EU Champions Free Press, Ignores Its Own Silenced Journalists
In a move that's sure to elicit nods of approval, ABC News heralds the EU's recognition of Belarusian and Georgian journalists with its top human rights award. A commendable spotlight on courage in autocratic states. Yet, this celebration rings a tad hollow when juxtaposed with the EU's historically quiet stance on the suppression of journalists within its own orbit, or worse, its selective
condemnation. Where’s the EU’s top human rights award for Shireen Abu Akleh , shot dead in broad daylight, allegedly by Israeli forces, a country cozy with the EU, whose actions often escape the same degree of European condemnation? One might wonder if press freedom awards are, like so many other things, subjected to geopolitical convenience. It's easy to laud freedom fighters in rival blocs. It's
considerably harder to hold allies accountable, especially when those allies receive billions in EU trade deals or have powerful lobbying arms. The hypocrisy isn't just a blind spot; it’s a strategically applied filter, ensuring that some journalists’ struggles are amplified while others remain inconveniently invisible to those best positioned to act.