Isla Mujeres Protests Demand Release of Wrongfully Detained

Isla Mujeres, Quintana Roo — A large group of island residents raised their voices in protest, staging a demonstration to demand the release of individuals accused of participating in a shootout that occurred Wednesday night on the island. The violent incident left two people dead and a third seriously injured.

The protest, organized through a public call, began around 9 p.m. at the API pier, where demonstrators demanded clarity and the immediate release of several detainees whom the Quintana Roo Attorney General’s Office has blamed for involvement in organized crime. Families, friends, and a significant number of islanders gathered, asserting that their relatives were unjustly detained while at home or returning from work. Among those detained are an elderly man, a kindergarten teacher, and a sailor.

Growing Outrage Over Alleged Arbitrary Arrests

A wave of indignation has swept through Isla Mujeres as residents took to social media early in the day to denounce what they describe as arbitrary detentions and demand the release of innocent individuals. The arrests followed a shootout in the early hours of Wednesday that resulted in two fatalities.

Critics accuse Quintana Roo authorities of employing a recurring "modus operandi" to hastily resolve high-profile cases amid the region’s persistent insecurity. According to multiple testimonies shared online, among the nine detainees presented by the State Attorney General’s Office (FGE) as suspects in the attack, several are believed to be innocent—arrested without judicial warrants and with no connection to the violent events.

Protesters have directed their demands at Governor Mara Lezama and the FGE, calling for justice and the immediate release of those allegedly detained without due process. A widely repeated account among residents alleges that ministerial officers, supported by federal forces, violently entered a boarding house without a search warrant and detained everyone present, regardless of their involvement.

Cases Sparking Public Outcry

One of the most shocking cases involves an elderly fisherman with hearing disabilities and urinary incontinence, a condition resulting from years of decompression sickness from diving. According to neighbors and family members, he was forcibly removed from his home despite his condition and remains detained alongside other alleged suspects.

Another case drawing outrage is that of Francisco N., a young worker who, according to friends and coworkers, had finished his shift and was sleeping when officers arrested him without explanation or documentation. Additionally, workers from Chiapas were reportedly taken from their rooms while sleeping after completing their workday.

In none of these cases was a judicial order presented, leading residents to openly condemn what they call a blatant violation of human rights.

Silence from Local Leadership

Adding to the tension, Isla Mujeres Mayor Atenea Gómez Ricalde has remained silent on both the shootout and the arrests. Instead, her social media activity has focused on promoting the filming of a telenovela on the island—a move interpreted by residents as dismissive and insulting amid their calls for justice.

"Support and achieve justice for every innocent person blamed for being in the wrong place at the wrong time. Justice, Mara Lezama, Atenea Gómez Ricalde," reads one of the most shared comments on Facebook. "Where is the mayor? Why is she silent when her people cry for help?" questions another widely circulated post.

Escalating Protests and Calls for Action

Community anger continues to grow as state and municipal authorities fail to address the allegations or provide transparency. The perceived lack of empathy has fueled plans for further public protests and potential blockades to pressure the government and FGE into reviewing each case and releasing those wrongfully detained.

"Demand justice, not setups," states an image circulating in community groups. For islanders, the arrests represent not only a legal violation but a deep erosion of trust in their leaders.

As of now, neither Governor Mara Lezama nor the Attorney General’s Office has responded to the accusations. Meanwhile, Isla Mujeres remains resolute in its demand for an immediate investigation to exonerate and release those leading honest lives on the island—and to hold the true perpetrators accountable. Residents also insist that authorities publicly clear the names of those wrongfully accused.