Eighth journalist murdered in Mexico this year

Journalist Armando Linares López was murdered on Tuesday by armed men who entered his home in the Mexican city of Zitácuaro. He was a managing partner and director of local media outlet Monitor Michoacán.

Local paramedics received a call for help from the journalist shortly before 7 p.m. but found him dead upon arriving at his home.

According to the Michoacán Attorney General’s Office, Linares’ body suffered from gunshot wounds and thus an investigation for Crimes Committed Against Freedom of Expression was opened as Linares previous told investigators threats had been made against him after the murder of Roberto Toledo, a Monitor reporter who died on January 31, El Financiero reported.   

Investiga #FGEMich homicidio del periodista Armando Linares, registrado en #Zitácuaro #ConoceMás ➡️ https://t.co/BHdgZyALnM

— Fiscalía General de Michoacán (@FiscaliaMich) March 16, 2022

"Today they murdered one of our team members. A few minutes ago an attempt was made on his life, he lost his life. This is how things are with Monitor Michoacán, exposing the corruption of politicians and officials today led to the death of one of our colleagues," said Armando Linares in announcing the murder of Toledo.

🔴 #URGENTE

Reportan EL ASESINATO de otro colega PERIODISTA: Roberto Toledo, quien trabajaba para Monitor Michoacan en Zitácuaro.

‘Nosotros NO CARGAMOS ARMAS, solo tenemos una PLUMA y LIBRETA para DEFENDERNOS’, señala el director del medio y quien confirmó el deceso. pic.twitter.com/r9odtWz0DL

— Ruido en la Red (@RuidoEnLaRed) January 31, 2022

Monitor Michoacán lamented the death of its director and condemned the fact that the perpetrators had entered the victim's private home. They also called for the perpetrators to be brought to justice.

So far this year, eight journalists have been murdered in Mexico. Hours before the death of Linares López, President Andrés Manuel López Obrador denied that his government persecutes or censures journalists who criticize his administration.

"We are never going to persecute any journalist, nor are we going to repress anyone. (...) We are not the same as the previous ones (...) We do not want them to be touched even with the petal of a rose. Let them come out because if they don't, they will say that we are pressuring them,” the president explained in a press conference.

On Thursday, the European Parliament condemned the threats, harassment and murder of journalists and human rights defenders in Mexico. It also urged the Mexican government to investigate these crimes in a "prompt, thorough, independent and impartial" manner.

In response, López Obrador called the MEPs "sheep" and denounced the "corruption, hypocrisy and interference" of the Parliament.

Since 2000, the organization Article 19 has documented 151 murders of journalists in Mexico, possibly related to their professional work.