Media Defence Files Application to the European Court on behalf of LGBTI/Women’s Rights Activist, Gulnara Mehdiyeva, Subject to Serious Cyberattack
Summary Media Defence has filed an application to the European Court of Human Rights on behalf of journalist and activist Gulnara Mehdiyeva, who reports on LGBTI and women’s rights issues in Azerbaijan. Ms Mehdiyeva was subject to a serious cyberattack, in which a hacker gained access to her email and social media accounts, after she […]
ECtHR Finds Russian Regulator Unlawfully Issued Warnings Against Newspaper Reporting on Extremist Organisations
The European Court of Human Rights has handed down judgment today in the case of Novaya Gazeta and ZAO Novaya Gazeta v Russia.
World Press Freedom Day 2021: Media Defence Reflects on Current Trends Threatening Media Freedom
The last 12 months have brought into sharp focus the extent to which media freedom is under threat. At Media Defence we see these challenges on a daily basis. In the last year, we have seen them accelerate due to the pandemic, with unscrupulous regimes introducing oppressive legal measures under the guise of tackling disinformation, […]
Media Defence Supports Argentinian Investigative Reporter Threatened for Public Interest Newsgathering
Santiago O’Donnell is an Argentinian investigative journalist, author and editor of international news at newspaper Página 12. In October 2020 O’Donnell published a controversial book (“Hermano”) detailing the rise of Mauricio Macri to the presidency. The book was based on research and recorded interviews with the former president’s brother, Mariano. The reaction from the Macri […]
Media Defence Files Intervention at Polish court in Case of Journalist ‘Blocked’ from Facebook Page of Local Mayor
Media Defence has filed an intervention in a case before the First Civil Division of the Płock District Court in Poland. The case has been brought by journalist Norbert Orłowski against Krzysztof Kosiński, Mayor of Ciechanów. The journalist was blocked from the Mayor’s personal Facebook Page so that he can no longer post or comment […]
European Court Finds Turkey Violated the Rights to Liberty and Security and Freedom of Expression of Journalist Murat Aksoy, Detained in the Crackdown Following the July 2016 Attempted Coup
The European Court of Human Rights has held that Turkey violated the Article 5(1) and 10 rights of journalist Murat Aksoy. Mr Aksoy was arrested and detained in the government crackdown following the July 2016 attempted coup. Media Defence intervened as a third party in the case, along with 12 other freedom of expression organisations. […]
Update on Jovo Martinović’s Case: Montenegro Court Rejects Appeal
On 29 March 2021, the Court of Appeal in Podgorica rejected Jovo Martinović’s appeal and upheld the decision of the High Court of Podgorica sentencing him to 12 months in prison for drug trafficking. The Court of Appeal decision of March 2021 is final. Since 2010, Mr Martinović’s journalistic work in Montenegro has included working […]
Media Defence Files Case Against Azerbaijan at ECtHR over Bombing of Journalists in Nagorno-Karabakh
Media Defence has today filed a case at the Strasbourg court on behalf of four Armenian citizens following the bombing of the town of Martuni by Azerbaijani forces during the recent armed conflict in Nagorno-Karabakh. The applicants – three journalists who were injured and the brother of a journalist fixer who was killed – allege […]
Anglophone Journalists in Cameroon Continue to Face State Repression
Since 2016, Cameroon’s Anglophone region has been marred by a cycle of civil unrest and serious human rights violations which have claimed more than 3,000 lives. In response to legal measures introduced by the Cameroon government, teachers, lawyers, students and activists took to the streets demanding greater recognition of their political, social and cultural rights. Ongoing […]
Media Defence Intervenes at Strasbourg Court in ‘Right to be Forgotten’ Case
Media Defence, along with a number of other NGOs, has filed a third-party intervention at the European Court of Human Rights in the case of Biancardi v Italy. The case concerns the application of the ‘right to be forgotten’ to a newspaper article about the commission of a crime. The applicant in the case owned […]
Media Defence Files Amicus Curiae Brief in the Case of Jineth Bedoya
Media Defence has filed an amicus curiae brief at the Inter-American Court of Human Rights in the case of Jineth Bedoya v Colombia. In May 2000, award-winning journalist Jineth Bedoya (who is known for her reporting on the activities of Colombia’s paramilitary groups) visited the infamous Modelo prison in Bogotá to interview a prisoner. While […]
Media Defence Intervenes at ECtHR in Case of UK Journalist Arrested Under Harassment Law
Media Defence has filed a third party intervention at the ECtHR in the case of Pal v UK. Ms Pal was arrested and prosecuted under the Protection from Harassment Act 1997, after she published a news article online and posted several Tweets about an individual who subsequently complained to the police. She was arrested, handcuffed, and brought from Birmingham […]