Salman Rushdie, Paul Aster and other prominent writers blast Mexican president over journalist slayings

Across Mexico, 88 journalists have been murdered since 2000, according to Reporters Without Borders, and another 20 or so have disappeared.

Nearly 500 prominent voices, including Britain’s Salman Rushdie, American writer Paul Auster and Canada’s Margaret Atwood, signed an open letter Sunday to President Peña Nieto decrying violence against journalists.

We “would like to express our indignation regarding the deadly attacks against reporters in your country,” the letter states.

“An attempt on the life of a journalist is an attack on society’s very right to be informed.”

The most recent case to attract widespread revulsion is that of photojournalist Ruben Espinosa, who had fled the violence-plagued state of Veracruz and gone to Mexico City after receiving threats.

Espinosa was one of five victims found dead this month at an apartment in the capital, their hands bound and their bodies bearing signs of torture.