2 November 2011
IFEX Digest | 21 - 27 February 2011
International
"Muscling in on the media": an RSF look at organised crime (RSF)
Africa
Côte d'Ivoire
African Union urged to press Gbagbo to halt abuses (Human Rights Watch)Six pro-Ouattara dailies probed over electoral crisis coverage (MFWA)
+ Police harass pro-Ouattara editors (CPJ)
Detained TV journalists moved to Abidjan civil prison (MFWA)
Pan African TV crew attacked (MFWA)
Ghana
Politician threatens to kill newspaper editor over drug trafficking allegations (MFWA)Rwanda
ARTICLE 19 welcomes revised Access to Information Bill (ARTICLE 19)Swaziland
Victory as Health Ministry opens up to media (MISA)The Gambia
Taranga FM resumes broadcasting after 32 days off air (MFWA)Uganda
Local council chairman and entourage turn on journalist (HRNJ-Uganda)Television journalist beaten by mob while covering alleged election irregularities (HRNJ-Uganda)
Journalists assaulted, injured while covering local election (HRNJ-Uganda)
+ Six journalists attacked in election violence (CPJ)
+ WAN-IFRA concerned over attacks on journalists covering elections (WAN-IFRA)
Journalist shot by soldiers, faces possible arrest (HRNJ-Uganda)
+ CPJ calls on Uganda to protect journalist shot by soldiers (CPJ)
West Africa
MFWA wants free expression high on agenda of UN Universal Periodic Review (MFWA)Zambia
Opposition leader disrupts editorial meeting, threatens editors (MISA)Zimbabwe
Editor detained, questioned over satirical article (MISA)Forty-six activists arrested for viewing video on events in Egypt and Tunisia (Human Rights Watch)
Journalists apply for referral to Supreme Cour (MISA)
Mugabe turns 87 : "Happy birthday, Mr. Dictator" (RSF)
Americas
Cuba
Human Rights Watch urges government to stop arbitrary arrests of dissidents (Human Rights Watch)Two journalists still held after "Black Spring" journalist Iván Hernández's release (RSF)
+ Second writer released and allowed to stay in Cuba; three still in jail (WiPC)
Mexico
Attacks on rights defenders underscore need for federal protection system, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)Nicaragua
Journalist receives death threat (IAPA)+ Newspaper threatened and harassed after stories about corruption (RSF)
+ Investigative journalist receives death threats (CPJ)
Venezuela
American journalist harassed by intelligence service (IPYS-Venezuela)Asia and Pacific
Intermediaries are targets in new attempts to suppress free expression online in Southeast Asia, say Internet experts (SEAPA)
Afghanistan
Journalists detained at scene of alleged civilian deaths (IFJ)Burma
WAN-IFRA concerned over sentencing to jail for 13 years of videojournalist (WAN-IFRA)Cambodia
Authorities order popular blog blocked (CPJ)China
Journalists blocked while reporting on "jasmine revolution" protests (IFJ)Human Rights Watch calls for release of unlawfully detained legal activists, relatives (Human Rights Watch)
+ PEN sounds alarm over treatment of jailed Nobel Laureate's wife (PEN American Center)
Fiji
Regime intimidation of journalists continues (PFF)+ Journalist detained for investigative business reporting (IFJ)
India
Ministers move to decriminalise defamation (ARTICLE 19)Malaysia
Human Rights Watch urges authorities to end harassment of peaceful demonstrators (Human Rights Watch)+ Drop charges against Indian activists (Human Rights Watch)
CIJ report on freedom of expression in 2010 (CIJ)
Nepal
Journalists arrested in Tarai region (Freedom Forum)+ IFJ condemns arrest of two journalists (IFJ)
New Zealand
Media staff confirmed among earthquake deaths (IFJ)Quake crushes TV station, newspaper (CPJ)
Pakistan
Another journalist's murder underlines safety crisis in Balochistan (IFJ)+ Journalist gunned down in violent Baluchistan (CPJ)
+ WAN-IFRA concerned over journalist's murder in Balochistan province (WAN-IFRA)
Philippines
Death threats made against several journalists (IFJ)+ Tarlac-based journalists receive death threats over corruption stories (CMFR)
+ Journalists and environmental activists in danger (RSF)
+ Death threats made against journalists (CJFE)
CMFR statement on 15-month commemoration of Ampatuan Massacre (CMFR)
+ Key suspect in massacre attempts to escape charges (IFJ)
Vietnam
New media decree will force journalists to publish sources or face fines (Human Rights Watch)Europe and Central Asia
European Commission must press Russia on impunity, says CPJ (CPJ)
Belarus
IPI calls on authorities to release detained journalist (IPI)Hungary
Authorities urged to protect demonstrators from violence, guarantee rights to expression during gay pride march (Human Rights Watch)IFJ calls for "radical surgery" not cosmetic changes in media law (IFJ)
Kazakhstan
Unfulfilled pledges for free speech protection (ARTICLE 19)Russia
European Commission must press Russia on impunity, says CPJ (CPJ)Polish reporters detained twice in three days (GDF)
