Index on Censorship issues the ranking with the purpose of raising awareness about the repression that some heads of state emit on communicators in the world.
According to the organization, the nomination of the Mexican president responds to the attacks he has carried out against journalists since his administration began. An example of this are the disagreements he has had with communicators such as Carlos Loret de Mola, whom he asked to make public his economic income after the journalist exhibited a report on a house in Huston, Texas where the president’s son, José, lived. Ramon Lopez.
“This act of intimidation and abuse of the presidential office would be egregious under any circumstances. However, in Mexico, in a context of rampant impunity and one of the worst records when it comes to the safety of journalists, it is much worse than that,” says Index policy and campaign officer Nik Williams.
“After publicly leaking Carlos Loret de Mola’s alleged salary and potentially violating Article 16 of the Mexican Constitution in the process, Obrador branded journalists who criticize him as ‘thugs, mercenaries, sellouts’ and ‘the real mafia’ . This framing draws a false and dangerous parallel between the free press and criminal enterprises, further emboldening threats that may soon turn into violence,” Index says.
The organization highlights that Mexico is one of the most dangerous countries to practice journalism. Between 1992 and 2022 a total of 151 journalists and press workers have been assassinated. Also, this year, it ranked as the second most dangerous country to practice journalism, behind only Russia.
Index on Censorship is an international organization that defends freedom of expression. Every three months he edits the Index on Censorship magazine in London. Its chief executive is Ruth Anderson, a British activist.
According to its page, it is a non-profit organization whose purpose is to raise awareness about threats to freedom of expression. In addition to advocating for the right to freedom of expression, it publishes works by censored writers. Its financing depends on donations and it works through its quarterly magazine and its page disseminates information to help understand the threats to freedom of expression worldwide.
It also holds events throughout the year that allow people to understand the value of freedom of expression and offers scholarships to people who face censorship so they can carry out their work.
