Journalists’ safety must be ensured, OSCE Representative says following attacks in Germany

VIENNA, 1 October 2015 – OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media Dunja Mijatović today said that the recent attacks against members of the media during a demonstration in Germany are unacceptable.

On 28 September, two reporters with Mitteldeutscher Rundfunk and Dresdner Neueste Nachrichten respectively, were attacked by participants of a demonstration in Dresden organized by Patriotic Europeans Against the Islamisation of the Occident (PEGIDA).

“When journalists are not able to report in a free and safe manner, media freedom and free expression are under threat,” Mijatović said.

Mijatović recalled incidents earlier this year, in Leipzig on 21 January and in Braunschweig on 2 February, where journalists were also attacked during PEGIDA demonstrations.

“These repeated attacks on journalists by PEGIDA supporters are worrying,” Mijatović said. “Law enforcement agencies must do their utmost to protect members of the media covering demonstrations and other public events.”

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. She provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on www.facebook.com/osce.rfom.