(CPJ/IFEX) - New York, January 3, 2007 - The Committee to Protect Journalists released the following statement in response to yesterday's decision by a Mexican judge to dismiss criminal defamation charges against prominent journalist and human rights activist Lydia Cacho Ribeiro:
"The court's decision to dismiss defamation charges against Lydia Cacho is welcome news and a positive step towards ending the prosecution of journalists," said CPJ Americas program coordinator Carlos Lauría. "We urge the Mexican Congress to move promptly on legislation that would decriminalize defamation at the federal level and reform the law to protect journalists from the threat of imprisonment."
The charges against Cacho were based on a complaint filed by businessman José Camel Nacif. In her 2005 book titled "Los Demonios del Edén" ("The Demons of Eden"), Cacho described the activities of a child prostitution ring that she said operated with the complicity of local police and politicians.
