Guatemalan court denies journalist José Rubén Zamora travel to U.S

A Guatemalan criminal court has denied a request by journalist José Rubén Zamora Marroquín to travel to the United States for medical treatment. Zamora, the founder of the defunct newspaper elPeriódico, sought to temporarily lift his travel restrictions to receive specialized care for a knee injury and neurological issues.

While the National Institute of Forensic Sciences (INACIF) confirmed Zamora suffers from neurological conditions causing frequent falls and identified a specialist at Baptist Health South Florida as suitable for his treatment, the court ruled the medical appointment was “elective” rather than an extreme urgency. The court prioritized ensuring Zamora’s presence for upcoming oral and public trials related to ongoing legal proceedings involving charges of money laundering, blackmail, and influence peddling.

Although the Public Ministry and the Attorney General's Office did not oppose the temporary travel, the tribunal concluded that the right to health was not violated, stating that the Guatemalan medical system has specialists capable of treating his condition.