In the world’s largest democracy, the freedom of speech and expression is the most crucial fundamental right availed to the citizens by the constitution.
In India, the media is considered as the fourth pillar of democracy and it plays a vital role in a country’s social, political, economical and international affairs.
With the motive to crush independent journalism and silence press, some of the countries around the globe are creating the media climate so oppressive that even reporters for state-run news outlets live in constant fear of arrest. The threat of imprisonment has led many journalists to choose exile rather than risk arrest. From exporting censorship models to dictatorial states to launching intimidation campaign against dissidents, some of the countries’ crackdown on press freedom serves as a direct threat to democracies worldwide.
If we talk about the country which is desperate to stop Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement, it is appropriate to say that the real face of China has been revealed to everyone around the world. China, the enemy of democracy, is extremely troubled by India’s democratic system of governance. China is leaving no stone unturned to suppress the democratic voice with extreme brutality. This can be exemplified by the miserable condition of Hong Kong. China has killed Hong Kong’s pro-democracy movement in less than a year which is shameful to the core.
China’s nefarious actions to curb freedom of expression supports this fact that the country is on the verge of Totalitarianism.
A US watchdog has revealed a record number of journalists being jailed this year. China tops the list of journalists kept in jail. It is followed by Turkey and Egypt. At the same time, a large number of journalists are in custody due to political deadlock in Belarus and Ethiopia. At the global level, 274 journalists have been jailed due to their work earlier this month and nearly three dozen of them on charges of “false news.” This data has been released by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The committee said on Tuesday that this is the fifth consecutive year when at least 250 journalists are in custody, reflecting the repressive measures of governments.
There are 47 journalists in jail in China, three of whom are in jail for news related to the government’s move on the Covid-19 pandemic. At the same time, 27 journalists have been jailed in Egypt, out of which at least three were jailed for news related to the Covid-19 pandemic. Journalists in Egypt and Honduras died after contracting COVID while in prison.
Nearly all of the jailed journalists were covering stories involving their own country. The committee said 36 of the jailed journalists were women.
The US Press Freedom Tracker reported that no journalist has been murdered in the US earlier this month but 110 journalists were arrested and criminally charged in 2020. At the same time, 300 were assaulted, many of whom were reporting protests over racial justice following the death of black man George Floyd in police custody.
According to the report, four journalists are jailed in India. Three of which are independent journalists. A case of treason has been registered against all these four journalists, but so far no one has been sentenced.
The committee said that 29 journalists have been killed so far this year, which is higher than last year. Last year, 26 journalists were killed. However, this figure is lower than in the last decade. In 2012 and 2013, 74 journalists were killed.
In recent years, another way of silencing journalists has proliferated: the use of what are known as strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPP), where defamation or criminal lawsuits are brought with the intention of shutting down forms of expression such as peaceful protest or writing blogs.
Growing intolerance of dissenting journalists has manifested itself in various forms – from censorship fiats to acts of outright physical intimidation. The escalating attacks on whistleblower journalists have taken a toll not just on individuals but also on journalism as a profession. The killing of several journalists over the last few years in countries like China is a reminder that those who object to free speech – especially when it involves liberal ideas – will stop at nothing to quell those voices.
And, considering the above facts, it is just to say that the Free, fair and fearless journalism and ‘DEMOCRACY’ is under threat.