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Communiqué Vol 18, No 24

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Iran

IFEX members call for end to government crackdown on media following election

Iranian authorities have censored independent media sources, both local and foreign, as anti-government protests have raged in the country following last Friday's presidential elections, report ARTICLE 19, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and other IFEX members.

Philippines

Journalist killed; second in a week

Yet another Filipino journalist was killed last week by unidentified assailants, reports the Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR).

China

Beijing tells computer makers to install web blocking software

China is planning to force computer manufacturers to install software on all new personal computers that would filter out "unhealthy" information, report the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Colombia

Outspoken journalist gunned down

A journalist who is also a local community leader was killed in southern Colombia last month, report the Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP) and the Inter American Press Association (IAPA).

The Gambia

Authorities arrest seven journalists for criticising President

Seven journalists and press union leaders were arrested this past week for criticising the Gambian President for his comments on the unsolved 2004 murder of a prominent editor, report the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Sudan

New press law will lead to "more suppression"

Sudan's approval of a new press law "is a severe strike" against press freedom in Sudan and is "paving the way for more suppression," says the Arabic Network of Human Rights Information (ANHRI). Other IFEX members, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), ARTICLE 19, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) have also expressed concern about the law.

Vietnam

Call for the release of Vietnamese lawyer/writer Le Cong Dinh

Le Cong Dinh, a prominent lawyer, writer, blogger, and human rights defender in Vietnam, has represented other writers and right advocates in Vietnamese courts over the past years, courageously taking on cases despite a repressive media environment in the country. Now he needs your help.

International

Freedom House takes an in-depth look at authoritarianism

Freedom House, in collaboration with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and Radio Free Asia, has released a major report investigating how dictatorships control information and why they get away with it.

Awards

Apply now for the Freedom to Create Prize

Philanthropic organisation ArtAction is seeking to "find light in darkness and courage in truth" with the 2009 Freedom to Create Prize, which honours artists around the world who promote human rights and free expression and are denied their "freedom to create." The deadline for entries is 14 August 2009.

Middle East and North Africa

Centre documenting human rights in Arab world opens

June 10 marked the opening of a centre in Paris to document human rights issues affecting the Arab region, reports the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS). In cooperation with the University of Nanterre, CIHRS will gather English, French and Arabic documents for the centre. The centre will hold reports, publications and audio-visual resources that chronicle both the status of human rights and the work of rights organisations operating in Arab countries.