International Freedom of Expression eXchange: The global network for free expression
Middle East
As Iraqis went to the polls on 7 March to select 325 members of parliament, Human Rights Watch urged all political groups to make freedom of expression central to their platform to be sure the next government respects press freedom and minority rights. Meanwhile, countless journalists in Iraq Kurdistan faced brutal attacks leading up to and on election-day, because of political rivalry, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
A coalition of IFEX members launched a campaign last week on the 31st anniversary of the Iranian revolution, to pressure the government of Iran to release journalists and activists imprisoned for exercising their right to free expression. The "Our Society Will Be a Free Society" campaign is named for a pledge that Ayatollah Khomenei made during the 1979 Iranian Revolution to protect freedom of expression and the press.
Yemeni authorities are taking brutal retaliatory actions against human rights defenders, journalists and critics of the regime's policies, according to IFEX members. In response, 25 Arab rights organisations, including the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and three other IFEX members, have released a joint statement calling on the government to end kidnappings, forced disappearances, torture and arbitrary arrests.
Iranian authorities are carrying out a lethal campaign to silence independent journalists and critics, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Two Iranian netizens and human rights activists are possibly facing the death penalty. RSF has accused the Iranian regime of crimes against humanity.
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.
From the Communiqué
10 March 2010
Iraq
Election violence harrowing; scores of journalists assaulted
As Iraqis went to the polls on 7 March to select 325 members of parliament, Human Rights Watch urged all political groups to make freedom of expression central to their platform to be sure the next government respects press freedom and minority rights. Meanwhile, countless journalists in Iraq Kurdistan faced brutal attacks leading up to and on election-day, because of political rivalry, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF).
24 February 2010
Iraq
Journalist kidnapped
An Iraqi reporter was abducted by gunmen in Kirkuk last week, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Press Institute (IPI).
17 February 2010
Iran
IFEX members spearhead campaign to release imprisoned Iranian journalists
A coalition of IFEX members launched a campaign last week on the 31st anniversary of the Iranian revolution, to pressure the government of Iran to release journalists and activists imprisoned for exercising their right to free expression. The "Our Society Will Be a Free Society" campaign is named for a pledge that Ayatollah Khomenei made during the 1979 Iranian Revolution to protect freedom of expression and the press.
17 February 2010
Yemen
Journalist slain
A Yemeni journalist, who wrote for several news media, including an opposition newspaper, was shot dead in his home on 13 February, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Press freedom violations have escalated in 2009 but this is the first time a journalist has been murdered in violence against independent media since North and South Yemen merged in 1990, says RSF.
10 February 2010
Yemen
President uses military offensives as cover for attacks on dissidents
Yemeni authorities are taking brutal retaliatory actions against human rights defenders, journalists and critics of the regime's policies, according to IFEX members. In response, 25 Arab rights organisations, including the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) and three other IFEX members, have released a joint statement calling on the government to end kidnappings, forced disappearances, torture and arbitrary arrests.
4 February 2010
Iran
Systematic suppression of dissent continues
Iranian authorities are carrying out a lethal campaign to silence independent journalists and critics, report the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Two Iranian netizens and human rights activists are possibly facing the death penalty. RSF has accused the Iranian regime of crimes against humanity.
Campaigns and Advocacy
3 March 2010
Iran
Help free imprisoned journalists
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
Iran
Free expression groups call on Iran to open door to UN rights experts
Tehran's envoy backtracked on his invitation to the UN's special rapporteurs to visit and investigate claims of rights abuses.
11 February 2010
Iran
Free press and free expression organisations to Iran: release jailed journalists, writers
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
Campaigners call on Europe to press Iran over human rights abuses
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
Iraq
IFJ and ARTICLE 19 pledge support for UK "Guardian" newspaper in defamation case
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
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