José Rubén Zamora, Guatemala

My name is José Rubén Zamora Marroquín. I was arrested in Guatemala for my work as a journalist exposing government corruption. It all started with a raid on my house on July 29, 2022. They arrested me on charges of money laundering, influence peddling, and blackmail, based on a single complaint filed by a former banker who himself was under investigation for financial crimes. So far, the General Attorney’s Office has open two more legal process against me.  

Ever since, I've been subjected to over 18 months of arbitrary detention. They say I could influence witnesses because of my position in elPeriódico, the newspaper I founded. But that's just an excuse to silence me. They've even put me in solitary confinement, in harsh conditions, and the newspaper I led was forced to shut down.  

My ability to defend myself has been hampered at every turn. My lawyers were harassed, and I had to change counsel multiple times. Some of them were even prosecuted and jailed just for representing me. The court rejected crucial witnesses and evidence that could prove my innocence, while accepting everything the prosecution presented. 

Despite all this, I was convicted of money laundering and sentenced to six years in prison. But in October 2023, the Appeals Court annulled my conviction and sent the case back for a retrial. Yet, I remain in pretrial detention, waiting for justice. 

I urge solidarity and call for my release. The authorities are trying to silence me for speaking out against corruption. But I won't be silenced. And I won't stop fighting for press freedom and justice in Guatemala.