22.05.2024 – SEEMO Condemns Sentencing of Journalist Barış Terkoğlu

On 2 May 2024, the 13th High Criminal Court in Istanbul, Türkiye / Turkey sentenced journalist Barış Terkoğlu (@baristerkoglu), born 1980, to two years in prison according to Article 6.1 of the Anti-terror Law No. 3713 for “targeting individuals involved in counterterrorism efforts”. This conviction stems from articles published on the OdaTV (https://www.odatv.com/) news website and in the Cumhuriyet (https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/) newspaper in the year 2020. Terkoğlu was accused of targeting a judge in both reports. The judge was later appointed to a deputy justice minister.

At the final hearing, the prosecutor reiterated the request for Terkoğlu’s sentencing based on the charge of “marking those assigned with the fight against terrorism as targets.” Terkoğlu, defending himself, emphasized that his role as the newsroom director at OdaTV did not entail criminal responsibility for the content sourced from a news agency. He argued that his criticism was a legitimate exercise of his journalistic duties, distinct from targeting individuals.

Terkoğlu’s defense highlighted that public officials should be subject to criticism without being shielded by laws that stifle such scrutiny. The articles were critical analyses. His lawyers requested his acquittal, arguing that Terkoğlu did not act with the special intent required for the alleged crime and that his criticism was within his rights as a journalist.

Despite the defense, the court found Terkoğlu guilty, sentencing him to two years in prison without any sentence reduction, citing his demeanor and perceived lack of remorse. This ruling came after Terkoğlu’s publication of articles on 14 October 2020, on OdaTV and 15 October 2020, in Cumhuriyet (https://www.cumhuriyet.com.tr/yazarlar/baris-terkoglu/turkiyeyi-karistiran-hakimi-nereden-hatirliyorum-1773539).

Terkoğlu, who is also a writer, worked in the past for CNN Turk and was news director at OdaTV until 2021. Currently, he hosts the program “Sözüm Var” on Halk TV with Şirin Payzın and Emin Çapa and has his YouTube channel called “B Side”

It is not the first time that he is part of a legal process. He was detained in February 2011, after a search in the OdaTV.com newsroom. After four days in custody, he was officially arrested. He appeared before the judge 9 months after his arrest. During the investigation his representatives informed the public, that the digital documents that form the basis of the indictment were uploaded to the computers of the journalist through hacking. The hacker attack was proven by three different Turkish universities and an foreign IT company. Terkoğlu was released in September 2012.

Again he was arrested in March 2020 after a request from the prosecutor’s office within the scope of the investigation regarding the publication of the news on OdaTV about the funeral of a member of the Millî İstihbarat Teşkilâtı (MIT) – Turkish intelligence organization, who died in Libya. He was released at the second hearing of the case in September 2020.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the sentencing of journalist Barış Terkoğlu, who was unjustly sentenced to two years in prison for allegedly “marking those assigned with the fight against terrorism as targets.” Terkoğlu’s conviction, based on his legitimate journalistic critique of judicial figures, represents a serious violation of press freedom and a troubling effort to stifle critical reporting in Türkiye / Turkey. SEEMO calls on Turkish authorities to respect the principles of free expression and press freedom, and to overturn this unjust ruling against Terkoğlu.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #turkey #journalistdetained #journalistarrested #BarışTerkoğlu #Cumhuriyet #Odatv #DeryaUs #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom #journalistattacked

On 6 May 2024, early morning police raids in Diyarbakır, Türkiye / Turkey led to the detention of eight individuals, including journalists NurcanYalçın and Derya Us. The operation was part of an investigation initiated by the Diyarbakır Chief Public Prosecutor’s office, targeting alleged terrorism-related activities.

The detainees were taken to the Diyarbakır Courthouse on 14 May 2024, where the Criminal Court of Peace released them under judicial control. These restrictions include travel bans and mandatory weekly check-ins at local police stations. The arrests of Yalçın and Us are linked to accusations of being members of an organization and violating anti-terrorism financing laws.

Among those detained was Dilan PolatDirin, who has an 11-month-old baby. She was taken into custody in Lice, Türkiye / Turkey and released under similar judicial controls.

These recent detentions are part of a broader pattern of legal actions against Kurdish journalists and media workers in Türkiye / Turkey. Women Press Freedom (https://www.womeninjournalism.org/) reports that this incident marks the third wave of such detentions in 2024. In April, nine journalists from Kurdish media organizations were detained across Istanbul, Ankara, and Urfa.

Journalist NurcanYalçın has faced repeated legal harassment over her work. She was previously detained in 2022 and accused of aiding a terrorist organization. These accusations often stem from her reporting on Kurdish issues. Similarly, Derya Us was detained under accusations of supporting terrorism through financial transactions.

