Tough Pressure against freedom of expression in the Balkans
Life as a reporter, and especially as an investigative reporter, is dangerous in theBalkans. Read about Two of the most recent examples here.
Posted on November 21st, 2009
The first example are the death threats are reoccurring against the leading investigative journalist Bakir Hadziomerovic, editor-in-chief of the television programme "60 Minutes," broadcast by channel FBiH.
Hadziomerovic and his family are receiving continuous death threats in connection with his reporting on alleged links between politicians and organized crime. The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), The Bosnian-Herzegovian journalist association, BH Novinari, and the Sarajevo-based Linija za pomoc novinara (Free Media Helpline) have also expressed concern about the threats.
In February 2008, SEEMO already reported about a case where Hadziomerovic also received death threats and again expressed its concern about the violent media environment for investigative journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina and the political pressure they face.
The other example is described here by Appelt Report, a site which follows attacks against journalists, photographers or cameramen in the region since the breakup of Yugoslavia. Amongst the events are one camera man beaten and about a dozen journalists sentences to penalties for "defamation" or "insults".
