Elisabeth Isais

MEXICO CITY—At least 20 men accused of participating in a massacre in Chiapas state in December 1997 left prison early Thursday morning—amid concerns over threats of violence at their home communities near San Cristobal de las Casas— following a Supreme Court ruling Wednesday that their convictions violated fundamental norms of justice.

(Photo: Jailed pastor Tomas Perez Mendez)

The release of the 20 men, most of them evangelical Christians, came after Mexico's Supreme Court ruled in a 4-1 decision that they had been convicted in unfair trials in which prosecutors fabricated testimony and illegally obtained evidence.