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April 28, 2025 – China –
On April 17, 2025, two journalists from the independent media outlet All About Macau (AAM), including editor-in-chief Ian Sio Tou, were detained for 11 hours by Macao police after attempting to cover a Legislative Assembly (AL) session. The journalists were denied access to the chamber and directed to the public gallery, despite available seats. Their refusal to comply led to allegations of “disrupting operations” and potential prosecution under Article 304 of Macao’s Penal Code.
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the detentions, labeling them a “disturbing escalation” in the suppression of independent journalism in Macao. Similarly, the Society of European Journalists & Communication Professionals in Asia (JOCPA) described the incident as a “serious attack on press freedom” and urged Macao and Beijing authorities to uphold the Basic Law’s protections for media rights.
The Legislative Assembly later expressed “regret and condemnation” over the journalists’ actions, accusing them of disrupting parliamentary proceedings. This incident highlights growing concerns about press freedom in Macao, with critics pointing to increased restrictions on independent media and access to government proceedings.
Reference –
European press group says detention of 2 journalists in Macau a ‘serious attack on press freedom’
2 Macao journalists detained, risk prosecution after seeking to cover parliament
