This August marks three years since the arrest of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, a symbol of investigative journalism in Central America and founder of elPeriódico. His imprisonment is not the result of a fair judicial process, but rather the product of a systematic campaign of political persecution driven from the highest levels of power in Guatemala.
Zamora was arrested in 2022 on alleged money laundering charges, in an operation that included a raid on his home without prior notice. From the outset, the process was riddled with irregularities: the hearing following his arrest did not take place within the 24-hour legal timeframe, which should have led to his immediate release. Despite this, he has remained imprisoned ever since.
After 800 days in detention and visible deterioration of his physical and psychological health, he was granted house arrest, a measure that was swiftly overturned by court order, forcing him back into Mariscal Zavala prison.
“I will not accept charges for crimes I did not commit, and I will continue to fight from prison,” Zamora declared after hearing the ruling.
He currently faces three baseless legal proceedings, driven by the Guatemalan Public Ministry, in which his fundamental rights, including due process, legal defense, and the presumption of innocence, have been repeatedly violated. These cases are not about justice, but rather about delivering a chilling warning to the press: critical journalism will be silenced.
International organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Freedom House, and Reporters Without Borders have spoken out in his defense, calling for his immediate release and the annulment of the arbitrary legal cases against him.
At Free Press Alliance, we join this global call and reaffirm our unwavering support for José Rubén Zamora. We demand his immediate release, full restoration of his rights, and an end to judicial persecution. Imprisoning journalists for doing their work not only destroys lives, but it also erodes democracy and endangers everyone’s freedom.