pesos, but we live under the protection of God, there is a lot of violence, but we continue to build peace. (…) »
The priest was born into a Tzotzile community, an indigenous population of the region descended from the Maya, and this had a profound impact on his priesthood and his commitment. In 2014, he became a central figure in resistance to cartels in the state of Chiapas, organizing a pilgrimage through 12 cities including the capital, to denounce the growing influence of organized crime. In September 2015, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted him physical protection.
However, in 2021, the same institution published an arrest warrant against him. Indeed, that year, Father Perez was accused of being involved in the kidnapping of 21 people by the cartels. The Diocese of San Cristobal and the Archbishop of Tuxtla condemned the arrest warrant against the Jesuit priest, accusing the State of collusion with drug traffickers. “It is contradictory that the government is protecting me, because it has also issued an arrest warrant against me”declared the priest on September 13.
Strong reactions
In a press release, “The Society of Jesus in Mexico expresses its strongest condemnation for the assassination of Father Marcelo Perez, priest of the Church of Guadalupe in San Cristobal de Las Casas. (…) Father Marcelo has for decades been a symbol of resistance and support for the communities of Chiapas, defending dignity, the rights of the people and the construction of true peace. His commitment to justice and solidarity has made him a reference for those who aspire to a future without violence or oppression. »
The Jesuits reject “any attempt to downplay these events as isolated cases. Organized crime sows fear and pain in various parts of the country, and Chiapas is no exception. The violence in this region reflects a structural problem that requires a comprehensive and urgent response from the state.” In a message, Mgr Rodrigo Aguilar Martinez, Bishop of San Cristobal de Las Casas, said the priest will be buried in the church of Guadalupe.
“The murder of Father Marcelo is absolutely unacceptable. His work has been widely recognized by the indigenous peoples of Chiapas and internationally. Despite the protective measures and constant complaints regarding the attacks he suffered, these were not enough to prevent his assassination.said Jesus Pena Palacios, deputy representative in Mexico of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, calling for an investigation « exhaustive ».
Organized crime: a structural problem that continues to get worse
“This act of violence (…) not only deprives the community of a dedicated priest, but also silences a prophetic voice, which fought tirelessly for peace, truth and justice in the Chiapas region”reacted the Mexican Episcopal Conference.
The murder of Father Perez is far from being the first in Mexico but benefits from strong media coverage. A rare impact since the assassination of Cardinal Juan Jesus Posadas Ocampo by the Tijuana cartel in 1993, with potential involvement of the Mexican government. For some observers, the fact that Father Marcelo Perez came from an indigenous community would explain the resonance given to this murder.
This shooting comes against a backdrop of an increase in violent incidents in this state, which recorded nearly 500 murders between June and August 2024. On October 9, the mayor of the capital of the state of Guerrero, belonging to the party opposition leader, was beheaded a week after taking office, and a cartel war in Sinaloa left 39 dead in one week in September.