Mexico's Supreme Court rejects appeal in Ayotzinapa case

Mexico's Supreme Court of Justice of the Nation (SCJN) has rejected an appeal filed by the parents of the 43 disappeared students from the Ayotzinapa Rural Teachers' College. The appeal sought to overturn the provisional release granted to Sergeant Santiago Muñoz Pilo, who is allegedly implicated in the case that will mark its twelfth anniversary this September.

During a court session, the necessary votes were not obtained for the SCJN ministers to review the case. The families argued that victims' indirect participation should have been considered in the amparo lawsuit filed by Muñoz Pilo to regain his freedom. Previously, a judge had ordered a review of precautionary measures, leading to the granting of provisional release.

Muñoz Pilo, accused of organized crime in connection with the Ayotzinapa case, was released in June 2024 after posting a financial guarantee, agreeing to periodic check-ins at a processing court, surrendering his passport, and being prohibited from leaving the country. He had been detained by the Attorney General's Office due to alleged links with the criminal group "Guerreros Unidos," believed to be responsible for the students' abduction and disappearance.

The decision by the Supreme Court means that the provisional release of Sergeant Muñoz Pilo will stand, despite the ongoing efforts by the families to seek justice and accountability for the 43 missing students. The case continues to be a deeply sensitive and significant issue in Mexico, highlighting persistent concerns about impunity and the handling of disappearances.