India: French Journalist Vanessa Dougnac Forced to Leave India
Dougnac, who has lived in India for 22 years and is married to an Indian citizen, moved to reporting on neighboring countries in 2022 when the government revoked her work visa
Location: India
Date: January 23, 2024Update: February 16, 2024
The Coalition for Women in Journalism and Women Press Freedom denounces the Indian Home Ministry threatening to deport French journalist Vanessa Dougnac two years after revoking her work visa. The government's move to label Dougnac's journalism as "malicious and critical" has forced the journalist to leave the country, she shared on February 16, 2024. The authority’s action sets a dangerous precedent, indicating a trend towards authoritarianism and a departure from democratic values, especially the freedom of the press. Dougnac’s work embodies the essence of journalism – to inform, to question, and to hold power accountable. By targeting her, the Indian authorities are sending a chilling message to the entire journalistic community, especially women journalists who often face additional layers of challenges in their profession. We urge the Indian government to withdraw the notice against Vanessa Dougnac immediately. Journalism is not a crime, and treating it as such undermines the very principles of democracy and freedom. India, as one of the world's largest democracies, must uphold these values and ensure that journalists can operate without fear of retribution.
“I am being forced to leave by the Government of India. Sixteen months ago, the Ministry of Home Affairs denied my right to work as a journalist, providing no reasons nor justifications, and no hearing. Since then, the Ministry has not once responded to my repeated requests for explanations or review of this arbitrary action,” says French journalist Vanessa Dougnac, who felt forced to leave India a month after receiving a warning from India’s Union Home Ministry regarding the likely revocation of her Overseas Citizenship of India (OCI) card.
In her statement released on February 16, the journalist says she felt compelled to leave the country after she couldn’t afford to await the conclusion of the proceedings being carried out by the OCI with the country’s Ministry Home Affairs (MHA).
“Today, I am unable to work and have been unfairly accused of prejudicing the interests of the state. It has become clear that I cannot keep living in India and earning my livelihood,” Dougnac writes. “The proceedings with respect to my OCI status have shattered me, especially now that I see them as part of a wider effort by the Government of India to curb dissent from the OCI community.”
“The proceedings with respect to my OCI status have shattered me, especially now that I see them as part of a wider effort by the Government of India to curb dissent from the OCI community”
The allegations against Dougnac are severe, with Indian authorities labeling her journalistic activities as "malicious and critical," potentially creating a "biased perception about India" and inciting disorder. Following the cancellation of her work visa in September 2022, Dougnac has shifted to reporting on other South Asian countries, addressing issues ranging from climate change impacts to economic challenges and geopolitical tensions.
Dougnac is known for reporting on subjects including climate change impact in Maldives and Nepal, economic challenges in Sri Lanka and implications of China’s debt problem. Before her work permit was canceled, the journalist reported on India’s ban on wheat export, the indigenous production of arms and ammunition, COVID-19, and discrimination and violence faced by religious minorities in the country..
The notice, sent to the journalist by the Foreigners Registration Office of the MHA on January 18, stated that Dougnac's reporting portrayed a "biased negative perception about India.” According to an Indian publication The Print, the notice also alleged that she was practicing journalism without the necessary permission mandated by the Citizenship Act 1955 and its related regulations. It added that the journalist’s reporting may "provoke disorder and disturb peace."
Women Press Freedom unequivocally condemns the actions taken by the Indian government against French journalist Vanessa Dougnac. The circumstances surrounding Dougnac's forced departure from India—a country she has called home for over two decades and where she is married to an Indian citizen—are deeply troubling and represent a significant threat to press freedom and the safety of journalists working within the country. The measures taken against Dougnac, who has not reported on India since her work visa was revoked in 2022, and instead focused on neighboring countries, indicate a broader attempt to suppress dissenting voices and control the narrative by targeting journalists under the guise of protecting national interests. We demand the Indian government to immediately withdraw the notice against Vanessa Dougnac and allow her to return.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help women career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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