30.11.07

Press Freedom prevails as German reporter wins damages for wrongful raid on his software and sources

Stern Magazin reporter Hans Martin Tillack has secured a significant ruling from the European Court that upholds the right of a free press to protect its sources. Following his report on alleged fraud within the European Union, Tillack was detained for several hours and had his office and equipment ransacked and confiscated in a bid to find out who his sources were. The pretext for the action against him was that he had violated Belgian law by offering an official money for confidential information and documents - no such offence was substantiated.

In its ruling the European Court confirmed that the protection of sources was a right not a privilege that could be taken away and the action against Tillack had violated his rights.

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