The Macedonian Media Institute (MIM), the Media Ethics Council of Macedonia (CEMM), the Independent Trade Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) and the Institute for Communication Studies (ICS) today categorically denounced the threats directed against the President of the Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) Naser Selmani.
Yesterday, Selmani revealed that he had received death threats from people from DUI and that the MoI professionally acted upon the complaint, while the OSCE Special Representative for Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir and the entire diplomatic corps in Skopje, are treating this incident very seriously in a European context after the killings of journalists in Malta and Slovakia.
“For us, It is completely unacceptable to prevent the freedom of expression and the professional work of journalists, which should be free of any pressure and blackmail. Making threats to journalists is at the same time, an attack on democracy and limits the ability of the public to have access to information and ideas of a different kind. We urge the relevant institutions to act promptly and take the necessary measures to solve the case and prevent the recurrence of such incidents. We remind that the state, that, in accordance with Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights, it is responsible for undertaking all active measures in order to create and maintain a favorable climate for freedom of expression”, read the reaction from organizations and institutes.
