They condemn the arrest of Rafael León, a red-note journalist who is accused of "terrorism" in Veracruz

“The use of the criminal system as retaliation for the work carried out by journalists is an abuse and has no place in a democracy,” Article 19 said in a statement.

Publicly known as Latifa León, she has documented several events related to violence, organized crime and security force operations, information that she disseminated mainly through digital platforms and social networks.

This Friday the governor of Veracruz, the Morenoist Rocío Nahle, rejected that the arrest has as its background the attempt to silence the media.

According to the president, “serious investigations are carried out and, when there is evidence and evidence, action is taken in accordance with the law.”

In an interview with a state radio station, Nahle indicated that “in Veracruz we have experienced a year in which freedom of expression persists, I would say even with excesses,” in reference to the criticism he received months ago after the floods in the Huasteca of Veracruz.

There he defended the investigation by the State Prosecutor’s Office and announced that he would ask for the facts to be reported and clarified.

Although the information available is scarce, it is known that the journalist will have his first hearing to determine his legal situation next Monday, December 30.

Leopoldo Maldonado, regional director for Mexico and Central America of Article 19, showed that the journalist’s detention is totally disproportionate, and that even military elements participated.

In addition, he warned that because the crime of terrorism warrants informal preventive detention, León Segovia could remain in prison for up to a year without proof of his responsibility.

He also warned that Mexico is placing itself in a risk situation by accusing a journalist of terrorism, in a context in which the United States has pointed out the presence of terrorist groups in Mexico – such as drug cartels – and has taken actions against them, which “puts the country itself at risk.”

Likewise, he recalled that Reporters Without Borders ranks Mexico as the most violent and lethal country without a declared war for the press, only behind Gaza. “To this dishonorable second place in number of murdered journalists, we must add that now, in addition to the fact that they can be killed, they can also be imprisoned. That is unprecedented, it is unprecedented and we cannot allow it,” he stressed.