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November 17, 2023

Ismael Villagómez Becomes at Least 5th Journalist Killed in Mexico This Year
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Another journalist has been killed in Mexico. Ismael Villagómez was
fatally shot in Ciudad Juárez Thursday while working his second job as a
driver. He was a photographer for the newspaper El Heraldo de Juárez who
had worked in media for nearly two decades. At least three people were
arrested in connection to his death. His colleagues are demanding
justice.

José Ramón Ortiz: "Ismael was a good and honest person. He was a good
co-worker whose life was taken away in this way. We don't want his case
to remain unsolved, as has happened with the deaths of other
journalists. If the cause was something other than his work in
journalism, we want this to be clarified by authorities. And if this is
related to his journalistic activity, we want authorities to investigate
this even further. The Mexican Editorial Organization, Ismael's family
and the journalistic community demand clarification of the facts."

At least four other journalists have been killed this year in Mexico,
one of the most dangerous countries for media workers in the world
outside a war zone. Violence has skyrocketed in Mexico following the
enforcement of the U.S.-backed war on drugs.


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