Kathmandu: An arrest warrant issued by Nepali authorities against journalist Dil Bhusan Pathak raises serious concerns about the protection of freedom of expression and media freedom in Nepal and risks stifling independent voices in the country, said Amnesty International Nepal today.
The warrant, reportedly issued under provisions of the Electronic Transactions Act (ETA) following a complaint filed at the Cyber Bureau of Nepal Police, comes on the heels of Pathak’s recent report on alleged business dealings with connection to senior political figures—including a minister in the current government—published on his program ‘Tough Talk with Dil Bhusan Pathak’.
“This case represents a troubling attempt to use state power to deter investigative journalism. Authorities must stop the investigation under the abusive ETA and refrain from arresting Pathak solely for his reporting and critical questions asked on his YouTube channel,” said Nirajan Thapaliya, Director of Amnesty International Nepal. “Journalists must be able to ask difficult questions and expose uncomfortable truths without fear of reprisal. The use of legal provisions to threaten critical reporting is a direct attack on freedom of expression—a right guaranteed by Nepal’s Constitution and international human rights law.”
“This action sets a dangerous precedent for media freedom and the right to free expression in the country,” said Thapaliya. “Freedom of expression—including the right to seek, receive, and impart information—is a fundamental human right that must be safeguarded, even when the subject matter may be politically sensitive.”
While matters of public interest such as this fall squarely within the scope of journalistic scrutiny and accountability, the decision to pursue criminal action against Pathak raises serious questions about the misuse of state authority to harass and intimidate journalists.
Amnesty International Nepal has called on the authorities to immediately withdraw the arrest warrant against journalist Dil Bhusan Pathak and ensure that any grievances related to media content are addressed through appropriate and independent mechanisms, such as the Press Council Nepal. The government of Nepal must uphold its national and international obligations to protect media freedom and guarantee that journalists can perform their essential role in society without fear of harassment, intimidation, or undue interference, Amnesty said.
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