Nicaragua: Journalist Hazel Zamora Arrested And Charged With Spreading False News – CFWIJ Condemns Regime’s Media Crackdown
Location: Nicaragua, Managua
Date: May 5, 2023
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is incredibly alarmed by recent detentions and charges brought against journalists and activists in Nicaragua. Independent journalist Hazel Zamora latest victim of the crackdown on free press in the country.
Authorities arrested independent journalist Hazel Zamora while traveling by bus with her children on May 5th, 2023. She was charged with spreading false news and faces up to 10 years if convicted.
Zamora was released from police custody on the condition she reports to police daily. Police confiscated her computer during a search of her home.
Independent media in Nicaragua is practically non-existent due to the government's crackdown on journalists and civil society. Hazel Zamora, who has worked as a journalist in Nicaragua for 16 years, is one of the few independent journalists. She works with private TV broadcaster Canal 10 and posts news on her Facebook page, Doce Noticias covering social issues, health, and crime in the country.
International and regional press freedom organizations have condemned the criminal charges against Zamora and are raising the alarm about the authoritarian government’s continued oppression of journalists and activists.
Recent Government Crackdown on Media and Activists
In a series of police raids, the same week as Zamora’s arrest, numerous journalists and activists were detained. According to a local human rights collective, approximately 30 detainees are accused of "conspiracy to undermine national integrity.”
On Press Freedom Day, May 3rd, freelance journalist William Aragon was charged with spreading false news as well. He is also required to report to the police daily.
“Gag Law” Targeting Journalists
Zamora’s arrest is the latest in a trend of Nicaragua’s sweeping crackdown on journalists. In 2020, the government led by Daniel Ortega introduced a sprawling Special Cybercrime Law that establishes up to 10 years in prison for crimes including identity theft, computer espionage, and the spreading of false information.
Press freedom advocates argue that the legislation is a “gag law” that limits freedom of expression and threatens the work of journalists.
In 2021 journalist Miguel Mendoza was arrested for violating the cybercrime law. Authorities accused him of spreading fake news for a social media post criticizing the government. He received a 9-year prison sentence but was released in February 2023.
Following his release, Mendoza, along with 222 political prisoners, was stripped of his citizenship and deported to the United States. Days later, the regime denied another 94 people of their nationality, including 10 journalists who remain in the country.
Those affected had their properties taken by the state, their bank accounts closed, and their records erased. The judiciary continues to legally harass them.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is alarmed by the arrest and charging of Hazel Zamora. The Ortega regime has silenced practically all independent media. Despite being condemned by the United Nations, authorities have ramped up its repression.
The latest spate of detentions and arrests does not bode well for activists and journalists within the country. We call on international organizations, states, and institutions that value democracy and press freedom to speak out against the Nicaraguan regime and highlight the cases of those threatened and arrested.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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