Honduran Church Demands Inquiry into Horrific Prison Fire

LWF Supports Lutheran Advocacy for Justice

The Christian Lutheran Church of Honduras (ICLH) has expressed shock and sorrow over the fire tragedy at the Comayagua central jail and demanded an inquiry into the cause of the blaze that killed 350 prisoners on 14 February.

The Lutheran World Federation (LWF) member church called on public authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the catastrophe, while praying for wisdom on the part of the country’s leaders as they decide how to safeguard the rights of prisoners.

“Once again, the prisons of Honduras have become the scene of a tragedy; we are horrified by this hellish prison catastrophe; we are overcome by a feeling of panic and indignation to learn of the unsafe conditions in which our country’s prison populations lives,” said Rev. José Martin Girón, president of the ICLH, in a communiqué following the tragedy.

The church called for international support as it continues to advocate for the rights of the Honduran people, who have had to suffer through many tragedies in addition to the problems of everyday life.

“As a church, we lift our voices in defense of the justice that is so cruelly lacking in our beloved, suffering Honduras,” Girón said.

ICLH General Secretary Rubi Flores lamented the fact that the Central American country continues to struggle from one tragedy to the next, including human rights violations and daily murders.

A fire at the Comayagüela market four days after the Comayagua prison blaze destroyed the livelihoods of many people, including Lutherans, she added in a letter to partner churches and organizations.

The church was grateful for the many expressions of international solidarity, Flores remarked.

“We beg you to keep Honduras and the ICLH constantly in your prayers so that we find adequate means of accompanying our people, for, as the tragedies occur, we carry on our program of work,” she said.

Support is coming from the communion of Lutheran churches in Central America in particular. In a statement last week, the synod of the Salvadoran Lutheran Church added its voice to the call for an exhaustive investigation into the fire tragedy and emphasized the need for integral justice.

The LWF member church said it regretted “that such a fatality has to occur to make us react to problems such as this that are enormous time bombs.”

Rev. Dr Patricia Cuyatti, area secretary for Latin America and the Caribbean with the Department for Mission and Development, emphasized that the LWF as a whole is committed to supporting the ICLH as it provides pastoral care and advocates for justice for the people of Honduras.

“Lutherans worldwide continue to pray that these situations in Honduras will change and to accompany the Honduran church as it stands with the people in such tragedies,” she stated.

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