Church backs plea to protect press freedom in Bangladesh
At least 247 journalists were reportedly subjected to attacks, harassment and intimidation by the government in 2020
Updated: May 04, 2021 04:25 AM GMT
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Journalists at work in Dhaka in 2018. On World Press Freedom Day, eight human rights groups issued an appeal to the United Nations to protect press freedom in Bangladesh. (Photo: UCA News)
Father Augustine Bulbul Rebeiro, secretary of the Catholic bishops’ Commission for Social Communication, has joined global rights groups in calling on the United Nations to protect press freedom in Bangladesh, where the media faces increasing government restrictions and journalists are intimidated, abused and assaulted.
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The U.N. High Commissioner for Human Rights marked World Press Freedom day on Monday by demanding that nations respect and protect the rights of journalists, even as advocacy groups urged her to give special attention to abuse of media freedom in Bangladesh.
In a statement, Michelle Bachelet noted that freedom of the press has come under particular attack during the pandemic, when the public is especially in need of information.
“The COVID-19 crisis has made it clearer that critical reporting on government policies or public figures is all too often met with prosecution,” she said. “Laws adopted or applied to restrict and criminalize disinformation during the pandemic have also been used by States to target journalists.
‘EU should prioritise human rights at Indian summit’
European leaders should press India to reverse its abusive, discriminatory policies, say international organizations
PHOTO: ANADOLU AGENCY
International organizations on Monday urged European leaders to prioritise the deteriorating human rights situation in India during the EU-India leaders summit on May 8.
“European leaders should press the Indian government to reverse its abusive and discriminatory policies and immediately release all human rights defenders and other critics who have been jailed for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly,” said eight organizations in a statement.
Underlining that the Indian authorities have also enacted discriminatory laws and policies against minorities, it said the government has imposed harsh and discriminatory restrictions on Muslim-majority areas in Jammu and Kashmir.
EU: prioritize rights at India Summit, provide essential medical supplies, urge India to free rights defenders, address abuses pressreleasepoint.com - get the latest breaking news, showbiz & celebrity photos, sport news & rumours, viral videos and top stories from pressreleasepoint.com Daily Mail and Mail on Sunday newspapers.
Provide Essential Medical Supplies; Urge India to Free Rights Defenders, Address Abuses
(Brussels, May 3, 2021) – European leaders at the May 8, 2021 summit
with their Indian counterparts should prioritize the deteriorating human rights situation in India, including the right to health, eight organizations said today.
With a devastating Covid-19 crisis affecting the country, Europe should focus on providing support to help India deal with the acute shortage of medical supplies
and access to vaccines. At the same time, European leaders should press the Indian government to reverse its abusive and discriminatory policies and immediately release all human rights defenders and other critics who have been jailed for peacefully exercising their rights to freedom of expression and peaceful assembly.