The Inter -American Press Society (SIP) spoke against the resolution of the Third Appeals Chamber that revoked substitute measures, Among them the house arrest, to the journalist Jose Rubén Zamora.
In addition, he said that the magistrates’ decision represents a Ring of press freedom and the criminal process in Guatemala.
Zamora’s legal team filed an amparo to reverse the decision and prevent the journalist from returning to prison.
The lawyer Héctor Reyes, legal representative of the journalist, described the decision of the Chamber as “totally illegal”; He also emphasized that the law empowers the judges to know urgent hearings, such as those related to coercion measures, even when there are recusations against them.
Read more: Organizations ask the CSJ to solve a protection by Jose Rubén Zamora to prevent prison from returning
“The decision of the court is a direct affront against freedom of expression and the right of citizens to be informed. This measure, lacking legitimate foundationsconfirms a persecution pattern orchestrated against Jose Rubén Zamora in Guatemala, ”said José Roberto Dutriz, president of the SIP and general director of The graphic press of El Salvador.
Carlos Jornet, president of the Press and Information Freedom Commission, said that “the Public Ministry persists in using the judicial apparatus to punish a critical journalist.”
According to the opinion of the magistrates, There was an error in the judge’s resolution that decided to free the journalist In October 2024. The review of the measures was requested by the MP and the lawyer Raúl Falla.
The SIP recalled that Zamora, during her imprisonment of more than 800 days, underwent Psychological and physical tortureaccording to the journalist.
“My dad has been criminalization and spurious processes for 949 days. He should never have been in prison and I should never return to her”, He wrote in X José Carlos Zamora, son of the communicator.
Zamora Marroquín was arrested on July 29, 2022. The case has irregularities, according to the SIP.