The backdrop were incidents during which a photographer was verbally intimidated and a RTL journalist was menaced after a radio commentary on the sides of a protest in Esch-sur-Alzette. A complaint from the latter has been filed with the police.
Media and Communications Minister Xavier Bettel has also reacted by denouncing the threats. He underlines the essential role the press plays in a democracy, given they are the pillar that sheds lights on problems and controversies that the other pillars may bring about. After all, journalists are only doing their job of reporting in a transparent manner, he continues.
Therefore, Bettel stresses it is not acceptable to intimidate a journalist - much less to give death threats. He adds that he does not want to be the prime minister of a country where journalists fear their safety and cannot work in a transparent manner.
The minister announces that the issue is also under discussion in the Chamber of Deputies, with the goal of finding a political consensus on how to support the press and not intimidate them. The DP fraction has also requested a consultation debate on press freedom and freedom of speech in the Chamber.
The ALJP writes that all intimidation of journalists is about freedom of the press: where there is no independent reporting, human rights are violated.
Journalists association issues appeal following death threats
