Politics · Mexico · 1 day ago
Mexican cartoonist ordered to apologize for political cartoon about lawmaker
Mexico’s Electoral Tribunal ruled that cartoonist Paco Navarrete committed gender-based political violence against Morena lawmaker Itzul Barrera.
The case concerns a cartoon published in February 2025 in the newspaper Mural, which used a photo of Barrera and referred to her with a pun on the Spanish word for “female lawmaker.”
Navarrete said the cartoon was satire about Barrera’s comment on a proposed 70% tariff on avocados.
The tribunal said the cartoon linked the word to an insult and used an image that sexualized her.
It ordered Navarrete to post an apology to Barrera on social media every day for 15 days and added him to a national registry of people sanctioned for gender-based political violence.
Navarrete called the ruling a form of censorship and said he had little time to respond before it was issued.
Barrera said freedom of expression matters, but women’s bodies should not be used to attack public officials.
Mexico’s regional electoral court in Guadalajara ruled that cartoonist Paco Navarrete committed gender-based political violence against lawmaker Itzul Barrera.
The court ordered him to post an apology to Barrera on social media every day for 15 days.
It also placed him in the national register of people sanctioned for gender-based political violence against women.
Navarrete said the ruling was intimidating and censored the press, while Barrera said women’s bodies should not be used as part of an attack on a public official.
- Who
- Cartoonist Paco Navarrete and Morena lawmaker Itzul Barrera.
- What
- An electoral court ruled that Navarrete committed gender-based political violence against Barrera. It ordered him to apologize on social media for 15 days and added him to a national sanctions register.
- When
- The cartoon was published on February 5, 2025. The article was published on October 10, 2026; the ruling date is not stated.
- Where
- The cartoon appeared in the print and digital editions of the newspaper Mural. The ruling was issued by the Guadalajara Regional Chamber of Mexico’s Electoral Tribunal.
- Why
- The court said the cartoon associated the word “diputada” with “puta” and paired it with an image that sexualized Barrera. Navarrete said he intended to satirize her comment about imposing 70% tariffs on avocados.
Paco Navarrete and press-freedom critics
Itzul Barrera and the electoral court
Aspect
Paco Navarrete and press-freedom critics
side A's view
Itzul Barrera and the electoral court
side B's view
Purpose and meaning of the cartoon
Paco Navarrete and press-freedom critics
Navarrete said it was political satire about Barrera’s comment on avocado tariffs.
Itzul Barrera and the electoral court
The court found that the cartoon used a sexualized image and wordplay targeting Barrera.
Freedom of expression
Paco Navarrete and press-freedom critics
Navarrete called the ruling an intimidating measure and a form of censorship of the press.
Itzul Barrera and the electoral court
Barrera said freedom of expression is important but women’s bodies should not be used to attack a public official.
a measure of intimidation and a form of censorship of the press
But that does not mean they can keep using women’s bodies as part of an attack on an official or a person
Gender-based political violence became an instrument of the regime against criticism. The INE became the inquisitor
Navarrete’s cartoon was published in the print and digital editions of Mural.
The electoral case lasted a year and a half, according to Navarrete.
The Guadalajara Regional Chamber found Navarrete responsible and ordered him to apologize to Barrera on social media for 15 days.
- Cartoonist
- Paco Navarrete
- Lawmaker
- Itzul Barrera
- Publication date
- February 5, 2025
- Newspaper
- Mural
- Apology period
- 15 days
- Electoral court
- Guadalajara Regional Chamber of Mexico’s Electoral Tribunal
Sources
Gobierno busca imponer censura mediante la figura de violencia política en razón de género, acusa Somos; respaldan al monero Paco Navarrete
"Es una forma de censura para la prensa": monero Paco Navarrete; Tribunal lo castiga por violencia política contra diputada
Tribunal Electoral castiga a cartonista por presunta violencia política contra diputada; le ordena disculparse por 15 días en redes
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