Campaigns and Advocacy - Middle East
22 May 2012
Bahrain
ARTICLE 19 has called on the UN member states to urge the authorities to commit to preventing harassment of journalists and human rights defenders, stop controlling and censoring the media, increase internet freedom and end violations of the right to peaceful protest.
18 May 2012
Joint action - Bahrain

One hundred organisations appeal to authorities to release human rights activists in Bahrain from prison. They include Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, founder of IFEX member BCHR, his daughter Zaynab Al-Khawaja, and Nabeel Rajab, President of BCHR. Al-Khawaja’s life is at risk after more than three months on hunger strike.
8 May 2012
Iran

A joint campaign initiated by Iranian and international student and rights groups calls for the unconditional and immediate release of the 32 students in prison on various national security-related charges.
3 May 2012
Palestine / Israel
For Palestinian journalists, the day highlights the daily challenges they face, with increasing violations against media freedoms by the Israeli forces and Palestinian parties in the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
1 May 2012
Saudi Arabia
The Specialized Criminal Court, set up in 2008 to try terrorism cases, is increasingly used to try peaceful dissidents and rights activists on politicized charges and in proceedings that violate the right to a fair trial and the rights to freedom of expression.
23 April 2012
Syria
Nineteen rights organisations condemn the ongoing secret detention of Mazen Darwish and four of his colleagues from the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression, after seven of their colleagues and one visitor began trial under the military penal code.
17 April 2012
Joint action - Bahrain

In advance of the Formula 1, 50 IFEX members and partners call for detained activists and human rights defenders to be freed, including blogger and activist Abduljalil Al-Singace and human rights activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, founder of IFEX member the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights, who is ailing in prison since starting a hunger strike on 8 February.
16 April 2012
Bahrain
The decision to go ahead with the Grand Prix on April 22, 2012, gives the country's rulers the opportunity they are seeking to obscure the seriousness of the country’s human rights situation, says Human Rights Watch.
5 April 2012
Joint action - Iraq
An open letter by 44 organisations calls Iraq's proposed Information Technology Crimes law a threat to the fundamental freedoms necessary for the evolution of free speech and a vibrant press. The law will come to vote in the Iraqi Council of Representatives in April.
4 April 2012
Take action! - Bahrain

Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, renowned human rights advocate and past president of IFEX member BCHR has been on hunger strike in prison since 8 February to protest a life sentence for peacefully expressing his right to freedom of expression. He pledged to continue his protest until “freedom or death.” His life is now in serious danger and there may be irreparable damage to his health.
Join the call to save Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja.
29 March 2012
Joint action - Bahrain
Among the demands expressed by the rights organisations is the immediate release of human rights activist Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, whose health is severely compromised after 50 days of hunger strike.
20 March 2012
Israel
Uri Blau faces charges under the country’s Espionage Act and seven years in prison over articles he wrote for the newspaper Haaretz using classified military documents passed to him by an Israeli conscript in 2009.
15 March 2012
Syria
A coalition of 200 NGOs from 27 countries is demanding that the UN Security Council immediately unite and pass a resolution calling on the government to bring an immediate end to its indiscriminate shelling and attacks on peaceful protesters.
13 March 2012
International / Awards / Syria

Nominees came from around the globe at the ceremony, from Russia to Syria to Brazil, China and beyond, a geographic diversity that reflects the growing impact of the Net.
12 March 2012
Bahrain

Amid last year's events, many websites were reported blocked due to their reporting on casualties among protestors and uploading photos and videos of peaceful protests being brutally attacked by security forces.
8 March 2012
Palestine
To mark the occasion of International Women’s Day, MADA congratulates Palestinian women and women around the globe, especially journalists, on their accomplishments in all professional fields.
5 March 2012
Joint action - Bahrain

