VIENNA, 18 November 2019 – The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Harlem Désir, strongly condemned today the shooting of the journalist Mario De Michele, which took place on 14 November, in Italy...

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PRESS RELEASE

OSCE Media Freedom Representative condemns shooting of journalist in Italy, calls for full investigation

According to reports, De Michele, the editor of the Campania Notizie news website, was shot at by two unknown individuals while driving his car in the town of Gricignano d’Aversa. Fortunately, the journalist escaped uninjured. The attack is believed to be related to his articles on the local municipality, which was dissolved a few days earlier, and activities of the Camorra, an organized mafia crime group.

“I strongly condemn this attempted murder of a journalist,” said Désir. “I welcome the investigation opened by the Italian authorities and urge them to find those responsible and bring them to justice. It is unacceptable that a journalist could face such threats, and an attempt on his life, for carrying out his work.”

Three days prior to this attack, De Michele reportedly received threats from, and was assaulted by, two individuals who physically attacked him and struck his car with an iron bar. They further warned him to stop writing about organized crime.

The Representative recalled the OSCE Ministerial Council Decision on Safety of Journalists, which urges participating States to “condemn publicly and unequivocally all attacks and violence against journalists such as killing, torture, enforced disappearance, arbitrary arrest, arbitrary detention and arbitrary expulsion, intimidation, harassment, and threats of all forms, such as physical, legal, political, technological or economic, used to suppress their work and/or unduly force closure of their offices, including in conflict situations”.

The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media observes media developments in all 57 OSCE participating States. He/she provides early warning on violations of freedom of expression and media freedom and promotes full compliance with OSCE media freedom commitments. Learn more at www.osce.org/fom, Twitter: @OSCE_RFoM and on facebook.com/osce.rfom.

For PDF attachments or links to sources of further information, please visit: https://www.osce.org/representative-on-freedom-of-media/439412

Contacts:

Office of the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media
Wallnerstrasse 6
1010 Vienna
Austria
Office: +43 1 514 36 6800
Fax: +43 1 514 36 6802
[email protected]

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