The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) condemns the brutal beating of an online journalist by Chinese authorities in Chengdu, Sichuan Province.
The incident occurred after plain-clothes officers prevented the journalist, who works for SCOL.com.cn, a website owned by Sichuan Daily Network Media Development Ltd, from taking photos of government officials in Chendu’s Chenghua District, on February 1.
The journalist’s camera was confiscated and he was taken to a security room for interrogation, according to local media reports.
When the officers found that the journalist was attempting to record his interrogation, he was reportedly kicked and beaten in the presence of two uniformed police.
The journalist, who does not wish to be named, reportedly suffered multiple injuries.
After he was released, the journalist discovered all the photos stored on his camera had been deleted.
An editorial on SCOL.com.cn condemned the treatment of the journalist as a brutal act of interference in the journalist’s job to report on the event involving the government officials.
“The IFJ calls on senior authorities in China to take action to investigate the beating and intimidation of the SCOL.com.cn journalist and to discipline the police officers involved. Such attacks on media personnel who are trying to do their jobs are an effort to promote self-censorship and must not be tolerated,” IFJ General Secretary Aidan White said.
The IFJ calls on Sichuan authorities to implement immediate measures to prevent this kind of violence against journalists.
For further information contact IFJ Asia-Pacific on +612 9333 0919
The IFJ represents over 600,000 journalists in 120 countries worldwide