This is the latest installment of our new press freedom round-up, recapping the latest attacks on journalists, their right to publish, and our right to know. Here’s the news for the week of September 8, 2024.
Palestinian journalists Anas al-Sharif describes circumstances faced by reporters in Gaza
Writing for DropSite News, Anas Al-Sharif, one of the few reporters who have remained in northern Gaza since October 7, describes what documenting Israel’s genocide every day for 11 months looks like.
“I was threatened by the Israeli occupation army and told I needed to stop reporting from northern Gaza and go to the south. But I refused their order, and I didn’t stop my coverage for one moment despite the threats, despite the bombing, despite the siege. Because I didn’t stop and because of my continuous coverage, the Israeli occupation targeted my home, and the home of my family that led to my father being martyred, may God have mercy on him.”
Defending Rights & Dissent sues the FBI for Assange and Wikileaks files
The civil liberties organization Defending Rights & Dissent filed a Freedom of Information lawsuit against the FBI to compel the release of its files on Julian Assange and Wikileaks.
“With the legal persecution of Julian Assange finally over, the FBI must come clean to the American people”, said Chip Gibbons, the policy director for Defending Rights and Dissent, adding that the organization will work to see that “all files documenting how the FBI criminalized and investigated journalism are made available to the public”.
Read more here, and donate to support to lawsuit effort here.
PACE welcomes release of Julian Assange, condemns harsh treatment and urges Espionage Act reform
Legal Affairs Committee of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) welcomed the release of Julian Assange and expressed deep concern at “the disproportionately harsh treatment” he faced. The Committee called on the U.S. to investigate the alleged war crimes and human rights abuses disclosed by Wikileaks and urged the U.S. to “urgently reform” the 1917 Espionage Act to exclude its application to publishers, journalists and whistleblowers who disclose classified information to raise awareness about serious crimes.
Assange’s unprecedented conviction under the Espionage Act, “creates a dangerous chilling effect and a climate of self-censorship affecting all journalists, publishers and others”, concluded the Committee, “severely undermining the protection of journalists and whistleblowers around the world”.
Israel is revoking press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists working in the country
After shutting down Al Jazeera’s Israeli newsroom in May, Israeli government announced it is revoking the press credentials of Al Jazeera journalists working in the country. The decision is to be applied to four full-time Al Jazeera journalists with Israeli citizenship, an official told AFP.
German journalists write an open letter demanding protection for journalists in Gaza
In the open letter, signed by 160 journalists working in Germany, reporters demand protection for journalists in Gaza, the lifting of the Isreali entry ban to the war zone for international journalists, and unbiased reporting.
“As journalists working in the German media, we no longer want to remain silent about the situation of our colleagues in Gaza”, write journalists and conclude that “The killing of journalists and the destruction of journalistic infrastructure in Gaza are strong indications that this war has long since exceeded the limits of international law and proportionality.”
The letter comes after 60 global press freedom and human rights organizations called on the EU to take decisive action against Israel for its attacks on reporters, and our own letter to US Secretary Blinken, signed by 100+ journalists, and two dozen newsroom and free press orgs, urging the US to impose arms embargo on Israel amid the country’s widespread killing of journalists in Palestine.
UN experts urge Israel to stop attacks against journalists in occupied West Bank
Special Rapporteur on the Right to Freedom of Opinion and Expression, Irene Khan, and Special Rapporteur on Palestine, Francesca Albanese, condemned incidents of violence, harassment, intimidation and obstruction of journalists in the occupied West Bank, which have escalated amid Israel’s military offensive.
“We strongly denounce the attacks and harassment of journalists in the illegally occupied West Bank, which are nothing but crude attempts by the Israeli army to block independent reporting on potential war crimes,” the experts said.