Filip Cakuli, director of “Hosteni 2000” and General Secretary of the Association of Professional Journalists of Albania, was taken from his house on 20 June 1995, and interrogated by several policemen for 12 hours. The police searched the offices of “Hosteni 2000” and took setting copies from the plant where the magazine is printed. These […]
Filip Cakuli, director of “Hosteni 2000” and General Secretary of
the Association of Professional Journalists of Albania, was taken
from his house on 20 June 1995, and interrogated by several
policemen for 12 hours. The police searched the offices of
“Hosteni 2000” and took setting copies from the plant where the
magazine is printed. These materials were confiscated and held at
the offices of the Home Affair Ministry for further
investigation.
Mr. Cakuli was told by the policemen that the search was
conducted because the front page of the last issue of “Hosteni
2000” would depict the President of the Republic, Sali Berisha,
with two naked women. The page in question was a caricature
showing two female figures on both sides of the President as
personifications of the Republican and Social democratic parties
and it was planned for a future issue. When the police learned
this, they did not let Mr. Cakuli go, but continued to
interrogate him. They also refused his request to have his lawyer
present. Another journalist with “Hosteni 2000”, Naim Noka, was
taken to police headquarters the next morning and interrogated
about Mr. Cakuli. Both journalists were released.
Recommended Action
Send appeals to Albanian authorities:
the confiscation of “Hosteni 2000” were not justified, and
constitute a violation of press freedom and Mr. Cakuli’s human
rights
newspapers cannot be allowed in a democracy as it infringes upon
the right to freely receive and impart information as laid down
in Article 10 of the European Convention of Human Rights
journalists can freely pursue their profession without being
harassed by police
Appeals To
Sali Berisha
President of the Republic of Albania
Tirana, Albania
Fax: +355 42 33761 or +355 42 32971
Please copy appeals to the originator if possible.
