A French journalist forced to leave India after authorities declined to renew his journalism permit has described the action as “a slap in the face.”
Sébastien Farcis, a correspondent for European outlets including Radio France Internationale, is the third foreign journalist this year who says they had to leave the country over visa or work permit issues.
Media watchdogs and analysts have questioned whether the denied visa renewals are part of a broader effort by India’s government to silence critical foreign journalists.
Without a valid permit, Farcis told VOA, he was unable to work and so had no option but to leave India while filing a fresh application. The reporter said he has not received an explanation about why the permit was not renewed.
Farcis, who has worked in India for 13 years, said he was informed of the decision the day before India’s elections, and that the action prevented him from covering the vote.
Speaking to VOA via email, Farcis told VOA he was shocked.
“It felt like a slap in the face, as I have invested 13 years of my life in this country, and felt so close to it as I married an Indian woman,” he said. “There was no warning nor explanation about it, just a line over email saying the permit was DENIED, in capital. It was violent and felt like a censorship.”
Farcis said when he asked the External Affairs Ministry about his case, officials expressed surprise. The journalist has since applied for a new work permit so he can return.
He added that he believes his case is part of a broader move by the Indian government to silence critical foreign journalists, following similar measures taken against local media through legal and financial pressures.
The Ministries of Home Affairs and External Affairs did not immediately respond to VOA’s email requesting comment.
But in a video last week, an External Affairs ministry spokesperson said Farcis had made the decision to leave, and that an application for the work permit is under consideration.
Two other foreign journalists faced similar challenges this year: Avani Dias, from the Australian Broadcasting Corporation, and French journalist Vanessa Dougnac.
In the case of Dias, authorities issued a short extension at the last moment, she said. But she still had to leave for Australia. She told reporters at the time she believes the denial was related to her coverage on the killing of a Sikh separatist.
Similar to Farcis’ case, authorities later denied that Dias was forced to leave, saying it had been her choice.
And in February, Dougnac says she was forced to leave after the India Home Ministry denied her work permit.
Dougnac told VOA that the cases for her and Farcis represent an alarming trend of repression against journalists.
The journalist, who contributes to several French-language media outlets, said it marks a stark difference from her two decades in the country.
“The essence of the work as a foreign correspondent was to report freely on India. For two decades, I felt valued and respected in India — a country that acknowledged the crucial role journalists play in upholding democratic values and freedom of speech,” she said via email. “Regrettably and unexpectedly, this perception changed.”
Dougnac said the permit denial left her feeling very vulnerable as a foreign journalist.
“My experience occurred in the context of increasing repression faced by Indian journalists,” she said. “Slowly, foreign correspondents began to sense they were next as the restrictions on their work kept increasing.”
Dougnac said it is hard to continue her career from outside India. But “solidarity is crucial for journalists facing difficulties. I believe overcoming this situation would have been very difficult for me without this support.”
Freelance journalist Raksha Kumar says she also has seen a change for media. She told VOA that foreign journalists can face restrictions if they plan to report in sensitive areas such as Indian-controlled Kashmir. But when it comes to accessing official sources, the challenges affect both local and foreign media, she said.
Kumar, who covers human rights, said the restrictions and hurdles reflect similar situations in China and Hong Kong.
International media watchdogs say legal action and visa denials are part of a wider decline they are seeing for India’s press freedom.
Celia Mercier of Reporters Without Borders told VOA the refusal of work permits “is an expulsion in disguise, as they were deprived of the right to work.”
“The goal is to intimidate and make the media subservient,” Mercier said. “It reflects the strategy of the authorities to control their image and the image of the country by suppressing media coverage that is not flattering.”
Kunal Majumder, who is the India representative of Committee to Protect Journalists, told VOA his organization has seen a steady decline.
“There has been an increase in the number of journalists who have been imprisoned, as well as a growing number of illegal cases against journalists by various state authorities,” Majumder said.
“We've also seen a rise in retaliatory actions against foreign correspondents, including visa denials and short-term visas,” he said.
Now back in France, Farcis acknowledged the challenges of his situation, but said he considers himself fortunate compared with Indian journalists.
“I feel still privileged to have a homeland to fall back into, not like Indian journalists who have to face more severe consequences, as landing in jails for years,” he said.
