Activist Ariadne Song’s Family Faces Death Threats

Chetumal — Human rights defender and social activist Ariadne Song has publicly denounced serious death threats made against her and her family, citing insufficient protection measures provided by the Quintana Roo State Attorney General's Office.

Song, known for her work supporting search groups of mothers, victims of vicarious violence, and families of femicide victims, detailed the chilling intimidation they have suffered through her social media accounts.

On Tuesday, August 1, 2023, her husband, Gerardo "N," received WhatsApp messages from an unknown number containing explicit violent content. The messages included threats of rape and dismemberment against their daughter, followed by the murder of the entire family.

The messages, received at 21:33 hours, stated: "It took time to locate you, but we have you now. We know everything about your family. And they already have their orders. Your old lady thinks she's clever. She won't last. But first it will be your daughter. Then your son… The only cockroach you won't forget will be your daughter, raped and dismembered… And you. You will be the last. So you can watch. They already have a date."

Seconds later, the aggressor sent 33 photographs obtained from the social media accounts of the activist, her husband, and children, followed by a final message that said: "We like them tender."

Faced with the gravity of the situation, the couple went immediately to the State Attorney General's Office to file a formal complaint for the crime of Threats, which was registered in the Investigation File FGE/QROO/OPB/08/4464/2023. At that time, they requested urgent protection measures, including home surveillance, police protection, and immediate assistance.

However, Ariadne Song reports that, despite the protection measures being issued with a validity of 60 days (from August 1 to October 1), to date she has not received the requested surveillance outside her home nor an escort to guarantee her personal safety.

The activist has made a desperate call to all authorities to address not only this, but all previous complaints she has filed with the State Attorney General's Office since 2018 for death threats, damages, theft, and discrimination. She emphasized that, since she publicly began her work as a human rights defender, she has feared for her life and that of her family, demanding a "correct and prompt" intervention that guarantees she can carry out her work free from violence and intimidation.