Despite the severe restrictions imposed on Yalçın and Us, and the ongoing pressure on Kurdish media, these journalists continue to work under challenging conditions to inform the public about critical issues affecting their communities. Rights groups urge the Turkish authorities to cease their persecution of journalists and ensure that press freedom is respected.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the recent detentions of journalists NurcanYalçın and Derya Us. The judicial controls and restrictions imposed on these journalists, including travel bans and mandatory weekly check-ins, are part of a broader, troubling pattern of legal harassment against Kurdish media workers in Türkiye / Turkey. SEEMO denounces these actions as clear attempts to stifle press freedom and silence critical voices reporting on Kurdish issues. We call upon the Turkish authorities to immediately cease their persecution of journalists, lift the unjust restrictions on Yalçın and Us, and uphold the principles of free and independent journalism.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #turkey #journalistdetained #NurcanYalçın #DeryaUs #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom#journalistattacked

On 14 May 2024, during protests near the Parliament of Georgia in Tbilisi, law enforcement officers allegedly physically assaulted photojournalist Giorgi Zhamerashvili from Interpressnews.ge (www.interpressnews.ge/ka/) and seized the camera belonging to Saba Sordia, a journalist for Indigo (https://indigo.com.ge). The protests were in response to the Members of Parliament voting for and passing the controversial foreign agent law in its third reading.

According to Interpressnews.ge, Zhamerashvili was covering the situation on Rustaveli Avenue in Tbilisi when he was allegedly struck in the leg with a baton by a riot police officer. This assault occurred as the police were using force to disperse the protesters from the area surrounding the parliament, including Rustaveli Avenue.

In a separate incident on the same day, Saba Sordia reported that allegedly a police officer forcibly took his camera while he was documenting the anti-Russian demonstration on Rustaveli Avenue. Sordia, who was standing near the main entrance of the Parliament, explained that despite identifying himself as a journalist and showing his press helmet, the officer did not return the camera. Sordia immediately contacted the Ministry of Internal Affairs’ press office and filed a report with the police, who recorded the incident. However, hours later, his camera had not been returned.

Sordia mentioned that the camera was recording at the time it was seized, and he expressed concerns that the footage of the seizure might be deleted if the camera is returned.

These incidents highlight the ongoing challenges journalists face in Georgia, particularly when covering politically sensitive events. The actions against Zhamerashvili and Sordia represent significant breaches of press freedom and underscore the need for greater protection for journalists operating in the country.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns the assaults on photojournalist Giorgi Zhamerashvili and journalist Saba Sordia by police during the protest. This violent acts against a journalists performing their professional duties is a blatant violation of press freedom and the right to report. SEEMO calls on the Georgian authorities to investigate this incident thoroughly and ensure that those responsible are held accountable, while also urging them to respect and protect the rights of journalists to operate without fear of violence or retribution.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #georgia #tbilisi #GiorgiZhamerashvili #SabaSordia #Indigo#SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom#journalistattacked

Türkiye / Turkey Supreme Court- the VIII Criminal Chamber – has overturned journalist Sinan Aygül’s (@sinanaygul) 10-month prison sentence, marking the first reversal under the disinformation law enacted in October 2022. This law has faced criticism for curbing press freedom.

In December 2022, Aygül, editor-in-chief of Bitlis News (https://www.bitlisnews.com.tr/) and head of the Bitlis Journalists Association (Bitlis Gazeteciler Cemiyeti – BİGACEM – https://www.bigacem.org.tr/), was sentenced for sharing incorrect allegations of child abuse by a military officer on social media. Despite retracting the post and apologizing, he was convicted in March 2023 by the 1st Penal Court in Tatvan, Türkiye / Turkey.

The Supreme Court’s 8th Penal Chamber ruled that Aygül’s immediate correction and apology showed no intent to incite panic. The court recognized his actions as responsible journalism, not criminal behavior.

Aygül criticized the disinformation law as unjust, recounting his experience of being detained while his children were sick. His lawyer, Diyar Orak, welcomed the decision but highlighted ongoing concerns about the law’s broad interpretation.

The case returns to the Regional Court of Justice in Van, Türkiye / Turkey. If the appellate court finds no need for further investigation, Aygül will be acquitted. If not, it may return to the original court or escalate further.

The disinformation law, intended to combat false information, has led to numerous investigations and arrests of journalists. Critics argue it stifles free speech and targets media professionals. Aygül’s case, while a positive development, does not eliminate concerns over press freedom in Türkiye / Turkey.

