The Committee on Human Rights is pleased to learn that, on May 11, the Second Collegiate Court of Appeal confirmed the dismissal of all charges brought against five Mexican scientists—José Franco López, Julia Tagüeña Parga, Gabriela Dutrénit, Teresa de León, and Marcial Bonilla. The scientists were informed of the court’s decision two days ago. They were among 31 scientists and scientific administrators who have faced allegations of serious financial crimes since 2021 in proceedings that raised due process concerns and prompted an outcry from the international scientific community. The cases of three other Mexican colleagues in this group were dismissed on January 13, 2023. The remaining 23 colleagues are awaiting rulings on their cases.

Mexico’s Attorney General, Alejandro Gertz Manero, had alleged the involvement of these 31 individuals in a number of offences—including organized crime and money laundering—that carried possible decades-long prison sentences and filed multiple arrest warrants seeking their detention in a maximum security prison. Although a federal judge did not find credible evidence of wrongdoing and refused to grant the arrest warrants on September 21, 2021, the Attorney General continued to seek their detention.

Alongside actions taken by many members of the international community, the three International Secretaries of the U.S. National Academies of Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine publicly expressed concern to the Mexican authorities that their colleagues were being subjected to harassment and intimidation and called for any further investigatory actions to accord with Mexico’s commitments under international human rights law.

Update

As of the end of 2024, 24 of the 31 Mexican scientists and scientific administrators who faced allegations of serious financial crimes have seen their cases dismissed. The remaining 7 colleagues are awaiting final rulings on their cases.