Article 19 Condemns Illegal Arrest of Journalist.

The organization Article 19 has condemned the arbitrary arrest and physical assault of journalist María Luisa Ruiz by municipal police in Santiago Miahuatlán, Puebla, on January 13, 2026. Ruiz, a veteran reporter with over 50 years of experience, was detained while documenting a police operation after authorities accused her of "usurping functions" for not carrying specific press credentials—a demand Article 19 labels as a violation of freedom of expression. Due to the force used during her arrest, Ruiz’s health worsened, requiring her hospitalization for hypertension and diabetes complications. The organization is now calling for a formal investigation into the officers involved and demanding urgent protection measures for the journalist.

Article 19 of the UDHR states that everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression. This includes:

• The freedom to hold opinions without interference.

• The freedom to seek, receive, and impart information and ideas.

• The right to do so through any media and regardless of frontiers.

©YovaniBernard