Foreign journalist denied entry to Russia: a "technical" matter? (GDF)
Turkey
Oda TV journalists arrested on dubious evidence, says lawyer (BIANET)+ Three Oda TV journalists arrested (BIANET)
+ Journalist appeals against arrest, another applies to ECHR (BIANET)
Newly passed bill a threat to press freedom, says BIANET (BIANET)
2008 IPA Freedom to Publish Prize winner honoured (IPA)
Ukraine
IFJ calls for change of investigators in unsolved murder case (IFJ)United Kingdom
Libel tourism case dismissed, a victory for freedom of expression (ARTICLE 19)+ Save London from libel tourists (ARTICLE 19)
Middle East and North Africa
Silence is not an option: petition for immediate action by UNHRC (CIHRS) Libya calls foreign journalists "outlaws"; attacks continue in Iraq, Syria, Egypt (CPJ)
+ Armed raid on RSF partner organisation in Iraq (RSF)
+ "Al-hakika El-dawleya" website attacked by hackers (SKeyes)
+ Iraq security forces raid press freedom group (Human Rights Watch)
Bahrain
Government urged to ensure rights of freed political prisoners (Human Rights Watch)+ Hold perpetrators of crackdown accountable (Human Rights Watch)
+ Cosmetic reforms not a substitute for real political reform, says ANHRI (ANHRI)
Army, police fire on protesters (Human Rights Watch)
Egypt
ANHRI calls on attorney general to investigate telecoms' responsibility in civilian deaths (ANHRI)+ Prosecution starts investigation following ANHRI complaint filed against telecommunications companies (ANHRI)
+ ANHRI alarmed at failure of public prosecutor to launch investigation into telecoms' responsibility (ANHRI)
As Egypt embarks on hoped-for transition to democracy, IPI calls for press freedom protections (IPI)
ANHRI concerned that Ahmed Abul Gheit is still in office (ANHRI)
Iraq
Journalists missing in Libya; one journalist killed in Iraq (CPJ)+ IFJ backs media reform as journalists are targeted in Middle East uprising (IFJ)
+ Libya: Justice awaits abusive security forces (Human Rights Watch)
+ Journalists Hammerl, Morgana Gillis in Libyan custody (CPJ)
Police allow gangs to attack peaceful protesters (Human Rights Watch)
Authorities prohibit live satellite TV coverage of demonstration (RSF)
Raid prevents Kurdistan's first independent TV station from covering unrest (RSF)
Journalist shot dead (IPI)
Human Rights Watch releases report on human rights situation, including conditions for journalists (Human Rights Watch)
Israel
MADA report on violations of media freedoms in 2010 (MADA)Kuwait
Dozens injured, arrested in Bidun crackdown (Human Rights Watch)Lebanon
Three journalists attacked while covering political clash (SKeyes)Libya
Journalists missing in Libya; one journalist killed in Iraq (CPJ)+ IFJ backs media reform as journalists are targeted in Middle East uprising (IFJ)
+ Libya: Justice awaits abusive security forces (Human Rights Watch)
+ Journalists Hammerl, Morgana Gillis in Libyan custody (CPJ)
Information blackout won't hide massacre, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)
+ Commanders should face justice for killings (Human Rights Watch)
+ Security forces kill 84 over three days (Human Rights Watch)
+ States should support special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Libya, hold international investigation (ARTICLE 19)
+ Security forces fire on protesters in western city (Human Rights Watch)
+ Warrants send strong message to abusive leaders (Human Rights Watch)
Middle East
Libyan journalist missing as crackdown continues in Libya, Yemen, and Iraq (CPJ)+ Media continue to be targets as governments crack down on protests (RSF)
+ Restriction and intimidation of journalists in Libya (CJFE)
Journalists targeted in Bahrain, Yemen and Libya (CPJ)
+ Yemen: End deadly attacks on protesters (Human Rights Watch)
+ Yemen: Tenuous calm in Sanaa (Human Rights Watch)
+ Pro-democracy demonstrations lead to attacks on journalists, arrests (RSF)
Morocco
Thousands march for reform, demonstrations end peacefully (Human Rights Watch)North Africa
Libyan journalist missing as crackdown continues in Libya, Yemen, and Iraq (CPJ)+ Media continue to be targets as governments crack down on protests (RSF)
+ Restriction and intimidation of journalists in Libya (CJFE)
Palestine
MADA report on violations of media freedoms in 2010 (MADA)Saudi Arabia
Detained critics released, other activists still being held (Human Rights Watch)+ Free political activists (Human Rights Watch)
Syria
Several bloggers arrested or missing (RSF)Yemen
Attack on rights group's guard raises broader concerns for the security of human rights defenders (Human Rights Watch)Protesters should be allowed to air grievances without risk of death, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)
+ Two protesters die in Sanaa, Aden (Human Rights Watch)
International partnership denounces systematic attacks on press freedom (WAN-IFRA)
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