Journalist Fleeing Mexico After He Was Rescued From Abduction

"Morogris" for Borderland Beat

Adrián Fernández Guerra, the director of the Morelos-based magazine Perfil (English: Profile), announced that he will leave Mexico together with his family after he was kidnapped a few days ago in the state of Morelos. He was freed a few hours after his kidnapping, which was reported by Borderland Beat last week.

The journalist said that while he was held captive, his kidnappers began asking about his journalistic investigations. In a press conference, Fernández Guerra said he feared for his integrity and that of his family. He believes the masterminds of his kidnapping are still at large.

His release is the exception and not the rule in Mexico. The country continues to be one of the most dangerous places for journalists in the world. At least 47 journalists were killed during the administration of former president Enrique Peña Nieto (2012–2018). During the current administration of Andrés Manuel López Obrador, at least 11 journalists have been killed for their work.

Kidnapping and release
Fernández Guerra was kidnapped on 18 February 2020 inside a restaurant in Cuernavaca while he celebrated his birthday with family and friends. The kidnapping took place a day after gunmen killed a radio personality in Ciudad Juárez.

The assailants took Fernández Guerra at gunpoint and forced him inside a white vehicle. They shot and killed a valet parking worker who tried to stop the abduction. "They killed a 20 year-old man that did not have to die", Fernandez Guerra told reporters.

The kidnapping caused reactions from numerous press freedom organizations like Article 19 and Reporters Without Borders. On their Facebook page, Fernández Guerra's magazine asked for the safe return of their colleague. The police quickly mounted an operation to locate Fernández Guerra and soon discovered the location of a safe house where he was being held. The Mexican Army, the National Guard, and state police officers executed the raid to rescue him.

Mug shots of some of the abductors

With armored vehicles, the troops entered the house and confronted the suspects while other units surrounded the house. The suspects were quickly overwhelmed and surrendered; 10 were taken into custody. Authorities seized multiple firearms and vehicles.

Fernández Guerra returned to his family but grew worried that more people may have been involved in his abduction. He stated that although 10 people were in custody, he felt the masterminds were not arrested.

After rumors surfaced that Fernandez Guerra may have staged his abduction, Fernandez Guerra vehemently denied such statements and told reporters he had 17 head injuries that were caused by his abductors. "I have 17 injuries on my head because they hit me all night with their guns", the journalist told reporters. 

"I told my colleagues that I am leaving [Mexico] ... it is necessary to implement better security for journalists in Morelos so that what I lived does not happen again to a colleague," he said. For obvious reasons, Fernández Guerra did not say where he would relocate. He is currently in the process of requesting an asylum.

Source(s): Radio Formula; La Razon; El Heraldo; Proceso; Knight Center; El Heraldo (2)