OSCE Representative Désir calls for release of Dutch journalist Robert Bas; urges authorities to respect confidentiality of journalists’ sources

VIENNA, 25 October 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, expressed his concern today about the order of the examining magistrate of the court in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, to hold journalist Robert Bas in custody to leverage him to disclose his sources.

On 24 October, the court’s magistrate ordered the jailing of Bas, who works for NOS, which is part of the Netherlands Public Broadcasting system, as a means of coercion, after he was summoned as a witness and refused to reveal his sources and answer the court’s questions in an ongoing murder case. Bas was summoned to testify about a telephone conversation he held with a source. The court’s magistrate partially denied the journalist his right to non-disclosure, as parts of the conversation were included in the court file.

“Respect for the confidentiality of journalists’ sources is a vital element of media freedom, recognized by international standards and OSCE commitments,” Désir said. “I call on the Dutch authorities to release journalist Bas from custody, and to ensure that all steps are taken to respect his privilege to keep his sources confidential.”