Three Danish journalists, who published classified intelligence reports on Iraq’s former weapons programme, have been acquitted of charges of endangering national security.
The Copenhagen City Court ruled on Monday that Niels Lunde, the chief editor of the Berlingske Tidende newspaper, and Michael Bjerre and Jesper Larsen, both reporters, acted in the public interest when they published a series of articles in 2004 citing leaked Danish intelligence reports.
The articles said there was no evidence that Iraq had weapons of mass destruction at the time of the US-led invasion in 2003, one of the key reasons cited by the US and Britain for going to war.
In Monday’s ruling, Judge Peter Lind Larsen said the “considerable public interest” in the information outweighed the government’s concerns that its intelligence-gathering operations were jeopardised.
“Bravo” for the judge and Free Press in Denmark. I noted this trial, a short while ago and I applaud the outcome — as did the crowd in the courtroom.
Sometimes the truth will set you free.
And sometimes The Copenhagen City Court will set you free 🙂
Talk about a case of judicial activism. Proves there’s no rule of law in Denmark. Also proves that you can’t trust a reporter with sensitive information.
Let’s check on the enemy condition under the similar circumstances. Say, Iran… Any journalists interested in finding their intelegence reports? Any guesses on Iranian court decision if some journalists dared, found it and published it (if courts even got involved before the heads rolled…)? Any conclusions on who is safer and more likely to win from this comparison?
#3 – What, exactly, do you know about the law in Denmark?
#5 – You got me. I’m working off an assumption: I’m assuming it’s illegal to leak Intelligence reports. I certainly could be wrong about that.
This trial was a farce…..the Judge was Larsen and one of the defendents was Jasper Larsen. 🙂
4&3 might be Right — let’s scrap Freedom of the Press, everywhere. Why should we question the government, after all? They always know what’s best.
#6 The guy who leaked the information was punished for duing so, but you can’t punish the journalists for publishing it.
I think it’s a cool thing that you’re allowed to publish secret documents that proves that the government is lying. If they don’t want those documents to get out, then they could just stop lying, simple.