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December 11, 2024 – Guatemala –
Guatemalan authorities issued an arrest warrant for prominent investigative journalist Juan Luis Font, currently exiled in France. Font, co-director of the radio show Con Criterio and co-founder of El Periódico, stands accused of “collusion and passive bribery”—allegations he vehemently denies.
The charges, based on an old case, were revived on December 6, 2024, and observers see them as part of a broader campaign to silence anti-corruption journalism. Font has faced ongoing intimidation since 2022, when he fled Guatemala after critical reporting exposed government malfeasance. In particular, authorities appeared triggered by his interviews and public support for former anti-corruption judge Erika Aifán, leading to claims of an illicit relationship—claims Font maintains are baseless.
Font told CPJ the accusations involve absurd smears, including unfounded money laundering claims. He stated, “They speak about me laundering money … and they have not been able to build up any of these cases,” adding that he viewed the warrant as anticipated retaliation for his anti-corruption reporting.
Multiple press-freedom organizations have condemned the move. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Guatemala to drop all legal actions and allow Font to return without fear of prosecution. Meanwhile, the National Press Club in Washington labeled the charges “baseless” and accused Guatemala’s attorney general and judiciary of undermining democracy by persecuting independent journalists like Font.
This case echoes a troubling pattern in Guatemala: the use of legal mechanisms to intimidate media figures. Font joins a growing list of journalists—including El Periódico founder José Rubén Zamora—who have been harassed or jailed on dubious charges related to their exposure of official corruption. Font himself warned that Guatemala suffers from “a perverse judicial dictatorship,” where journalists are targeted while corrupt officials evade punishment.
At stake is more than one journalist’s safety—it is the future of independent journalism in Guatemala. The international outcry reflects concern that the country’s courts and prosecutors are weaponizing the law to suppress free expression. Without intervention, the pursuit of Journalists like Font may mark a dangerous new chapter in the region’s media repression.
Reference –
Guatemala issues arrest warrant for exiled journalist Juan Luis Font
Guatemala issues arrest warrant for exiled journalist Juan Luis Font
