Turkey: International and local groups condemn detention of journalists in Ankara, Diyarbakır, İstanbul and İzmir - Article

OBCT joins 38 international organisations and calls on authorities to stop systematic detention of journalists in Turkey

BiH: Republika Srpska reintroduces the crime of defamation - Article

On Thursday 20 July, the People's Assembly of the Republika Srpska adopted the Law on Amendments to the Crimial Code envisaging criminalization of defamation. Calls from international and local actors to protect freedom of speech and withdraw the scandalous provision that qualifies defamation as a criminal offense have gone unheeded

By Arman Fazlić

Originally published by OBCT. Also available in ITA and BHS

SLAPPs: A threat to democracy continues to grow – A 2023 report update - Reports

The 2023 report dedicated to examining the SLAPP phenomenon across Europe has been release by The Daphne Caruana Galizia Foundation on behalf of the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe

Bosnia and Herzegovina: MFRR urges Republika Srpska deputies to not re-criminalise defamation - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in urging members of the Republika Srpska National Assembly to reject the amendments on the draft Law to the Criminal Code, which would re-introduce criminal penalties for defamation

Also available in ITA

Letter to the Italian Justice Minister - Article

The Italian anti-SLAPP WG joins CASE in a transnational Day of Action against SLAPPs, calling on the Italian Minister of Justice for a concrete commitment during the EU trialogue negotiations, scheduled to start on July, 12

Also available in ITA

2023 Rule of Law Report - Reports

The 2023 Rule of Law report monitors the main developments in the rule of law that occurred over the past year in the European Union and its 27 member states

Italy: call in support of Roberto Saviano, defendant in a SLAPP case initiated by PM Giorgia Meloni - Article

Following the fourth hearing in the SLAPP case initiated by PM Giorgia Meloni against Roberto Saviano, OBCT joins media and journalists' freedom organisations in expressing solidarity with the Italian writer

Also available in ITA

Western Balkans Journalists’ Safety Index - Narrative Report North Macedonia 2022 - Reports

“Western Balkans Journalists’ Safety Index Narrative Report North Macedonia 2022” is a publication by Safeyournalists network. The scope of this document is to analyse the ongoing situation in the country with respect to legal environment, prevention of attacks, regularity of judicial processes which have an impact on the safety of journalists

Law enforcement must protect journalists amidst escalating tensions in northern Kosovo - Article

OBCT and the undersigned international press freedom organisations express their concern about the recent violent attacks on journalists in Kosovo and call on the authorities to implement the necessary measures to ensure media workers' safety 

Sara Manisera: the challenges of investigative journalism - Article

Investigative journalists, in addition to the risks of the trade, often incur libel lawsuits, SLAPPs, etc.. Especially if, like Sara Manisera, they deal with sensitive issues such as organised crime. We interviewed her

By Sielke Kelner

Originally published by OBCT, also available in ITA