Rhys Davies discusses press freedom on TIMES Radio

Rhys Davies appears on TIMES Radio on 30th April 2024

On the occasion of world press freedom day on 3 May 2024 International Human Rights barrister Rhys Davies speaks to Carole Walker about challenges journalists face globally amidst growing concerns for loss of press freedom.

Davies observes that repressive regimes around the world are pushing the boundaries to suppress the work of journalists and discusses the Emirati bid to buy the UK newspaper, the Telegraph, as “one of the most chilling things that was taking place over the last 12 months in [the UK] in terms of press freedom. We found ourselves in the most surreal situation where an oppressive regime was going to buy one of the gold-standard newspapers in this country.” 

To the question whether there is a problem that governments generally do not put enough focus on press freedom when they decide how they are dealing with countries diplomatically, Davies replied that the UK does not press hard enough on the human rights situation when signing a trade deal with oppressive regimes,

Listen to the full episode, here.