A French journalist working in China has been subject to intimidation after writing about the Beijing government’s reaction to the Paris attacks.
Now the Foreign Correspondents’ Club of China (FCCC) has issued a statement registering its “deep concern” about the treatment of Ursula Gauthier, who works for the Paris-based weekly, L’Obs (formerly Le Nouvel Observateur).
Her article about terrorism touched on one of China’s most sensitive issues: the conflict with the Muslim Uighur people in the northwestern region of Xinjiang.
Following its publication on 18 November, Gauthier was the subject of inflammatory editorials in the state-controlled Global Times and China Daily, plus several websites linked to the Chinse military.
Websites carried thousands of aggressive comments about Gauthier (including death threats) which also published her photograph and her address.
She was also summoned to the foreign ministry where officials unsuccessfully, sought an admission that her article had been wrong.
The FCCC’s statement said: “Receiving criticism is a normal and necessary part of journalistic work, but this is neither proportionate nor reasonable.”
The FCCC is also concerned that Gauthier yet to be issued with a new press card, regarding further delay in receiving accreditation as “another serious attempt at intimidation.”
Sources: EFE/FCCC
