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The Guardian - AU
The Guardian - AU
Business
Kieran Pender and Peter Greste

The jailing of David McBride is a dark day for democracy and press freedom in Australia

Former army lawyer David McBride
Former army lawyer David McBride has been jailed for stealing and leaking documents about war crimes committed by soldiers in Afghanistan. Photograph: Mick Tsikas/EPA

What does it say about our democracy that the first person imprisoned in relation to war crimes committed by Australian forces in Afghanistan is not a war criminal, but a whistleblower?

What message does it send to prospective whistleblowers, people who might speak up because they see wrongdoing and corruption, when the source for vital public interest reporting by our national broadcaster, the ABC’s Afghan Files, is sent to jail for almost six years?

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