JournalismPakistan.com | Published August 20, 2012
Join our WhatsApp channel
An Australian radio host was Monday taken off air after taunting the mother of WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange with a Nazi slogan, screaming at her "Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!".
John-Michael Howson, co-host of 3AW's Sunday morning program, was suspended for four weeks after the incident in which he was unhappy after Christine Assange cancelled a pre-planned phone interview with him.
"I won't be doing an interview with you because you're acting like a pig," said Christine Assange, whose Australian son Julian is at the centre of a diplomatic storm between Britain and Ecuador.
Howson responded by screaming on air: "Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil! Sieg Heil!" as Assange hung up the phone.
"We've told him in no uncertain terms that it was completely unacceptable behavior and we don't condone it in any way," 3AW general manager Shane Healy said.
On Sunday, Howson said he linked Christine Assange to the biggest example of censorship that he could think of - the Nazi regime - because she had denied him the chance to speak to her about her son.
But the veteran broadcaster apologized Monday in a statement read on-air and posted on the website of the Fairfax Media-owned station.
"Yesterday on the Sunday morning program we discussed the matter of Julian Assange and his decision to seek sanctuary in the embassy of Ecuador in London," he said.
"During that discussion I made offensive comments by citing the Nazi salute. I unreservedly apologize for saying what I said.
"I did not intend to imply that our guests or anyone shares the views of the Nazi party or seeks to control free speech."
The WikiLeaks founder has been in the Ecuador embassy since June seeking asylum after exhausting all legal avenues in Britain to stop being extradited to Sweden, where he is wanted over alleged sex crimes.
He claims the accusations against him are politically motivated and that he would eventually be extradited to the United States.- AFP
March 29, 2025: A federal judge has blocked the Trump administration’s attempt to dismantle Voice of America (VOA), ruling that the move likely violated legal procedures. The decision protects over 1,200 journalists and media staff.
March 28, 2025: Turkey deports BBC journalist Mark Lowen over 'public order' threat and fines opposition TV channels covering Istanbul Mayor's arrest. Critics condemn crackdown on press freedom amid rising political tensions.
March 25, 2025: Turkish authorities must release detained journalists covering protests and end press crackdowns. CPJ condemns police violence and home raids targeting media workers.
March 16, 2025: The Trump administration has ordered furloughs at U.S.-funded broadcasters, including Voice of America (VOA) and Radio Free Asia, raising concerns about press freedom and government control over media funding.
March 08, 2025: Senior UK TV producers are taking shelf-stacking and pub jobs as the industry faces a prolonged crisis. Thousands are unemployed, with freelancers struggling to find work. Learn more about the factors behind this collapse.
February 28, 2025: CPJ urges Russian authorities to drop charges against journalist Ekaterina Barabash, who faces up to 10 years in jail for criticizing the Ukraine invasion. Learn how fake news laws are being used to silence dissenting voices in Russia.
February 21, 2025: Ghanaian authorities must investigate the attack on five journalists covering Ashanti Region elections. CPJ urges accountability to ensure press freedom and safety.
February 07, 2025: Mozambican journalist Albino Sibia was killed while filming police brutality, and reporter Pedro Junior was shot covering his funeral. Arlindo Chissale remains missing. These attacks highlight the dire state of press freedom in Mozambique amid post-election unrest.
April 11, 2025 Sindhi journalist AD Shar was brutally murdered in Khairpur, Sindh. His body was found dumped on Handiyari Link Road. PFUJ has declared a three-day mourning period and demanded justice.
April 10, 2025 The Azad Jammu and Kashmir government has filed a case against The Daily Jammu & Kashmir and its staff for alleged fake news, drawing condemnation from PFUJ and IFJ, who demand immediate withdrawal of the FIR and an end to media repression in Pakistan.
April 08, 2025 Journalist Arzoo Kazmi alleges that Pakistan's state agencies, including the FIA, have blocked her CNIC, passport, and bank account while threatening her. She calls it a direct attack on journalism.
April 07, 2025 The Islamabad High Court has directed IG Islamabad to produce journalist Ahmad Noorani’s missing brothers, as the Ministry of Defence denies custody. SIM activity was traced in Bahawalpur, and investigations into their suspected abduction continue.
April 07, 2025 Journalist and Raftar founder Farhan Mallick has been granted bail by a Karachi court in a case concerning anti-state content aired on his YouTube channel. He still faces separate charges related to an alleged illegal call center and data theft.