Truthful reporting In the Balkans is life-threatening

Albanian Union of Journalists chief Aleksander Cipa said that most of the threats journalists receive are coming from criminal groups that operate and have a monopoly over important sectors of the economy. "Journalists and editors in Albania exercise self-censorship due to the economic interests of business groups and media owners who have created partnerships."

It's not only corruption and organized crime that is inhibiting credible voices; criticizing a dogmatic ideology, especially when related to Islam, is very dangerous for reporters.

Journalists across the Balkans face similar pressure from the Turkish government, which targets anyone who dares to criticize Turkey's President Erdogan in particular. On July 20, 2016, the Turkish embassy in Pristina sent a note to Kosovo's foreign ministry, urging them to investigate and punish journalist Berat Buzhala after he posted public comments critical of Erdogan on social media.

The Turkish embassy's note stated that "(The ministry should) ensure that necessary steps will be taken about this person in accordance with the law." A screen shot of Buzhala's Facebook comments against Erdogan was attached.

The embassy's note-a copy of which was seen by Reuters-also quoted a 2016 Kosovo law prohibiting citizens from joining armed conflicts outside the country. It also stated that the law stipulates that people such as Buzhala making these comments "shall be sentenced to jail terms from six months to five years."

Xhelal Neziri, a prominent journalist from Macedonia, says that over the last five years, two journalists ended up in jail. "Journalists face threats not only from corrupted politicians, but also from the political figures that use religion for a cover to serve their interests. If you criticize their religious-based ideology, a whole machinery will lynch you", said Neziri.

Although the constitutions of most of the Balkan states guarantee freedom of the press, anyone who dares to criticize the abuse of religion are declared enemies of Islam and face the harshest rebuke and often an explicit call for 'annihilation.' The religious apparatus that supports the Turkish president is particularly active, along with those who are linked to centers of financial power in the Balkans, which spread the most fundamental doctrine of Islam.

While the Balkan countries claim to be democratic states, they seem to ignore the fact that freedom of the press is central to a functioning democracy. The Balkan states who aspire to join the EU should have no illusion that their aspirations can be realized unless they live up to the requirements of the European Union charter.

As such, the EU is in a position to exert significant influence on these countries. They must make it abundantly clear that continued intimidation, harassment, and persecution of journalists will foreclose any prospective EU membership.

The Balkan public needs to know that they can rely on the EU's backing in their battle for human rights and freedom of the press, and their leaders will have to realize that their continued violation of these rights carries a heavy price tag.