Two Journalist Murder Cases in South Asia Prompt Mixed Reactions as One Suspect Killed, Another Detained
May 7, 2025
Azerbaijan’s Media Crackdown Intensifies with Two More Journalists Arrested
May 7, 2025
May 07, 2025 – Peru –
On May 7, 2025, veteran Peruvian journalist Raúl Celis López was assassinated in Iquitos, marking the second journalist killing in Peru this year. Celis, 70, was ambushed by two gunmen on a motorcycle while en route to his early-morning radio program, Hora Zero, on Radio La Karibeña. He was shot three times in the back of the head and died at the scene.
Celis was renowned for his fearless reporting on corruption, organized crime, and illegal lending practices in Peru’s Amazon region. His broadcasts frequently exposed the activities of criminal networks, including the violent “gota a gota” loan sharks.
The assassination has sparked widespread outrage in Iquitos, with hundreds protesting outside police and government offices, demanding justice and the resignation of local police leadership. The Peruvian Ministry of the Interior has deployed specialized police units to the city, and the Public Ministry has launched an investigation, reviewing surveillance footage and examining a motorcycle believed to have been used in the attack.
Celis’s murder follows the January killing of journalist Gastón Medina in Ica, who was shot outside his home after reporting on criminal extortion and government corruption. Both cases highlight the increasing dangers faced by journalists in Peru.
Press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders and the Committee to Protect Journalists, have condemned the killings and called for urgent measures to protect journalists, particularly those reporting on crime and corruption in high-risk areas.
Peru currently ranks 125th out of 180 countries in the 2024 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting a decline in press freedom and a rise in violence against journalists.
The death of Raúl Celis López underscores the perilous conditions under which journalists operate in Peru and the urgent need for effective protective measures and accountability to ensure their safety.
Reference –
https://cpj.org/2025/05/peruvian-journalist-killed-by-gunmen-in-iquitos/
https://www.barrons.com/news/peruvian-journalist-killed-by-hitmen-second-this-year-3d3d1a3d
