7 Aug 2018 | Campaigns -- Featured, Hungary, Statements
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_single_image image=”102023″ img_size=”full”][vc_column_text]Frans Timmermans, First Vice-President, European Commission
Mariya Gabriel, Commissioner, European Commission
Tibor Navracsics, Commissioner, European Commission
Antonio Tajani, President, European Parliament
7 August 2018
OPEN LETTER – Media freedom in Hungary and the case of Hir TV
The undersigned media freedom organisations are writing to draw your attention to the deteriorating situation of press and media freedom in Hungary, in particular the recent case of Hir TV.
Hir TV was the last domestically-owned independent TV company in Hungary. On 1 August 2018 a sudden change in ownership resulted in dismissals of outspoken leading journalists and an abrupt change of editorial policy. Programmes that had previously reflected independent views were cancelled and replaced with government-friendly programmes. One cancelled talk show was replaced with a broadcast of a speech that Viktor Orbán had made some days earlier.
The case of Hir TV has been reported to Index on Censorship’s platform Mapping Media Freedom, which monitors threats, limitations and violations related to media freedom in Europe.
The loss of independence of the last remaining domestically owned TV company in Hungary is deeply discouraging. It demonstrates a fundamental lack of respect for media freedom and shows how far Hungary has distanced itself from European values.
We ask you to condemn these developments in the strongest possible terms.
We strongly urge the European Union to strengthen the link between eligibility for funding under the next Multiannual Financial Framework and respect for media freedom.
European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)
Index on Censorship
International Press Institute (IPI)
South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO)[/vc_column_text][vc_separator][vc_column_text]
Hungarian media freedom violations reported to and verified by Mapping Media Freedom since May 2014.
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7 Aug 2018 | Press Releases
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah —July 31, 2018 — Mainframe, the creator of a censorship-resistant and surveillance-resistant blockchain protocol, announced the beneficiaries of their crowdgift campaign, Proof of Heart: The Human Rights Foundation’s Flashdrives for Freedom, WITNESS, Coincenter, Access Now, Electronic Frontier Foundation, Reporters Without Borders and Index on Censorship will receive a combined total of 1020 Ethereum (ETH). With the help of its community donating ETH to a single wallet address, the crowdgift campaign raised $1.4 million USD on behalf of organisations aligned with Mainframe’s mission to promote ideals of privacy and freedom.
“As the world becomes increasingly digital, consumers and the institutions they rely on are forced to ask themselves the question of who should be the masters of their technology, and how. These organisations were chosen for their notable achievements in advancing the fight for the free and secure exchange of information, and their commitment to exploring uses of blockchain technology in their work,” said Mainframe founder and CEO, Mick Hagen. “We’re excited to stand side by side with these organisations that put human rights first.”
Mainframe’s unique combination of cryptography, encryption layers, and network design prevents network data from ever being identified, on send or receive. The company is poised to upend the status quo of unchecked mass surveillance, data collection, and censorship from sovereignties and tech giants. They aim to empower everyone with censorship-resistant and surveillance-resistant channels to solve real-world problems, including these organisations.
As with several others, Hagen hopes to kickstart ongoing relationships with the organisations to preserve censorship ideals amidst the evolution of the digital landscape. Through education and awareness, Mainframe will coordinate with local groups and citizens, conduct training, and provide resources so people are empowered with tools to expose abuses and injustice to the world.
In June, Mainframe donated 1000 ETH to the Freedom of the Press Foundation from funds raised through its Proof of Heart campaign. Through the donations and ensuing initiatives, Mainframe is dedicated to strengthening free speech and privacy protections worldwide to continue to positively impact communities, emerging issues, and creative solutions that will shape the future of information security.
Mick Hagen, CEO of Mainframe, is available for interviews.
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About Index on Censorship
Index on Censorship is a UK-based nonprofit that campaigns against censorship and promotes free expression worldwide. Founded in 1972, Index has published some of the world’s leading writers and artists in its award-winning quarterly magazine, including Nadine Gordimer, Mario Vargas Llosa, Samuel Beckett and Kurt Vonnegut. Index promotes debate, monitors threats to free speech and supports individuals through its annual awards and fellowship program.
About Mainframe
Mainframe is the web3 infrastructure for private p2p data relay for creating unstoppable and untrackable applications. Resistant to censorship, surveillance, and disruption — Mainframe’s robust encryption, unique network design, and metadata obscuring features protects the privacy and freedoms of people around the world.
Media Contact
Tamani Jayasinghe
917 900 7986
[email protected]
6 Aug 2018 | Campaigns -- Featured, Statements
[vc_row][vc_column][vc_video link=”https://youtu.be/9ZIfDSkCiv0″][vc_column_text]Index on Censorship condemns the attack on London’s Bookmarks Bookshop in which protesters destroyed displays, wrecked books and chanted far-right slogans.
The group also threatened staff at Bookmarks, Britain’s largest socialist books outlet in Saturday’s incident. Police were called but no arrests were made.
There was a similar incident at the Bloomsbury-based bookshop Gay’s the Word in April 2018. That shop’s display window was smashed in, leaving the establishment with a £500 bill.
“It is deeply shocking that such an horrific attack could take place on a bookshop in 21st century Britain,” said Anna Millward, coordinator of the Banned Books Week UK coalition at freedom of expression campaign group Index on Censorship. “We need bookshops now more than ever. Books offer new perspectives, smash taboos and spark debate. Books are one of the most powerful tools we have in holding power to account, challenging the status quo and giving voice to the silent and silenced. An attack on a bookshop is a direct attack on our fundamental human right to freedom of expression.”
