Countdown to WPFD 2014: Request for Hearing for Finnish Journalist Pentikäinen

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have backed a request by their Finnish affiliate, the Union of Journalists in Finland (UJF), for the European Court of Human Rights to grant an appeal hearing in the case brought by photojournalist Markus Pentikäinen relating to the violation of his freedom of expression. The UJF has today sent a request for referral to the grand chamber of the ECHR in the case of PENTIKÄINEN v. FINLAND. The case concerns Pentikäinen’s prosecution and conviction in Finland for allegedly defying police orders when they attempted to clear a demonstration against the Asia-Europe Meeting (Asem) in 2006. Read more about the case background HERE. As World Press Freedom Day approaches, in a letter of support sent to the Grand Chamber of the European Court of Human Rights, the IFJ and EFJ have called for the appeal hearing to be granted for UJF memberPentikäinen. They have asked the chamber to carry out a review of the case based on the facts and arguments laid out in the UJF’s official request submitted today, Friday 2 May, 2014.Signed by IFJ President Jim Boumelha and EFJ President Mogens Blicher-Bjerregård, the letter states: “We believe that there is sufficient evidence showing the violation of Article 10 of the European Convention on Human Rights in this case.  “Our opinion is that the judgement delivered on 4 February 2014 has not taken a balanced view with regard to Article 10 and Finish national law on the protection of public safety.” For more information, please contact IFJ on +32 2 235 22 17           The IFJ represents more than 600 000 journalists in 134 countries