Reporters Without Borders’ Press Freedom Index shows that press freedom is moving in the wrong direction in an increasing number of countries. More than half of the world’s population lives in countries where press freedom is under serious pressure. Journalists are imprisoned or killed for doing their job, editors are forced to leave the country and media outlets are liquidated and forbidden.
At a time of war and increasing pressure on democracy and human rights in several parts of the world, including Europe and the US, we want to present articles from journalists in regimes where press freedom and freedom of expression are suppressed. ‘The Forbidden Times’ is a reminder of how important the fight for press freedom is.
‘The NHC’s contribution to the newspaper are articles written by independent journalists in Russia, Belarus, Azerbaijan and Tajikistan. These are countries where free media are censored and liquidated, and journalists are imprisoned for criticising the authorities, exposing corruption and writing the truth about the war in Ukraine. We want to show the courage and resilience that exists inside these countries’, says Berit Lindeman, Secretary General of the Norwegian Helsinki Committee.
‘The Forbidden Times’ is partly in Norwegian, partly in English. It will be handed out in Spikersuppa in Oslo during 3 May.
You can read the newspaper digitally here: