Protests turn violent as Egyptians attacked based on affiliation

Egyptian human rights groups join forces to express concern over protests that have turned violent in Cairo's Muqattam district on 22 March 2013.

Death threats and attacks on freedom of expression intensify in Tunisia

Death threats, physical attacks, an emergence of hate speech and accusations of official censorship of critical media have escalated the perilous situation for freedom of expression in Tunisia, say over 20 IFEX members.

Rights groups in Egypt call on Morsi to withdraw bill designed to repress them

The Egyptian government is repressing civil society organisations' right to freely carry out their activities by introducing a law that requires government approval of all foreign funding of domestic NGOs.

Fully guarantee media independence in new Tunisian Constitution, says IFEX-TMG

While welcoming moves to implement measures that guarantee media independence, IFEX-TMG calls on the Tunisian government to fully respect free expression in the new Constitution and put an end to attacks on journalists and artists.

Constitutional decree in Egypt gives Morsi sweeping powers

President Mohamed Morsi now possesses authorities beyond those enjoyed by any president or monarch in Egypt’s modern history, say rights groups.

Egyptian President sidelines rights groups

Egyptian human rights organizations were recently excluded from participating in a meeting the President had with civil society groups.

IFEX-TMG calls on Tunisia to guarantee media independence

IFEX-TMG supports media strike in Tunisia on 17 October to protest media appointments and the failure to guarantee media freedom in the draft Constitution.

Tunisia should accept all UN recommendations on free expression, says IFEX-TMG

While welcoming Tunisia’s acceptance of 110 of its 125 recommendations during a UN review last week, the IFEX-TMG calls on the country to implement them without delay and end the criminalisation of defamation.

Old-style repression threatens free expression in new Tunisia, says IFEX-TMG

IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group protests government appointments at media outlets, as well as mounting attacks on journalists, writers and artists.

Proposed media council undemocratic, says IFEX Tunisia Monitoring Group

As Tunisia's Constituent Assembly prepares to review a draft Constitution, the IFEX-TMG expresses its concern about a draft proposal to regulate the media, as well as prison sentences for religious reasons.

IFEX-TMG report warns Tunisian government it must act now to guarantee free expression

This report, Spring into Winter? Fragile achievements and exceptional challenges for Tunisian free expression defenders, outlines the status of freedom of expression and association as well as the independence of the judiciary.

IFEX-TMG salutes work of INRIC as media freedom body shuts down over obstruction

IFEX-TMG is deeply concerned by the prevailing uncertainty and obstruction that have led the independent media body, INRIC, to close its doors; in addition to a smear campaign against INRIC and its President.

Rights groups launch campaign to monitor president’s human rights priorities

The Forum of Independent Egyptian Human Rights Organizations launched a campaign to evaluate the performance of the president-elect during his first 100 days in office on human rights issues, including freedom of expression.

IFEX-TMG alarmed by recent attacks on artistic expression

IFEX-TMG alarmed by the recent attacks on freedom of expression, in particular against artistic expression, in the name of religion, including seizure of paintings.

Parliament urged to end state of emergency

The interior minister to release all Emergency Law detainees or refer them to prosecutors to be charged, and ask the public prosecutor to transfer all Emergency State Security Court (ESSC) trials to regular civilian courts, says Human Rights Watch.

IFEX-TMG calls for seven-year sentences to be overturned

Ahead of a court of appeal hearing on 28 May, IFEX-TMG urges judiciary to quash the seven-year prison terms handed down to Ghazi Ben Mohamed Beji and Jaber Ben Abdallah Majri for online publishing.

ARTICLE 19 outlines how to protect free expression and information in new constitution

The new Constitution is on the verge of being drafted and ARTICLE 19 has produced a comprehensive policy brief outlining how the new Constitution should protect the right to freedom of expression and freedom of information In order to support the forthcoming work of the drafters.

IFEX-TMG launches new initiatives on World Press Freedom Day

The new work includes a literary anthology edited by the president of PEN Tunisia Naziha Rejiba, a training manual on online advocacy, a workshop for cartoonists, and a national newspaper and billboard campaign championing free expression rights as Tunisia’s Constituent Assembly continues to negotiate a new national constitution.

Workshops on "Internet serving freedom of expression" conclude ahead of World Press Freedom Day

The workshop included theoretical, technical, and practical training on blogging, social networks, photography, and filming in support of freedom of expression.

World Press Freedom Day highlights lack of progress on media reform, says ARTICLE 19

ARTICLE 19 calls on the government to make use of the UNESCO World Press Freedom Day event held in Tunis as a golden opportunity to advance the media reform package.