I. Introduction: Faith Communities Under Fire 
In El Salvador, religious minorities live under constant threat as gang violence continues to spread across the country. While faith institutions often provide spiritual refuge and community support, they are increasingly targeted by criminal groups seeking control and dominance. Religious minorities, in particular, face heightened risks of harassment, extortion, and violence, as their smaller numbers leave them with less protection and visibility. This targeting of faith communities illustrates the broader collapse of security and freedom of belief in El Salvador. 

II. Historical Marginalisation of Religious Minorities 
Religious minorities in El Salvador, including evangelical Christians, Muslims, Jehovah’s Witnesses, and others, have long faced marginalisation in a country dominated by Catholic traditions. Although the constitution guarantees religious freedom, in practice, smaller faith communities have struggled with social prejudice and exclusion. In the current climate of violence, these vulnerabilities are compounded by gang control. 

III. Extortion of Religious Leaders 
Gangs routinely extort churches and religious leaders, demanding money in exchange for protection. Smaller congregations, often with fewer resources, are especially vulnerable to these demands. Failure to comply can result in attacks on leaders, congregants, or church property, leaving minority faith groups trapped in cycles of fear and insecurity. 

IV. Harassment of Minority Faith Practitioners 
Practitioners of minority faiths often face harassment in their communities. They are sometimes labelled as outsiders or accused of undermining social cohesion, making them easy targets for gangs seeking to exert dominance. This social stigma combines with direct threats, creating an environment where practising one’s religion becomes a dangerous act. 

V. Threats to Evangelical and Protestant Leaders 
Evangelical and Protestant leaders, who frequently work in marginalised communities, are at particular risk. Their efforts to provide alternatives to gang life for youth are often viewed as challenges to gang authority. As a result, pastors and their families are harassed, attacked, or forced to abandon their ministries. 

VI. Vulnerability of Muslim and Smaller Faith Communities 
Muslim communities, though small in number, also face threats due to their minority status. In a society where religious homogeneity is the norm, these groups are viewed with suspicion and often lack the community networks necessary for protection. This isolation leaves them particularly exposed to gang violence and discrimination. 

VII. Women in Minority Faiths 
Women belonging to minority religious groups experience unique vulnerabilities. They are subjected to both gender-based violence and religious discrimination, facing harassment in public spaces and targeted attacks by gangs. Their dual marginalisation exacerbates the risks faced by their families and congregations. 

VIII. Collusion Between State and Criminal Groups 
The Salvadoran state has consistently failed to provide adequate protection for religious minorities. In some cases, reports suggest collusion between local officials and gangs, allowing violence against minority faiths to continue unchecked. This lack of accountability reinforces a sense of abandonment among vulnerable communities. 

IX. Attacks on Sacred Spaces 
Churches and religious centres, once sanctuaries of safety, are no longer immune to violence. Minority faith congregations have seen their places of worship attacked or desecrated by gangs seeking to assert dominance. This erosion of sacred spaces deepens the trauma of communities already struggling with exclusion. 

X. Migration as a Last Resort 
Facing relentless threats, many members of minority faiths are forced to flee El Salvador. They cite gang persecution and lack of state protection as key reasons for seeking asylum abroad. Exile often means leaving behind tightly knit congregations, but it also provides the possibility of practising their religion without fear. 

XI. Diaspora Advocacy and Resilience 
Religious minorities in the Salvadoran diaspora continue to practise their faith and advocate for international recognition of their struggles. Through transnational networks, they provide support for new arrivals and raise awareness of the persecution faced by their communities back home.

XII. Conclusion: Freedom of Faith Under Siege 
The threats against religious minorities in El Salvador highlight the broader collapse of freedom of belief and security under gang domination. As long as the state fails to protect its most vulnerable communities, religious minorities will remain at the mercy of gangs. Until systemic reforms restore rule of law and genuine religious freedom, many Salvadorans will continue to view migration as their only path to survival and dignity.