Neid võib ees oodatata kuni 10 aastane vanglakaristus.
Rahvusvahelise Ajakirjanike Föderatsiooni (IFJ) pressiteade:
|
Brussels, 25
January 2017. - The
International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for
felony charges against six US journalists arrested while covering
protests against new President Donald Trump to be dropped.
They are facing up to 10 years each in prison after being arrested
covering unrest around Donald Trump´s inauguration on 20 January in
Washington.
Journalists Evan Engel (Vocativ), Alex Rubinstein (Russia Today
America), documentary producer Jack Keller, live-streaming Matt Hopard,
photojournalist Shay Horse and freelancer Aaron Cantú were arraigned on
21 January and charged with the most serious level of offense under
Washington DC´s law against rioting, media reported. They await further
hearings in February and March and face up to 10 years in prison as
well as a $25,000 fine, if convicted.
The journalists were detained on the morning of 20 January at 12th and
L streets in the US capital during the hours around Trump´s swearing-in
as president, despite telling officers that they were covering the
demonstrations as journalists and showing them media credentials.
Engel´s camera was also seized by the police.
In all, more than 200 people were arrested following damage to property
and vandalism.
Reports on the journalists’ arrests alleged that ¨numerous crimes were
occurring in the police’s presence¨, including breaking windows,
lighting fires and damaging vehicles, but none of them makes any
specific allegations about what any of the reporters are supposed to
have done wrong, media added. The journalists denied wrongdoing and
acting as vandals.
The IFJ, that had
already warned President Trump against threats to press freedom,
is highly concerned about these flagrant media violations and urged the
authorities to immediately drop the charges they face.
¨We strongly condemn these unfair arrests of our US colleagues who were
observing and documenting the atmosphere following Trump´s
inauguration,¨ said IFJ President, Philippe Leruth. ¨The charges
against them are a clear violation of the US First Amendment as well as
a botched attempt to muzzle the independent voices and prevent media
watchdogs from accomplishing their mission of reporting, which seems
ironic for a country that used to brag of taking a leading role in
promoting freedom. We demand the charges are immediately dropped.¨
The National Lawyers’ Guild accused Washington DC’s metropolitan police
department of indiscriminately targeting people based only on location
and of unlawfully using teargas and other weapons against the
demonstrators.
|
|
|
|
Kommentaare ei ole:
Postita kommentaar