Parliament nominates press freedom group for Sakharov Prize :: Charter'97 :: News

The European Parliament has nominated Reporters without Borders, a group defending press freedom, for its annual Sakharov Prize. The group is also critical about press freedom in the European Union. The president of the Parliament`s foreign affairs committee, Elmar Brok, on Tuesday (27 September) announced the three nominees for the prize, which seeks to promote freedom of thought around the globe.

The candidates who made it to the shortlist had been proposed by the socialist, conservative and liberal groups in the parliament, and the winner will be picked by the Parliament`s conference of group presidents on 27 October.

The socialist PES candidate is the Nigerian female lawyer Hauwa Ibrahim, who defends women and youngsters in her country sentenced to stoning, whipping or amputation under Sharia law.

Meanwhile, the EPP`s choice for the Sakharov prize is Ladies in White, a group of women which fights for the release of their husbands who are political prisoners in Cuba.

The liberal nominee, the NGO Reporters without Borders, told the EUobserver it is "very happy" with its nomination.

The group defends journalists and other media professionals around the world facing imprisonment, persecution and even torture.

But while one main focus of Reporters without Borders` work lies in autocratic countries or dictatorships like China, Belarus and Cuba, the NGO has not shed away from criticising European countries either.

On Tuesday Reporters without Borders criticised a Spanish Court decision to jail Taysir Allouni, an Al Jazeera journalist who was convicted of collaborating with Al Qaeda.

This year, the organisation has voiced concern over several cases in Poland, one of which was about the fining of a journalist allegedly making "insulting" comments about the pope.

The organisation in 2004 reacted strongly against the raid by Brussels police of the flat of German journalist Hans-Martin Tillack, who had been accused by the EU`s anti-fraud office OLAF of bribing an EU official.

Also last year, Reporters without Borders slammed a French law against homophobia which it termed as "an attack on freedom of expression".

Mr Jean-Francois Julliard, a news editor at Reporters without Borders, said that the European Parliament had shown it`s "independence" and "open-mindedness" by nominating his organisation.

"Debate" needed on TV stations

Talking to the EUobserver, Mr Julliard said that a "big debate" was needed on TV channels spreading messages of hatred and violence in the EU.

EU justice commissioner Franco Frattini last week stressed the need for banning TV stations inciting terror from European territory.

France recently prohibited a station used by terrorist group Hizbullah from airing anti-semitic broadcasts in its territory - a move which was criticised by Reporters without Borders.

Mr Julliard said the problem of satellite stations airing anti-democratic propaganda was growing in importance.

"It is clear that inciting violence or even murder is unacceptable and not about the freedom of expression", he said, stressing that Reporters without Borders is not against any restriction.

"But perhaps it is better to begin a dialogue with these stations, or just ban certain programs instead of complete stations".

The organisation`s spokesman mooted the idea of a non-political, pan-European council of media experts, which would engage in a discussion with the TV channels concerned, and come up with further proposals.

He added: "The European Commission should also think about common EU rules. Nowadays, a station which is banned from France can continue to broadcast in other countries".