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October 21, 2024 – Guatemala –
After enduring more than 800 days behind bars, veteran Guatemalan investigative journalist José Rubén Zamora—founder of El Periódico—was transferred to house arrest on October 18, 2024. Judges ruled that his prolonged pre-trial detention had exceeded legal limits, prompting a shift to a restricted residence-based sentence pending retrial. A judge explicitly barred Zamora from leaving Guatemala and mandated his appearance before authorities every eight days, while worldwide pressure from press freedom advocates heightened the spotlight on his case.
Zamora, a staunch voice in exposing corruption through his investigative journalism, had charged that he was a political prisoner following accusations of money laundering and obstruction of justice. He was initially arrested on July 29, 2022, and later convicted and sentenced to six years in prison in June 2023. However, a higher court overturned this conviction due to procedural irregularities, ordering a new trial in 2025.
The October house arrest was met with relief from his family, supporters, and international organizations like the International Press Institute and Reporters Without Borders, who hailed it as a partial victory for press freedom. Guatemalan President Bernardo Arévalo personally visited Zamora at his home, calling him “an example of the punishment the press has suffered in Guatemala” and expressing hope that his release marked the beginning of judicial reform in the country.
Yet, months later in early March 2025, an appellate court reversed the decision and ordered Zamora back to prison, citing procedural technicalities and with no new allegations against him. The reversal sparked immediate condemnation from Amnesty International, CPJ, and nine other rights organizations, denouncing the move as politically motivated persecution and demanding his unconditional release.
Zamora’s case exemplifies the volatile state of Guatemalan press freedom. Though briefly removed from prison, his return to incarceration underscores ongoing judicial manipulation and persistent threats to journalists who dare to expose corruption. With retrial proceedings still unresolved, the fate of José Rubén Zamora remains a crucial litmus test for democracy and accountability in Guatemala.
Reference –
Guatemala: Journalist José Rubén Zamora released on house arrest
