"Judge José Morales of the Second Criminal Court ordered the release of journalist José Rubén Zamora, who had spent more than 1,295 days in pretrial detention in connection with two criminal cases brought by the Special Prosecutor's Office Against Impunity (FECI, for its Spanish acronym). With this decision, Zamora will face both cases under house […]
Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín, who has spent more than 1,280 days in pretrial detention in a case riddled with irregularities, demanded his release on Tuesday during a hearing, denouncing himself as a victim of the 'perfect labyrinth' of Guatemala's justice system. 'I've already paid my debt to society. I'm innocent, but I've already […]
“Journalist Jorge Agustín Zapeta Aguilar, 56, was found dead Tuesday afternoon in San Pablo Jocopilas, in Guatemala’s Suchitepéquez department, days after he was reported missing. Local media said his body was found along the road leading to the El Aguacatal area of the municipality, on the roadside near a coffee plantation. In a statement, the […]
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) included Latin American figures in its 2025 edition of Press Freedom Predators who, according to its criteria, represent persistent threats to journalism. Among them are three presidents: Daniel Ortega of Nicaragua, accused of imprisoning and expelling journalists, closing media outlets, and eliminating all independent press; Nicolás Maduro of Venezuela, whose regime […]
"Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora, imprisoned since 2022 in controversial cases opened by the Prosecutor's Office, fears being killed in prison, an official with Reporters Without Borders (RSF, for its acronym in Spanish) told AFP on Wednesday [Oct. 8]. The 69-year-old journalist, founder of the now-defunct newspaper El Periódico, has spent more than 1,100 days […]
"The Criminal Chamber of the [Guatemalan] Supreme Court of Justice overturned the conviction imposed on [journalist] Jose Rubén Zamora for the crime of money laundering in June 2023. This was confirmed by his son, Ramón Zamora. [...] This ruling acquits Zamora of the six-year sentence imposed on him in 2023. At the same time, it […]
Guatemala’s Constitutional Court ruled by majority to overturn a temporary injunction that had been granted by the Supreme Court’s Injunction Chamber in favor of journalist José Rubén Zamora. Although the injunction did not order Zamora’s release, it allowed his case to return to the Third Court of Appeals for a new review of a legal […]
"The Guatemalan Constitutional Court has rejected an appeal by the prosecutor's office seeking to prosecute eight journalists and columnists from the now-defunct media outlet El Periódico who investigated acts of corruption in which judges and prosecutors were implicated. The Supreme Court's ruling, which is provisional, was announced Tuesday [Aug. 26] through social media. The Special […]
"Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín turned 69 on Tuesday, with his son, Ramón Zamora, saying his father has spent the last four birthdays in 'arbitrary' detention. The founder and former editor of the newspaper El Periódico was arrested in July 2022 and has been held in pretrial detention ever since, with the exception of […]
"Journalism in Guatemala is increasingly criminalized and lacks protection, and local reporters covering environmental issues face the greatest risks. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on President Bernardo Arévalo to ensure safe working conditions for these reporters — especially those from indigenous communities. Together with partner organizations, RSF has put forward recommendations to the Guatemalan State, […]
"Amnesty International and a group of press organizations called for the release of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora on Tuesday [July 29], three years after his arrest on accusations of money laundering that they consider a setup to attack freedom of information. Zamora, 68, who is also accused of blackmail, has been in prison since […]
"The Supreme Court of Guatemala accepted an amparo (legal appeal) filed by the defense of journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín against an Appeals Court that ordered his pretrial detention, although his release from prison has not been finalized. In a statement, the Court detailed this Sunday [June 29] that it is 'provisionally' suspending the ruling […]