New Delhi: India has slipped 8 places world press freedom index 2022. With a global score of 41, India has slipped to the 150th position from 142 last year.
Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on 3 May, which is celebrated as world press freedom dayAssess the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories.
Among India’s major neighbours, Pakistan and China are both at the bottom of the index. Pakistan is ranked 157th with a global score of 37.99, while China is ranked 175th with a score of 25.17.
Bhutan is ranked 33rd with a score of 76.46, which is the best in the region.
Norway topped the list with a global score of 92.65, followed by Denmark and Sweden.
The worst performer is North Korea with a global score of 13.92. Other countries in the bottom 5 are Eritrea, Iran, Turkmenistan and Myanmar.
‘Stop targeting journalists’
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and nine other human rights organizations have asked Indian authorities to stop targeting journalists and online critics for their work. They also ask officials to stop prosecuting journalists and critics under anti-terrorism and sedition laws.
A report on the RSF website titled “India: Media freedom at risk” urges Indian authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression and release any journalist detained on trumped-up or politically motivated charges for critical reporting. and to stop targeting and strangling journalists. independent media.
The nine human rights organizations are the Committee to Protect Journalists, Freedom House, Penn America, Reporters Without Borders, International Federation of Journalists, Civics, Access Now, International Commission of Jurists, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The groups have said the targeting of journalists by authorities, as well as widespread crackdown on dissent, have encouraged Hindu nationalists to threaten, harass and abuse journalists critical of the Indian government, both online and offline. .
“These restrictions on media freedom come amid increasing crackdown on civil society by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, which has been targeting and prosecuting human rights activists, students, government critics for sedition, terrorism and National security is using laws. And peaceful protesters. Journalists from minority groups and journalists from Jammu and Kashmir are particularly at risk,” the groups said.
The report said authorities arrested journalists on charges of fake terrorism and sedition, and regularly targeted critics and independent news organizations, including raiding their workplaces.
“Journalists and online critics also run the risk of being prosecuted for critical content of officials under the Information Technology Act and the IT Rules of 2021,” it adds.
The report further noted that frequent internet shutdowns hinder journalists’ ability to do their jobs, including access and dissemination of information online.
“These restrictions on media freedom come amid increasing crackdown on civil society by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, which has been targeting and prosecuting human rights activists, students, government critics for sedition, terrorism and National security is using laws. And peaceful protesters. Journalists from minority groups and journalists from Jammu and Kashmir are particularly at risk,” the groups allege.
Index released by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) on 3 May, which is celebrated as world press freedom dayAssess the state of journalism in 180 countries and territories.
Among India’s major neighbours, Pakistan and China are both at the bottom of the index. Pakistan is ranked 157th with a global score of 37.99, while China is ranked 175th with a score of 25.17.
Bhutan is ranked 33rd with a score of 76.46, which is the best in the region.
Norway topped the list with a global score of 92.65, followed by Denmark and Sweden.
The worst performer is North Korea with a global score of 13.92. Other countries in the bottom 5 are Eritrea, Iran, Turkmenistan and Myanmar.
‘Stop targeting journalists’
Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and nine other human rights organizations have asked Indian authorities to stop targeting journalists and online critics for their work. They also ask officials to stop prosecuting journalists and critics under anti-terrorism and sedition laws.
A report on the RSF website titled “India: Media freedom at risk” urges Indian authorities to respect the right to freedom of expression and release any journalist detained on trumped-up or politically motivated charges for critical reporting. and to stop targeting and strangling journalists. independent media.
The nine human rights organizations are the Committee to Protect Journalists, Freedom House, Penn America, Reporters Without Borders, International Federation of Journalists, Civics, Access Now, International Commission of Jurists, Amnesty International and Human Rights Watch.
The groups have said the targeting of journalists by authorities, as well as widespread crackdown on dissent, have encouraged Hindu nationalists to threaten, harass and abuse journalists critical of the Indian government, both online and offline. .
“These restrictions on media freedom come amid increasing crackdown on civil society by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, which has been targeting and prosecuting human rights activists, students, government critics for sedition, terrorism and National security is using laws. And peaceful protesters. Journalists from minority groups and journalists from Jammu and Kashmir are particularly at risk,” the groups said.
The report said authorities arrested journalists on charges of fake terrorism and sedition, and regularly targeted critics and independent news organizations, including raiding their workplaces.
“Journalists and online critics also run the risk of being prosecuted for critical content of officials under the Information Technology Act and the IT Rules of 2021,” it adds.
The report further noted that frequent internet shutdowns hinder journalists’ ability to do their jobs, including access and dissemination of information online.
“These restrictions on media freedom come amid increasing crackdown on civil society by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP)-led government, which has been targeting and prosecuting human rights activists, students, government critics for sedition, terrorism and National security is using laws. And peaceful protesters. Journalists from minority groups and journalists from Jammu and Kashmir are particularly at risk,” the groups allege.