On Saturday 11th August, Bookmarks will host a solidarity event in store with authors. Bookmarks is also calling on supporters to donate funds to help bolster security in the shop and to replace lost stock. Donations can be transferred to: Sort Code: 30 93 29 A/c: 00089719.
Banned Books Week UK (23-29 September 2018) is a week-long celebration of the freedom to read organised by a coalition of UK-based literary and freedom of expression organisations. Visit the website: www.bannedbooksweek.co.uk for events, resource packs and ways to get involved. Tweets to @BannedWeekUK #BannedBooksWeek
This article was updated on 13 September 2018. An earlier version of this article incorrectly stated that the group was warning masks. They were not, as the video shows. [/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column][vc_basic_grid post_type=”post” max_items=”12″ style=”load-more” items_per_page=”4″ element_width=”6″ grid_id=”vc_gid:1536857080314-5cb6b9a4-236e-4″ taxonomies=”6534″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
6 Aug 2018 | Global Journalist, Mapping Media Freedom, Media Freedom, media freedom featured, News and features, Turkey, Turkey Uncensored
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Yavuz Baydar (YouTube)
It’s 2016. Turkey is in a state of emergency after the failed coup against the government of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Journalists like Yavuz Baydar found themselves more at risk than ever before. He had a decision to make: leave Turkey while he still could, or stay and potentially become part of the more than 160,000 journalists, protesters, dissidents and political pundits have since been jailed.
Baydar is an accomplished journalist with a career that spans four decades. In addition to his journalism roles, he was a co-founder of the non-profit P24, Platform for Independent Journalism which acts as an example of editorial independence in the Turkish press. He is the recipient of the 2014 Special Award of the European Press Prize (EPP) for excellence in journalism and in the same year completed an extensive research paper on self-censorship, corruption of ownership in Turkish media, state oppression and threats over journalism in Turkey during his Shorenstein Fellow at Harvard Kennedy School of Government. In 2017 he was awarded the Morris B Abram Human Rights Award by UN Watch. He has worked with Süddeutsche Zeitung, the Guardian, Huffington Post, Al Jazeera, The New York Times, and Index on Censorship, even his regular opinion columns for the Turkish dailies Today’s Zaman, Bugün and Özgür Düşünce. In early February 2018, Baydar was awarded the prestigious ‘Journalistenpreis’ by the Munich-based SüdostEuropa Gesellschaft.
He decided to leave Turkey for France.
Two years later on 25 June 2018, Erdoğan was re-elected president with 53% of the ballot to his closest rival Muharrem Ince’s 31%. Under Turkey’s new constitution, Erdoğan has been given autocratic powers that enable him to appoint ministers and vice-presidents, call for a state of emergency and intervene directly in the rule of law.
He keeps in touch with the status of press freedom in Turkey in his ‘Gazette’ which acts as a hosting site for curated links to the news articles of the day. In his latest endeavor, Baydar is in managing editor at Ahval. He took some time to answer some questions from Index on Censorship’s Nicole Ntim-Addae.
Index: What makes you such an ardent supporter of media freedom?
Baydar: My education. I had the great chance of being enrolled at the prestigious School of Journalism at Stockholm University. It was a wonderfully open and generous environment. There, as our dean used to say, ‘we learned the basics of the social role of the profession’. We learned how much bravery it demands. It taught us to be free of any dogma, and act fearlessly against the holders of power. I owe a lot to the school, but also to Swedish Radio and TV Corporation. Then, also the BBC World Service was important for the formation.
Index: Where were you when you made the decision to leave? What was the trigger?
Baydar: I was at home. It was a very intense night. And in the morning, after a short sleep, I assessed the situation and concluded that no matter with the outcome of the putsch, we the journalists would be declared the scapegoats and forced to pay the price. In any case, already then, Turkey had turned into hell for journalism.
Index: How is France different than Turkey? Do you feel settled there?
Baydar: Excellent environment, has always been for its commitment to freedom. It was perhaps there for the so called Young Turks, who were at the opposition to Sultan 120 years ago, had settled there. As I am now.
Index: What does you hope for Ahval to accomplish?
Baydar: Good, honest journalism. Strong coverage for facts, especially economy. That it accurately, fairly informs Turkish readers, who are stripped of independent sources. Also the international audience gets a comprehensive picture of the reality in the country. Our backbone is the critical minds. We are not an opposition outlet; we are critical. It is the essence of journalism.
Index: How difficult has it been to be away from home?
Baydar: For me, not much. I lived abroad long enough, so I am accustomed to it. For some of the staff, it may be difficult, because many of them experience the exile for the first time.
Index: Considering that Erdoğan won the election, and was awarded additional powers by and was awarded additional powers by the referendum, safe to return home soon?
Baydar: No. It is an unfree environment. Has no space for independent criticism. And the rule of law has been suspended over there. We will have to wait some time, before conditions change.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row][vc_column width=”1/4″][vc_column_text]
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Media freedom is under threat worldwide. Journalists are threatened, jailed and even killed simply for doing their job.
Index on Censorship documents threats to media freedom in Europe through a monitoring project and campaigns against laws that stifle journalists’ work. We also publish an award-winning magazine featuring work by and about censored journalists.
Learn more about our work to protect press freedom.[/vc_column_text][/vc_column][/vc_row][vc_row full_width=”stretch_row_content”][vc_column][three_column_post title=”Global Journalist / Project Exile” full_width_heading=”true” category_id=”22142″][/vc_column][/vc_row]
