Mexican documentary filmmaker Samuel Adrián, director of Colombia: fábrica de niños trans, was detained on Sunday, September 13, at Bogotá’s El Dorado International Airport after voluntarily returning to the country, despite knowing that an arrest warrant had been issued against him for refusing to remove content from his documentary.
The sanction, handed down by a court in Cali as part of contempt proceedings, imposes ten days of detention and a fine equivalent to 15 Colombian minimum monthly salaries. The National Police have clarified that this is not a criminal investigation or an arrest for committing a crime, but rather the enforcement of a judicial decision stemming from a tutela action.
Adrián was aware of the order before returning to Colombia. From Panama, he recorded a video anticipating what might happen and made his decision clear: “I have not committed any crime and I will not stand idly by.” Regarding the possibility of removing the documentary, he was even more emphatic: “I would rather go to jail than delete it.”.
The documentary that sparked the legal battle
Colombia: fábrica de niños trans examines medical treatments and protocols related to so-called “gender transition” in children and adolescents. In the production, Adrián questions the administration of puberty blockers and hormone treatments to minors, as well as the criteria used to access these interventions.
The legal conflict arose from a tutela action filed by pediatric endocrinologist Mario Angulo, who is mentioned in the documentary and in subsequent content published by Adrián.
Angulo alleged a violation of his rights due to the use of his image and the statements made about his professional activity. A court in Cali ordered the removal of certain content from circulation. Adrián refused to comply, and the non-compliance led to the contempt proceedings for which he is now serving ten days of detention.
The Colombian judiciary, however, has not criminally convicted him for the views expressed in the documentary. The deprivation of liberty stems from non-compliance with the court order requiring the removal of the material.
He returned to Colombia knowing he would be detained
Samuel Adrián did not attempt to evade the measure. His wife, Dania Sabrina, explained on Tuesday that the documentary filmmaker decided to return to the country fully aware of the consequences.
“Samuel arrived in Colombia knowing there was a court order against him. He knew this could happen, but he still chose to return,” she stated.
“He did not arrive in hiding or fleeing from justice. He arrived facing the consequences and ready to confront this process if necessary,” she added.
His wife explained that the family remains united during the ten days of detention and asked for prayers for the documentary filmmaker. “As a family, it pains us to know that Samuel is deprived of his liberty, far from his home, his children, and me.”
She also defended the reason why Adrián chose to keep the documentary despite the consequences: “If everything that is happening serves to make more people turn their attention to them, to learn their stories, and to ask questions that many have preferred not to ask, then we believe it is worth it.”
Mexico provides consular assistance
The Secretariat of Foreign Affairs of Mexico confirmed that it is providing consular assistance and support to Samuel Adrián. According to information released by the Mexican Foreign Ministry, the documentary filmmaker is in good health and his legal defense team is already handling the case.
Adrián had publicly requested the intervention of Mexican authorities before landing in Bogotá, while his lawyers in Mexico and Colombia prepared his defense.
Read also: Massachusetts governor to allocate state funds to the “gender transition” of minors
The case reaches the Presidency of Colombia
Colombian President Abelardo de la Espriella publicly defended the need to discuss the issues raised by the documentary and called on Congress to review the framework applicable to “gender transition” procedures for minors.
“The case of Samuel Adrián, who today begins 10 days of deprivation of liberty after denouncing hormone treatments for the so-called sex change in minors and warning about their possible irreversible consequences, must open a national debate,” he stated.
De la Espriella called for legislation on the limits and prohibitions of these procedures and argued that there are gaps arising from the interpretation of the free development of personality and the progressive autonomy of the minor.
“In my government, children are sacred,” the president affirmed.
The detention occurred just two days before the conference “The end of the trans children factory in Colombia”, scheduled for Tuesday, September 15, in Bogotá and led by Argentine writer Agustín Laje, in which Samuel Adrián was scheduled to participate.
The Mexican returned to Colombia knowing he could face ten days of deprivation of liberty and chose to keep the material that the court had ordered him to remove.