Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora was returned to jail on Monday after an appellate court sided with prosecutors, revoking his house arrest.
Zamora, known for founding El Periódico newspaper, had been under house arrest since October 2023 after spending more than two years in prison.
His legal battles highlight ongoing tensions between media freedom and government actions in Guatemala.
The prosecution against Zamora is viewed by many as retaliation for his investigative journalism, which has often challenged the administration of former President Alejandro Giammattei.
Despite his release to house arrest, prosecutors pushed back with appeals that led to his return to incarceration, emphasizing the precarious situation for journalists in the region.
President Bernardo Arévalo, who succeeded Giammattei, has condemned the case as a reflection of deeper issues within Guatemala’s judicial system.
He stated that the actions against Zamora demonstrate tactics aimed at criminalizing those who stand against corruption, further underscoring the challenges faced by advocates of press freedom.