MANILA, Philippines — Human rights lawyer Amal Clooney will lead a legal team representing Rappler CEO Maria Ressa, who is facing a string of charges including tax evasion and cyberlibel. According to London-based law firm Doughty Street Chambers, Clooney and Caoilfhionn Gallagher—both specializing in human rights and international law—will lead the international legal team. “Maria Ressa is a courageous journalist who is being persecuted for reporting the news and standing up to human rights abuses,” Clooney said. RELATED: Philippines slips further on World Press Freedom indexRessa’s cases are among those being monitored by TrialWatch, an initiative started by Clooney and her husband George. Clooney has previously represented Reuters journalists Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo who were jailed for their reporting on the Rohingya crisis.

Source: Philippine Star July 09, 2019 02:48 UTC