All journalists arrested in Nepal earlier on Friday have been released, Information and Communication Minister Dr. Bikram Timilsina announced on Friday evening, following widespread criticism of the detentions, including arrests made at newsrooms. Timilsina said the government was fully committed to press freedom and described both press freedom and responsible journalism as pillars of democracy. One report said the releases followed instructions from the Prime Minister.
Minister announces releases and commitment to press freedom
Timilsina announced the journalists’ release in a post on Facebook. His statement came after journalists had been taken into custody earlier in the day, prompting criticism over the arrests. The minister said that all those arrested had been released and reiterated the government’s commitment to press freedom.
The announcement addressed two central concerns raised by the arrests: the journalists’ immediate detention and the government’s responsibility to protect press freedom. Timilsina’s remarks framed press freedom and responsible journalism as complementary principles, saying both are essential pillars of democracy. He did not, in the announcement described in reports, provide further details about the circumstances of the arrests or the release process.
Reports by Ratopati, Nepal Press and Khabarhub reported the minister’s announcement. Nepal Press also reported that the releases followed instructions from the Prime Minister.
Arrests drew widespread criticism
The journalists had been arrested earlier on Friday, with some reportedly taken into custody from newsrooms. The detentions drew widespread criticism before the minister announced that everyone arrested had been released. The available reports did not provide further details about the number of journalists detained, the newsrooms involved or the grounds for the arrests.
The timing of the announcement marked a swift change in the journalists’ status: they were detained during the day and, according to the minister’s evening statement, released later on Friday. The reported involvement of instructions from the Prime Minister adds a further element to the sequence, although the available account does not describe when those instructions were issued or how they were carried out.
Press freedom and responsible journalism
In his statement, Timilsina emphasized the government’s stated commitment to press freedom. He also linked that freedom with responsible journalism, describing both as pillars of democracy. The remarks placed the release announcement alongside a broader public affirmation of the role of the press, at a time when the arrests had attracted criticism.
The minister’s announcement confirmed the release of all journalists arrested earlier that day. However, the reports cited here do not provide additional information about any conditions attached to the releases, potential investigations, or what prompted the arrests. They also do not report further government details beyond Timilsina’s statement and the account that the Prime Minister’s instructions preceded the releases.
