THREAD
On this #WorldPressFreedomDay, let me bring your attention to #Kashmir: Here the job of journalists has become extremely difficult due to unprecedented level of harassment, intimidation and surveillance by the state.
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On this #WorldPressFreedomDay, let me bring your attention to #Kashmir: Here the job of journalists has become extremely difficult due to unprecedented level of harassment, intimidation and surveillance by the state.
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Recently, three colleagues — Masrat Zahra, Peerzada Ashiq and Gowhar Geelani — were booked by police, two of them under a draconian anti-terrorism law that could result in imprisonment for up to seven years.
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In September 2018, Asif Sultan (31), the assistant editor of a local magazine, Kashmir Narrator, was booked under same stringent anti-terrorism law and is still in the jail.
He was awarded the Press Freedom Award by American National Press Club in August last year.
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He was awarded the Press Freedom Award by American National Press Club in August last year.
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Recently, at least a dozen journalists have been either harassed or physically attacked for their professional work--@amnesty
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amnesty.org/en/latest/news…
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amnesty.org/en/latest/news…
On 17 December 2019, @AzaanJavaid of The Print and @AneesZargar of NewsClick, were physically assaulted by the police while they were covering a protest in Srinagar.
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In March this International Press Institute (IPI) said Press freedom in Kashmir is "under a serious threat from security forces and state surveillance and pressure on journalists have increased since August (2019).
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ipi.media/journalism-in-…
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ipi.media/journalism-in-…
In August 2019, when the government of India stripped Kashmir of its semi-autonomous status under article 370 and split the state into two UT's, unprecedented restrictions were imposed. This included journalists who were deprived of the internet.
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telegraphindia.com/opinion/media-…
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telegraphindia.com/opinion/media-…
The Journalists were relying on a government facility equipped with few computers and one mobile phone and erratic internet.
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news18.com/news/india/kas…
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news18.com/news/india/kas…
It was extremely difficult to move amid the unprecedented lockdown post-august-5 and communication blackout had made it nearly impossible to file reports.
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aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/k…
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aljazeera.com/news/2019/08/k…
Over the past few months, reporters have been regularly summoned to police stations to "explain" reports, their mobile phones confiscated and intimidated into revealing sources.
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bbc.com/news/world-asi…
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bbc.com/news/world-asi…
The local press--with over 300 daily newspapers--is also facing existential crises.
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thepolisproject.com/we-may-have-to…
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thepolisproject.com/we-may-have-to…
The last internet shutdown remained for 134 days, longest ever in the world.
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insider.com/kashmir-intern…
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insider.com/kashmir-intern…
The government is yet to restore 4G internet in the region.
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The Kashmir Press Club recently expressed concern over the FIRs against journalists and sought their immediate withdrawal. Even journalists started online campaigns. But the charges have not been withdrawn.
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hindustantimes.com/india-news/wit…
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hindustantimes.com/india-news/wit…
'The government of India must not muzzle the press. It must immediately release and drop all charges against journalists....who remain incarcerated solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression and refrain from abusing its power in this time of crisis,' @amnesty 15n
The almost simultaneous opening of three investigations reflects a deliberate desire by the Indian police to not just harass the three journalists targeted by the complaints but also to thereby intimidate all reporters trying to work freely in Kashmir,” @RSF_AsiaPacific
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India is ranked 142nd out of 180 countries in RSF’s 2020 World Press Freedom Index.
rsf.org/en/ranking
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rsf.org/en/ranking
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RSF stated in March this year as well that Kashmir is witnessing a surge in intimidation of journalists, violation of sources.
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rsf.org/en/news/india-…
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rsf.org/en/news/india-…
Twenty-one journalists have so far been killed in Kashmir, either directly targeted or caught in the crossfire while reporting.
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'The process is the punishment and the aim is to stifle free speech,' @GowharGeelani who was booked recently said in an interview.
thewire.in/rights/kashmir…
thewire.in/rights/kashmir…
Qazi Shibli, a south Kashmir-based journalist and editor, was recently released after nine-month in a prison in Uttar Pradesh's Bareilly.
firstpost.com/india/in-barei…
firstpost.com/india/in-barei…
"As journalists it is our duty to present the truth as it is. In Kashmir where truth is the first causality, it becomes even more important. A free press is the only voice of the deliberately silenced," @Masratzahra.
On this #WorldPressFreedomDay I pledge that despite all the intimidation, FIRs we shall continue to report the truth.
#WorldPressFreedomDay
#Journalismisnotacrime
#WorldPressFreedomDay
#Journalismisnotacrime
Not only does Kashmir deserve freedom of expression but we as journalists also deserve freedom after expression: @GowharGeelani #WorldPressFreedomDay
#journalismisnotacrime
#journalismisnotacrime
Here is the list of journalists and media workers killed in Jammu & Kashmir since 1990
