Brazil
Journalist attacked for critiquing governmentPosted Feb 26 2010
After criticizing the local government by handing out pamphlets on Feb. 12, Portal Iguatu news site journalist and four other people were kidnapped and assaulted by men in a car and a motorcycle.
The journalist, Vicente Batista Araújo Júnior, and his four acquaintances were handing out summaries of news reports about the local mayor and state legislator when the men approached them. They were then brought to the edge of a highway where they were beaten and threatened.
Authorities are investigating the case, but the victims have identified a military police sergeant and three city employees as the attackers, the Knight Center for Journalism in Americas blog reports.
Northern and northeastern Brazil have become troubling places for journalists, especially those who cover political issues.