Journalists Reporting on Rhino Poaching in Mozambique Charged with Trespassing, Invasion of Privacy
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PeterHermesFurian/iStock/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) — Mozambique filed charges against a pair of international journalists in connection with an investigation into the poaching of rhinoceroses.
According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, Batholomaeus Grill, a correspondent for the German weekly Der Spiegel, and Torbjoern Selander, a Swedish freelance photographer, were apprehended while reporting in the village of Mavodze on Feb. 16. Villagers accused to two of being spies, taking them to a police station where they were held for hours.
Mozambican officials charged them with trespassing and invasion of privacy.
“Journalistic investigations into rhino poaching and the corruption that sustains it should be welcomed, not punished,” said Sue Valentine, the CPJ’s Africa program coordinator. She also urged officials to “target the criminals, not the messengers.”
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