Fifty IFEX members and other rights groups call on the Bahrain authorities to release from prison human rights defender Abdulhadi Al-Khawaja, whose life is at risk since beginning a hunger strike on 8 February.
22 February 2012
Joint action - Syria
Mazen Darwish, as well as seven of his colleagues and a visitor, remain under arrest following a recent raid on the Damascus offices of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression.
14 February 2012
Bahrain
For months the government has made token gestures rather than implement reforms that address the root causes of the grievances of the protestors, says Freedom House.
8 February 2012
Take action! - Bahrain

On 14 February, post a virtual flower for peace in solidarity with the people of Bahrain as they mark the one-year anniversary of their uprising.
31 January 2012
Bahrain
BCHR demands that Bahrain's membership in the UNESCO IBE be frozen, and contingent on the authorities taking steps to put an end to the targeting of members of the education sector.
30 January 2012
Bahrain
Because the new arms sale is being broken up into multiple small pieces, it does not fall under Congressional notification requirements and details do not have to be made public.
24 January 2012
Joint action - Bahrain

A report from a six-member mission of international organisations to Bahrain last November called out Bahraini authorities for failing to deliver on promises of reform, with rights violations continuing on a daily basis and rights activists jailed for life.
20 January 2012
Yemen
Authorities promised to restore press freedom in the country and guarantee the safety of journalists, and assured journalists’ leaders and the IFJ that the government will review the restrictions on media, including the ban on Al Jazeera and the "Al Ayyan" newspaper.
11 January 2012
Yemen
The sweeping measure could result in impunity for serious international crimes such as deadly attacks on anti-government demonstrators in 2011, says Human Rights Watch.
9 January 2012
Syria
The video shows Siri, whose answers to queries are not always relevant, being completely stumped by questions about current events in Syria because of the government’s news blackout.
16 December 2011
Syria
in an open letter, CPJ urges the Syrian government to end the harassment and intimidation of journalists and to disclose the names, health status, and location of all the journalists in prison.
15 December 2011
Palestine
A MADA representative stressed the need for urgent international intervention to end violations against journalists and media institutions.
30 November 2011
Joint action - United Arab Emirates

The authorities should conduct an independent judicial review of the arrests and trial of five activists, says coalition of seven IFEX members and partners after sustained campaign leading to their release on 28 November.
30 November 2011
Bahrain

Six groups, including three IFEX members visited Bahrain this past week to investigate freedom of expression, and attended the launch of reports by human rights groups and an independent commission of inquiry.
28 November 2011
Syria
Five IFEX members and other organisations called on the Council to consider the findings of the Syrian Commission of Inquiry and ensure accountability for attacks on peaceful protesters.
25 November 2011
United Arab Emirates

Authorities ignored an intimidation campaign against jailed activists, says a new report on the eve of a verdict on 27 November. IFEX members and partners have been lobbying for the release of the five men.
23 November 2011
Palestine
The project's goal is to increase journalists' awareness of their rights and to push for the adoption of laws protecting access to information.
3 November 2011
Joint action - United Arab Emirates

Coalition of 7 international rights groups calls for independent judicial inquiry, while launching trial observation report.
27 October 2011
Iraq
The Draft Law cites, as its basis, multiple negative consequences of the "information revolution" without acknowledging the positive role technology performs in today's society, not least of all in enhancing the enjoyment of fundamental human rights. The Draft Law provides no guarantees for the right to freedom of expression or freedom of information.
26 October 2011
Syria
At least 186 protesters and residents have been killed since the Arab League's October 16 meeting, according to Syrian human rights activists.
25 October 2011
Yemen
IPI spoke with the publisher and chief editor of the Yemen Post, Hakim Almasmari, about the censorship, violence and intimidation that any independent Yemeni media outlet must contend with.
12 October 2011
Oman
The organisation urges the Sultan of Oman to instruct judicial authorities to respect the letter of the law in the case of two journalists sentenced to imprisonment on defamation charges.
3 October 2011
Joint action - Syria
Since mass protests began, the UN has estimated at least 2,600 civilians have been killed, the majority of them protesters and local residents shot with live ammunition by the security forces and army.
2 October 2011
Joint action - United Arab Emirates

