Amnesty International Raises Alarm Over Media Attacks in Albania, Cites PM Meloni's Role

Amnesty International has expressed grave concerns over the escalating attacks on media freedom in Albania, highlighting the involvement of Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni in the troubling developments. The human rights organization's latest report on the state of human rights worldwide points to a growing trend of authoritarianism globally, with the number of people living in democratic states falling to levels not seen since 1985.

The report specifically calls attention to the agreement reached between Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama and Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni regarding the construction of two camps in Albania for the isolation of refugees that Italy intends to bring in for processing potential asylum claims. Amnesty International cautions that this Rama-Meloni Pact raises serious concerns about the violation of the rights of asylum seekers.

Focusing on the Balkan region, the report highlights the alarming state of media freedom and the increasing attacks on journalists. Journalists in several Balkan countries, including Serbia, Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Kosovo, and North Macedonia, have faced threats, vilification, physical assaults, and strategic lawsuits. In a particularly egregious case in Albania, the mayor of Tirana referred to a female journalist as a "contract killer" following her investigation into a corruption scandal. The report also emphasizes the murder of a security guard in an attack on the offices of Albania's largest private TV station.

Why this matters: The erosion of media freedom and the targeting of journalists in Albania and the Balkan region have far-reaching implications for democracy and human rights. The involvement of high-level political figures like Prime Minister Meloni in these developments underscores the urgent need for international attention and action to protect press freedom and the rights of asylum seekers.

Amnesty International's report further raises concerns about gender-based violence, LGBTI rights, and the rights of refugees and migrants in the region. It notes that in Albania, 12 women were killed by partners or family members in domestic violence incidents. The report also criticizes the controversial agreement between Prime Minister Rama and Prime Minister Meloni to build refugee detention camps in Albania, which it says raises serious concerns about the violation of the rights of asylum seekers.

The human rights organization's findings paint a grim picture of the state of human rights in Albania and the wider Balkan region. With journalists facing increasing attacks and the rights of vulnerable groups like women, LGBTI individuals, and asylum seekers under threat, Amnesty International's report serves as a strong warning about the need for urgent action to protect human rights and democratic values in the face of growing authoritarianism.

Key Takeaways

• Amnesty Int'l reports escalating attacks on media freedom in Albania.
• Rama-Meloni pact to build refugee camps in Albania raises rights concerns.
• Journalists in Balkans face threats, assaults, and lawsuits.
• Report highlights gender-based violence, LGBTI rights, and refugee issues.
• Amnesty warns of growing authoritarianism and human rights regression globally.