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March 12, 2025 – India/Belgium –
Belgian photojournalist Simon Clement has been arrested in India, triggering alarm among international media rights organizations and raising pressing questions about press freedom in the country. Clement, who was reportedly on assignment to document socio-political issues in India’s northeast, was detained at Lengpui Airport in Mizoram state on March 10, 2025.
Indian authorities claim that Clement violated visa regulations, entering the country on a tourist visa while engaging in journalistic work. He was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and subsequently transferred to Guwahati, Assam, where legal proceedings began. According to local police, the charges stem from breaches of the Foreigners Act, which restricts foreigners from working in India without appropriate credentials, particularly in sensitive border regions.
Clement’s arrest was confirmed by Belgium’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, which is closely monitoring the situation. Meanwhile, the Belgian embassy in New Delhi is offering consular support and seeking clarity on the case. Clement is well-known in European photojournalism circles for his documentary work on marginalized communities and human rights issues. His detention has therefore sparked backlash among fellow journalists and rights advocates, who argue that the Indian government is increasingly using administrative regulations to stifle critical or independent reporting.
Media freedom watchdogs, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have condemned the arrest as an attempt to intimidate foreign journalists and suppress international scrutiny. RSF emphasized that using visa violations as a pretext to silence journalists is a growing global trend, especially in countries where press freedom is under siege.
Clement had reportedly been preparing a series of visual reports on displaced populations and ethnic tensions in northeastern India, a region long marred by insurgency, heavy military presence, and humanitarian challenges. His arrest adds to a growing list of cases in which journalists—both domestic and foreign—face harassment, surveillance, and legal threats in India.
As international pressure mounts, advocates are calling for Clement’s immediate release, arguing that his arrest is not merely a legal matter but a serious infringement on journalistic freedom and the public’s right to know.
Reference –
https://www.vrt.be/vrtnws/en/2025/03/10/ghent-photojournalist-simon-clement-arrested-in-india/