Amnesty International, ANHRI, Front Line Defenders, and Human Rights Watch call on the authorities to drop the charges and free the accused activists.
23 September 2011
Iran
Lethal force has reportedly been used against protesters, while opposition leaders, lawyers, journalists and rights activists have been detained on politically-motivated charges.
21 September 2011
Joint action - United Arab Emirates

International rights groups seek to monitor trial of 5 activists during 26 September trial appearance.
19 September 2011
Bahrain
CIHRS screened the Al Jazeera documentary "Shouting in the dark" and hosted a panel discussion on Bahrain in parallel with the recent meeting of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC) in Geneva about the situation in Bahrain.
30 August 2011
Palestine / Israel
In a joint open letter, the forum stated that journalists must be kept safe so that the public in Israel and the Palestinian Territories have access to news from all sides, and to a wide array of political opinion.
22 August 2011
International / Syria
The Organization of Islamic Cooperation should immediately take action against Syria for violating the organisation's charter by systematically and brutally suppressing peaceful civilian protests, Human Rights Watch said.
9 August 2011
Palestine / Israel

Campaigns launched by MADA call for a halt to Israeli attacks on press freedom, as well as an end to the influence Palestinian internal political divisions have on the media.
17 July 2011
Joint action - United Arab Emirates

UAE authorities should drop charges against five activists arrested after they called for democratic reforms, four international human rights organizations said today.
11 July 2011
Germany / Saudi Arabia
Germany is considering a deal to sell tanks to Saudi Arabia despite the latter's dismal human rights record, including severe restrictions on freedom of expression.
30 June 2011
Palestine
The workshops, which have been offered with the support of Foundation for the Future, come as part of a series of sessions held by MADA to inform and assist journalists in the various cities across the West Bank and Gaza Strip.
29 June 2011
Take action! - United Arab Emirates

Five pro-democracy activists are on trial in the United Arab Emirates for signing a petition demanding free elections for all citizens. The verdict is expected on 27 November.
Join Human Rights Watch in calling on U.A.E. ambassadors to ensure the trial is halted and the activists are freed.
28 June 2011
Bahrain
IFEX is alarmed at the life sentences handed down last week to human rights and political activists and bloggers, including founder of IFEX member BCHR.
13 June 2011
Iran
Political prisoner and women's rights activist Haleh Sahabi was attacked during the funeral procession of her father, Ezatollah Sahabi, a prominent politician, who had died of natural causes two days earlier.
31 May 2011
Joint action - Bahrain
On 1 June, the King of Bahrain has promised to end the state of emergency he imposed in mid-March to quell pro-democracy demonstrations. This would be a welcome occasion for the Bahraini government to end human rights abuses including lifting the travel ban on Nabeel Rajab so that he can join us in Beirut.
19 May 2011
Syria
IPI reiterates calls for the immediate release of journalists in custody.
9 May 2011
Joint action - Bahrain
Forty-two IFEX members and 15 partners appealed for global attention to stop detention, torture and threats to journalists and free expression activists, including to IFEX member Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.
6 May 2011
Iraq
The anniversary of Osman's murder comes at a time of tension as journalists are constantly the targets of death threats, acts of intimidation, physical attacks and murder attempts.
4 May 2011
Bahrain

Bahraini journalists call for a helping hand and for the adoption of measures to ensure their safety.
3 May 2011
Palestine / Awards
During a ceremony marking Word Press Freedom Day, MADA's chairman highlighted the major violations committed against journalists in 2010.
27 April 2011
Syria
In a letter of appeal, Syrian and Arab NGOs expressed alarm about Syria's candidacy for membership in the HRC.
26 April 2011
Iran
A blacklist issued in January 2011 lists, among others, those publishers who are allegedly attempting to overthrow the "Islamic establishment".
14 April 2011
Joint action - Bahrain
Nineteen organisations expressed concern for the safety and well-being of human rights defenders Abdulhadi AlKhawaja and Nabeel Rajab.
11 April 2011
Bahrain

