International Freedom of Expression eXchange: The global network for free expression
Middle East and North Africa
Palestinian journalists are under attack from Israeli forces and are also subjected to raids and arrests as a result of political rivalry between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, report the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedom (MADA) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Meanwhile, Israel continues to target and detain scores of Palestinians involved in protests against the separation barrier in the West Bank with freedom of movement and expression violations, reports Human Rights Watch.
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.
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
17 March 2010
Palestine
Journalists assaulted and censored
Palestinian journalists are under attack from Israeli forces and are also subjected to raids and arrests as a result of political rivalry between the Palestinian Authority and Hamas, report the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedom (MADA) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Meanwhile, Israel continues to target and detain scores of Palestinians involved in protests against the separation barrier in the West Bank with freedom of movement and expression violations, reports Human Rights Watch.
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
Egypt
NGOs call for human rights reform during UN review
During a United Nations Human Rights Council review of Egypt's rights record on 17 February, Egyptian NGOs, including the Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), the Arab Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) and the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR), called on the government to seriously address human rights violations. Two days later, Egypt accepted some rights reforms and rejected others.
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).
24 February 2010
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.
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.
Campaigns and Advocacy
19 March 2010
Morocco
CPJ urges Morocco to halt politically motivated prosecutions
In a letter, CPJ decries Morocco's use of the courts to suppress freedom of expression and prosecute journalists and urges the government to release Driss Chahtan, who is being held in prison under harsh conditions.
19 March 2010
Syria
Repression grows as Europe, US avoid discussing rights, says Human Rights Watch
In her visit to Syria, the EU foreign relations chief should condemn the harassment and detention of activists and journalists, says the organisation.
5 March 2010
Egypt/Awards
Bibliotheca Alexandrina grants human rights award to CIHRS
CIHRS is also convening seminars in Paris and Geneva to discuss the state of human rights in the Arab world.
5 March 2010
Tunisia
On International Women's Day, 24 IFEX members appeal to the UN to raise concerns about the ongoing violations of women's rights
To mark the occasion of 8 March 2010, International Women's Day, members of the Tunisia Monitoring Group (TMG), and members of the IFEX Gender Working Group appeal to the UN to raise concerns about the ongoing violations of women's rights in Tunisia.
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.
26 February 2010
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