Belgian freelance photojournalist Simon Clément, who spent seventeen days in an Indian prison, criticised press freedom in Indian in a post on Monday on social media.
Clément wrote on Facebook that, by imprisoning him, India signals that journalists are not welcome. He is scheduled to appear in court again on Wednesday.
Clément travelled to the Indian state of Mizoram on 16 February. From there, he went to Myanmar to report on the resistance against the military regime, spending two weeks in rebel territory. On his return, Indian authorities detained him on 5 March at Lengpui Airport in the Mizoram capital, Aizawl, and arrested him for carrying bullet casings in his luggage.
During the investigation, it was found that Clément did not have a valid visa. In his Facebook post, he condemned the “virtual impossibility of obtaining a journalist visa” in India and said he was there on a tourist visa. He also criticised the “immense pressure” on Indian journalists, noting that three journalists were killed last year.
Clément was released on bail on 21 March but cannot leave India until his trial concludes. He said the investigation ended on Friday, and on Sunday, police returned his belongings.
According to the judge and his lawyer, the trial against him will begin soon, although he is still awaiting formal charges. He hopes to leave the country after the expedited procedure.
On the advice of his lawyer, Clément refrained from discussing his time in prison, and the investigation, in detail.
“Further outbursts are best saved until after the verdict,” he remarked.
