The Croatian Journalists’ Association (CJA) is concerned about the verbal attacks on journalists and cameramen who were covering the arrest of the mayor of Otok and former HDZ member of parliament Josip Šarić this morning. According to media reports, the intervention police warned the attackers and told them to disperse, but the CJA expects them to be apprehended and punished in accordance with Article 139, paragraph 3 of the Criminal Code.
The CJA has been warning for years about the consequences of verbal attacks on journalists and media from the highest political levels by officials who frequently label them as enemies. The simultaneous absence of a clear and unequivocal condemnation of the increasingly frequent threats and attacks serves as fuel for those who believe they can attack our colleagues with impunity.
We also remind you that the most powerful politician in the country, Prime Minister Andrej Plenković, has called journalists and media the “axis of evil,” while the coalition partner, the Homeland Movement, and its president Ivan Penava have not hidden their desire to confront the media, which they consider enemies of the state, from day one. The fact that the majority of verbal attacks on journalists come from politicians is also noted in the latest report from the Media Freedom Rapid Response regarding the state of media freedom in Croatia.
And the absurdity of Croatia is further demonstrated by the fact that the citizens of Otok, instead of directing their anger towards the arrested mayor, unleash their fury on those reporting on it. The CJA once again calls for the highest representatives of the state to provide a clear and unequivocal condemnation of the threats and attacks. We demand protection for our colleagues who perform their work in the public interest—regardless of whether someone likes their reporting or not.
On behalf of the Executive Board,
Hrvoje Zovko, President
Chiara Bilić, Vice President
Dragutin Hedl, Vice President