Journalist Attacked Amid Tensions Over Amnesty Law Debate in Peru

August 29, 2025 – Peru – 

At the conclusion of a well‑intended congressional discussion on an Amnesty Law, journalist Katherine Ayarza, from the news outlet Epicentro, became the target of a troubling incident. The event on August 26, organized under the Democratic Tuesday initiative by Peru’s Congressional Citizen Participation Office, was meant to foster civic dialogue. Instead, it ended with a disconcerting attack directed at a media professional.

As the session wrapped up, a group of attendees aggressively encircled Ayarza. Over shouts and demeaning remarks intended to undermine her work, they forcefully knocked her cellphone to the floor, an act meant to silence her attempts at recording the proceedings. The confrontation was caught on film, reinforcing concerns about the safety of journalists—even in structured, official spaces.

This disturbing incident sheds light on worrisome undercurrents in Peru: growing hostility toward journalists, especially when covering politically contentious issues like amnesty for human rights violations. Peru is already grappling with broader press freedom challenges. In 2023 alone, the National Association of Journalists of Peru (ANP) recorded a staggering 352 reported attacks on media staff—the highest annual tally of the 21st century.

Moreover, amidst heightened political friction, legislative moves such as the enactment of a controversial anti‑NGO law—which critics decry as a severe threat to civil society and press freedom—underscore the perilous environment for journalists. This law restricts civil society’s ability to hold the government accountable, fostering a climate of censorship and repression.

In this volatile context, the attack on Ayarza is more than an isolated disruption—it symbolizes a broader pattern: journalists increasingly face both verbal and physical intimidation, even in venues purporting to encourage transparency and debate.

Reference – 

Journalist attacked during congressional event on Amnesty Law in Peru