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Articles - Libya

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Libya

IFEX members demand repeal of law banning insults of state, Gaddafi glorification

Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) are urging Libya's interim government to repeal a broad new law that bans criticising last year's revolution and spreading false news or "propaganda" that endangers the state.

Libya

Journalists under attack as fighting continues

Four Italian journalists who were kidnapped in Libya were released last week, but the fate of both foreign and local journalists - including six Libyan reporters missing since the uprising started in February - remains up in the air as fighting rages on in Tripoli, reports the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ).

Libya

NATO launches airstrikes at media outlet

Three journalists were killed and 21 others injured in Tripoli after North Atlantic Treaty Organization (NATO) warplanes bombed three transmission towers on 30 July in an effort to take Libyan state television off the air. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) have condemned the attack.

Libya

Government silent about fifth journalist killed; four journalists released

UK-based South African photojournalist Anton Hammerl, 41, was shot dead by Libyan troops on 5 April near Brega in eastern Libya. He had been working with three other foreign journalists when they were fired upon by pro-Gaddafi forces. The other journalists were captured and later released; and only after crossing the border into Tunisia did they speak of Hammerl's death, fearing reprisal from the Libyan government if they mentioned it earlier in calls home. IFEX members are demanding the government release Hammerl's body and investigate the role of armed forces in his death.

Libya

IFEX members honour photojournalists who lost their lives last week

War photographers Chris Hondros and Tim Hetherington were killed last week while covering the fight between pro-Gaddafi forces and rebels for control of the Libyan city of Misrata. Two other journalists, Guy Martin, a Briton working for the photo agency Panos, and Michael Christopher Brown, a photojournalist for Corbis, were both seriously injured by the same mortar fire. IFEX members paid tribute to the journalists, and are regularly updating news on the free expression situation in Libya.

Libya

Another journalist killed; more detained

The founder of a Libyan online news channel has become the second journalist killed in the country's conflict, while other journalists have been detained in Libya's effort to obstruct coverage of the uprising, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the International Press Institute (IPI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Libya

Al-Jazeera journalist killed; several journalists detained, beaten, missing

After inviting foreign journalists into Libya, pro-Muammar Qaddafi forces have made every effort to impose a news blackout by confining journalists to their hotels, and assaulting and detaining those who try to report on anti-regime protests and violence against civilians. And as Qaddafi loyalists battle insurgents, deadly attacks on journalists have increased, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and other IFEX members. An Al-Jazeera journalist was killed on 12 March in an ambush on the outskirts of Benghazi, and three BBC journalists were detained for 21 hours and tortured.

Libya

News of deadly protests emerges in face of information blackout

As violent protests against Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi spread to the capital, Tripoli, and Qaddafi and his son this week vowed to fight until the "last man standing", the number of those killed in the unrest now tops 300, reports Human Rights Watch. With the situation difficult to assess because of a government-imposed news blackout, IFEX members are at the very least calling for an independent investigation and a special UN Human Rights Council session to respond to the crisis.

Libya

Gaddafi secures release of journalists

A group of at least 20 Libyan journalists arrested as part of an apparent power struggle in the ruling elite between conservatives and the reformist son of Libyan leader Muammar Gaddafi has been released on Muammar's instructions, report the Arabic Network of Human Rights information (ANHRI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF).

Libya

Independent news sources suspended; journalists arrested

Libyan authorities are waging a war on journalists critical of the regime's abuses, report Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). In late January, authorities slammed press freedom by blocking several independent and opposition websites, and suspending the print-runs of two privately owned newspapers. Last week, four radio journalists that report on corruption were arrested.

Libya

Human Rights Watch holds historical rights review

Human Rights Watch held an unprecedented news conference in Libya on 12 December, releasing a hard-hitting report calling on Libyan authorities to abolish laws that criminalise speech and association, to free those unjustly imprisoned and to provide justice for victims of a 1996 prison massacre. The report acknowledges that freedom of expression has improved in the last five years, but more reform is needed.

Libya

Qaddafi celebrates 40 years of rule while media repression goes on

As Libyan leader Muammar Qaddafi holds six days of lavish parties, plays, concerts and exhibitions to celebrate the bloodless coup that brought him to power on 1 September 1969, it is unlikely his international guests will ask about Libya's abysmal press freedom record and all the journalists who have been disappeared, tortured or killed in the past 40 years, say the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI).

Libya

DOCE HOMBRES SE ENFRENTAN A POSIBLES SENTENCIAS DE MUERTE POR PLANEAR MANIFESTACIÓN

Libya

DOUZE HOMMES RISQUENT LA PEINE DE MORT POUR AVOIR PRÉPARÉ UNE MANIFESTATION

Libya

TWELVE MEN FACE POSSIBLE DEATH FOR PLANNING DEMONSTRATION

Human Rights Watch is calling for the Libyan government to drop charges against 12 men who face possible death sentences for planning a peaceful demonstration in Tripoli. Two other men have not been heard from since their arrest nearly six months ago in connection with the case.

Libya

RSF SENDS FACT-FINDING MISSION

In Libya, there are signs that the one-party government's tight controls on freedom of expression are beginning to relax, following the lifting of a U.N. embargo in 2001 and as the country opens up to tourism, according to Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF).

Libya

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH PIDE REFORMAS URGENTES

Libya

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH EXIGE DES RÉFORMES URGENTES

Libya

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH CALLS FOR URGENT REFORMS

The Libyan government has taken important steps to improve human rights in recent months, but freedom of expression and other rights continue to be severely restricted, said Human Rights Watch in a report released last week.

Libya

UN JOURNALISTE PORTÉ DISPARU EST TROUVÉ MORT

Libya

ENCUENTRAN MUERTO A PERIODISTA DESAPARECIDO

Libya

MISSING JOURNALIST FOUND DEAD

Daif al-Ghazal al-Shuhaibi, a former reporter for a state-owned newspaper in Libya, was found dead on 2 June 2005 in the coastal city of Benghazi, east of Tripoli, reported the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (Reporters sans frontières, RSF). He had been tortured.

Libya

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INVESTIGA CONDICIONES DE LIBRE EXPRESIÓN

Libya

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH ENQUÊTE SUR LES CONDITIONS D'EXERCICE DE LA LIBRE EXPRESSION

Libya

HUMAN RIGHTS WATCH INVESTIGATES FREE EXPRESSION CONDITIONS

While Libya has taken important steps to improve its human rights record over the past year, serious problems remain, including restrictions on freedom of expression, says Human Rights Watch. The IFEX member recently conducted a three-week mission to the country to investigate human rights conditions, its first-ever visit to Libya.