Jose Rubén Zamora Marroquín, founder of elPeriódico, is a prominent Guatemalan journalist. For over two decades, Zamora and his team exposed systemic corruption and abuses of power, earning elPeriódico a key role in holding Guatemalan officials accountable.  

On 29 July 2022, the National Civil Police arrested Zamora at his home on trumped up charges of money laundering, blackmailing, influence peddling and conspiracy to launder money, while also performing a raid in elPeriódico’s newsroom and freezing his and the newspaper’s assets. Following Zamora's detention, elPeriódico endured relentless political, financial, and legal harassment, driving nine journalists into exile. After months of intense pressure, elPeriódico ceased operations on 15 May 2023.  

PEN International believes that Zamora’s imprisonment and the closure of elPeriódico were attempts by the government to silence critical journalism.  

The legal proceedings against Zamora have been marked by irregularities and undue restrictions. During his trial, he faced severe obstacles including a limited ability to present exculpatory evidence and witnesses, the harassment and persecution of his legal defence team, and the abusive use of pretrial detention. These procedural issues, along with the addition of unsubstantiated charges mid-trial, further fuel concerns that his prosecution is a retaliatory measure rather than a legitimate criminal case.  

In June 2023, Zamora was sentenced to six years in prison on money laundering charges, although all other charges were dismissed. On 14 October 2023, the Second Appeals Chamber overturned his conviction, citing irregularities and ordering a new trial, which has now been scheduled for September 2025.  

On 2 July 2024, the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention released an opinion on Zamora’s case, stating that the imprisonment of Zamora is arbitrary, and, his “detention was a result of the legitimate exercise of the right to freedom of expression”. The opinion declared that “no trial should be held”, and an “appropriate remedy would be to immediately release Mr. Zamora” and provide him with proper compensation. 

On 15 November 2024, a Guatemalan appeals court overturned the decision made on 18 October that had granted house arrest to Zamora, after more than 800 days behind bars. 

Following Zamora’s house arrest, the judge declared that “the pretrial detention period allowed by the law had been exceeded” and ordered his transfer to house arrest, with a ban on leaving the country. His passport remains in judicial custody. 

While under house arrest, Zamora is awaiting the resolution of two legal actions: whether he will face a retrial in the alleged money laundering case involving elPeriódico, and whether he will be retried in a case of obstruction of justice.  

Zamora is the beneficiary of precautionary measures issued by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights since 2003, upon recognition of the risks he faces in relation to his work as journalist.  

PEN International believes that his prosecution is directly related to his journalistic activities and stands in solidarity with him. The ongoing repression of freedom of expression exemplifies the broader crackdown on journalists exposing corruption. It represents a grave and clear assault on freedom of the press, and sets a dangerous precedent for independent media in Guatemala.  

PEN International urges the Guatemalan authorities to uphold international standards of due process and calls for Zamora’s immediate and unconditional release.