IACHR condemns four murders of journalists in Colombia in 2026, including Hincapié in Antioquia
The IACHR rejected the murder of communicator Julián Andrés Hincapié in Anorí, Antioquia, bringing the total number of journalists killed in Colombia in 2026 to four.
Four journalists murdered in Colombia in 2026: the IACHR demands exhaustive investigations
The Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) rejected the murder of community communicator and social leader Julián Andrés Hincapié, found dead on 2 October 2026 in a rural area of the municipality of Anorí, Antioquia. According to infobae.com, the Special Rapporteurship for Freedom of Expression (SRFOE) stated that the case brings the number of journalists murdered in Colombia during the current year to four.
Hincapié had been reported as missing since 10 September, after reportedly leaving his home in the company of a neighbour. According to sources cited by the Rapporteurship, the communicator had an interest in documenting matters related to armed conflict and artisanal mining in the region.
Context of risk in northeastern Antioquia
The SRFOE indicated that it has taken note of warnings from civil society organisations about the risks and threats facing journalists in Antioquia. The body also referenced alerts issued by the Ombudsman regarding the intensification of confrontations between armed groups in the northeast of the department, including the municipality of Anorí.
According to the Rapporteurship, this context represents "a differentiated risk" for those who report, participate in community processes and defend rights in the area.
The figure of four journalists murdered in Colombia in 2026 includes, in addition to Hincapié, Mateo Pérez Rueda, Cristian Herrera and Jader Luis Durango. The Rapporteurship requested that Colombian authorities clarify whether the crime against Hincapié was related to his journalistic work, specifying that the statement does not establish this motive as a fact, but rather demands that investigations determine it.
The case of Guatemala and institutional response
In the same statement, the IACHR referred to the murder of Evelio Lisandro López Sánchez, which also occurred on 2 October in San Pedro Necta, department of Huehuetenango, Guatemala. The communicator was attacked with a firearm whilst returning to his home.
López Sánchez was founder and administrator of Huehue es Noticia, a local digital media outlet active on Facebook. According to reports from local media cited by the Rapporteurship, the communicator had reportedly denounced death threats and intimidations linked to his work days before the attack. The body also took note of questions about the delay by the Guatemalan Public Ministry in processing the crime scene and removing the body, with reports indicating that authorities arrived at the location the morning after the crime.
Guatemala's Ministry of Home Affairs reported that the National Civil Police was conducting corresponding proceedings in support of the Public Ministry. With this case, there would be three communicators murdered in Guatemala during 2026, following the killings of Carlos Humberto Cal Ical and Emerson Dinael Colindres.
Inter-American standards and state obligations
The Rapporteurship recalled that the murder of journalists and members of the media constitutes "the most extreme form of censorship", insofar as it affects both direct victims and the collective right to receive information. The body cited the standards of the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, according to which journalistic practice can only be exercised freely when those who practise it are not victims of threats, assaults or harassment.
The IACHR likewise recalled Principle 9 of the Declaration of Principles on Freedom of Expression, which establishes the responsibility of States to prevent and investigate such acts, punish their authors and guarantee adequate reparation to victims.
The SRFOE urged the authorities of Colombia and Guatemala to clarify the murders, determine whether they were related to journalistic practice, identify and punish those responsible, and adopt urgent measures to protect communicators in situations of risk.
Source: Google News CO — Crime