5 December 2011
IFEX Digest | 28 November - 4 December 2011
International
ANHRI, along with Tunisian lawyer and Syrian activist, receives human dignity award (ANHRI)
Africa
Nigerien president endorses Table Mountain declaration, calls for repeal of criminal defamation (WAN-IFRA)
Burundi
Intelligence agents arrest radio reporter for allegedly aiding rebels (RSF)+ Journalist detained by security agents (CPJ)
Côte d'Ivoire
"Notre Voie" journalists charged for insulting President Ouattara (RSF)Opposition journalists detained for insulting President Ouattara (MFWA)
+ Three opposition journalists detained (CPJ)
+ Three journalists from daily "Notre Voie" taken into custody (RSF)
Ghana
Journalists attacked by angry mob (MFWA)Liberia
Freedom of information conference brings together participants from Bomi and Cape Mount counties (CEMESP)Opposition "blacklist" targets media houses (CEMESP)
Niger
Nigerien president endorses Table Mountain declaration, calls for repeal of criminal defamation (WAN-IFRA)Rwanda
President must reject draft penal code, says ARTICLE 19 (ARTICLE 19)Somalia
Journalist union leaders harassed, interrogated (NUSOJ)+ IFJ condemns campaign of intimidation against journalists' union leaders (IFJ)
The Gambia
On election day, president displays contempt for press freedom (IPI)+ President vilifies journalists in public remarks (CPJ)
Uganda
Editor of Rwandan newspaper killed in Kampala (HRNJ-Uganda)+ Rwandan exile journalist gunned down in Kampala (RSF)
Zambia
Journalists assaulted (MISA)Government pledges to implement freedom of information bill (MISA)
Zimbabwe
Retired colonel launches defamation suit against local newspaper (MISA)Americas
Chile
Community media under attack (RSF)Ecuador
Native leader sentenced to one year in prison, fined for offending government official (Fundamedios)Twitter user receives warning from government official (Fundamedios)
Honduras
IAPA condemns threats, intimidation launched against media (IAPA)Mexico
IAPA welcomes move to decriminalise defamation (IAPA)Weekly goes offline after cyber attack (CPJ)
Peru
Two journalists assaulted during sixth day of protests in Cajamarca (IPYS)Mob vandalises newspaper office in Huancayo (IPYS)
Journalist reports being the victim of an attempted poisoning (IPYS)
Journalists and media outlets targeted while covering protests against mining project (IPYS)
Venezuela
Construction Workers' Union issues threats, encourages censorship in state of Barinas (IPYS-Venezuela)Asia and Pacific
Afghanistan
Call for clear commitment from Bonn conference to support freedom of expression and information (RSF)Bangladesh
Editor released on bail (Media Watch)Cambodia
Four activists arrested during demonstration (CCHR)China
Three journalists assaulted (IFJ)Kashmir (India)
CJFE concerned about security forces' attacks on journalists (CJFE)Journalists assaulted by police in Kashmir (IFJ)
Malaysia
Authorities urged to allow lawyers' rally to proceed (Human Rights Watch)Nepal
Newspaper office vandalised (Freedom Forum)Pakistan
Cable operator association bans BBC broadcasts (PPF)+ BBC World News taken off the air by Pakistani cable operators (RSF)
Reporter injured in shootout; journalists threatened (PPF)
+ Six journalists threatened in Pakistan (IPI)
Philippines
Broadcaster wounded in ambush (CMFR)+ Radio journalist wounded in shooting amid growing dangers and impunity (RSF)
+ Radio anchor critically wounded in shooting in the Southern Philippines (IFJ)
+ Radio journalist survives attack (IPI)
IPI mission report points to continuing impunity in killing of journalists (IPI)
Thailand
Security forces blamed for fatal shooting of Japanese cameraman in 2010 (RSF)Authorities threaten new penalties for Facebook users (SEAPA)
Vietnam
Appeal court reduces blogger's jail sentence but upholds three years of house arrest (RSF)+ Internet writer's sentence reduced (WiPC)
Overturn democracy activist's sentence, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)
+ Call for transparency and respect for constitution at blogger Pham Minh Hoang's appeal hearing (RSF)
Europe and Central Asia
Azerbaijan
Supreme Court upholds jail sentence against activist Jabbar Savalanli (IRFS)Groups call for justice for Rafiq Tagi (ARTICLE 19)
Kyrgyzstan
CPJ Q&A: Osh TV owner Khudaiberdiyev on trial, press freedom (CPJ)Russia
Authorities tighten control of all media in run-up to elections (RSF)Human Rights Watch calls on St. Petersburg legislature to halt consideration of "draconian homophobic bill" (Human Rights Watch)
ARTICLE 19 outlines six reasons why defamation reform fails to protect free expression (ARTICLE 19)
CJES report highlights ongoing impunity in attacks against journalists (CJES)
Turkey
Ban on underwear and condom brand websites lifted after protests (BIANET)+ New Internet filtering system condemned as backdoor censorship (RSF)
Ukraine
Newspaper photographer murdered in Kiev (IMI)+ Journalist killed in Ukraine (IPI)
Uzbekistan
Journalist released after five years' detention in psychiatric hospital (WiPC)+ PEN welcomes release of Uzbek writer Dzamshid Karimov (WiPC)
Middle East and North Africa
Bahrain
International delegation calls for end to free expression violations and human rights defenders to be freed (ANHRI)Egypt
Protester released after spending eight months in jail (ANHRI)Twelve rights organisations condemn methods used to repress protests (CIHRS)
+ Curbs on free press, assembly before poll (Human Rights Watch)
Iran
Human Rights Watch calls on authorities to protect health, safety of jailed cleric (Human Rights Watch)Israel
Authorities urged to lift travel ban on human rights defender (Human Rights Watch)Palestine
Authorities urged to lift travel ban on human rights defender (Human Rights Watch)Syria
Civil society organisations call on UNHRC to convene special session on Syria (CIHRS)United Arab Emirates
Expunge activists' convictions, says coalition of rights groups (ANHRI)+ Ahmed Mansoor and four other pro-democracy activists pardoned and freed (RSF)
+ Prison sentence for activists an attack on free expression (Human Rights Watch)
+ Internet writers released (WiPC)
Awards
ANHRI, along with Tunisian lawyer and Syrian activist, receives human dignity award (ANHRI)
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