See information on the Centre Free Expression website.

CFE Virtual Forum Series: #1 in CFE Series: Threats to Press Freedom

In Kashmir, press freedom has virtually disappeared. Journalists in Kashmir face threats, arrests, constant surveillance, criminal cases under terror laws, regular harassment by state authorities, and murder. After the world’s longest ever communications blackout following the political changes made to the state of Jammu and Kashmir in 2019, the state of press freedom has dramatically worsened. The new Government media policy of 2020 leaves no journalist in Kashmir safe. What does this mean for the public and for journalists? What can be done?

Co-sponsored by Canadian Association of Journalists, Canadian Journalists for Free Expression, Kashmir Scholars Consultative and Action Network, PEN Canada, World Press Freedom Canada

Panelists

• Aakash Hassan, Freelance Journalist, former Kashmir correspondent at Network 18, reports for The Guardian, South China Morning Post,  Al Jazeera, & The Intercept
• Kunal Majumder, India correspondent, Committee to Protect Journalists
• Raqib Hameed Naik, Kashmiri journalist, former international correspondent at The Globe Post. Has reported from Kashmir, India, China, and now the U.S.
• Geeta Seshu, Journalist, former principal correspondent of ‘The Indian Express, Founder of the Free Speech Collective

Moderator

• Julian Sher, award-winning Investigative Journalist and Author, former Senior Producer of CBC’s the fifth estate

Additional Reading: Silencing Kashmir: The state of press freedom in the world’s most militarized zone

Media Articles

 Ajaz Ashraf,  “Hunt for Kashmiri Journalists“, Mid.day.com. February 28, 2022. https://www.mid-day.com/news/opinion/article/hunt-for-kashmiri-jounalists-23216257 

 Amantha Perera, “As Kashmir is silenced, press freedom levels fall below Afghanistan and Myanmar Dart center report”, Dart Center for Journalism and Trauma, February 24, 2022. https://dartcenter.org/resources/kashmir-silenced-press-freedom-levels-fall-below-afghanistan-and-myanmar 

Article 14, “With Arrest of Editor After Reporting Both Sides Of Story, Govt Escalates Criminalisation Of Journalism In Kashmir”, February 18, 2022. https://article-14.com/post/with-arrest-of-editor-after-reporting-both-sides-of-story-govt-escalates-criminalisation-of-journalism-in-kashmir-620f079a0fd00 

Associated Press, “‘Systematic fear’: How India battered press freedom in Kashmir”, Aljazeera, January 26, 2022. https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2022/1/26/india-kashmir-press-clud-journalism-sajad-gul-media 

Kelsey Carolan, “Pressure on Kashmiri journalists intensifies as government intimidation grows”, International Press Institute, January 21, 2022. https://ipi.media/pressure-on-kashmiri-journalists-intensifies-as-government-intimidation-grows/ 

Kunal Majumder, Kashmir’s news media faces existential crisis amid restrictions, arrests. Committee to Protect Journalists. September 24, 2019. https://cpj.org/2019/09/kashmirs-news-media-faces-existential-crisis-amid/

Niha Masih and  Shams Irfan, “Kashmir Press Club closure is the latest blow to media freedom in the conflict-torn region, journalists say”, Washington Post, January 23, 2022.  https://www.washingtonpost.com/world/2022/01/23/india-kashmir-press-club/ 

 Blogs

Kashmiri Scholars and Consultative Network Blog. https://kashmir-scholars.org/  (For background on the Kashmir issue and related credible information) 

 Reports

Committee to Protect Journalists, “Kashmir” (Series of articles on attacks on journalists in Kashmir) https://cpj.org/tags/kashmir/ *(2012-2022)

Committee to Protect Journalists, “Jammu and Kashmir” (More articles on attacks on journalists in Jammu and Kashmir) 2018-2022. https://cpj.org/tags/jammuandkashmir/page/4/

Reporters Without Borders , “India: A year of throttling journalism in Kashmir”, August 5, 2020. https://rsf.org/en/news/india-year-throttling-journalism-kashmir-0 

Background

FAQ’s about Kashmir since August 2019 https://kashmir-scholars.org/2020/12/09/a-guide-to-the-resolution-of-the-kashmir-issue-and-frequently-asked-questions-since-august-2019-siege-of-kashmir/ 

Websites

Free Speech Collective (India)  https://freespeechcollective.in/ 

Committee to Protect Journalists . https://cpj.org/