IFEX is concerned over the recent intensification of arrests and threats against free expression advocates in Bahrain, including the military investigation against Nabeel Rajab, president of IFEX member BCHR.
1 April 2011
Syria
Human Rights Watch urges the government to abolish the emergency law and introduce new laws to broaden political and civil society participation and guarantee freedom of expression.
1 April 2011
Joint action - Yemen
The implications for journalists covering demonstrations are unclear, and their ability to move around freely and safely cannot be guaranteed.
28 March 2011
Iran
The authorities have been persecuting the political opposition, human rights activists and journalists ceaselessly ever since President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's reelection in June 2009.
16 March 2011
Palestine
The first workshop, "Freedom of Expression in Local and International Legislation", was part of a series aimed at raising journalists' awareness of the laws relating to their work and guaranteeing them the right to free expression.
2 March 2011
Take action! - Iran

Join Nobel Peace Laureate Shirin Ebadi and Amnesty in calling on the Iranian authorities to institute an immediate moratorium on all executions and release the thousands who have been jailed for peacefully speaking out.
Sign the petition here.
28 February 2011
Palestine
The workshop was held as part of MADA's programme designed to enhance freedom of expression, in cooperation with the lawyers' syndicate, and funded by the UNESCO office in Ramallah.
22 February 2011
Yemen
The Partnership, a coalition of press freedom and human rights organisations including ARTICLE 19, IFJ, IMS and WAN-IFRA, visited Yemen in a week-long advocacy mission in November 2010.
17 February 2011
Palestine
Brought together by MADA, the participating organisations agreed to form a coalition after holding a number of preliminary meetings in Ramallah and Gaza in early 2011.
11 February 2011
Iran
As Iran marks the 32nd anniversary of the country's revolution, Ayatollah Sayed Ali Khamenei was urged to free all imprisoned journalists.
8 February 2011
Yemen
Although President Ali Abdullah Saleh announced the release of Abdul Ilah Haydar Shae, he continues to be detained unjustly, RSF said.
10 December 2010
Syria / France
Assad has often spoken of political openings since taking office in 2000, but reforms are at a standstill, RSF said.
10 December 2010
Palestine
According to MADA's monitoring, the number of media freedom violations in 2010 year will be more than 200.
8 December 2010
Iran
RSF has written to the foreign ministers of the six countries conducting negotiations with Iran about its nuclear programme.
16 November 2010
Joint action - Yemen
ARTICLE 19, IFJ and WAN-IFRA note it appears the government is seeking the legal framework to legitimise its continued clampdown on press freedom, and self-censorship is rife in the official, opposition and independent media.
16 November 2010
Joint action - Bahrain
The activists have not committed any offenses other than the peaceful expression of their views, the organisations said.
11 November 2010
Iran
Canadian media organisations are writing to Prime Minister Harper about concerns for the Canadian-Iranian blogger Hossein Derakhshan.
29 October 2010
Iran
Human Rights Watch and a number of other international and Iranian groups have issued the following statement seeking action by the United Nations General Assembly in light of the human rights crisis that continues to unfold in the country.
27 October 2010
Bahrain
ANHRI calls on the judiciary to drop the fabricated charges against the activists, who are calling for democracy and respect for human rights in Bahrain.
12 October 2010
Iraq
WAN-IFRA called on the Kurdistan Regional Government president to end what appears to be a campaign of harassment against the media.
1 October 2010
Joint action - Iran
IFEX members condemned the 19-and-a-half-year prison sentence given to the Canadian-Iranian blogger and called for his immediate release.
27 September 2010
Yemen
Held incommunicado for 29 days before his first hearing, Shaea's detention has since been extended for an additional 30 days "to complete the investigation," according to news reports.
24 September 2010
Joint action - Bahrain
In the face of this security and media campaign, IFEX member BCHR has been compelled to temporarily relocate their operations to Europe.
23 September 2010
Syria
In an open letter, ANHRI and other organisations demand that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad release the 19-year-old blogger.
17 September 2010
Palestine
The aim of the mission is to investigate the continuing consequences of the Israeli occupation on the work of journalists and media workers and its impact on their safety, IFJ said.
3 September 2010
Take action! - Bahrain

