One-year anniversary of José Rubén Zamora’s imprisonment reignites calls for journalist’s release amid deteriorating press freedom in Guatemala
Zamora’s son, civil society organizations seek the journalist’s freedom and respect for the rule of law Washington, D.C., July 27, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reiterated its urgent call for the release of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora at a press conference on Wednesday marking a year since Zamora’s imprisonment in Guatemala. “José Rubén…
Guatemala: The imprisonment of José Rubén Zamora is an attack on the press and a bellwether for democracy
14 organizations call for justice in Zamora’s case and respect for the rule of law Over the past year, the government of President Alejandro Giammattei has engaged in desperate attempts to criminalize journalism in Guatemala. Among the lowest points of this campaign has been the imprisonment and sentencing of prominent investigative journalist José Rubén Zamora….
Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora convicted of money laundering, sentenced to 6 years in prison
Guatemala City, June 14, 2023–In response to the Wednesday, June 14, conviction of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora on money laundering charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The shameful conviction and imprisonment of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora serve as a stark testament to the erosion of freedom of…
Guatemalan newspaper elPeriódico closes under government pressure
New York, May 15, 2023—In response to the announcement that the independent Guatemalan newspaper elPeriódico would cease online publication on Monday, May 15, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The decision of the elPeriódico newspaper to cease publication is the result of the President Alejandro Giammattei administration’s judicial and financial harassment of…
CPJ calls for Guatemala to halt investigation into elPeriódico journalists
Guatemala City, February 28, 2023 – The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday called on Guatemalan authorities to stop any investigation of columnists and employees of elPeriódico newspaper, release its president José Rubén Zamora unconditionally, and allow the newspaper’s staff to work freely. Judge Jimi Bremer, acting on a request by prosecutor Cinthya Monterroso of…
Guatemalan daily elPeriódico ends print publication as co-founder, financial manager remain imprisoned
New York, December 1, 2022 – In response to independent daily Guatemalan newspaper elPeriódico’s recent announcement that it would end print publication as of Thursday, December 1, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement expressing alarm: “The painful decision by elPeriódico to halt print publication, leaving the future of the outlet’s reporting and…
‘To persecute any critical voice’: Jailed Guatemalan journalist Zamora’s son on his father’s arrest
When Guatemalan police arrested José Rubén Zamora in July 2022, it marked the latest salvo in a decades-long campaign of harassment against the pioneering Guatemalan investigative journalist, who won CPJ’s International Press Freedom Award in 1995. Zamora, who founded elPeriódico in 1996 and still serves as president of the newspaper, was arrested on July 29….
Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora charged with financial crimes, remains in detention
New York, August 10, 2022–A judge in a Guatemala City court on Tuesday ordered Guatemalan journalist and president of the elPeriódico newspaper José Rubén Zamora to remain in pre-trial detention while prosecutors move forward with a criminal investigation on charges of money laundering, blackmail, and influence peddling. Zamora has been held since he was arrested…
CPJ calls for immediate release of Guatemala journalist José Rubén Zamora
New York, July 30, 2022 — In response to news reports about the arrest of Guatemalan journalist and president of the elPeriódico newspaper José Rubén Zamora, the Committee to Protect Journalists released the following statement on Saturday: “Guatemalan authorities should immediately release and drop any criminal charges against journalist José Rubén Zamora, president of elPeriódico,” said…