UNESCO chief speaks out against murder of Mexican photographer

The head of the United Nations agency tasked with upholding press freedom today condemned the murder of a Mexican news photographer in an attack that also seriously injured another journalist, calling for the those behind the act of violence to be brought to justice.

On 13 February, photographer Jean Paul Ibarra Ramírez of El Correo newspaper and Yenni Yuliana Marchán Arroyo of Diario 21 were riding a motorcycle to cover a car accident in Iguala, in the southern state of Guerrero, when they were shot.

When both fell to the ground, one of the assailants shot Mr. Ibarra Ramírez again and killed him, bringing the number of Mexican journalists killed since January 2008 to four, according to the non-governmental organization (NGO) Reporters Without Borders.

“I trust that the authorities will do all they can to bring to justice the perpetrators of this crime against democracy and the rule of law,” said Koïchiro Matsuura, UNESCO Director-General.