Jailed Former President Alberto Fujimori is Pardoned on Health Grounds

On December 24, 2017, former Peruvian president Alberto Fujimori was granted a controversial pardon on health grounds, sparking nationwide protests and international condemnation. Fujimori, who ruled Peru from 1990 to 2000, had been serving a 25-year prison sentence for human rights abuses, including his role in the death squad killings of civilians during his government's crackdown on insurgents. The pardon, issued by then-President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski, was officially justified by Fujimori’s deteriorating health, as he was reportedly suffering from heart problems and cancer risks. However, many Peruvians viewed the move as a political deal rather than a humanitarian gesture, as it came just days after Fujimori’s supporters in Congress helped Kuczynski survive an impeachment vote. The decision led to mass protests in Lima and other cities, with thousands taking to the streets chanting “No al indulto!” (No to the pardon!). Human rights groups, including Amnesty International and the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, condemned the pardon as an injustice to the victims of Fujimori’s regime. The controversy deepened Peru’s already fragile political landscape, further dividing the country between those who saw Fujimori as a hero for defeating terrorism and stabilizing the economy, and those who viewed him as a dictator responsible for corruption and human rights violations. His release remained a subject of intense debate, shaping discussions on justice, impunity, and political maneuvering in Peru. #MomentsOfLife #MoofLife #AlbertoFujimori #PeruPolitics #HumanRights #JusticeForAll #PoliticalControversy #HistoricalMoments #LatinAmerica