IFEX member Bahrain Center for Human Rights (BCHR) urgently called on concerned individuals to write to the Bahrain government to end the systematic torture and imprisonment of those expressing their views, including political, religious and human rights activists, as well as bloggers, who are currently detained while on trial. (UPDATE: Prisoners released on 22 February. Alsingace re-arrested on 16 March 2011.)
25 August 2010
Take action! - Iran

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is urging you to sign a petition to save the life of jailed Iranian blogger and human rights activist Shiva Nazar Ahari. She has been charged with assembly and collusion to commit a crime, propagating against the regime and, the heaviest charge of all, "mohareb", or rebellion against God. She is facing possible execution.
25 August 2010
Bahrain

BCHR believes the arrests are connected to the activists' engagement in peaceful and legitimate activities related to democratic reform and the promotion of human rights.
20 August 2010
Joint action - Bahrain
The king, joined by the prime minister and interior minister, issued a sternly worded threat against activists and human rights defenders who have been accused of protesting against the government.
18 August 2010
Jordan
The law includes a number of broadly written provisions that could hinder online expression and restrict the ability of journalists to report the news, CPJ said.
11 August 2010
Palestine
MADA director Mousa Rimawi talked about the important role of local media in calling for reconciliation, tolerance and dialogue.
4 August 2010
Syria
CPJ calls on the president to amend the country's repressive press law and ensure that no journalists are behind bars for doing their jobs.
16 July 2010
Iran
A year after President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad's disputed reelection, more than 100 political prisoners are still being held in Iranian jails in inhuman and degrading conditions, RSF said.
8 July 2010
Palestine
The workshop is part of a series that will be convened in the West Bank and Gaza Strip as part of a project on defending journalists' rights in Palestine.
28 June 2010
Iraq
CPJ writes to Iraqi Prime Minister Nuri al-Maliki, calling on him to clarify the whereabouts of editor Saad al-Aossi and the reasons for his continued detention.
25 June 2010
Palestine
Participants at a consultative meeting hosted by MADA discussed the media freedom situation in Palestine.
22 June 2010
Iran
On the occasion of the first anniversary of the disputed re-election of Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, thousands of protestors took to the streets.
21 June 2010
Kuwait
In an open letter to the Emir of Kuwait, CPJ expresses concern about the extrajudicial detention of prominent journalist Mohammed Abdulqader al-Jassem.
18 June 2010
Joint action - Syria
Attorney Muhannad al-Hassani was referred to a judge for questioning due to his human rights work, specifically his reports on exceptional trials before the High State Security Court.
10 June 2010
Iran
With 37 journalists in prison and another 19 free on short-term furloughs, Iran has the dishonourable distinction of being the world's worst jailer of journalists.
10 June 2010
Israel
Journalists who were aboard the humanitarian flotilla that was intercepted by Israeli naval commandos recounted their experiences.
9 June 2010
Iran
The fourth of a series of updates on ARTICLE 19's work to combat censorship.
9 June 2010
Israel
Muna Shester of the Kuwait News Agency spoke to RSF about the raid.
8 June 2010
Middle East / North Africa
Dozens of publishers, editors, journalists and press freedom advocates from 25 countries attended the conference organised by WAN-IFRA.
7 June 2010
International / Iran
At its meeting in Düsseldorf, Germany, WAN-IFRA called on several governments to uphold international standards of freedom of expression and freedom of the press.
27 May 2010
Iraq
In a letter to Iraqi Kurdistan President Massoud Barzani, CPJ expresses its concern about deteriorating press freedom conditions in the region, including deadly violence and official harassment.
21 May 2010
Joint action - Israel
Israeli authorities should stop silencing defenders of the rights of Arab Israelis, the organisations stressed.
3 May 2010
Take action! - International / Iran

