Chief Russian media figures have made an open statement against the closure of a newspaper that had published a picture of Jesus Christ, Moses, Buddha and Mohammed.
Administration members of MediaSoyuz, the union of Russian journalists, have said in their statement published by Vremya Novostei newspaper on Sunday that the situation should be considered "in the sphere of journalist ethics exclusively. A publication of a humanistic orientation must in no case lead to the closure of a newspaper and repressions against its employees," the statement said.
The authors added however that "in the modern situation the publication of cartoons in Gorodskie Vesti newspaper portraying founders of world religions is an imprudent and a dangerous step. We consider as far less acceptable the replication of scandalous Danish cartoons by other Russian newspapers. We are also totally convinced that in no case are the publications admissible if they are insulting religious and national feelings of people."
The International Federation of Journalists have also condemned the closure of Gorodskie Vesti. "At a time when editorial independence needs to be defended, we find the closure of this newspaper shocking", IFJ General Secretary Aidan White was quoted by BBC as saying. "What makes this act of political interference even more intolerable is that the cartoon was promoting anti-racism and non-violence".
"We share the concern of the Russian journalists’ union," White said. "The IFJ says the choice to publish or not a cartoon dealing with religious beliefs is the responsibility only of the editorial team. The decision of the mayor of Volgograd is a clear example of abusive censorship that breaches national laws as well as basic international standards of freedom of expression".
In the picture published in the Volgograd newspaper, Gorodskie Vesti, Christ, Moses, Buddha and Mohammed are watching TV where two groups of people are ready for a fight. The inscription says "We did not teach them to do this." According to the decision of the city administration, the newspaper was closed. Later, Novy Region+ newspaper was closed in Vologda for replicating Danish cartoons of the Prophet Mohammed. Criminal proceedings were instigated against its editor Anna Smirnova for "rousing hatred or hostility in office."
