1 July 2004

IFJ TO RELAUNCH PRESS-FREEDOM MONITORING CENTRE


The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is calling for an international action plan to monitor press-freedom violations in Algeria and support independent journalists amidst signs of a new wave of attacks against the press.

In a meeting held last week with several journalists associations in Brussels, including the International Press Association, the European Journalism Centre and the Algerian Journalists' Union, IFJ agreed to relaunch its media crisis centre in Algeria to monitor attacks on journalists and provide assistance. The centre was initially established in the mid-1990s in response to a political crisis in which scores of journalists and media personnel were being killed.

IFJ and meeting participants also agreed on the need to establish a lobbying presence at the European Union (EU) to exert pressure on the Algerian government, which they say has been violating agreements signed between Algeria and the EU. These include the recent jailing of two Algerian journalists known for criticising the government.

Mohammed Benchicou, publisher of the daily newspaper "Le Matin," has been sentenced to two years in jail on what press freedom groups say are trumped up charges of violating foreign exchange controls.

Hafnaoui Ghoul, a journalist and human rights activist, has been sentenced to two months in prison for "defamation and outrage" after speaking out on the country's human rights situation in "Le Soir d'Algérie" (see: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/59309/).

The World Association of Newspapers (WAN) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) have also expressed their concern over the jailings. WAN says they show a "worrying decline in tolerance to criticism" by the newly elected government led by President Bouteflika.

Visit these links:

- IFJ: http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=2561&Language=EN
- WAN: http://www.wan-press.org/
- CPJ: http://www.cpj.org/news/2004/Algeria16june04na.html
- IFEX: http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/81/
- Arab Press Freedom Watch: http://www.apfw.org/


Stay on top of free expression news.

Sign up to receive the weekly IFEX Communiqué.


Also from the Communiqué, 30 June 2004

"WAR ON TERRORISM" CURBS INTERNET FREE EXPRESSION: RSF REPORT 29 June 2004 MEXICO: IFEX MEMBERS CONDEMN JOURNALIST'S MURDER 1 July 2004 BANGLADESH: VETERAN JOURNALIST ASSASSINATED 1 July 2004 THAILAND: ''BERLUSCONI-STYLE" TACTICS THREATEN PRESS FREEDOM 1 July 2004 CUBA: JOURNALISTS RELEASED FROM PRISON 1 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: TAKE ACTION! CHINA: SIGN PETITION TO FREE JAILED INTERNET DISSIDENT 1 July 2004 RUSSIA: ARTICLE 19 LAUNCHES GUIDE TO DEFAMATION LAW IN RUSSIA 1 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: ALFRED FRIENDLY PRESS FELLOWSHIPS 1 July 2004 INTERNATIONAL: THOMAS J. DODD PRIZE IN INTERNATIONAL JUSTICE AND HUMAN RIGHTS 1 July 2004

Algeria

New media law stifles free expression, says CPJ 26 January 2012 New media bill needs further improvement, says ANHRI 5 October 2011 "Freed" dissident kept in near-isolation 4 November 2010 Two Moroccan journalists released after being held for four days 28 September 2010 See all alerts: Algeria


North Africa

EGYPT: Journalists attacked, threatened in Suez protests 9 February 2012 EGYPT: Rights activists risk imprisonment 7 February 2012 EGYPT: ANHRI condemns attacks on protestors, raid on residential building 7 February 2012 TUNISIA: Court urged to drop prison sentence given to journalist 7 February 2012 TUNISIA: Rapper arrested, detained, for lyrics critical of outcome of revolution 6 February 2012


 
The International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX) is a global network of 95 organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression.
Permission is granted for material on this website to be reproduced or republished in whole or in part provided the source member and/or IFEX is cited with a link to the original item.