Catalonia: severe press freedom violations in clashes over independence referedum
Catalanian journalists suffer exceptional situation
By Jessica Jacques
Tensions are running high in the Spanish region of Catalonia, as plans for a referendum on independence are being challenged by the state authorities. Reports are also emerging of press freedom violations: Police confiscated the phone of a journalist who was reporting on a referendum event.
Officers raided numerous print works and newspaper offices in their search for referendum ballot papers. Albert Bete, a mayor in the region said, “they [the Spanish government] are stretching the limits of democracy”.
More than 300 members of the journalism community met on Thursday 21st September to protest against…
