On July 20, a group of journalists in the northeast Brazilian state of Paraíba sent an open letter to the state’s Brazilian Bar Association section (OAB/PB) and the Paraiba Press Association, in which they allege persecution and freedom of expression violations by regional authorities, Paraíba 1 reports.
In the letter, the media workers say they face harassment from public officials, specifically threats and lawsuits by local authorities and the administration of state Governor Ricardo Coutinho, ClickPB explains.
According to PB Agora, on July 21, the Paraíba Legislative Assembly unanimously passed a resolution in support of journalist Dércio Alcântara, who is being sued by the state government.
In his blog, Alcântara had alleged Coutinho’s administration was involved in illegal wiretaps on journalists and politicians.
Note from the editor: This story was originally published by the Knight Center’s blog Journalism in the Americas, the predecessor of LatAm Journalism Review.
