Torture haunts Mexico despite laws meant to eliminate it

In this July 2, 2016 photo, Luis Edgardo Charnichart Ortega, left, Evanibaldo Larraga Galvan, center, and Juan Carlos Soni Bulos stand in Soni's terrace at his home, in Tanquian de Escobedo, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The three men were detained by Mexican Marines, tortured and spent more than a year in prison on weapons and drug charges, without trial until a judge in March 2015 threw out the case. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte) In this July 2, 2016 photo, Luis Edgardo Charnichart Ortega, left, Evanibaldo Larraga Galvan, center, and Juan Carlos Soni Bulos stand in Soni's terrace at his home, in Tanquian de Escobedo, San Luis Potosi, Mexico. The three men were detained by Mexican Marines, tortured and spent more than a year in prison on weapons and drug charges, without trial until a judge in March 2015 threw out the case. (AP Photo/Marco Ugarte)

By Associated Press November 17, 2016 9 min read

TANQUIAN DE ESCOBEDO, Mexico (AP) – When Juan Carlos Soni Bulos heard his front door being smashed in one November morning, he frantically scrolled through his phone to call for help.

Outside the human rights activist’s bedroom window, a Mexican marine in a black mask and helmet trained a rifle on him. “Drop the phone or I’ll shoot,” he said.

The marines blindfolded him, bound him and took him with four relatives and friends to a dimly lit, windowless warehouse. Then hours of torture began, Soni says – beatings, electric shocks, asphyxiation, sexual abuse. He heard his teenage nephew scream as they applied electric shocks to the boy’s ribs.

Soni’s tormenter said, “This is going to make you not want to defend rights anymore.”

_____