Victims of the evangelical church La Luz del Mundo have strongly criticized the Mexican Attorney General’s Office (FGR) for closing a seven-year investigation into the group’s leadership, calling the move a betrayal and a denial of justice.
- Naasón Joaquín García, leader of La Luz del Mundo, is serving a sentence in the United States for sexual abuse of minors and faces additional federal charges for organized crime, sex trafficking, and child pornography.
- U.S. authorities describe the church as a sect involved in financial exploitation and money laundering.
Victims’ Response
- Sochil Martin and Sharim Guzmán, two of the first victims to denounce García, expressed outrage at the FGR’s decision.
- Martin said: “Me siento engañada. Me robaron la esperanza” (“I feel deceived. They stole my hope”).
- The couple accuses Mexican authorities of maintaining a political pact with the church, shielding its leaders from accountability.
Political Context
- The closure of the case came shortly after Ernestina Godoy, a close ally of President Claudia Sheinbaum and former President Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador, assumed leadership of the FGR.
- Victims argue that Godoy failed to consult them before shelving the investigation, undermining her reputation as a defender of human rights.
- Links between La Luz del Mundo and Mexico’s ruling party Morena have been documented, with church-affiliated politicians holding seats in Congress and even seeking judicial posts.
Implications
- The decision reinforces perceptions of impunity in Mexico, particularly in cases involving powerful religious or political institutions.
- Victims warn that many congregants remain vulnerable inside the church, where obedience to leadership is absolute,, and dissent is suppressed.
- Guzmán urged President Sheinbaum to “break the pact” with the church, while Martin expressed skepticism about ever seeing justice in Mexico.
The controversy highlights a stark contrast: while U.S. courts pursue charges against García and his associates, Mexican authorities have effectively closed the door on domestic prosecution. For victims, the FGR’s decision represents not only a legal setback but also a profound moral failure, leaving them to continue their fight for justice abroad.
Outlook
- June 2019: Naasón Joaquín García, head of the La Luz del Mundo church, was arrested at Los Angeles International Airport. He faced charges including child sexual abuse, human trafficking, and possession of child pornography.
- 2019–2021: García remained in custody while legal proceedings unfolded. His church, with millions of followers worldwide, defended him, while victims and prosecutors pressed forward with evidence.
- June 2022: García pleaded guilty to three counts of sexual abuse of minors. He was sentenced to 16 years and 8 months in prison by a California court. The plea deal avoided a full trial but confirmed his criminal responsibility.
- 2023–2025: In Mexico, controversy grew as the Fiscalía General de la República (FGR) closed its investigation into García, citing insufficient evidence. This decision was widely criticized by victims’ groups and human rights advocates.
- April 2026: Under President Claudia Sheinbaum’s administration, the FGR announced efforts to reopen the case in Mexico. Hearings in Guadalajara were scheduled, but proceedings were delayed due to the complexity of reviewing a massive 2,500-page file.
Source: El País
