By Nora Gonzalez | Fundraising area
Don Francisco is 75 years old, he’s a Tsotsil land defender.
He was a victim of torture, arbitrary detention, and cruel, inhuman, and degrading treatment by ministerial agents of the Attorney General's Office of the State of Chiapas.
He was arbitrarily deprived of his liberty for three years and four months.
As a result of the torture and imprisonment, he currently suffers from serious health problems, including Parkinson's disease, diabetes, hypertension, and progressive loss of vision and hearing.
Don Francisco's Story
Don Francisco was arrested on May 29, 2015, a block away from his home in Chiapas, when he was on his way to his milpa.
He was beaten, handcuffed, and arrested. Subsequently, he was taken to the Prosecutor's Office and interrogated about the organization to which he belonged. During the interrogation, he was subjected to severe torture. After being transferred to El Amate prison, Don Francisco did not receive medical attention, nor was he allowed access to medication. He was subsequently charged with the crime of aggravated robbery. During his trial, his due process rights were violated, including the lack of an adequate defense.
After being released for a crime he did not commit, in 2018 Don Francisco filed a complaint for torture, which was upheld by the State Human Rights Commission.
Eight years later, in 2025, the initial hearing was held, in which the Control Judge ordered the trial of the two police officers involved and imposed precautionary measures for the crime of torture. However, the two perpetrators continue to evade their legal responsibility, trying to justify and legitimize the acts of torture.
Today, with your tireless support, we continue in the struggle for justice for Don Francisco.
We demand that the judge maintain the indictment and the precautionary measures against one of the aggressors, and that the legal process continues until the persons responsible for the crime of torture are sentenced.
We say no to impunity! We will continue to accompany Don Francisco and his family in their search for justice and the eradication of torture in Mexico.
You are also part of this struggle, thanks to the support you give to Frayba.
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