Even though members of the Karnataka state government have
provided broad assurances that they will drop
charges against Naveen Soorinje, the young journalist remains imprisoned two months after
he was arrested for exposing an assault on women by Hindu extremists. Welcome
to Incredible India, where a journalist can be locked up for documenting a
crime against women even as millions express outrage over medieval mindsets
following the fatal gang rape of a Delhi student in December.
New York, November 9, 2012--An Indian television journalist
who documented a large-scale attack on young women and reported the episode to
police in Karnataka state has been charged with participating in the assault,
according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists considers the
arrest to be retaliatory and calls on authorities to drop the criminal charges and
release the reporter immediately.
Do you believe the free flow of information must be protected? Sign the #RightToReport petition and demand that President Obama immediately:
1. Issue a presidential policy directive prohibiting the hacking and surveillance of journalists and media organizations.
2. Limit aggressive prosecutions that ensnare journalists and intimidate whistleblowers.
3. Prevent the harassment of journalists at the U.S. border.
Or click here to see the full petition, and join leading journalists like Christiane Amanpour, The Guardian’s Alan Rusbridger, Editor of the AP Kathleen Carroll, and Arianna Huffington in signing on.
https://cpj.org