The Association of Journalists of Macedonia (AJM) and the Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers (SSNM) express serious concern about the criminal complaint filed by the Ministry of Interior (MoI) against the journalist Furkan Saliu for allegedly obstructing the work of an official and we request the Basic public prosecution to reject it immediately.
The criminal report from the Ministry of Interior for obstructing an official in the performance of his official duty against Saliu follows after five days ago he was detained by the police during a football match. Saliu was present at the match as a journalist and tried to document an incident for which he was obstructed by the police.
We emphasize that AJM and SSNM stand in solidarity behind colleague Furkan Saliu and that justice for him is justice for all fellow journalists and media workers in the country.
About this case, AJM informed the international journalistic organizations that monitor the rights and media freedoms, and an alarm about violation of the rights of journalists in Macedonia has already been noted on the Platform for Promoting the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists of the Council of Europe.
