News

Italy: MFRR partners condemn summons of RAI presenter Sigfrido Ranucci

15/11/2023

OBCT, together with MFRR parteners, condemns the summoning of RAI presenter Sigfrido Ranucci by the Parliamentary Committee and urges the Italian Parliament to guarantee RAI independence

Also available in ITA

Netherlands: Vexatious lawsuit against Het Financieele Dagblad condemned

13/11/2023

OBCT joins the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE) in deploring the lawsuit against Dutch daily newspaper Het Financieele Dagblad (FD) and in expressing solidarity with the FD and its journalists. The case, of which the hearing will take place on 13 November 2023, is a clear attempt to silence and discourage Het Financieele Dagblad and its journalists from further reporting

Open letter: “We refuse to let the anti-SLAPP directive be a missed opportunity”

08/11/2023

OBCT joins international organisations in calling for robust anti-SLAPP Directive

Also available in ITA

Bosnia and Herzegovina and the EU, Dodik is working against the integration process

08/11/2023

Republika Srpska President Milorad Dodik once again attacks the EU, accusing it of applying double standards to Bosnia and Herzegovina on the integration path. But Dodik's own initiatives, which limit freedom of association and expression, are distancing the country from the European Union

By Massimo Moratti

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA

Turkey: Repeal the "disinformation offence" and overreaching legal amendments

08/11/2023

Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partner organisations and Article 19 Europe reiterate their call for the annulment of Article 217/A of the Turkish Penal Code and related legal amendments passed in October 2022 that undermine international standards on the right to freedom of expression and of the press.

Dismay at the abrupt closure of investigation into smear campaign against Emilia Șercan

07/11/2023

OBCT joins media freedom groups in expressing deep disappointment at the decision of Romania’s Prosecutor Office at the Bucharest Court of Appeal to close the investigation into the smear campaign against the Romanian journalist

Also available in ITA

Turkey: International groups condemn arrest of journalist Tolga Şardan

03/11/2023

We call upon the authorities to immediately release Tolga Şardan

Also available in ITA

End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists

02/11/2023

On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists, OBCT joins MFRR partners in remembering those European reporters whose families still await justice for their murders

Also available in ITA

Bosnia and Herzegovina: Media freedom in survival mode

27/10/2023

Following a press freedom mission to Bosnia and Herzegovina from 22-25 October 2023, the partner organisations of the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) warn that media freedom in the country is in decline against a backdrop of new restrictive laws, hostile rhetoric and denigration of journalists by public officials, and ongoing systemic challenges to the independence of public service media

Serbia: MFRR and SafeJournalists call on state institutions to address threats to journalists

27/10/2023

OBCT joins MFRR and SafeJournalists Network's partners in expressing concern about the rising threats targeting Serbian presenter Nenad Kulacin and in urging authorities to persecute the perpetrators