North Macedonia: Ruling against Investigative Reporting Lab and its editor must be overturned - Article

MFRR and SJN express dismay at judge's decision recommending that ministry shuts down one of the country’s leading investigative journalism platforms

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Italy: Roberto Saviano's conviction a major blow to free expression - Article

OBCT joins international media freedom, free expression, and journalist organisations in expressing shock over criminal conviction of the Italian writer

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For a transnational anti-SLAPP network: countering gags on public participation - Article

On October 16, 2023, the first public event of CASE Italia dedicated to countering SLAPPs will take place in Rome. Speakers include journalists, activists, experts in the field, and representatives of a range of organisations advocating for freedom of expression

Programme available in ITA

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

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Bosnia and Herzegovina: Journalists organisations call on the National Assembly to reject amendments to the defamation law - Article

OBCT joins MFRR partners in urging the members of the Republika Srpska National Assembly to reject the draft law that aims at reintroducing the criminalisation of defamation in the Criminal Code

Italy: Prosecutor issues seizure order for article published by newspaper Domani - Article

Italian press freedom is seriously threatened by yet another attempt by a member of the current government to silence independent journalism

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Italy: a call in support of Roberto Saviano, defendant in a defamation trial - Article

At the conclusion of the first hearing in the proceedings for aggravated defamation initiated by current Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni against Roberto Saviano in 2021, we express our solidarity with the Italian journalist for his commitment to the public interest

Italy: Concern about prosecutor’s demand for prison sentence for three journalists in response to their factual reporting - Article

Media freedom groups raise concern over Lecce’s prosecutor request that three journalists be jailed for six months in connection with their reporting about a labour lawsuit involving a former government minister. No journalist should face nor fear prison sentences for having published information in the public interest

Albania: Press freedom groups call for a fair trial in defamation lawsuit by former top prosecutor against Isa Myzyraj - Article

The defamation case filed against journalist Isa Myzyraj by a former Tirana's prosecutor raises our concerns. MFRR and media freedom organisations call for a fair trial in which the importance of free speech and public interest reporting is appropriately considered

Serbia: Penal Code amendments require open and comprehensive debate - Article

We co-signed a statement calling for a broader and open consultation on the amendments of the Penal Code proposed by the Ministry of Justice