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Digest 28-29 October 2009

International

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ARTICLE 19 joins 26 other human rights groups to express concern over new religious defamation submission (ARTICLE 19)

CPJ unveils new database of journalists killed in action (CPJ)

Africa

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Côte d'Ivoire

Opposition daily fined in libel ruling, offices attacked (RSF)
+ Students vandalised premises of the media group "Le Réveil" (MFWA)

Guinea

Ruling party supporters turn on journalist (MFWA)

Lesotho

Journalist injured during clashes between students and police (MISA)

Rwanda

CPJ concerned about politicisation in Rwandan defamation case (CPJ)
+ Chief Justice wants journalist’s lawyers punished for walking out of court (Media Institute)
+ Prosecutor calls for more than two years against journalist (RSF)

Sierra Leone

Ruling party militants violently assault radio journalist (MFWA)

South Africa

New bill threatens media freedom, says MISA (MISA)

Zambia

MISA Zambia expresses concern over unsafe working environment for media (MISA)
+ Hooligans seize recorders for media houses (MISA)

Zimbabwe

"NewsDay" editor-designate fired (MISA)

Americas

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Argentina

Journalists in Tartagal, Salta, under threat (FOPEA)

Bermuda

ARTICLE 19 analyses right to information bill (ARTICLE 19)

Brazil

Journalist assaulted by former treasury secretary (ABRAJI)

Canada

CJFE honours Paul Pritchard with the first CJFE Citizen Journalism Award (CJFE)

CJFE honours Paul Pritchard with the first CJFE Citizen Journalism Award (CJFE)

Colombia

Unknown individuals try to break into journalist's home days before she is due to testify against DAS (FLIP)
+ Interior Ministry protection programme for journalists also used for "close-quarters spying" (RSF)

Mexico

Union members attack journalists, threaten one of them (CEPET)

Asia and Pacific

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Bangladesh

Call for swift action against torturers of journalist (IFJ)

Journalist tortured by elite Bangladesh security forces (IPI)

Bhutan

Mass resignations in Bhutan's daily newspaper raise concerns (IFJ)

Burma

Members of volunteer group arrested, including freelance journalist (Mizzima News)
+ Burmese authorities detain freelance journalist (CPJ)
+ At least three journalists and bloggers arrested in crackdown on volunteer group (RSF)

East Timor

Ten years after murder of "Financial Times" correspondent in East Timor, commemoration in London condemns impunity (IPI)

India

Editor arrested in Tamil Nadu state on charges of defamation (IPI)
+ IFJ condemns arrest of editor in Tamil Nadu state (IFJ)
+ Editor of Tamil weekly held for past 11 days on criminal defamation charge (RSF)

Indonesia

Ten years after murder of "Financial Times" correspondent in East Timor, commemoration in London condemns impunity (IPI)

Pakistan

Pakistan Electronic Media Regularity Authority stops broadcast of BBC news bulletins broadcast by FM stations (PPF)

Sri Lanka

Discharge of magazine publisher and partner welcomed (IFJ)
+ Publisher released; journalist remains imprisoned (WiPC)

RSF concerned over spate of threats to print media (RSF)
+ Death threats sent to paper of slain editor (CPJ)
+ Journalists still under threat, even as conflict ends (ARTICLE 19)

Europe and Central Asia

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Azerbaijan

Journalists sentenced on defamation charges (WiPC)

Czech Republic

IPI highlights obstacles to press freedom in the Czech Republic ahead of U.S. vice president's visit (IPI)

Russia

Drop criminal libel charges against activist, Human Rights Watch urges (Human Rights Watch)
+ ARTICLE 19 concerned about continued harassment of Oleg Orlov under criminal defamation laws (ARTICLE 19)

Yet another murder in the Caucasus (GDF)

Turkey

Newspaper distributor sentenced to 10 months in prison (BIANET)

Ukraine

Journalist assaulted, allegedly on MP's orders (IMI)

In separate incidents, unknown individuals fire gunshots at offices of "Viche-inform" weekly and Nova Zorya publishing house (IMI)

Uzbekistan

EU fails human rights victims, say Human Rights Watch and RSF (Human Rights Watch)

Middle East and North Africa

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Egypt

Internet activist detained after businessman files libel complaint (ANHRI)

Iran

Sentences handed down against defendants accused of inciting post-election unrest (Human Rights Watch)

Israel

Journalists assaulted by Israeli forces; stone-throwing Palestinian youth injures photographer (MADA)

Libya

Reporter prosecuted for reporting sexual harassment claims by abuse victims (Human Rights Watch)

Palestine

Journalists assaulted by Israeli forces; stone-throwing Palestinian youth injures photographer (MADA)

Tunisia

Al Jazeera Net blocked (ANHRI)

United Arab Emirates

Fired for implicating Emirates Airlines (RSF)

Awards

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CJFE honours Paul Pritchard with the first CJFE Citizen Journalism Award (CJFE)