The SRFOE condemns the murder of journalist Carlos Castro in Mexico and calls for a diligent and exhaustive investigation, considering his journalistic work

January 22, 2026

Washington, D.C./Mexico — The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) condemns the murder of journalist Carlos Castro in Mexico and calls on the authorities to carry out a coordinated, diligent, and exhaustive investigation, to identify and sanction those responsible, and to grant protection measures to his family members and colleagues.

On January 8, 2026, the murder of journalist Carlos Castro was reported in the municipality of Poza Rica, Veracruz. According to public reports, unidentified individuals entered the commercial establishment where he was present and shot him directly, before fleeing on a motorcycle. Officers from the Municipal Police, the State Public Security Secretariat (SSP), the Mexican Army, the Secretariat of the Navy, and medical personnel responded to the scene; however, the victim died at the site due to the severity of his injuries.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur took note of the statement issued by the State Commission for the Attention and Protection of Journalists (CEAPP), in which it condemned the attack and urged the authorities to carry out an exhaustive investigation to clarify the facts and guarantee access to justice. Likewise, it was noted that the Veracruz State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) reported the opening of an investigation file with the purpose of clarifying the homicide and identifying those responsible.

The Government of Mexico expressed to the Office of the Special Rapporteur its deepest regret over the killings of media professionals and reiterated its commitment to freedom of expression and to the thorough investigation of the facts in accordance with the law. It was reported that several lines of investigation remain ongoing and subject to due process.

For their part, civil society organizations indicated that Carlos Castro was a police beat reporter and director of the digital outlet Código Norte Veracruz, specializing in security-related issues. In 2024, he allegedly received threats and was subjected to intimidation, as a result of which he was granted protection measures by the CEAPP from April to October of that year and displaced from Poza Rica, a municipality to which he returned in the last quarter of 2025. According to information provided by the authorities, the protection measures concluded in October 2024, and no new reports were filed by the journalist thereafter.

In accordance with the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, “the murder, kidnapping, intimidation of, or threats to social communicators, as well as the material destruction of communications media, violate the fundamental rights of individuals and severely restrict freedom of expression. It is the duty of States to prevent and investigate such acts, punish their perpetrators, and ensure that victims receive adequate reparation.”

In light of these obligations, it is incumbent upon the authorities to effectively clarify the motives behind the crime, with full respect for due process and the principles of judicial independence. In this regard, the Office of the Special Rapporteur urges the Mexican authorities to conduct a coordinated, diligent, and exhaustive investigation, considering Carlos Castro’s journalistic work as a possible motive for the crime, and to guarantee the identification, prosecution, and sanction of those responsible. It also calls for the immediate adoption of the necessary protection measures for his family members and colleagues.

The Office of the Special Rapporteur for Freedom of Expression is an office created by the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) to promote the hemispheric defense of the right to freedom of thought and expression, in light of its fundamental role in the consolidation and development of the democratic system.

No. R012/26

11:38 AM