Mexico: Prominent Assassinated Journalist’s Daughter, María Fernanda De Luna Should Be Better Protected
Location: Mexico, Veracruz
Date: June 11, 2020
María Fernanda de Luna Ferral, journalist and director of El Quinto Portal de Veracruz online newspaper and the daughter of María Elena Ferral, a prize-winning journalist who was assassinated in March wrote a concerning piece for Mexico News Daily yesterday, proving that the measures of protection for her should be intensified.
María Elena Ferral was shot dead brutally in broad daylight on March 30, after receiving death threats for her reporting on sensitive issues for years. Following her mother’s death, Maria Fernanda solicited protection from the Ministry of the Interior, the National Human Rights Commission and the state victims commission.
On May 23, while Maria Fernanda was traveling with her bodyguards, her car came under fire from gunmen in another vehicle.
In her article, Maria Fernanda recounted the event: “I was traveling with my bodyguards. The first sign of danger was when the driver said someone was following us. The guard in the back seat covered me with his body. When someone in the other car began to shoot, he returned fire and we were able to escape.”
Mexico is ranked 144th out of 180 countries and territories in RSF's 2020 World Press Freedom Index making it one of the most dangerous countries for journalists. And according to Maria Fernanda: “Veracruz is one of the most dangerous places in the country to practice journalism”
Maria Fernanda who is a senior in the Faculty of Law at Universidad Veracruzana in Poza Rica proudly took over her mother’s legacy after her passing and decided to take over the running of Quinto Poder de Veracruz.
The attacks towards Maria Fernanda are not only due to her mother’s legacy but they are targeted attacks towards investigative journalism in the country.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism urges Mexican authorities to investigate numerous attacks journalists faced, including that of Maria Fernanda and her mother’s along with ensuring the safety of journalists in the country.
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.
If you have been harassed or abused in any way, and please report the incident by using the following form.