URGENT ACTION

KILLING OF SAMIR FLORES UNDER INVESTIGATION
The Attorney General of the State of Morelos has opened a criminal investigation into the killing of environmental, land and territory human rights defender Samir Flores Soberanes. Mexico’s National Protection Mechanism has also granted protection measures to several other members of his movement.  

NO FURTHER ACTION IS REQUESTED. MANY THANKS TO ALL WHO SENT APPEALS.

Samir Flores Soberanes was a human rights defender from the organization Frente de los Pueblos en Defensa de la Tierra y el Agua (Front of Peoples in Defence of the Earth and Water), a grassroots collective dedicated to protecting the environment and territory in the states of Morelos, Puebla and Tlaxcala (Central-East, Mexico). On 20 February 2019, he was shot dead after having previously received death threats in connection with his human rights work.  

The Attorney General of the State of Morelos has opened an investigation into his killing, including lines of inquiry surrounding his work as a human rights defender as a possible motive for the crime. The National Protection Mechanism has also granted protection measures to several other members of the Front of Peoples in Defence of the Earth and Water, the movement to which Samir belonged. 

We believe that the public campaign on behalf of Samir Flores Soberanes, including appeals sent by Amnesty International members, contributed to these positive developments. 

We will continue to monitor the status of the investigations into his killing and will react if further action is required. 

NAME AND PREFFERED PRONOUN: Samir Flores (he/him)
	
THIS IS THE FIRST AND FINAL UPDATE FOR UA: 024/19

LINK TO PREVIOUS UA: https://www.amnesty.org/en/documents/amr41/9893/2019/en/