How €3 million libel suit led a Greek journalist to fight for legal change 'No other colleague of mine will have to suffer the same nightmare that I went through'
One can only imagine the feeling of satisfaction and vindication that Greek journalist Dimitris Hortargias must have felt on Dec. 22, 2015, when lawmakers overwhelmingly approved critical reforms to Greece’s Press Law, widely known then as the “press killer”.
“All I was thinking on that day was that no other colleague of mine will have to suffer the same nightmare that I went through,” Hortargias said in a recent interview with the International Press Institute (IPI).
Greek editor sentenced for criticising school director’s extremist views Stratis Balaskas: “I am really worried that this sentence will prohibit other journalists from writing freely”
“There is no worse thing for a journalist than to sit in a courtroom and hear that he has been sentenced to prison for doing his job,” Greek journalist Stratis Balaskas recounts.
Nearly two months ago, on July 11, Balaskas found himself exactly in this position after the Northern Aegean Court of Appeals confirmed a guilty verdict against him for insult and sentenced him to three months’ imprisonment.
St. Vincent and Grenadines adopts cybercrime law IPI, 21 other groups call for repeal of ‘fundamentally flawed’ measure
The International Press Institute (IPI) yesterday joined human rights defenders in a call on St. Vincent and the Grenadines to repeal a new cybercrime law that they said poses “a serious threat to freedom of the press, the free flow of online information, and public debate”.
IPI urges Maldives president to reject defamation bill Observers fear measure could severely threaten the work of journalists
The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged the president of the Maldives to reject a widely criticised defamation bill that the Indian Ocean archipelago’s Parliament passed on Tuesday.
Croatia report welcomes changes to ‘shaming’ law Groups release findings from June 2016 media freedom mission to Croatia
The Croatian public broadcaster HRT must provide balanced coverage of the campaign leading up to the country’s September 11 parliamentary elections, a group of six prominent international media freedom organisations said today.
St. Vincent and Grenadines urged to amend cybercrime bill Vague language opens ‘back door’ to silencing legitimate journalistic work
The St. Vincent and the Grenadines House of Assembly should amend a pending cybercrime bill to provide stronger protection for freedom of expression and journalistic work in the public interest, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today.