Press Council: Complaint against Sonntag partially approved
The Swiss Press Council has partially upheld a complaint filed by a private citizen against the *Sonntag*. An article published on June 27, 2010, had made allegations against a resident of Thurgau without giving the person in question an opportunity to be heard.
In doing so, the newspaper violated the Declaration of Duties and Rights of Journalists, which requires a hearing in cases of serious allegations, the Press Council wrote in its statement published Friday, according to SDA.
Under the title "This stuff must finally go", Sonntag had reported on a pilot case brought by two judges from Aargau against a man from the canton of Thurgau for violations of personality on the Internet. The Thurgauer published on his website "Children without rights", among other things, reports on child abuse and criticism of the decisions of the judiciary, cantonal and municipal authorities, the report continued.
The Thurgau-based judge would put people who had not decided in his favor on a "black list" - with a picture, complete business and private address, and usually also with the cell phone number. The two judges were also on this list, the article continued. The Thurgauer linked the names of those listed with critical articles from various, "partly also obscure sources". Because the man's homepage is also accessible via addresses such as "Chindlifresser", "Kinderhandel" or "Kinderklau", the consequences for those affected are fatal.
On August 27, 2010, the Thurgau resident complained to the Press Council about the newspaper article. The latter now concedes that the duty to hear the complaint was disregarded. Beyond that, however, the complaint is rejected. Neither the principle of truth nor the presumption of innocence had been violated.
With regard to the complainant's objection to the use of his name, the Press Council notes that the person in question explicitly addresses the public on his various websites. In addition, he regularly comments on children's rights issues in the media under his own name. Therefore, this point of complaint is also rejected.
