What should the Inquiry do? As little as possible, suggests Trevor Kavanagh. The press does not need licences like dogs and gun owners
The biggest media trial in Turkey’s history has begun, 44 journalists appeared in an Istanbul court on Monday (10 September). Of those, 36 have been in pre-trial detention since December. The reporters face a variety of terrorism charges including accusations they supported the outlawed Union of Kurdistan Communities (KCK), wrote articles about prison abuse, war casualties, and sexual harassment. Human rights groups say the trial is an attempt by the government to intimidate the press and punish pro-Kurdish activists. More than 100 journalists are currently in jail in Turkey.
South Africa’s parliament is in its final stages of reviewing a bill that, if passed, could have severe implications for press freedom in the country and the African continent. The Protection of State Information Bill (also known as the Secrecy Bill) could result in the imprisonment of journalists and whistleblowers who possess, publish or leak state secrets for up to 25 years.
Mexican investigative journalist Lydia Cacho has fled the country after receiving death threats.
Cacho, a columnist for the daily Mexico City-based El Universal, tweeted on 4 August that “mafiosi are the ones that should be running, not us,” a week after telling Mexican authorities that she had received anonymous death threats via phone and e-mail for revealing the names of sex traffickers. (more…)