Mexico: CFWIJ Demands Law Enforcement Authorities Investigate The Death Threats Against Marina Rodríguez
Location: Mexico
Date: May 28, 2021
On May 19, Marina Rodríguez, a correspondent for De Política y algo Más, received death threats over social media for her journalistic activities. Marina wrote a detailed post on her Facebook page addressing the grave threats. In fear for her life, the journalist has demanded full-time protection from the authorities.
As CFWIJ is concerned for Marina, we urge Mexican law enforcement to investigate the matter and apprehend the culprit behind these online threats. We have seen an alarming pattern of how online intimidation often leads to physical violence. We demand the authorities take immediate action to ensure the safety of the journalist from potential attacks.
In her detailed post, Marina stated that after a week since filing a complaint with the State Attorney General's Office (FGE), the institution has not taken adequate measures to protect her. She is worried that the online threats may soon translate to physical violence. Marina stated she fears for her life and the well-being of her family. The journalist revealed that since May 19, the online attacker has continued to harass her, causing significant mental and emotional distress. Marina mentioned in her post that she is grateful to the General Commission for acknowledging her journalistic work and extended thanks to her news organization, which is looking for alternatives for her to continue working safely.
When describing the events, Marina recognized how she was treated fairly at the time of her complaint, but she demands more thorough protection. Currently, the security detail only accompanies her to her workplace that she visits once a week. As a street journalist, she emphasized how passionate she is about her job and will not be scared into submission. Despite her determination, the ongoing situation has made her feel apprehensive and vulnerable amidst the persistent threats.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism condemns the online death threats against Marina Rodríguez and demands an immediate inquiry. Until the online assailant is identified and apprehended, we urge the local law enforcement to increase the journalist’s security detail to provide 24-hour protection. CFWIJ demands that official authorities prioritize the case and bring the perpetrator to justice.
The CFWIJ strongly condemns the police brutality against journalists. We demand the immediate return of the press cards seized from the security forces. Policies to intimidate journalists should be abandoned, and journalism should be practiced under the criteria of freedom of the press.
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