Ms Regina Martínez Pérez

On 28 April 2012 journalist and human rights defender Ms Regina Martínez Pérez was found dead in her home in the city of Xalapa, in Veracruz.

Regina Martínez Pérez was a correspondent with the weekly publication Proceso in which she addressed issues relating to drug cartels and the links between organised criminal groups and government officials.

On 28 April 2012 Regina Martínez Pérez's body, which showed signs of having been badly beaten around the face and ribs, was found in her home in Xalapa. The initial pathology reports indicate that the cause of death was asphyxia. The perpetrators removed the journalist's mobile telephones, computer and a television from her home. In the week prior to her killing Regina Martínez Pérez had reported on the arrest of an allegedly high-ranking Zeta criminal leader, the arrests of nine police officers charged over links to cartels, and also a story relating to a local mayor who was arrested with other alleged cartel gunmen following a shootout with the Mexican Army.

The killing of Regina Martínez Pérez follows a series of recent attacks against journalists with reports stating that four journalists were killed in 2011 in the State of Veracruz alone. It has been reported that over the last decade Mexico has consistently been among the most dangerous countries in the world to practice journalism. Front Line Defenders is gravely concerned for the safety of journalists in Mexico who, by carrying out their work in the promotion of human rights and the exposure of human rights violations, are at risk of being killed, detained and harassed. Front Line believes that the killing of Regina Martínez Pérez is directly related to her work in the defence of human rights and in particular her reporting on organised criminal activity and links to government officials.