“Three months ago, on 7 March, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) denied the renewal of my journalist permit, preventing me from practising my profession and depriving me of all my income.
New Delhi: The Union home ministry has refused to extend the work visa of a French journalist with an Overseas Citizen of India card, making him the third foreign journalist “forced” to leave India in the last five months.
Farcis in his statement also said he had reapplied for a new work permit.
Earlier this year, days before President Emmanuel Macron was due to visit, French journalist Vanessa Dougnac was issued a notice by the MHA asking her why her OCI card should not be cancelled.
Avani Dias, the former South Asia bureau chief for ABC News, also claimed she was forced to leave India in April, on the eve of the general elections.
“Three months ago, on 7 March, the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) denied the renewal of my journalist permit, preventing me from practising my profession and depriving me of all my income. No reason has been provided to justify this work ban, despite formal and repeated requests made to the MHA. I have tried to appeal also, but to no avail so far,” said Farcis in the X post.
Sébastien Farcis, a radio journalist who has been the South Asia correspondent for several European public radio organisations for 13 years, said in a social media post Thursday that he was forced to leave the country this week after India did not renew his work permit in March.
New Delhi: The Union home ministry has refused to extend the work visa of a French journalist with an Overseas Citizen of India card, making him the third foreign journalist “forced” to leave India in the last five months.
“This denial comes in a worrying context of increasing restrictions on the work of foreign journalists: after Vanessa Dougnac, I am the second French journalist in four months having to leave India under these conditions.”
ThePrint reached the home ministry spokesperson over phone, but no reasons were given for this. Sources in the security establishment told ThePrint that this had been in the works for some time and the denial of permit was related to the “work done by him”. No exact details were given. ThePrint also reached Farcis via messages. This report will be updated when a response is received.
Farcis in his statement also said he had reapplied for a new work permit. He is an OCI card holder, being married to an Indian.
Earlier this year, days before President Emmanuel Macron was due to visit, French journalist Vanessa Dougnac was issued a notice by the MHA asking her why her OCI card should not be cancelled.
Dougnac, a former South Asia correspondent for French publications such as La Croix, Le Point, Le Temps and Le Soir, and who had lived and worked in India for over 20 years, left the country in February.
Avani Dias, the former South Asia bureau chief for ABC News, also claimed she was forced to leave India in April, on the eve of the general elections.
Dias said she had to leave the country after receiving information that her visa would not be renewed. In a statement on X, Dias said the reason communicated to her was that her reporting had “crossed a line”.
A visa extension was later granted about 24 hours before Dias’ flight back to Australia. The Australian High Commission told The Hindu in April that it was satisfied with the Ministry of External Affairs’ (MEA) handling of her case.\
As reported by ThePrint earlier, foreign correspondents in India have faced numerous challenges while reporting. Some correspondents informed ThePrint that a lack of access to Jammu and Kashmir, the Northeast and visa pressures had hindered their work in the country. A few of them had even written an open letter protesting against the departures of Dougnac and Dias.
Open letter: foreign correspondents protest the case of ABC’s Avani Dias, who was effectively forced out of #India this week after being told her reporting “crossed a line”. #PressFreedom pic.twitter.com/dvx1lr5aIq — John Reed जॉन रीड 🏳️🌈 (@JohnReedwrites) April 23, 2024
They highlighted the “increased restrictions on visas” and “journalism permits” for OCI card holders that impeded their ability to work in India.
An open letter from the foreign correspondents of India, in solidarity with our colleague Vanessa Dougnac pic.twitter.com/pAdxyoAh4L — Hannah Ellis-Petersen (@HannahEP) January 26, 2024
(Edited by Tikli Basu)
Also read: After French reporter, now Australian journalist leaves India. ‘Was told story on Nijjar went too far’
