The ONG International Amnesty (AI) declared prisoner of conscience to the Guatemalan journalist Jose Ruben Zamora Marroquinimprisoned in his country since two years agoand demanded his immediate release e unconditional.
In a statement, the human rights organization notes that the journalistrecognized with several international awards, is submitted a “unfounded criminal proceedings against him“which are framed in the context of criminal prosecution for political reasons.”
Zamora Marroquin was detained for five days after launching strong criticism for corruption against the Guatemalan president at that time Alexander Giammattei (2020-2024) and the former official of that Government Miguel Martínez.
The 66-year-old journalist was accused instead of money laundering in one case and in at least two others by obstruction of justicey has not yet received a sentence in any of the cases.
“Jose Ruben Zamora He is being persecuted for exercising his right to freedom of expression in the context of his journalistic work. investigation and reporting of corruption“, points out AI.
“He is another victim of the strategy of persecution by political reasons carried out by the Public ministry and the Judicial system. He should not spend another day in jail, his suffering must stop immediately“, said Ana Piquer, director for the Americas of International Amnesty.
In March 2024, the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention declared the arrest by Jose Ruben Zamora arbitrary y demanded his release.
🗞️ Two years after the arbitrary detention of #JoseRubenZamoraAmnesty International recognizes him as a Prisoner of Conscience.
🕯️ His imprisonment is a direct attack on freedom of expression and human rights in #Guatemala.
We stand in solidarity with their cause and demand their… pic.twitter.com/f7OfEXeowZ
— Amnesty International Americas (@AmnistiaOnline) August 1, 2024
In July, his lawyers sent an urgent communication to the United Nations Special Rapporteur on Torturealerting about the conditions of arrest of the journalist and even facts that could constitute acts of torturecruel and inhuman treatment.
AI has documented numerous human rights violations of Jose Ruben Zamoraincluding the right to personal freedom due to his arbitrary detention and the right to a fair trial.
The current president of Guatemala, Bernardo Arevalo de Leonreferred last Wednesday to the journalist and said that the Public ministry (Prosecutor’s Office) “insists” on criminalize it.
According to the Guatemalan president, Zam’s imprisonmentnow Marrowhich “is he clear example of corruption and the abuse of power that prevails in the Public ministry“.
The president directly blamed the Prosecutor’s Office to “insist” on criminalize a Zamora Marroquin and maintain criminal cases against them that are riddled with “inconsistencies“.
Family asks for release
#Jose #Ruben #Zamora #declared #prisoner #conscience #Amnesty #International
