Journalists’ union appeals to UN rights council over extremism label

March 31, BPN. Lawyers of the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) have urged the UN Human Rights Council to react to the inclusion of the exiled non-profit in the list of “extremist” groups.

“It is impossible even to guess on what grounds the BAJ human rights organization was recognized as an ‘extremist group,'” the association said on its website. It pointed out that “such concepts as ‘extremist group’ and ‘extremist activity’ open unlimited possibilities for arbitrary interpretation.”

“Adding our organization to the list of ‘extremist groups’ directly contradicts the freedom of association, guaranteed to everyone by Article 22 of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights,” the BAJ said, noting that in the past the Belarusian authorities “had repeatedly attempted to illegally interfere with this right, hindering the organization’s activities.”

The NGO expressed hope that the UN Human Rights Council would “react to this appeal and call upon the state to immediately cancel the illegal decision.”

The Committee for State Security (KGB) declared the BAJ an “extremist group” on February 28. Belarusian human rights organizations have strongly protested against the decision. It has also been condemned by the OSCE.

On August 27, 2021 the Supreme Court liquidated the BAJ on request of the Ministry of Justice. The association continued its activities in exile.