Miami (May 7, 2025) - The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) strongly condemns the murder of journalist Raúl Celis López, the second such crime reported in Peru so far this year. The organization urges Peruvian authorities to conduct a thorough and urgent investigation to identify, prosecute, and punish those responsible.
The attack occurred this morning around 5:50 a.m., when Celis López, a journalist for Radio Karibeña in Iquitos, was traveling by mototaxi to the station with his son to host his program “Hora Zero”. Unidentified individuals on a motorcycle intercepted him and fired three times, one of which struck him in the head, according to local media reports. His son was unharmed.
José Roberto Dutriz, president of the IAPA, CEO, and general director of La Prensa Gráfica in El Salvador, expressed solidarity with the family and colleagues of the murdered journalist. 'We are deeply alarmed by the increasing violence against journalists in Peru. We urge authorities to fulfill their duty to clarify this crime and ensure justice so that incidents like this do not go unpunished,” he said.
This murder adds to that of Gastón Medina, director of Cadena Sur TV, who was shot dead on January 20 in front of his home in the city of Ica as he was preparing to go to his studio. The crime remains unsolved.
Martha Ramos, president of the IAPA's Committee on Freedom of the Press and Information and editorial director of Organización Editorial Mexicana (OEM), emphasized the need to combat impunity. “When the murder of a journalist goes unpunished, it sends a message of permissiveness that encourages new attacks. The state must act firmly to protect the work of journalism and the integrity of those who practice it,” she said.
Celis López was widely known for his critical and outspoken style, and was noted for his reports on corruption, extortion, and crime in the region. According to local press reports, he had not received threats prior to the attack."
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.