Germany’s authoritarian turn on pro-Palestine activism
“German authorities are using increasingly illiberal measures to curtail pro-Palestine activism. Under the guise of combatting Israel-related antisemitism, civic space for freedom of expression and assembly is shrinking.”
The long arm of justice for murdered Gambian journalist
In a historic decision, a German court convicted a former member of Gambia’s hit squad for his role in the murder of journalist Deyda Hydara.
Anti-SLAPP campaigners stand in solidarity with exiled Russian authors
An appeal against an injunction granted against the book “The Compatriots: The Brutal and Chaotic History of Russia’s Exiles, Émigrés and Agents Abroad” will be heard in Germany on 8 December.
Western Europe: Protect the right to protest and dissent, even during a time of war
“As the humanitarian catastrophe continues to unfold in Gaza, and increasingly in the West Bank, there must be freedom to voice opinions and to protest everywhere” – ARTICLE19
In response to LitProm’s decision to postpone award ceremony for Palestinian author Adania Shibli
Literary institutions must remain neutral platforms and enable equitable debate, says PEN International.
Two exiled Russian journalists reportedly poisoned
“German and Georgian authorities should treat these allegations with the utmost seriousness and do all they can to safeguard the lives of journalists living in exile” – CPJ
Berlin court sentences perpetrator to life imprisonment for war crimes in Syria
SCM welcomes the court’s decision as a step toward justice and redress for the victims of grave violations committed in Syria since 2011.
Germany: Police handed enhanced powers to infiltrate phones and computers
New amendments allow the use of spyware to hack into phones and computers circumventing encryption used by messaging applications such as WhatsApp and Signal, raising concerns about the right to privacy.
German prosecutors reportedly to examine serious abuses by Lukashenko’s regime
The reported German inquiry does not stem from the recent forced rerouting of Raman Pratasevich’s flight but is likely the result of a criminal complaint filed in May on behalf of individuals alleging torture at the hands of Belarussian law enforcement.
RSF files criminal complaint in Germany against Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman and others
The complaint details a litany of crimes against humanity committed against 35 journalists in Saudi Arabia, including that of murdered Saudi columnist Jamal Khashoggi.
At least 43 journalists targeted at COVID-19 protest in Germany
While police impeded journalists’ work, protesters – which included members of the far right and Covid-19 conspiracy theorists – abused, threatened, chased and physically attacked members of the press.
Worldwide mass surveillance by Germany’s intelligence service ruled unconstitutional
Germany’s Federal Constitutional Court has put an end to the groundless mass surveillance of global internet traffic by the foreign intelligence service. The ruling, the most far-reaching in this field in the past 20 years, sends an important signal for the protection of press freedom in the digital age.
Your mental health is precious, but it’s for sale
Privacy International reveals how popular websites about depression in France, Germany and the UK share user data with advertisers, data brokers and large tech companies, while some depression test websites leak answers and test results with third parties.
Germany should use UN Security Council role to promote press freedom
Germany has played a strong role in defending journalists over the years and should continue to do so when it takes its non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council in 2019.