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Alerts - Spain

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Spain

IFJ protests restrictions on media during election campaign

In addition to restrictions imposed by the electoral authority, the main political parties are reportedly preventing television crews from filming their election meetings.

Spain

WPFC-FH applauds court decision declaring lawsuit against "Leer" magazine null and void

The plaintiff invoked the repressive 1966 Press Law, a relic from the Franco dictatorship.

Spain

IFJ condemns attack against journalists' leader in Cadiz

Fernando Santiago had reported on the use of public funds to rescue a struggling company and was subsequently assaulted by a company employee.

Spain

IFJ backs protests against restrictions on Moroccan journalists in Melillia

The actions were reportedly designed to hinder the work of journalists following recent coverage of a clampdown on Moroccans living in Melillia.

Spain

WPFC applauds European Court ruling for Spanish journalist José Luis Gutiérrez

The ECHR ruled "the restriction on the applicant's freedom of expression had not been proportionate to the potential seriousness of the damage to the reputation in question."

Spain

IFJ condemns "flagrant violation of press freedom" after sentencing of two journalists

The IFJ says the case is worrisome because the sentencing was based on the view that Internet journalism is not entitled to the same protection as journalism in other media.

Spain

Government approves bill on audiovisual communication

According to AMARC, the audiovisual communication law was created without any citizenship input and discriminates against community media.

Spain

Madrid prosecutor demands three year jail sentence for "El Mundo" deputy editor accused of "revealing state secrets"

The charges stem from articles published in 2005 detailing reports which an informer supplied to the secret services prior to the 2004 terrorist train bombings.

Spain

Journalist group expresses concern following attacks on media covering demonstrations

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), the regional group of the IFJ, backed the Federation of Journalists Associations of Spain (FAPE) after protests over attacks on journalists covering public demonstrations and gatherings

Spain / Morocco

WPFC submits written comments before European Court of Human Rights in the case of Spanish journalist José Luis Gutiérrez

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 15 January 2009 WPFC press release:

Spain

AMARC concerned over proposed broadcasting legislation in Canary Islands that excludes community radio stations

(AMARC/IFEX) - On 19 December 2008, the Canary Islands government publicised a proposed broadcasting law which fails to recognise the existence of community radio stations and contains no mention of whether non-profit groups will be able to gain access to broadcasting frequencies.

Spain

Basque radio and television station attacked by terrorist group

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Spain

Dutch journalist's photographs seized, he is ordered to testify in human smuggling case

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Spain / Haiti

Spanish authorities reopen investigation into 2004 murder of Antena 3 correspondent Ricardo Ortega

(CPJ/IFEX) - The following is a 16 July 2008 CPJ press release:

Spain

Basque newspaper office bombed, allegedly by ETA, no injuries

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is a 9 June 2008 IFJ press release:

Haiti / Spain / United States

Official investigation blames American troops for 2004 death of journalist Ricardo Ortega

(RSF/IFEX) - An official Haitian investigation has officially blamed the foreign interposition force present in Haiti after the ouster of President Jean-Bertrand Aristide on 29 February 2004 for the murder of Ricardo Ortega of the privately-owned Spanish TV channel Antena 3.

Spain

Judge acquits journalists of unjust criminal defamation charges

(WPFC /IFEX) - The following is a 21 December 2007 WPFC letter to Spanish Judge Francisco José Guerrero Suárez:

Spain

Two cartoonists convicted of insulting the Crown, fined heavily

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF condemns the conviction of two cartoonists on charges of insulting the Spanish crown in a front-page cartoon in the weekly "El Jueves" in July 2007 that showed Crown Prince Felipe having sex with his wife, Princess Letizia. The court fined cartoonists Guillermo Torres and Mantel Fontdevilla 3,000 euros each.

Spain

Editor of closed newspaper financially ruined by court rulings on Partido Popular politicians' lawsuits

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF condemns the court decisions that forced the weekly "La Realidad" to close in 2001, brought its editor, Patxi Ibarrondo, to financial ruin and helped to destroy his health. The court rulings were issued on libel lawsuits filed by representatives of the conservative Popular Party (Partido Popular, PP) in the northern region of Cantabria.

Spain

Judge orders seizure of satirical magazine over cartoon of prince and wife

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF condemns the 20 July 2007 seizure order by Judge Juan del Olmo of an issue of the satirical weekly magazine "El Jueves". The issue carries a cartoon on the cover of Crown Prince Felipe and his wife Letizia having sex.

Iraq / Spain / United States

Madrid judge stands by decision to charge three US soldiers with Spanish cameraman's murder

(RSF/IFEX) - Madrid investigating judge Santiago Pedraz announced on 24 May 2007 that he has rejected an appeal by the prosecutor's office against his decision to indict three US soldiers for the murder of Spanish cameraman José Couso, who was killed when a US tank shelled the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on 8 April 2003.

Spain

Five IFEX members urge ECHR to eliminate two Spanish laws used to indict journalist for article on hashish seizure from former Moroccan king's vehicle

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 3 May 2007 WPFC press release:

Spain

Opposition party refuses to give interviews to PRISA group media outlets after criticism

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 30 March 2007 WPFC letter to the president of opposition party Partido Popular:

Iraq / Spain / United States

Spanish judge issues warrants for the arrest of three US soldiers for "murder" of journalist in Iraq

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF today welcomed the international warrant issued by a Madrid judge yesterday for the arrest of three US soldiers for the "murder" of Spanish cameraman José Couso of the privately-owned television station Telecinco, who was killed on 8 April 2003 when a US tank fired a shell at a Baghdad hotel used by the international media.