IFJ calls on journalists around the world to send their electronic postcard to President Mahmoud Ahmadinejad, calling for the release of all detained journalists and the reopening of the AoIJ office in Tehran.
3 May 2010
Palestine
Violations to freedom of expression are a daily occurrence for journalists in the West Bank and Gaza.
8 April 2010
Joint action - Iran
Petitioners' names were collected through the "Our Society Will Be a Free Society" campaign, a coalition project dedicated to winning the freedom of all journalists jailed in Iran.
5 April 2010
Awards / Lebanon
Chidiac, who is known for her criticism of Syria's political sway over Lebanon, nearly lost her life in an assassination attempt in 2005.
25 March 2010
Yemen

"It's not as easy as it used to be for the government to kill people. Journalists are making use of this small flexibility and they are pushing the envelope," said the editor.
24 March 2010
Joint action - Bahrain
Rights groups appeal to UN High Commissioner for Human Rights to take up cases of free expression violations targetting Bahraini journalists, bloggers and human rights defenders in an upcoming visit to the country.
24 March 2010
Iran
Among the new articles is a piece by Iranian Nobel Peace Prize winner Shirin Ebadi entitled: "Censorship in Iran and the World".
22 March 2010
Yemen
CPJ urges the Yemeni government to release two ailing journalists, one of whom has allegedly been tortured while in custody.
19 March 2010
Syria
In her visit to Syria, the EU foreign relations chief should condemn the harassment and detention of activists and journalists, says the organisation.
3 March 2010
Take action! - Iran

Leading press freedom and free expression groups are asking for your support to help free imprisoned journalists, writers and bloggers in Iran. Since the disputed June elections, there has been a brutal crackdown on dissent. In response, a coalition of free expression organisations has launched a petition drive calling for the release of those imprisoned. More dissidents are in prison in Iran than in any other country in the world: out of at least 60 political prisoners, 47 of them are journalists. Generally, prisoners are held incommunicado and some are tortured.
19 February 2010
Joint action - Iran
Tehran's envoy backtracked on his invitation to the UN's special rapporteurs to visit and investigate claims of rights abuses.
11 February 2010
Joint action - Iran
A coalition of international journalists', writers', and publishers' organisations has launched a campaign to press the government of Iran to release their imprisoned colleagues.
4 February 2010
Iran
In a meeting at the European Parliament, IFJ and other groups called for the release of jailed journalists, writers, trades unionists and dissidents.
26 January 2010
Joint action - Iraq
ARTICLE 19, IFJ and the affiliated Iraqi journalists' union have called on authorities to drop defamation charges against the "Guardian" and journalist Ghaith Abdul-Ahad.
15 December 2009
Palestine
At a time when the world celebrates the 61st anniversary of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Palestinian journalists continue to be victims of various attacks.
10 December 2009
Iran
On International Human Rights Day, ARTICLE 19 launched an interactive website to encourage networking among bloggers, journalists and activists in Iran.
13 November 2009
Awards / Palestine
Norwegian PEN's Ossietzky-prize for "outstanding achievements within the field of free expression" will be awarded to Palestinian journalist Mohammed Omer during the commemoration of the Day of the Imprisoned Writer.
11 November 2009
Awards / Iran
Four Iranians are among 37 writers receiving the Hellman/Hammett award, recognising their commitment to free expression and courage in the face of persecution.
26 October 2009
Lebanon
During its four-day press freedom mission, IPI held discussions with leading editors and journalists, as well as political leaders and government officials.
22 October 2009
Iran
The organisation has helped launch a multimedia platform for disseminating information about the media and journalists, and for collecting articles, photos and videos provided by journalists themselves.
6 October 2009
Yemen
The launch ceremony was organised jointly with the Yemeni Journalist Syndicate and was attended by families and supporters of journalists who remain in custody.
30 September 2009
Take action! - Yemen

