3 February 2010

Guardians of the Winter Olympics restrict free expression


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Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE) has launched a campaign to monitor free expression violations related to the Winter Olympics. CJFE's Olympic Watch is highlighting recent incidents where the protection of the Olympic brand has led to threats to free expression.

U.S. journalist Amy Goodman, host of Democracy Now!, was stopped at the British Columbia-Washington border on her way to Vancouver and interrogated about a speech she was scheduled to give, in order to determine if she was going to criticise the Olympics, reports CJFE.

Two "Toronto Sun" newspaper journalists were attacked while they were covering the torch relay in Ontario. One of the journalists, photographer Ian Roberts, 60, was treated for a head injury after he was pushed to the ground by security officers for the Torch.

And in Vancouver, the city used an anti-graffiti bylaw to have a piece of art removed from a local gallery. The work of art depicted five rings, four with unhappy faces.

During the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing there were widespread reports of arrests, convictions, censorship and surveillance of journalists.


More on the web


CJFE starts Olympic Watch

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Also from the Communiqué, 4 February 2010

IRAN: Systematic suppression of dissent continues 4 February 2010 SRI LANKA: Attacks on journalists on the rise after elections 4 February 2010 CHINA: Authorities ruthlessly censor independent reporting 3 February 2010 MEXICO: Editor slain 3 February 2010 INTERNATIONAL: Human Rights Watch surveys rights activists and journalists under threat 3 February 2010 AFRICA: IFJ report on press violations in Africa says role of journalists misunderstood 3 February 2010 INTERNATIONAL: Deutsche Welle has issued a call for submissions for the Best of the Blogs 3 February 2010

Canada

Supreme Court's hyperlink decision a victory for freedom of expression on the Internet 20 October 2011 CJFE calls for public inquiry into free expression violations at G20 summit 2 March 2011 CJFE disappointed by Supreme Court ruling on electronic access to courts 31 January 2011 CJFE concerned that Vancouver journalist may be forced to reveal her source 18 January 2011 See all alerts: Canada


North America

UNITED STATES: SOPA poses threat to free expression, says CJFE 18 January 2012 MEXICO: Murdered journalist may have been mistaken for someone else 12 January 2012 MEXICO: IAPA calls for prompt investigation into reporter's death in Nuevo León 10 January 2012 UNITED STATES: Freedom House endorses Global Online Freedom Act 13 December 2011


 
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