Spain grants asylum to former Juárez reporter

By Diana Washington Valdez / El Paso Times
Posted: 07/05/2011 06:35:22 PM MDT

A former Juárez reporter was granted political asylum in Spain, according to La Jornada on Tuesday.

Rosa Isela Perez, who worked for El Norte de Ciudad Juárez, left Mexico with her family after they received numerous threats.

Perez previously said she received threats when she began reporting on the murders of girls and women in Juárez. She garnered several awards for her coverage of the topic.

She had considered applying for U.S. asylum in El Paso, but opted later to try in Spain.

Perez said the threats against her increased after she provided testimony in 2009 for the Inter-American Commission for Human Rights about the murders.

Diana Washington Valdez may be reached at dvaldez@elpasotimes.com; 546-6140.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/newupdated/ci_18412229