Mexico: Razo Casales Siblings Arbitrarily Detained and Tortured

Item 3: ID with the Working Group on Arbitrary Detention

17 September 2024

Oral statement by Verónica Razo Casales

My name is Verónica Razo Casales, and I was detained in Mexico without a judicial warrant by the federal police, together with my brother Erik, on 8 June 2011.

We were tortured and forced to sign documents to incriminate us for crimes we did not commit. My brother Erik was detained for 11 years after a judge acquitted him. I was also acquitted and was released on 3 January 2024 after 12 years in prison.

In its opinion, this Working Group qualified our detention as arbitrary 14/2021.

The police officers who tortured us have still not been punished, and, on the contrary, we have been victims of reprisals and now fear for our safety and integrity.

As this Working Group has found, arbitrary detention continues to be a widespread practice in Mexico. Having suffered torture, including sexual torture, and having been unjustly detained without being able to see my children grow up for 12 years, I urge the Mexican State to:

• Comply fully with the views of this Group, given that there are many victims still unjustly imprisoned;
• Guarantee full reparation to the victims;
• Investigate and punish agents who commit torture and
• Guarantee an impartial and independent judiciary in light of the recent reform.

After peace and tranquillity were taken away from my family and me, I demand an end to the policy of fabrication of guilt that continues to be implemented in my country.

Thank you very much.