Guatemala protests detention of journalist

Journalists and human‑rights activists gathered in Guatemala City to demand the release of José Rubén Zamora, the founder of the investigative newspaper elPeriódico, who has been detained for more than three years on money‑laundering accusations that critics describe as politically motivated.

Zamora, one of Latin America’s most decorated reporters, was arrested in July 2022 amid a broader crackdown on prosecutors, judges, activists and opposition figures led by the Special Prosecutor’s Office Against Impunity (FECI). Prosecutors allege he received $38,461 to fund his outlet but failed to deposit the money through the banking system. His trial has featured eleven hearings in which defense evidence was repeatedly excluded, and he has cycled through eight lawyers, some of whom now face legal action themselves.

In 2024 he briefly obtained house arrest after 800 days in prison, but an appeals court reversed that decision in March 2025 and ordered his return to custody. The case remains stalled as he awaits a new trial.

International bodies have condemned the detention. The United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention labeled it arbitrary and called for his immediate release. Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders have also denounced the proceedings as violations of due process and attacks on press freedom.

Local press leaders framed the prosecution as “criminal persecution aimed at silencing him,” warning that the imprisonment sends a chilling message to other journalists. The Guatemalan Journalists’ Association highlighted the 34 months of incarceration without proper legal safeguards, while family members described the personal toll and urged global pressure.

The government defended the judicial process, rejecting claims of political persecution, but the growing scrutiny from global watchdogs has turned Zamora’s case into a litmus test for Guatemala’s commitment to human rights, the rule of law and freedom of expression. Demonstrations continue, with participants carrying banners demanding justice and the protection of independent journalism.