bbc.com
Journalist Zamora Ordered Back to Prison
Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, known for exposing corruption, is ordered back to prison, sparking outrage over press freedom.
Spanish
United Kingdom
JusticeHuman Rights ViolationsCorruptionLatin AmericaPress FreedomGuatemalaImprisonment
El PeriódicoPublic Ministry (Fiscalía)Bbc News MundoAmnesty InternationalSiglo Veintiuno
José Rubén ZamoraJosé Carlos ZamoraConsuelo PorrasRafael CurruchicheBernardo ArévaloAlejandro Giammattei
- Why was José Rubén Zamora ordered back to prison?
- José Rubén Zamora, a Guatemalan journalist known for uncovering corruption, has been ordered back to prison after less than a month of house arrest. The order comes from an appeals court at the request of the Public Ministry, despite a previous court revoking his six-year sentence due to procedural errors.
- What are the accusations against the Guatemalan Public Ministry?
- The Public Ministry, led by officials considered corrupt by the US and EU, is accused of using the justice system to persecute dissidents. This case is widely seen internationally as an attempt to silence Zamora for his investigative journalism.
- What is José Rubén Zamora's background and career in journalism?
- Zamora founded two prominent Guatemalan newspapers, Siglo Veintiuno and El Periódico, known for their investigative reporting on corruption and human rights abuses. He faced numerous threats and attacks throughout his career, including a grenade attack in 1996.
- What is the current status of José Rubén Zamora and his newspaper?
- After over two years of preventative detention, Zamora was briefly granted house arrest before this most recent order to return to prison. El Periódico, the newspaper he founded, was forced to close after his imprisonment.
- How did the Guatemalan president and Zamora's son respond to the court's decision?
- Zamora's son and Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo condemned the decision as an attack on press freedom and an abuse of power. They plan to appeal the decision, aiming to prevent Zamora's return to prison.