Miami (March 5, 2025) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) expresses its firm and categorical rejection of the recent decision by the Third Chamber of Criminal Appeals of Guatemala to revoke the measure granting house arrest to journalist José Rubén Zamora, founder of elPeriódico.
This decision, prompted by an alleged procedural defect detected 'ex officio' by the judges of the Chamber, as reported by the press, represents a new and alarming violation against freedom of the press and due process in Guatemala.
Zamora's defense has filed an appeal before the Chamber of Injunctions and Pretrial Proceedings of the Supreme Court of Justice, aiming to overturn the decision and prevent the journalist from returning to prison, according to local media reports.
The journalist's legal representative, Héctor Reyes, has described the Chamber's decision as 'completely illegal,' emphasizing that criminal procedural law empowers judges to hear urgent hearings related to coercive measures, even in cases of recusal against them.
José Roberto Dutriz, president of the IAPA, denounced: "The court's decision is a direct affront to freedom of expression and the citizens' right to be informed. This measure, lacking legitimate grounds, confirms a pattern of persecution orchestrated against José Rubén Zamora in Guatemala," said the CEO and general director of La Prensa Gráfica, from El Salvador.
Meanwhile, Carlos Jornet, second vice president of the IAPA and president of the Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information, stated: "The Public Ministry persists in using the judicial system to punish a critical journalist. We urge the government of President Bernardo Arévalo to guarantee the necessary conditions for Zamora to maintain his freedom," said Jornet, editor of La Voz del Interior, from Córdoba, Argentina.
The Chamber's ruling came up in response to an appeal filed by the Public Ministry and lawyer Raúl Falla, who contested the judicial decision that allowed Zamora's freedom last October, after more than 800 days in jail.
However, instead of resolving the appeal, the judges 'ex officio' determined the existence of a procedural error in the resolution of substitute judge Erick García, thereby annulling the benefit of the alternative measure. Should the defense's appeal fail, Zamora could return to prison.
As documented by the IAPA, Zamora's case, considered emblematic of the political persecution he faced for his exposes, has been fraught with irregularities. During his imprisonment, Zamora was subjected to blatant violations and psychological and physical torture, as reported by the journalist himself to the IAPA.
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.
