The International
Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its European group, the Federation of
Journalists (EFJ), have today welcomed the ruling of a court in France which
upheld the claim brought by France 2 correspondent Charles Enderlin for
defamation against media analyst Phillippe Karsenty.
On Wednesday, 26 June,
the Paris Court of Appeals ruled that Mr Karsenty, founder of the Media Rating
website, was guilty of defamation for accusing Mr Enderlin, Jerusalem
correspondent for French public broadcaster France 2, of staging TV footage about
the killing of Mohammed Al Dura, a Palestinian boy who was reportedly shot dead
by Israeli forces in Gaza on 30 September 2000.
"We welcome the decision
by the French Court of Appeals which clears the good name and impeccable reputation
of our colleague," said IFJ President Jim Boumelha. "Charles Enderlin is a
highly respected French journalist, revered for his integrity and
professionalism, and this conviction of Phillippe Karentsy for defamation has
been a long time coming.
"The recent IFJ World
Congress in Dublin adopted a resolution presented by the three affiliates in
support of Mr Enderlin."
IFJ affiliates in France,
SNJ, SNJ-CGT and USJ-CFDT, have hailed the
court's decision, saying that the reporter has faced a relentless smear
campaign for the last twelve years.
In a statement, the SNJ-CGT at French
Television said that the judgment "puts an end to the attack on the honour of a
journalist who is well known and respected for his integrity and professional
qualities."
Karentsy was initially
convicted of libel in 2006, but the Paris Court of Appeals overturned the
verdict. Then last year France's highest court overturned the appeals court
verdict, a decision which led to Wednesday's verdict. Karentsy received a fine
of 7000 euros.
The IFJ and EFJ
praised the journalist's tireless campaign against the allegations which hung
over him for such a long time.
"For the past 12 years
Charles Enderlin has had to live with these accusations against his
professionalism and honesty, said EFJ President Mogens
Blicher Bjerregård. "This decision is a clear vindication of
his integrity as a journalist and human being."
For more information, please contact IFJ on + 32 2 235 22 17
The IFJ represents more than 600.000 journalists in 134
countries