“Why do you arrive at the scene before us?” That was the question, according to his family, that the Veracruz authorities posed to journalist Rafael “Lafita” León during a recent hearing.
👉It wasn’t evidence or a direct accusation: it was a complaint. And that complaint would be the true origin of the case.
🚨The Veracruz State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) initially charged Lafita León with terrorism, in addition to other crimes. However, during the legal proceedings, a judge dismissed that charge, finding insufficient evidence to support it.
⛓Even so, the journalist remained formally charged with other offenses and under precautionary measures.
🔥His son summed it up clearly: “My father is being persecuted for his work. Because he arrives before the police, who take hours to get to the scene. We didn’t know that now we had to answer to the authorities about our journalistic work or reveal our sources.” 📲The accusation is significant, because reporting a story quickly is not a crime.
⚠What is concerning is the underlying message: that journalistic practice is being confused with criminal complicity; that there is an attempt to criminalize the coverage of violent events; that serious crimes like terrorism are being used without solid evidence, generating intimidation and fear.
🎥For this reason, organizations that defend freedom of expression have warned that this case sets a dangerous precedent for journalists, especially in areas marked by violence.
🔎If you arrive before the authorities, you become a suspect. But in a country where the police often arrive late, journalism cannot be punished for doing its job. Today, the terrorism charge was dismissed, but the question remains: since when is reporting quickly grounds for persecution?
📝Freedom of the press should not be put on trial.
Source: amorpormexico
