The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has expressed concern over the cases filed against The Daily Star Editor Mahfuz Anam for carrying “confusing” and “defamatory” reports in his daily about Awami League President Sheikh Hasina during the 2007-08 military-backed caretaker regime.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, IFJ said the attempts to pursue coordinated legal proceedings against the editor was a clear attempt to intimidate the media and muzzle press freedom in Bangladesh.
Mahfuz Anam on a TV talk show on February 3 admitted that he made a "big mistake" by running "corruption" stories based on information provided by the DGFI during the 2007-2008 caretaker regime.
"I admit it. It was a big mistake as an editor, in my journalism career,” Anam said on the talk show.
A total of 29 defamation cases and eight sedition charges have so far been filed against Mahfuz Anam for running "false corruption stories" against Sheikh Hasina.
“The IFJ is seriously concerned by the legal harassment of Mahfuz Anam as result of reporting in the public interest at a time of political crisis. The high number of cases and the filing of these across the country indicates an aggressive politically-motivated effort to harass a senior editor and a key newspaper in the Bangladesh,” the statement reads.
It said: “The use of sedition and defamation laws is this case is extremely concerning. Sedition laws are regarded as a relic of the past but are too often being revived as a means to silence political opposition and criticism in the region. This is a worrying development in an already extremely challenged media environment of Bangladesh.”
It also urged the judiciary to intervene in the matter to ensure a full and fair trial, with all cases being heard in one court.
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* 13 more defamation cases filed against Mahfuz Anam