Guatemala: Court's order to return José Rubén Zamora Marroquín back to prison condemned

Credit: Photos of José Rubén Zamora taken by Karla Olascoaga, President of PEN Guatemala, during our trial observation.

‘PEN International condemns José Rubén Zamora’s return to preventive detention after he was conditionally released last year. This measure reinforces the impunity and corruption that continue to dominate Guatemala’s judicial system and represents yet another blow to free expression, sending an intimidating message to journalists. The judicial system must respect the right to a fair trial and end the judicial harassment of reporters,’ said Ma Thida, Chair of the Writers in Prison Committee of PEN International.

12 March 2025 – PEN International strongly rejects the appeal court's decision to return journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín to preventive detention, as announced by Judge Erick García during a hearing on 10 March 2025. The decision reverses the substitute measure of house arrest that was granted to Zamora on 18 October 2024. 

Zamora, founder of the newspaper elPeriódico, was granted conditional release after spending more than 800 days in preventive detention. However, the Third Court of Appeals overturned this measure and ordered his return to prison without substantial legal justification. According to public reports, Zamora Marroquín’s legal defence team has filed an appeal against this decision. 

Furthermore, Judge Erick García, who presided over the case, stated that he disagreed with the court’s ruling, despite being compelled to enforce it. He also revealed that he had suffered intimidation and threats in connection with the Zamora Marroquín case. García had previously granted Zamora’s conditional release in October 2024. 

The legal harassment and use of the criminal justice system against journalists, authors and writers in order to silence them violates the right to free expression of Guatemalan citizens. 

For further details about Zamora’s persecution, click here. 

PEN International calls on the Guatemalan authorities to:

• End the criminal prosecution of José Rubén Zamora Marroquín.

• Ensure that the Supreme Court of Justice urgently grants the injunction in favour of José Rubén Zamora, upholding the principle of presumption of innocence and his right to a fair trial.

• Immediately end the misuse of the legal system as a means to silence journalists and others for their peaceful expression.

Note to Editors: 

For more information, please contact Alicia Quiñones, Head of the Americas Region, at PEN International, email: alicia.quinones@pen-international.org 

For media queries, please contact Sabrina Tucci, PEN International Communications and Campaigns Manager,  Sabrina.Tucci@pen-international.org