Media Freedom Coalition called China to end censorship and control over mass media
World community has condemned disrespect of Chinese authorities towards the press freedom and urged to abide by fundamental rights and freedoms. Such was the message of the common statement made by the Media Freedom Coalition.
The statement is signed by officials of Canada, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, Germany, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Slovakia, Slovenia, the United Kingdom, USA.
“We are deeply concerned about the ongoing efforts by Chinese authorities to curtail media freedom, an essential element of the protection of human rights and fundamental freedoms. In total, there are currently believed to be at least 47 journalists in detention in China, more than any other country in the world”, the signatories said.
The Media Freedom Coalition was alerted by the sentence of Zhang Zhan, journalist who had been jailed for four years terms for reporting on Covid-19 in Wuhan in 2020. The signatories urged Pekin to set free the journalist and her colleagues detained for their work.
“We urge the Chinese authorities to release immediately Ms. Zhang Zhan, and all those detained in connection with their reporting.
We also urge the Chinese authorities to allow journalists to practice their profession without fear of arrest, harassment or reprisal, and to end extensive censorship and control over the media and wider freedom of expression,” the statement read.
IMI reported on December 2020 the court in China sentenced to four year enprisonment citizen journalist Zhang Zhan who covered Wuhan coronavirus outbreak.
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