Index on Censorship calls for the immediate de-arrest of photographer Andy Aitchison

03 Feb 21 | News and features, Statements, United Kingdom

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Photographer Andy Aitchison

Index on Censorship is extremely concerned at the arrest of freelance photographer Andy Aitchison, who was arrested at his home last Thursday after covering a demonstration at a former military barracks in Kent earlier the same day. The barracks is being used to house asylum seekers in allegedly substandard conditions.

“What is happening at Napier Barracks is an issue of significant public interest,” said Jessica Ní Mhainín, senior policy research and advocacy officer at Index on Censorship. “We have every right to know what is going on there and we need journalists and photographers like Aitchison to be free to document and report on it. But instead of enabling journalists to report in the public interest, the authorities are actively preventing them from doing so.”

Five police officers went to Aitchison’s home to arrest him on suspicion of criminal damage. They seized his memory card and mobile phone, and took him to the police station even after he had shown them his National Union of Journalists membership card. They took his fingerprints and DNA, and detained him for almost seven hours before releasing him on bail until 22 February.

“This is a blatant and appalling press freedom violation, which has already – due to the terms of his bail – resulted in Aitchison being unable to cover the fire that broke out at the same barracks on Friday afternoon,” said Ní Mhainín. “We call for Aitchison’s immediate and unconditional de-arrest, and for his equipment – which should have never been seized in the first place – to be immediately returned to him”.

“Serious questions need to be asked about how this could have happened and why it is taking so long for remediation. Has the UK forgotten that it has committed to leading the Media Freedom Coalition? This is what censorship looks like – not media freedom,” Ní Mhainín said.

Index on Censorship has filed a Council of Europe alert.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row]

Pipe bomb planted outside home of Northern Ireland photographer

14 Dec 12 | Europe and Central Asia, Index Index, minipost

A pipe bomb was defused early this morning after it was planted outside of the home of Northern Ireland press photographer Mark Pearce. While no one has taken responsibility for the attack, Pearce believes he was targeted for his work, but does not remember a recent photograph that could have angered of one of the country’s banned paramilitary groups.

Northern Ireland has recently seen a rise in tensions after Belfast officials last week decided to fly the Union flag on certain days, rather than displaying it year round, sparking protests from  loyalists.

Mexico: News photographer shot dead

17 Sep 10 | Index Index, minipost

A 21-year-old photographer for a newspaper in the crime-torn border city of Juárez, Mexico, was shot and killed, and an intern was wounded, in an attack 16 September. The victims worked for Diario de Juarez, a newspaper that has not stopped reporting on drug-gang violence. The journalists were driving to lunch when gunmen in two cars intercepted them and opened fire in broad daylight, newspaper director Pedro Torres said.  Santiago had only started working for the newspaper two weeks ago, and Sanchez is an intern, so it is unknown why they were targeted.