EMFA: Seven EU member states want to legalise spying on journalists
A recent report shows that France, Italy, Malta, Greece, Cyprus, Sweden, and Finland want to legalise spying on journalists in the event of a threat to national security.
Western Europe: Protect the right to protest and dissent, even during a time of war
“As the humanitarian catastrophe continues to unfold in Gaza, and increasingly in the West Bank, there must be freedom to voice opinions and to protest everywhere” – ARTICLE19
France: Journalists attacked during public unrest
At least seven journalists who had been sent to cover protests and riots in the Île-de-France region following the police killing of a teenager were attacked on 29 June.
France’s Macron ignores rights violations during visit to China
“As during his last visit in 2019, Macron publicly ignored the deteriorating human rights situation in China under Xi. China’s ‘president for life’ has continued to tighten his dictatorial grip on the country, further stifling dissent with relentless repression coupled with pervasive surveillance.”
Haiti/France: Journalist sued for exposing sex abuse in Haiti soccer
The journalist, Romain Molina, documented abuses against underage players in the Haiti football federation under Jean-Bart’s leadership and supported survivors in Haiti and worldwide.
Elation over the release of Olivier Dubois
Freelance French reporter Olivier Dubois, who was abducted in April 2021, holds the unenviable record of being one of France’s longest-held hostages.
French authorities should stop police violence against reporters
Since the adoption of the pension reform on 16 March, several journalists covering protests have been victims of violence by riot police, or unjustified arrest and other arbitrary measures.
France should respect rights of protesters, investigate reports of police abuse
“French authorities should respect the rights of protesters. They should assess whether police tactics used are necessary and proportionate, investigate allegations of excessive use of force, and hold officers responsible for abuses to account” – HRW
Civil society groups under threat across Europe
“The threat these days doesn’t come just from repressive governments like those in Russia or Turkey. Nor it is even confined to democratic states on the road to authoritarianism like Hungary and Poland. It now also comes from elected governments in states whose democracies appear in better health, such as France, Greece, Italy, and the UK.”
Pegasus judicial proceedings in France offer only possibility of prosecution and punishment
“The judicial investigation launched by the ‘cyber’ section at the Paris prosecutor’s office on 1 July is the result of a series of complaints filed over the past year, above all by RSF which – together with 25 journalists from ten countries – filed a total of four complaints.”
New video of kidnapped journalist Olivier Dubois surfaces
Hope that French journalist Olivier Dubois is alive was renewed after a new video of him recently surfaced on the internet 11 months after his abduction.
Partner of kidnapped journalist Olivier Dubois hopeful he will be freed
In a heart to heart interview with Angela Quintal of CPJ, kidnapped journalist Oliver Dubois’ partner Deborah Al Hawi Al Marsi talks about the precautions he took each time he went out on a risky assignment and her belief that he will return home.
French cities take up RSF initiative to focus attention on abducted journalist
France’s capital Paris and 12 other cities put up banners calling for the release of French journalist Olivier Dubois, who was kidnapped in Mali 6 months ago.
Freedom of expression in decline in France
“ARTICLE 19 is concerned about a series of draft laws and decisions in France that significantly impede the exercise of freedom of expression and access to information. These include the Global Security Bill, the dissolution of certain non-governmental organisations, and the Bill to strengthen “respect for republican principles.”