Stop Attacks on Journalists say NAJ-DUJ

The National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ) and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) note with shock that as many as 228 journalists were targeted by both state and non-state actors in the year 2020. They faced threats and physical or online attacks, FIRs and cases for their journalism. Some were jailed under draconian laws like the UAPA, NSA and the sedition law. Thirteen journalists were killed. We commend the Rights and Risks Analysis Report 2020 for its detailed documentation of these excesses.

Among those targeted were at least 12 women journalists who faced harassment ranging from multiple FIRs to online trolling and threats of violence, rape and murder, notes the report.

We condemn the targeting by the state and its agencies of 112 journalists and two media houses. As many as 37 journalists were arrested or detained, many were questioned and beaten and a few even tortured. Some are still behind bars. FIRs were filed against 64 journalists, the Report says, “for exercising their fundamental right to freedom of expression and opinion while reporting or making comments in social media”. The charges ranged from sedition to spreading rumours about Covid related issues like ill equipped hospitals, coverage of anti CAA protests, reporting on hardship during migration, allegedly inflammatory or defamatory social media posts and alleged espionage.

This joint statement also condemns the violence by non-state actors including vigilante groups and supporters of political parties who beat up journalists, damaged or stole their equipment and in some cases attacked their homes and families.

We demand the quashing of all frivolous FIRs against journalists. We demand speedy trial in serious cases and the immediate right to bail. We demand that the sedition law and criminal defamation law be revoked. We ask for an immediate review of indefinite detention laws like UAPA and NSA and all similar state level laws. Last but not least, we call for a special law for the protection of journalists and the right to investigate, report and comment freely and fairly, thus upholding free speech and democracy for all Indians.