Herbalist’s murder highlights assault on Mayan spirituality in Guatemala

Spiritual guide Domingo Choc Che was tortured and burned by neighbors who accused him of witchcraft - and advocates say Christian churches are stoking prejudice

In meetings, Domingo Choc Che was quiet and reflective, speaking up only once others had said their piece. But he would come alive when he entered the jungles of Guatemala's northern Peten department, sharing his knowledge of traditional medicines with anyone who wanted to learn.

He was more at ease with plants," said Monica Berger, a sociologist and anthropologist at the University of the Valley of Guatemala who worked closely with Choc Che, a member of the indigenous Maya Q'eqchi community.