The Veracruz State Attorney General's Office dropped the terrorism charge against journalist Rafael León Segovia, arrested on December 24 in Coatzacoalcos, but linked him to trial for concealment and attacks on public security institutions. The decision came after criticism from President Claudia Sheinbaum, who questioned the unprecedented use of that charge against journalists. As a precautionary measure, he was imposed one year of house arrest.
Rafael León Segovia, known on social media as Lafita León, was arrested on December 24, 2024, in Coatzacoalcos, Veracruz, by agents of the Ministerial Police in coordination with the Secretariat of National Defense. The detention was based on a judicial order from an investigation file, initially charging him with terrorism, concealment by favoritism, and crimes against public security institutions, under article 311 of the state Penal Code.
On December 30, during a hearing before Judge José Guadalupe Nucamendi Albores, the terrorism charge was dropped for not meeting legal requirements, but the trial was confirmed for the other two offenses. The prosecutor's office claims that León's possession and circulation of audiovisual material benefited criminal groups and hindered security operations. State Attorney General Lisbeth Jiménez Aguirre stressed that the case is handled with respect for freedom of expression and due process.
President Claudia Sheinbaum, in her December 29 conference, voiced concern: “There has never been a terrorism accusation in Mexico against journalists.” She urged distinguishing real crimes from journalistic work and demanded explanations from the prosecutor's office.
Organizations like Artículo 19 condemned the arrest as criminalization of journalism: “Cases like this create a chilling effect on journalism, especially in contexts of extreme violence.” León Segovia denounced political retaliation: “There is not a single piece of evidence linking me to criminal acts. This is persecution for what I publish in Coatzacoalcos.”
This one-year house arrest precautionary measure aims to balance the trial with the defendant's rights, amid tensions over press freedom in Mexico.
