Prosecutor for Polk County, Iowa, United States, must immediately drop spurious charges against Andrea Sahouri, reporter for the Des Moines Register, who was arrested during a demonstration of the movement Black Lives Matter in 2020 only because she was doing her job, Amnesty International said.
“The prosecution of Andrea Sahouri represents a clear attack on press freedom and is part of a disturbing set of police practices against journalists in the United States. It is deeply worrying that the prosecutor has supported these spurious accusations until the trial, said Erika Guevara-Rosas, director of the Americas program at Amnesty International.
“In 2020, journalists across the United States brought the movement to the world. Black Lives Matter and the outrageous human rights violations committed by the police against demonstrators. No journalist should be punished for doing their job and communicating this essential information. It is a violation of human rights to treat media work as an offense. The US authorities must defend freedom of expression and immediately drop the charges against Andrea Sahouri. “
On the evening of May 31, 2020, police in the city of Des Moines, Iowa, pepper sprayed journalist Andrea Sahouri while covering a protest protest. Black Lives Matter and shouted, “I’m a journalist, I’m a journalist,” before arresting her and taking her into custody.
The prosecution of Andrea Sahouri represents a clear attack on press freedom and is part of a disturbing set of police practices against journalists in the United States.
On March 8, 2021, the American authorities will judge her for “refusal to disperse” and “interference with official actions”. The prosecutor insisted on getting a trial for the two simple petty offenses, for which she faces a fine, 30 days in jail, or both.
Amnesty International referred to the case of Andrea Sahouri in its report published in August 2020 entitled The world is watching you. Massive Violations of the Rights of Black Lives Matter Protesters by US Police, which describes how law enforcement officials unjustifiably targeted journalists, legal observers, rescue workers and protesters, using excessive force at numerous mostly protests peaceful in 2020. This excessive use of force has violated their right to freedom of assembly and peaceful expression, caused injury and endangered all those concerned.
Amnesty International is leading an international campaign calling for the charges against Andrea Sahouri to be dropped.
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