IFEX Digest | 2 - 7 August 2011

Africa

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Burundi

Radio journalists repeatedly summoned, fuelling hostile climate for media freedom (RSF)
+ Government harassing independent broadcasters (CPJ)

Côte d'Ivoire

President Ouattara dismisses RTI director (MFWA)

Democratic Republic of Congo

North Kivu provincial minister suspends radio host (JED)

Ghana

Newspaper journalist attacked (MFWA)

MFWA condemns abusive language in the Ghanaian media (MFWA)

Niger

Editor detained overnight, charged over false publication (MFWA)

Somalia

Radio presenter gunned down in Mogadishu (RSF)
+ Journalist shot dead at point-blank range in Mogadishu (NUSOJ)
+ "Radio Simba" staff member shot outside studio (CPJ)
+ IFJ calls for African Union probe into killing of journalist (IFJ)

Puntland frees jailed Somali journalist (CPJ)
+ Website reporter pardoned and freed in Puntland (RSF)

Sudan

ANHRI condemns ongoing trial of Radio Dabanga activists and media professionals (ANHRI)

Americas

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IAPA announces winners of the 2011 awards for Excellence in Journalism (IAPA)

Argentina

FOPEA condemns attack on journalist in Mar del Plata (FOPEA)

Dominican Republic

IAPA condemns journalist's murder (IAPA)
+ Investigative journalist's murder probably linked to his work (RSF)
+ Critical journalist murdered (CPJ)

Peru

Congressional Committee violated privacy of journalists who denounced corruption scandal (IPYS)

Peru must take steps to decriminalise defamation, says CPJ (CPJ)

United States

Lack of police transparency in Chauncey Bailey case hindered freedom of information, says RSF (RSF)

Venezuela

State-owned television station attacked (IPYS-Venezuela)
+ IAPA condemns attack on state television station (IAPA)

Asia & Pacific

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Bangladesh

Editor arrested, faces extortion accusation (Media Watch)
+ News editor arrested (CPJ)
+ Online newspaper editor detained on trumped-up charges (RSF)
+ Editor granted temporary bail (Media Watch)

Cambodia

Five men convicted of "provocation" for distributing anti-government leaflets (CCHR)

Information Ministry repeals newspapers' licences (CCHR)
+ CCHR Fundamental Freedoms Fact Sheet Series - closure of newspapers (CCHR)

Shot fired into home of community activist (CCHR)

China

IFJ demands reinstatement of journalist suspended over disaster reports (IFJ)
+ HKJA demands withdrawal of CCP Propaganda Bureau directive on rail disaster (HKJA)
+ New attempts to rein in train crash coverage (CPJ)
+ TV producer suspended for crash reportage (CPJ)
+ Media banned from covering Wenzhou high-speed train disaster properly (RSF)

Malaysia

Confiscation of journalist's notepad by police a serious "breach of media freedom" (CIJ)

Pakistan

Two Karachi-based TV journalists targeted (RSF)

Sri Lanka

Newspaper chairman threatened by President Rajapaksa (RSF)

IFJ outraged by brutal attack on senior journalist in Jaffna (IFJ)

Thailand

Human Rights Watch calls for investigation into environmentalist's murder (Human Rights Watch)

Vietnam

Blogger Paulus Le Son arrested again amid mounting tension (RSF)

Europe & Central Asia

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Azerbaijan

IRFS condemns recent escalation in persecution of journalists in Nakhchivan Autonomous Republic (IRFS)

Belarus

Leading rights defender detained (Human Rights Watch)

Chechnya (Russia)

Chechen human rights lawyer threatened (Human Rights Watch)

Kyrgyzstan

Online news agencies denied accreditation (Human Rights Watch)

Moldova

IPI condemns excessive fines imposed on daily (IPI)

Russia

Journalist attacked in Anapa (GDF)

Human Rights Watch urges authorities to quash prosecution against rights lawyer (Human Rights Watch)

Turkey

Politician sentenced to two years in jail in connection with speech (BIANET)

Lawyer sentenced for "spreading propaganda" (BIANET)

Ukraine

Claims worth millions threaten media, says IMI (IMI)

Journalist's apartment set on fire (IMI)

Middle East & North Africa

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Authorities from Rabat to Manama continue to repress the Arab Spring (RSF)

Egypt

ANHRI condemns raid on Tahrir Square sit-in, calls on Military Council to release all detainees (ANHRI)
+ EOHR calls for immediate release of Tahrir Square detainees (EOHR)

Iran

Authorities continue to target journalists (CPJ)

Government develops "National Internet" to combat international Internet's impact (RSF)

Iraq

Alarming statement, constant harassment offer no respite for journalists (RSF)

Lebanon

Human rights activist harassed for documenting torture (Human Rights Watch)

Saudi Arabia

Journalist faces criminal defamation charges for web article alleging extortion (Human Rights Watch)

Draft counterterrorism law places unwarranted restrictions on right to free expression, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)

Syria

Government urged to heed UN Security Council's call, end attacks on peaceful protests (Human Rights Watch)
+ Authorities repress peaceful protests (ANHRI)
+ Syria escalates repression after Security Council statement (Human Rights Watch)
+ Freedom House sends letter to President Obama calling for stronger response to Syria conflict (Freedom House)
+ Arab League urged to hold emergency meeting on Syria (Human Rights Watch)
+ International community must step up pressure on Al-Assad's regime (RSF)
+ ANHRI calls on Egyptian authorities to condemn the actions of the Syrian government (ANHRI)

United Arab Emirates

Concern for well-being of detained blogger (ANHRI)
+ Internet writers detained; fears for safety (WiPC)
+ Blogger and four other activists continue to boycott trial; verdict in five weeks (RSF)