PRESS RELEASE:
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Congratulates
Press Freedom Nobel Prize Winners
While Reminding That Media Freedoms in Hong Kong Remain Under Attack
October 8, 2021
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong Congratulates
Press Freedom Nobel Prize Winners
While Reminding That Media Freedoms in Hong Kong Remain Under Attack
October 8, 2021
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) warmly congratulates this year’s Nobel Peace Prize Winners, journalists Maria Ressa from the Philippines and Dmitri Muratov from Russia.
Maria Ressa founded the news website Rappler in 2012, where she and her team focused attention on President Duterte’s controversial and murderous anti-drug campaign. Rappler also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, targeting opposition politicians and activists and manipulating debates.
Dmitri Muratov was one of the founders of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta in 1993. The newspaper is one of the most independent newspapers in Russia today and is regularly critical of Russia’s leadership and policies.
CFHK President, Mark Clifford said:
“The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong thanks the Norwegian Nobel Committee for recognizing a pair of courageous journalists with the 2021 Peace Prize award.
We applaud the Nobel Committee’s recognition of the importance of free expression as “a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”
The Nobel Committee noted that the winners “are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.”
This past year in Hong Kong saw assaults on media freedom, including the forced closure and freezing of assets of the pro-democracy Apple Daily. Seven Apple journalists, including founder Jimmy Lai and former editor-in-chief Ryan Law, are in jail and await trial on National Security Law charges.
We will continue to highlight the plight of the people in Hong Kong and those wrongly imprisoned and will work with all organizations defending press and media freedom to shine a light on injustice in Hong Kong.”
What is the National Security Law?
Hong Kong’s National Security Law, which took effect July 1, 2020, criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign collusion, but is so vague that it can be used to punish virtually anything the Chinese Communist Party wishes – against anyone, anywhere in the world. The National Security Law allows for offenses to be prosecuted in mainland China’s courts, away from the previously independent legal system in Hong Kong.
About CFHK
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
E: media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk
Maria Ressa founded the news website Rappler in 2012, where she and her team focused attention on President Duterte’s controversial and murderous anti-drug campaign. Rappler also documented how social media is being used to spread fake news, targeting opposition politicians and activists and manipulating debates.
Dmitri Muratov was one of the founders of the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta in 1993. The newspaper is one of the most independent newspapers in Russia today and is regularly critical of Russia’s leadership and policies.
CFHK President, Mark Clifford said:
“The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong thanks the Norwegian Nobel Committee for recognizing a pair of courageous journalists with the 2021 Peace Prize award.
We applaud the Nobel Committee’s recognition of the importance of free expression as “a precondition for democracy and lasting peace.”
The Nobel Committee noted that the winners “are representatives of all journalists who stand up for this ideal in a world in which democracy and freedom of the press face increasingly adverse conditions.”
This past year in Hong Kong saw assaults on media freedom, including the forced closure and freezing of assets of the pro-democracy Apple Daily. Seven Apple journalists, including founder Jimmy Lai and former editor-in-chief Ryan Law, are in jail and await trial on National Security Law charges.
We will continue to highlight the plight of the people in Hong Kong and those wrongly imprisoned and will work with all organizations defending press and media freedom to shine a light on injustice in Hong Kong.”
What is the National Security Law?
Hong Kong’s National Security Law, which took effect July 1, 2020, criminalizes secession, subversion, terrorism, and foreign collusion, but is so vague that it can be used to punish virtually anything the Chinese Communist Party wishes – against anyone, anywhere in the world. The National Security Law allows for offenses to be prosecuted in mainland China’s courts, away from the previously independent legal system in Hong Kong.
About CFHK
The Committee for Freedom in Hong Kong (CFHK) presses for political and economic consequences for China’s failure to keep its promises to respect Hong Kong’s freedoms; supports the rule of law, freedom of expression, and the release of political prisoners; and urges the business community to stand against China’s assault on freedom and the danger it poses to Hong Kong’s status as an international financial center. Hong Kong’s fate is linked to the preservation of freedom, democracy, and international law in the region and around the world.
For more information, please contact:
E: media@thecfhk.org
www.thecfhk.org
@thecfhk