Iraq / Spain / United States

Spanish Supreme Court orders reopening of investigation into cameraman's death in Iraq

(RSF/IFEX) - Spain's Supreme Court has ordered the reopening of the Spanish judicial investigation into the death of Spanish cameraman José Couso, who was killed when a US tank shelled the Palestine Hotel in Baghdad on 8 April 2003.

Spain

IPI reminds authorities of journalists' constitutionally protected right to free expression following assault on "El Mundo" columnist

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is an IPI letter to Catalonian authorities:

Spain

Supreme Court upholds seven-year jail sentence for Al-Jazeera journalist; RSF concerned about journalist's health

(RSF/IFEX) - Reporters Without Borders reiterated its concern about the state of health of Al-Jazeera presenter Tayssir Allouni after Spain's Supreme Court, on 1 June 2006, upheld his seven-year prison sentence for "collaborating" with Al-Qaeda. Allouni, who has heart problems, received the sentence on 26 September 2005, when he was tried along with 23 other people on charges of being implicated in terrorist activities in Spain.

Spain

RSF reintegrates ETA into its list of "press freedom predators"

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is an abridged version of an 11 May 2006 RSF press release:

Spain

ETA suspended from RSF's list of press freedom "predators"

(RSF/IFEX) - The following is a 7 May 2006 RSF press release:

Spain

WPFC urges senate committee to eliminate or reform laws used to convict two journalists

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 27 February 2006 WPFC press release:

Spain

IPI concerned about new Broadcast Law; Catalan authorities urged to curtail Broadcast Council's punitive powers, end campaign of harassment against Cope Radio

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is an IPI letter to Catalan authorities:

Spain

WPFC calls for dismantling of Catalan regulatory body urging revocation of radio network's license

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 23 December 2005 WPFC letter to Catalan authorities:

Spain

ARTICLE 19 calls on court to follow international human rights standards in treatment of "Euskaldunon Egunkaria" newspaper and staff

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) - The following is a 14 November 2005 ARTICLE 19 press release:

Spain

Al Jazeera reporter gets seven-year jail term

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an IFJ media release:

Spain

Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations denounces judicial assault on press freedom

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a statement by the Coordinating Committee of Press Freedom Organizations:

Spain

ETA renews threats against journalists

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has expressed serious concern after the Basque separatist group ETA issued a series of new threats against journalists. The organisation called on Spanish authorities to protect the journalists.

Spain

IPI criticises Supreme Court's decision to dismiss two journalists' appeal

(IPI/IFEX) - The following is a 21 July 2004 IPI letter to Minister of Justice Juan Fernando López Aguilar:

Spain

WPFC calls on judicial authorities to declare journalists' sentence null and void

(WPFC/IFEX) - The following is a 15 July 2004 WPFC letter to the Spanish judicial authorities:

Spain

RSF calls for reform of rules requiring payment of defamation fines before appeals are heard

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called on Spanish Justice Minister José Maria Michavila to proceed at once with a promised amendment to the civil procedure code that would relieve media outlets of the requirement to pay heavy fines in defamation cases before the cases are heard on appeal.

Spain

IFJ condemns arrest of journalist and warns of "witch-hunt" against Al-Jazeera and Arab media

(IFJ/IFEX) - The following is an 8 September 2003 IFJ press release:

Spain

Three Basque newspaper journalists still detained under anti-terrorism legislation

(WiPC/IFEX) - The WiPC of International PEN is seriously concerned about the continued detention of three Basque journalists under anti-terrorism legislation. PEN also protests the recent six-month extension to the "preventive measures" that have kept the Basque-language newspaper "Euskaldunon Egunkaria" closed. The extension was handed down on 21 July 2003 by Judge Juan del Olmo on the grounds that the "Euskaldunon Egunkaria" group pursues the same goals as the separatist group ETA.

Spain

Closure of Basque newspaper "Euskaldunon Egunkaria" extended by six months

(RSF/IFEX) - RSF has called on Spanish authorities to allow the Basque-language newspaper "Euskaldunon Egunkaria" to reopen. On 21 July 2003, a national court judge ordered a six-month extension to the "preventive measures" that have kept the newspaper closed since February because the group that publishes it is suspected of "belonging to or cooperating with the terrorist organisation ETA."

Spain

Basque public TV threatened with prosecution for broadcasting ETA statement

(RSF/IFEX) - On 20 May, RSF urged the Spanish authorities not to prosecute the Basque public radio and television network Euskal Telebista (ETB) for broadcasting a videotape of three presumed members of the Basque terrorist organisation ETA reading a statement. ETB Director General Andoni Ortuzar was summoned for questioning on 21 May by the State Prosecutor's Office, which will decide thereafter whether or not to prosecute the broadcaster.

Spain

Three writers released on bail, authorities threaten to sue newspaper directors

Spain

WiPC concerned about reports that detained Basque writers and journalists have been ill-treated

Spain

RSF calls for inquiry into Basque journalist's complaints of ill-treatment in police custody

Spain / United Kingdom

Journalists face charges over Gibraltar oil protest

Spain

CPJ calls on government to justify closure of Basque newspaper

Spain

Police close Basque-language daily

Spain

Police defuse parcel bomb at "El País" newsroom

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