This ruling highlights the tension between government control and journalistic independence, with the future application of the disinformation law remaining uncertain.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) welcomes the decision by Türkiye / Turkey Supreme Court to overturn the 10-month prison sentence of journalist Sinan Aygül, marking a significant step in protecting press freedom. While this ruling is a positive development, SEEMO remains deeply concerned about the broader implications of the disinformation law, which continues to threaten journalists and stifle free expression in Türkiye / Turkey. We urge Turkish authorities to reconsider the application of this law to ensure that it does not serve as a tool for censorship and suppression of independent journalism.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #turkey #SinanAygül

The recent revelation by Kiks Kosova (https://www.facebook.com/kikskosova/), which is a show on Klan Kosova (https://klankosova.tv/) regarding the dissemination of journalist Ardiana Thaçi Mehmeti’s personal phone number within a Telegram group has sparked deep concern.

In their broadcast on 7 May 2024, Kiks Kosova focused exclusively on the ongoing harassment faced by Mehmeti, revealing that her number was intentionally leaked as a form of retaliation for her past reports on the Telegram group. You can see the link to the episode here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZdoKmQECU5w . The telegram group was several times part of public discussion, as it published photos and videos of women without their permission, but also images during sexual acts without knowledge of one of the participant. The group also published personal data as phone numbers, names and surnames of other women. The group has been closed in February this year.

This act of revenge has led to a barrage of calls and messages directed at Mehmeti, not only on her personal phone but also across her social media accounts. Such a breach not only jeopardizes Mehmeti’s personal safety but also serves as a blatant attempt to intimidate and silence her.

The Association of Journalists of Kosovo (AJK) supported Ardiana Thaçi Mehmeti.

Last year Thaçi Mehmeti and Erjona Gjikolli, reported receiving death threats in the aftermath of their investigative report for Kiks Kosova about one popular singer in Kosovo.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly condemns this breach of privacy and the subsequent derogatory communications aimed at damaging Mehmeti’s reputation. Urging swift action, SEEMO calls upon the Kosovo Police and the Prosecutor’s Office to investigate this matter promptly and hold those responsible for the leak and subsequent harassment fully accountable.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #kosovo #kikskosova #klankosova #ArdianaThaçiMehmeti #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom @ArdianaThaci

Amidst escalating tensions, South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) strongly denounces the ongoing harassment faced by North Macedonian journalist and PortaliX (https://portalix.mk/) founder Furkan Saliu (@furki.saliu).

Saliu’s ordeal began on 7 April 2024, in Sredno Konjari (Средно Коњари), Petrovec (Петровец )municipality, North Macedonia where he was detained while filming police intervention at a football match.

Despite his assertion of innocence, Saliu allegedly found himself restrained on the ground by riot police, pleading for breath. Adding to the gravity of the situation, it was revealed that allegedly crucial CCTV footage related to the incident had mysteriously disappeared.

This blatant interference with evidence deepens concerns regarding the integrity of the investigation. Saliu’s subsequent release did little to assuage fears, especially as complaints filed by journalist associations against police conduct were summarily dismissed.

Matters worsened with one Minister in North Macedonia premature public comments, casting aspersions on Saliu’s character before any formal investigation could take place.

Several press freedom and media organizations, including the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ – https://europeanjournalists.org/) and the Safe Journalist (https://safejournalists.net) network, have united in condemning the ongoing harassment of Saliu. In a letter dated 8 May 2024, addressed to the Minister for Internal Affairs and the President of the one party, these organizations expressed deep concern over Saliu’s detention. You can read full statement here: https://www.ecpmf.eu/north-macedonia-media-freedom-groups-urge-authorities-to-cease-harassment-of-journalist-furkan-saliu/

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the harassment and detention of journalist Furkan Saliu in North Macedonia, representing a gross violation of press freedom. The dismissal of complaints against police officers further exacerbates concerns about the integrity of the investigation. Minister premature public comments only serve to deepen the atmosphere of intimidation against journalists, undermining the principles of a free press and the rule of law. SEEMO calls for an immediate end to such harassment and urges authorities to respect the rights of journalists to work without fear of reprisal.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #northmacedonia #furkansaliu #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom

On 8 May 2024, leader of one far-right political party in Croatia, announced that his party would only support a new government coalition led by conservative Croatian Democratic Union (Hrvatska demokratska zajednica – HDZ) Prime Minister of Croatia, Andrej Plenković if it ceased funding for the weekly Novosti (https://novosti.hr/).

Novosti, published by the Serbian National Council (Srpsko Narodno Vijeće – SNV – https://snv.hr/), represents the Serb minority in Croatia and is financed by the Council for National Minorities under the Programme for the Cultural Autonomy of Minorities.

