OSCE media freedom watchdog condemns attack against Hungarian journalist
VIENNA, 26 June 2007 - The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Miklos Haraszti, denounced today an attack against Hungarian investigative journalist Iren Karman, and urged the Hungarian authorities to take prompt measures to prevent similar assaults against journalists.
On June 22, Karman was severely beaten by unknown assailants, and was taken to hospital with life-threatening injuries. She had reported on Hungarian oil deals that took place in the 1990's.
"I am pleased to see the high level of openness and courage that the Hungarian society has shown in response to the attack," said Haraszti. "By not allowing attacks against journalists to go unnoticed and unpunished, one of the major preconditions to prevent the intimidation of the media seems to be on the right track in Hungary."
He warned against treating terrorization of journalists as regular crime committed against individuals and called for steps to be taken as soon as threats emerge.
"By resolutely safeguarding the media from censorship by violence, in a world where anti-journalist crime is sadly prevalent, Hungary could defend the public's right to an open debate in an exemplary way," he said.
Haraszti also noted that Hungarian journalists were demanding that documents related to the oil deals be declassified and that Albert Takacs, Minister for Justice and Law Enforcement, had promised to review whether the documents should be released. Authorities had classified them for 85 years.