Amnesty International condemned the murder of Mexican journalist Francisco Alejandro Leyva Aguilar, who had reported death threats to both state and federal authorities for a year before he was killed. The organization expressed solidarity with his family, colleagues, and loved ones amid growing concern over violence against journalists in southern Mexico.
Previous Threats and Institutional Failures
According to information gathered by Reporters Without Borders, Leyva Aguilar had repeatedly warned government authorities about the dangers he faced because of his journalistic work.
In a statement, Amnesty International described it as “especially concerning” that the Oaxaca State Human Rights Ombudsman’s Office, the Attorney General’s Office (FGR), and the Oaxaca State Attorney General’s Office (FGEO) were aware of the threats against the journalist but failed to prevent his killing.
Official Reactions and Political Context
Throughout his career, Leyva Aguilar was known for his strong criticism of the Oaxaca state government led by Governor Salomón Jara Cruz.
Following the murder, Governor Jara confirmed and condemned the killing through social media, calling on prosecutors to pursue “every possible line of investigation to clarify this crime.”
Amnesty International demanded that authorities conduct a prompt, thorough, and independent investigation, placing the journalist’s reporting, the previous death threats, and the campaigns to discredit him at the center of the investigation.
The organization also urged the National Human Rights Commission (CNDH) and the Mechanism for the Protection of Human Rights Defenders and Journalists to investigate possible institutional failures that may have contributed to the crime.
In response to his journalism, Leyva Aguilar was the target of public smear campaigns during official government press conferences in 2024. He later received multiple death threats throughout 2025 but continued reporting despite the risks.
One day before his murder, he published an opinion column strongly criticizing the governor and several members of the state administration, reaffirming his commitment to freedom of expression despite ongoing intimidation.
Violence Against Journalists in Mexico
Mexico remains one of the world’s most dangerous countries for journalists. Since 2000, more than 150 journalists have been killed and 25 have disappeared. As of 2026, seven journalists have been killed in the country.
Source: pulsoslp
