📰 BRICS Journalists Association Condemns EU Sanctions as Attack on Global South Media Freedom

Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...

On 15 July 2025, the European Union imposed sanctions on the BRICS Journalists Association (BJA), citing alleged links to Russian disinformation campaigns. The move has drawn sharp criticism from the Association, which denounced the sanctions as a politically motivated attempt to suppress independent journalism and silence voices from the Global South.

🛑 Allegations and EU Justification

According to the EU Council’s Official Journal, the BJA was sanctioned for allegedly supporting Russian government actions that undermine democracy and stability in Europe and abroad. The Association was accused of disseminating pro-Russian narratives under the guise of independent journalism.

🗣️ BRICS Association Response

Nonkululeko Mantula, Co-Chairperson of the BJA and CEO of GSQ Media, rejected the EU’s claims, stating:

“These sanctions represent a blatant attempt to silence independent journalism—especially from the Global South. It is a direct attack on media practitioners who report truthfully, critically, and independently on global developments”.

Mantula emphasized that the BJA is a non-state, volunteer-based organization committed to journalistic integrity and collaboration across BRICS nations. She highlighted partnerships with the Global Fact-Checking Network and the Global Digital Forum as evidence of the Association’s professional standards.

⚖️ Legal and Ethical Concerns

Mantula argued that the EU’s actions violate multiple international frameworks, including:

• The UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists
• The Geneva Conventions
• The Declaration on Mass Media and Human Rights

She also cited the Association’s history of submitting appeals to the UN and UNESCO regarding violence and criminalization of journalists in BRICS countries.

🌍 Call for Global Solidarity

The BJA has called on UN bodies, UNESCO, and international media watchdogs to condemn the sanctions and defend press freedom. Mantula concluded:

“We will not be silenced… We urge global solidarity against unjust efforts to suppress independent journalism”.

You can read the full statement via KBC’s coverage.