Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Media freedom and human rights organisations have requested the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances undertake an independent and impartial investigation into the disappearance of journalist Ibraimo Mbaruco in northeastern Mozambique 3 months ago.

In the run-up to the resumption of Wikileaks publisher Julian Assange’s US extradition trial in September, and to mark his birthday on 3rd July, Reporters Without Borders has worked with The Courage Foundation on this open letter to the UK government detailing extensive concerns about his treatment and continued persecution. We call on the UK government to uphold its commitment to press freedom in its own country.

“The superseding indictment is the latest in a long series of moves by the US government to manipulate legal loopholes in their targeting of Julian Assange, to undermine his defence, and to divert public attention from the extremely serious press freedom implications of his case.”

“The government’s systematic abuse of public TV shows that press freedom should be included in the procedure under Article 7 of the Treaty on the European Union, which is discussed by the EU Council and could lead to sanctions against Poland for violation of European values.”

A Russian hitman was allegedly sent by Chechen leader Ramzan Kadyrov to target TV host Giorgi Gabunia. Gabunia hired bodyguards last year after he was threatened by Kadyrov. Death squads from the Russian Caucasus have repeatedly targeted critics in Europe.

Under amendments to the Administrative Code, anyone providing “false” or “inaccurate” information about COVID-19 in the media or on social media could be fined up to 1,160 somoni (995 euros) – nearly twice the minimum monthly wage.

During the month of May alone, at least 16 journalists and bloggers were charged under the 2018 Digital Security Act. They were charged for posting information and criticized the government’s COVID-19 response.

The callous announcement of journalist Samuel Wazizi’s passing by Cameroonian authorities, ten months after his death, has been described as obscene by Reporters Without Borders.