Nepal - May 2024

On 21 May, Kailash Sirohiya, chairman of the Kantipur Media Group (KMG), one of Nepal’s largest media conglomerates, was arrested for allegedly violating the country’s citizenship laws due to irregularities with his citizenship certificate. Sirohiya was detained for nine days before being released on the condition that he appear before the police when summoned. The arrest follows a series of critical reports published by KMG about Deputy Prime Minister and Home Minister Rabi Lamichhane's alleged misappropriation of funds. Sirhohiya denies any wrongdoing and asserts that his arrest was an ‘act of vengeance’ in response to the news coverage. Rights experts have criticized the arrest as an abuse of state power, arguing that the charges did not warrant detention. Press freedom advocates and media experts condemned the incident, stating that it threatens freedom of expression and the press.

Sources: International Federation of Journalists, The Katmandu Post (1), The Kathmandu Post (2), The New York Times, The Diplomat, Nepali Times