He criticized Novosti’s editorial stance, allegedly accusing it of attacking the state’s foundation and using minority protection for political agendas.

The move sparked concern among journalists’ associations, with the Croatian Journalists’ Association (Hrvatsko Novinarsko Društvo – HND – https://hnd.hr/aktualno/vijesti) condemning it.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), strongly condemns this initiative by one political party in Croatia. Novosti is a vital publication representing the Serb minority, but also a liberal voice. Such actions flagrantly violate principles of media freedom and minority rights. The attempt to silence dissenting voices is an affront to the fundamental values of a free and democratic society.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #croatia #novosti #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom

On 7 May 2024, an incident unfolded in Tbilisi, Georgia, as members of the Formula TV (https://formula.ge/) crew and Giorgi Kldiashvili, founding member and Executive Director of the Institute for Development of Freedom of Information (IDFI – https://idfi.ge/en), were subjected to a violent attack.

The assailant, allegedly brandished a glass bottle and verbally abused Kldiashvili and the Formula TV team. Notably, he has purported ties to the ruling Georgian Dream party, raising questions about the motives behind the attack.

The Public Defender’s Office swiftly responded to the incident, urging law enforcement agencies to conduct a thorough investigation to uncover the underlying motives behind this assault and address the broader pattern of attacks against media professionals and civil society advocates.

You can see the Formula TV article and video of the attack here: https://formulanews.ge/News/110753

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns the violent assault on journalists and members of the Formula TV crew, including Giorgi Kldiashvili, near the Embassy of Sweden in Tbilisi, Georgia. Such attacks on media professionals undermine press freedom and democratic values, posing a grave threat to the safety and well-being of journalists. SEEMO calls for a swift and thorough investigation into this incident to ensure that the perpetrators are brought to justice and to prevent further attacks on journalists. It is imperative that authorities in Georgia take concrete steps to protect journalists and uphold their fundamental right to freedom of expression without fear of intimidation or violence.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo #journalist #georgia #tbilisi #formulatv #journalistattacked #journalistattack #SEEMO #pressfreedom #mediafreedom

Prime Minister of Malta, Robert Abela’s recent remarks during a press conference on 6 May 2024, have sparked criticism, particularly directed at his accusations against journalists.

According to Newsbook Malta (newsbook.com.mt) Abela allegedly accused Newsbook Malta of being part of what he termed the “shady establishment,” insinuating that they were working against the interests of the state and the people.

These accusations came amid the backdrop of escalating tensions following criminal charges filed against his predecessor, former Prime Minister of Malta, Joseph Muscat and other senior government figures.

Abela convened a press conference following the announcement of criminal charges against former Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and other government figures for their alleged involvement in an allegedly fraudulent hospitals privatisation deal during Muscat’s tenure.

During the press conference, Abela several times used the term establishment. According to Newsbook Malta, Abela declined to respond to a question by Newsbook Malta regarding his apparent disregard for advice offered by his father, former President George Abela.

Such statements have drawn condemnation from media watchdogs, including the Institute of Maltese Journalists (Istitut tal-Ġurnalisti Maltin – IGM – https://igm.mt/), which described them as unacceptable in a democratic society.

The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) condemns Prime Minister Robert Abela’s recent attack on journalists. Abela’s accusations against journalists, labeling them as part of the “establishment” and implying that they are enemies of the state, are unacceptable and undermine press freedom in Malta. Using such words is especially surprised, as it is usually used by politicians in less democratic countries. SEEMO asserts that journalists play a crucial role in democratic societies by holding authorities accountable and providing the public with unbiased information. The Prime Minister’s attempts to discredit and intimidate journalists not only violate their rights but also threaten the principles of free speech and independent media. SEEMO calls on Prime Minister Abela to retract his statements and refrain from further attacks on journalists, emphasizing the importance of respecting press freedom and ensuring a safe environment for media professionals to carry out their work without fear of reprisal.

South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) is a regional non-governmental, non profit network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in Southeast, South, East and Central Europe. SEEMO members are in Albania, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Bosnia-Herzegovina, Bulgaria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Estonia, Georgia, Greece, Hungary, Kazakhstan, Kosovo, Kyrgyzstan, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Moldova (with the territory of Transdnestria), Montenegro, North Macedonia, Poland, Romania, Russia, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Türkiye / Turkey, Ukraine and Uzbekistan. Austria, Italy, Vatican and San Marino have a special status in SEEMO. SEEMO has over 3000 individual members, and additional media as corporate members.

#fyp #mediafreedom #seemo #freespeech #southeasteuropemediaorganisation #ngo