The Vienna-based South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO), a network of editors, media executives and leading journalists in South East Europe and an affiliate of the International Press Institute (IPI), is deeply concerned about the suspended jail sentence given to a Croatian journalist.
According to information before SEEMO, on 2 November, the Municipal Court in Zagreb issued a five-month suspended jail sentence to Croatian journalist and writer Predrag Matvejevic for libel. In his article “Our Talibans”, published in Zagreb daily Jutarnji list on 10 November 2001, Matvejevic criticised certain Croatian writers for stirring up ethnic hatred during the presidency of the late Franjo Tudjman. The Court’s decision was based on action brought by writer Mile Pesorda.
Speaking about the court decision, Oliver Vujovic, SEEMO Secretary-General, said, “Punishing journalists for what they say or write is against international standards. I am surprised that Croatia has chosen to act in a way that is reminiscent of the past. The country will eventually become an EU member and, in the last few years, it has adopted many international standards.”
“Therefore, we urge the responsible higher court in Croatia to urgently examine this decision, and call on the Croatian parliament to revise the present law.”
Vujovic added, “We expect concrete steps and not purely cosmetic changes. One of the basic principles of freedom of speech in any democratic society is that a journalist should not be punished for their writing.”
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For any further information please contact:
SEEMO – IPI, Spiegelgasse 2/29, 1010 Vienna, Austria,
Tel (SEEMO+HELP LINE): +43 1 513 39 40, Tel (SEEMO): +43 1 512 90 11 11,
Fax: +43 1 512 90 15, E-mail: [email protected], Web: http://www.seemo.org
