Miami (October 30, 2024) – The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) condemned the murder of journalist Mauricio Cruz Solís, which occurred on Tuesday in the state of Michoacán, Mexico. The organization urged the new government of President Claudia Sheinbaum to implement necessary measures to prevent this and other crimes against journalists from remaining in impunity.
Cruz Solís, 25, was the director of the Minuto x Minuto news portal, which covers community information and violence-related topics, according to press reports. He was killed Tuesday night in the municipality of Uruapan, Michoacán.
The journalist also hosted the news program Enlace Informativo for Radiorama station and was a reporter for the newspapers ABC and La Opinión, both based in Michoacán.
After concluding a live interview with Mayor Carlos Manzo about a recent fire that destroyed over 60 businesses in a market, he was intercepted and shot, according to witnesses cited in local media.
José Roberto Dutriz, who recently took over the IAPA presidency, expressed condolences for the murder. Dutriz, president and general director of La Prensa Gráfica of El Salvador, lamented that "yet another murder tarnishes journalistic activity in Mexico" and called on "state authorities and the new federal government to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the motive, identify, and prosecute those responsible."
Although Cruz Solís had not reported any threats against him, the local journalist advocacy group NiUnoMás in Michoacán stated that his phone number was leaked on WhatsApp, which led to hateful messages on his social media.
Carlos Jornet, chairman of the IAPA's Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, added that "in addition to the direct risks many journalists face while performing their duties, violence is exacerbated by the inefficacy of government protection mechanisms, lack of personal security measures, and, above all, the impunity for these crimes."
The IAPA leaders referred to the State's responsibility to investigate and punish violence against journalists and media outlets, as outlined by international instruments such as the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights' Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression and the IAPA's Chapultepec Declaration.
The murder of Cruz Solís is the fourth journalist killing reported this year in Mexico, following those of Alejandro Martínez Noguez on August 4 in Guanajuato; Víctor Alfonso Culebro Morales on June 28 in Chiapas; and Roberto Carlos Figueroa Bustos on April 26 in Morelos.
The IAPA is a non-profit organization dedicated to defending and promoting freedom of the press and expression in the Americas. It comprises more than 1,300 publications from the western hemisphere and is based in Miami, Florida, United States.
