Journalist pressured by police to reveal sources
3 April 2006
Journalist pressured by police to reveal sources
SOURCE: International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Brussels
(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an abridged translation of a 31 March 2006 IFJ media release:
The FIJ condemns use of police pressure to force a journalist to reveal his sources
Bussels, 31 March 2006
The IFJ condemns the arrest and the detention over several hours of Mourad Mahamed, a journalist with the daily « El Khabar » and a member of National Journalist’s Union (SNJ), by police on 29 March 2006.
« Mourad Mahamed has been subjected to a forceful interrogation to reveal his sources, » declared Kamel Amarni, SNJ’s secretary general. « Justice, as it applies in this case, has been grossly ignored. »
The IFJ firmly agrees with the SNJ’s stance and denounces the conditions of detention and the use of force against a fundamental component of journalism. « The protection of secret sources is a sacred responsibility for journalists, » declared IFJ Secretary General Aidan White.
The IFJ demands that the Algerian authorities respect the legal provisions under which a judge must require a journalist or media outlet to reveal their sources, only in exceptional cases where the need for such extreme recourse has been established.
The IFJ campaigns around the world for respect of journalists’ rights to protect their sources, without which freedom of expression cannot be guaranteed.
IFJ represents more than 500,000 journalists in more than 110 countries.
For further information, contact the IFJ, International Press Center, Residence Palace 155, Rue de la Loi – Bloc C, B-1040 Brussels, Belgium, tel: +322 235 2200 or +322 235 2206/7, fax: +322 235 2219, e-mail: [email protected], Internet: http://www.ifj.org/
The information contained in this alert is the sole responsibility of IFJ. In citing this material for broadcast or publication, please credit IFJ.
_________________________________________________________________
DISTRIBUTED BY THE INTERNATIONAL FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION
EXCHANGE (IFEX) CLEARING HOUSE
555 Richmond St. West, # 1101, PO Box 407
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5V 3B1
tel: +1 416 515 9622 fax: +1 416 515 7879
alerts e-mail: [email protected] general e-mail: [email protected]
Internet site: http://www.ifex.org/
_________________________________________________________________
