The ongoing imprisonment of Guatemalan investigative journalist José Rubén Zamora was deemed “arbitrary” and a violation of international law by the United Nations’ Working Group on Arbitrary Detention. Zamora’s arrest in 2022 for alleged financial crimes was found to be linked to his right to freedom of expression as the founder of the independent newspaper “elPeriódico,” which had published numerous corruption investigations. Zamora and his family faced threats, attacks, and attempts on their lives as a result of their work.
Zamora was sentenced to six years in prison for money laundering in a trial marked by numerous failures, according to human rights organizations. The Working Group called for his immediate release and compensation for the violations of his rights. The decision was issued in response to a complaint filed by The Vance Center, which has been representing Zamora since 2022 with pro bono legal assistance.
The Working Group’s ruling establishes a legal precedent, as it is the first time such a decision has been made in a case involving political dissent against corruption. The Vance Center stressed the importance of the decision in demanding Zamora’s release and the need for the Guatemalan government to address the violations of his rights promptly.
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