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is asking for your support to call on Yemeni authorities to guarantee the safety of journalist Mohammed al Maqaleh. He was abducted by security forces on 18 September for reporting on the Sa'ada war.
23 September 2009
Take action! - Bahrain
The Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR) is alarmed at the recent clampdown on the Internet by the government, which announced plans to block 1,040 websites. BCHR is also extremely concerned about the prosecution of journalists on charges of defamation, for reporting about government malpractice and corruption. Join BCHR and write to the authorities to support freedom of expression and the right to dissent.
24 July 2009
Joint action - Iran
Human rights organizations from the Arab region express utter condemnation of the brutal repression undertaken by Iranian authorities against large masses of Iranian people involved in peaceful demonstrations.
22 July 2009
Take action! - Iran

From Stockholm to Bogota to Ouagadougou, rallies will take place at Iranian embassies across the globe on 25 July to protest the regime's killing and jailing of political demonstrators who took to the streets after disputed elections on 12 June. Join the crowd in one of 55 cities listed on http://united4iran.org , to call for freedom and democracy in Iran.
16 July 2009
Joint action - Iran

More than 100 prominent journalists from 47 countries sent a petition to the Iranian government calling for the immediate release of Maziar Bahari, "Newsweek"'s Tehran correspondent, who has been held without charge since June 21.
1 July 2009
Take action! - Iran

As journalists in Iran continue to be arrested in the aftermath of the country's disputed 12 June elections, Amnesty International is asking you to help seek their release. Also, join Hands Across the Mideast Support Alliance (HAMSA), which has started up a petition protesting Telecom joint venture Nokia Siemens for providing the Iranian government with a "monitoring centre."
3 June 2009
Joint action - Bahrain
Free expression advocates from around the world gathered this week in Oslo, Norway, at the IFEX General Meeting. Forty IFEX members signed the following statement, calling on the Bahraini authorities to address recent attacks on free expression in that country.
27 May 2009
Iraq
Leaders of journalists unions from around the world travelled to Baghdad at the weekend for a conference on support for media in Iraq - the first international meeting of any kind in the city since the war began six years ago.
26 May 2009
Yemen
On the occasion of the 19th anniversary of Yemen's Unity Day, Egyptian human rights organizations urged Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to order the Ministry of Information to stop the siege imposed on Yemeni newspapers and remove the ban on blocked Yemeni websites.
24 April 2009
Joint action - Iran
Committee to Protect Journalists and Reporters Without Borders lead appeal by 35 IFEX members expressing concern about Saberi's sentencing to eight years in prison
6 February 2009
Joint action - Bahrain
(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a joint action by 20 IFEX members:
7 November 2008
Joint action - Bahrain
(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a joint action led by BCHR:
29 August 2008
Joint action - Syria / France
(WAN/IFEX) - The following is an appeal by 26 IFEX members to the French president regarding the free expression situation in Syria:
7 August 2008
Joint action - Yemen
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a joint action by 27 IFEX members:
11 June 2008
Joint action - Saudi Arabia
(CIHRS/IFEX) - The following is a joint statement by CIHRS, ANHRI, BCHR, EOHR and other organisations:
7 April 2008
Joint action - Syria
(EOHR/IFEX) - The following is a joint letter by 35 members and partners of IFEX and the Arab Working Group to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad:
25 February 2008
Joint action - Bahrain
(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a joint appeal from BCHR, 20 other IFEX members and 34 other groups to the king of Bahrain, Sheikh Hamad Bin Issa Al Khalifa:
8 November 2007
Joint action - Bahrain
(BCHR/IFEX) - The following is a joint action by 26 IFEX members and 21 other organisations:
29 August 2006
Iran

PEN Canada is leading a campaign to free Ramin Jahanbegloo of Iran, a Canadian-Iranian academic currently imprisoned in Iran. Kristina Stockwood, IFEX Outreach Coordinator, spoke to David Cozac, PEN Canada’s Programmes Coordinator, and Morteza Abdolalian, Editor and Publisher of IRAN WATCH CANADA.