This alarming surge in what is referred to as “transnational repression” has taken a toll on various citizens residing abroad, with the report surfacing just a week after US authorities charged an Indian national with conspiring to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York
A recent report by US-based rights group Freedom House highlights a disturbing trend of authoritarian states intensifying their efforts to target journalists in exile as part of broader government reprisals against dissidents living outside their borders. This alarming surge in what is referred to as “transnational repression” has taken a toll on various citizens residing abroad, with the report surfacing just a week after US authorities charged an Indian national with conspiring to assassinate a Sikh separatist leader in New York, allegedly under the direction of an Indian government official.
The report underscores the growing global attacks on free and independent media, noting that as journalists are increasingly forced to work from exile, they face an elevated risk of transnational repression in their new host countries. The tactics employed by authoritarian regimes include physical harm, detention and rendition, online harassment, reprisals against family members, and smear campaigns, all designed to undermine the morale and commitment of these journalists.
The report draws attention to the grim fate of some journalists, such as Jamal Khashoggi, who was assassinated in 2018 in the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, emphasizing the extreme consequences faced by those targeted by their home countries. From 2014 to 2023, the report documented 112 incidents of “physical repression” against journalists by 26 governments, including China, Russia, Belarus, Iran, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, and Cambodia. However, it warns that these figures likely represent only a fraction of the actual phenomenon, as many incidents go unreported or are challenging to conclusively verify.
Jessica White, the lead author of the report, highlighted the critical need to address the specific targeting of journalists, citing a growing number who are fleeing their countries due to domestic crackdowns. Notably, she pointed to countries like the United Kingdom and Norway as positive examples, where measures such as police protection are provided to those facing threats from abroad.
In a separate development, US Deputy Assistant Attorney General Eun Young Choi recently expressed concern about the “alarming rise” in efforts by foreign governments, particularly authoritarian regimes, to interfere with freedom of expression and punish critics and dissidents, including those within diaspora communities in the United States. This further underscores the urgency of addressing the global issue of transnational repression and safeguarding the freedom and safety of journalists working in exile.
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