In support of its partner in Mexico, the NGO LIMEDDH - Liga Mexicana por la Defensa de los Derechos Humanos (Mexican League for the Defense of Human Rights), the International League Against Arbitrary Detention has signed an Amicus Curiae brief submitted to the third district judge in the State of Mexico, with residence in Naucalpan, Jorge Jannu Lizárraga Delgado, concerning the arbitrary detention of Marlene Miroslava Sánchez Villafan.
ARBITRARILY ARRESTED AND SUBJECTED TO TORTURE AND SEXUAL ABUSE
On August 6, 2024, Marlene Miroslava Sánchez Villafán, together with her partner at the time, was illegally detained at her place of residence without a search warrant, an arrest warrant or a production order. She was not informed at the time of her detention of any existing investigations against her that could motivate the arrest. At the time of her arrest, Marlene was threatened and hit by the police officers carrying out her detention. Marlene was presented before the authorities with an arrest warrant for three people who Marlene has stated she does not know, accused of kidnapping and drug possession. Following her detention, and once under custody, Marlene was tortured and sexually abused and made to confess her participation in these crimes.
DENIED THE RIGHT TO AN EFFECTIVE AND ADEQUATE DEFENSE AND CHARGED WITH A FABRICATED CRIME
Several irregularities during the judicial process violated Marlen’s right to an effective and adequate defense observed under the Mexican Constitution. On the night of August 6, 2024, two public defenders were assigned to Marlene and her partner, with no designation of which defender was appointed to which defendant. There is no record that Marlene and her partner were explained the nature of the proceedings, or that the public defenders were ever introduced to their defendants. Both defenders refused to make any statements during the judicial proceedings carried out on that date. On August 7, 2024, one of the witnesses and the victim in a different kidnapping case, after being induced by the Mexican authorities, declared recognizing Marlene as one of the persons involved in the crime. Through confessions obtained through torture, witness induction, and crime fabrication, the Mexican authorities ultimately charged Marlene with a fabricated crime of “narcomenudeo” (possession with a commercial end), as well as several crimes of kidnapping on the 10th of August 2014.
PETITIONS TO THE JUDGE
For all of the above reasons, the International League Against Arbitrary Detention has joined LIMEDDH and 20 other human rights organizations in asking the third district judge in the State of Mexico, with residence in Naucalpan, Jorge Jannu Lizárraga Delgado to consider the legal arguments exposed in the amicus curiae brief and grant Marlene Miroslava Sánchez Villafan freedom and to order the implementation of measures aimed to provide aid, attention, assistance, protection and reparation to the victim, the other accused in the case, and their family members.
ILAAD joins LIMEDDH in its call to :
To grant Marlene Miroslava Sánchez Villafán freedom.
To order the implementation of measures aimed to provide aid, attention, assistance, protection and reparation to the victim, the other accused in the case and their family members.
More information on the cases of Marlene Miroslava Sánchez Villafán and Ricardo Tapia can be found in the following interview of our estimeed colleagues Astrid Virginia Fuerte and Adrián Ramírez López from the LIMEDDH :
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