In the early morning of June 1, 2025, Salvadoran journalist Javier Hércules Salinas was murdered in Copán, Honduras. The journalist, who worked for ATN A Todo Noticias, was shot by individuals traveling on a motorcycle while Herculas was driving a vehicle he used as a taxi. This tragic incident occurred in the region of Copán, known as a high-risk area for journalists.

Hércules, who had lived in Honduras for five years, had previously been the victim of threats and was kidnapped in November 2023. In that incident, he was kidnapped and beaten by two armed men. Following this incident, the journalist received protective measures from the National Protection System, but these measures failed to prevent the tragedy that took his life.

The Office of the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) condemned Hércules’s murder and called on the Honduran authorities to conduct a swift and effective investigation. The Honduran Association of Journalists also expressed its regret over the loss of Hércules Salinas and questioned the effectiveness of the Journalists’ Protection Mechanism, noting that, despite the protective measures, the crime was not prevented.

Since 2001, more than 100 journalists, communicators, and media owners have been murdered in Honduras, according to data from the National Human Rights Commission (CONADEH). This statistic reflects the grave violence faced by media professionals in the country, a context in which press freedom is constantly threatened.

The Inter American Press Association (IAPA) also condemned Hércules’s murder and expressed its solidarity with his family and colleagues. IAPA President José Roberto Dutriz Fogelbach emphasized that this crime highlights the serious risks journalists face in Honduras and reaffirms the urgent need to protect journalists in the country.

The murder of Javier Hércules highlights once again the dangers journalists face in Honduras and the ineffective protection mechanisms established to safeguard their safety. Impunity in these cases remains a serious problem, and the journalistic community continues to fight for justice for its fallen colleagues.