Born in 1984
Jonatan Palacios is an architect, animal rights defender, environmental activist, and founder of the organization FundaBolívar, dedicated to the rescue and protection of abandoned animals. On February 16, 2021, he was arbitrarily detained by officials from the Corps of Scientific, Penal and Criminal Investigations (CICPC) after posting a photograph on social media of Attorney General Tarek William Saab while demanding justice for the death of his relatives and employees, who had been murdered on January 14, 2021. He was subsequently charged with the crime of incitement to hatred and remained in pre-trial detention despite repeated requests for release submitted on his behalf. During his imprisonment at the Western Penitentiary Center II (Santa Ana Prison) in Táchira state, his health deteriorated significantly and, as reported, court orders authorizing specialized medical evaluations were not carried out. In September 2023, the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR) granted Precautionary Measure No. 308-23 in his favor after determining that he faced a serious and urgent situation of risk to his life, personal integrity, and health due to the lack of adequate medical care during his detention. His criminal trial was marked by prolonged delays, and his case became an emblematic example of the use of criminal law to punish peaceful expression on social media. After being detained for more than two and a half years, he was released in September 2023, although human rights organizations continued to denounce the arbitrary nature of his detention and prosecution.