German authorities must swiftly and transparently investigate the recent police attack on video journalist Ignacio Rosaslanda, ensure the responsible police officers are held to account, and drop all criminal investigations against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Rosaslanda, a video journalist for the Berliner Zeitung, was beaten and detained on May 23 while reporting on the eviction of over 150 pro-Palestinian protesters from a building at Humboldt University in Berlin. According to news reports, a recording of the incident, and Rosaslanda’s statements to CPJ, the journalist was performing his duties when the attack occurred.
Police summoned Rosaslanda on Thursday, questioned him for three hours, and informed him he was being investigated for resisting police action, causing bodily harm to police, and trespassing. Denying these charges, Rosaslanda faces up to three years imprisonment if convicted. Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative, emphasized the importance of protecting journalists’ rights to report on public interest events without fear of police interference or unjust charges.
Rosaslanda, identifiable by his press insignia and camera, was filming as police cleared protesters when an officer suddenly assaulted him, resulting in multiple injuries that required emergency room treatment. Despite filing a criminal complaint against the police, Rosaslanda has not received any updates, while a police spokesperson confirmed an investigation into the actions of two officers.