Articles by European Federation of Journalists (EFJ)
EFJ calls on European governments to expand refugee visa programmes for Afghan journalists
“We were shocked to learn that some European countries, such as Belgium, were still sending rejected asylum seekers back to Afghanistan… European countries owe assistance to Afghan refugees, including journalists and media workers who have sometimes taken undue risks to inform world opinion.”
Belarus: Free expression groups urge international community to assist victims of crackdown
The European Federation of Journalists, the European Council of Literary Translators’ Associations and the European Writers Council call on the governments of Europe and the international community to support the democracy movement in Belarus and provide refuge and humanitarian assistance to those fleeing the country.
North Macedonia: Justice Minister introduces amendments to increase protection of journalists
Authorities will treat cases involving attacks on journalists in the same way as they treat assaults on police officers. There will also be new penalties for assaulting a journalist or a media worker, and online harassment will be criminalised.
Cyprus: TV station in Nicosia attacked by crowd protesting COVID measures
Groups of protesters against mandatory vaccination clashed with police and broke into the DIAS media group building that houses Sigma TV. The mob attacked staff, set cars in the parking lot on fire and trashed the offices.
Dutch journalist in critical condition after being shot five times
Peter R. de Vries, a well-known Dutch investigative journalist who covered high-profile criminal cases, was shot as he was leaving a TV studio on 6 July. Police have arrested three suspects.
Slovakia: Supreme Court overturned not guilty verdicts in Ján Kuciak murder case
Last summer, the businessman Marian Kočner and his confidante, Alena Zsuzsová, were acquitted of ordering Kuciak’s murder in February 2018. After reviewing new evidence on 15 June 2021, the Supreme Court remanded the case back for a retrial.
Netherlands: 8 out of 10 journalists have experienced violence or threats
“As we have documented in recent months, the survey clearly shows a deterioration in the safety of journalists in the Netherlands. It is worrying to say the least, because it is happening in a country where the attacks are generally taken seriously by the authorities” – EFJ
Crimea: Press groups call for immediate release of tortured journalist Vladislav Yesypenko
Yesypenko is detained and accused of “illegal production, repair, or modification of firearms” and “espionage” for Ukrainian intelligence. His lawyer said the journalist had been tortured with electric shocks and beatings in order to obtain a confession.