Chiapas: Adrian Gomez, Indigenous Tsotsil, Released after 17 Years of Unjust Imprison

@ Chiapas Paralelo

The Collective of Relatives of Prisoners in Struggle, the No Estamos Todxs Working Group, and the Fray Bartolome de Las Casas Center for Human Rights made a joint statement to celebrate “with great joy the freedom and life of our dear colleague and brother Adrian Gomez Jimenez”, who had been unjustly imprisoned for 17 years accused of a crime that he did not commit.

The statement also served to denounce the fabrication of crimes by the authorities and torture methods that force the accused to plead guilty, as was the case with Adrian. They said that these cases continue to be seen during the government of Rutilio Escandon.

In a 14-year process, Adrian denounced and highlighted the serious violations of his human rights, as well as the irregularities in the criminal process, which motivated him, along with other prisoners in the same conditions, to organize to demand their rights. For this, he was subjected to harassment, retaliation, intimidation, discrimination, criminalization, constant surveillance, death threats and other violations of his rights.

Adrian invited state, national and international human rights defenders, as well as independent organizations “to continue demanding justice without threats, based on the nature of human rights principles and to continue to demand freedom.”

The organizations and the collective thanked those who have remained working on the cases and asked to continue to have solidarity with their fellow torture survivors “who are still paying unjust sentences.”

“We continue fighting together until we see them free, we will not tire until they get their lives back”, the collectives concluded.

For more information in Spanish:

Indígena recluido denuncia intimidación y amenaza de la Fiscalía Antitortura(Chiapas Paralelo, 31 de agosto de 2021)

Indígena y sobreviviente de tortura obtiene su libertad después de 17 años(Chiapas Paralelo,8 de septiembre de 2021)

Pronunciamiento conjunto. Libertad absolutoria a Adrián Gómez Jiménez tras 17 años 8 meses y 4 días preso injustamente (Frayba, 8 de septiembre de 2021)

For more information from SIPAZ:

National: AMLO Announces Decree to Release the Unsentenced, Tortured and Elderly (August 3, 2021)

Chiapas: Arbitrary Arrest of Two Members of CNI in Ocosingo Denounced (February 17, 2021)

National: Commission to Implement Amnesty Law Created (June 22, 2020)

National: “Due to Cuts and Bureaucracy, Amnesty Law Hasn’t Been Applied to or Benefitted any Prisoner” – Animal Politico (June 17, 2020)

Chiapas: Attorney of Chiapas Accused of Fabrication of Crime against Indigenous Family in Dylan Case (August 22, 2020)

Chiapas: CNDH Issues Precautionary Measures for Four Women Arrested in Dylan Case(September 10, 2020)

Chiapas/International: Front Line Defenders’ Statement on Arbitrary Arrest and Physical Attacks on Indigenous Defenders from Chilon (November 3, 2020)