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Alerts - 2012 - Western Europe

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United Kingdom / Kenya

Kenya: Draft Campaign Financing Bill

Kenya: Draft Campaign Financing Bill

Germany

Journalists threatened by Salafist group

In a YouTube video released last week, journalists critical of a campaign by the radical Muslim group "The True Religion" are told that if they continue to write about the group and its "brothers and sisters" personal information about them held by the group will be disclosed.

United Kingdom

Every step you take, every move you make: The British government's new plans for mass surveillance

The Coalition Agreement that formed the current government clearly stated that IMP-style mass surveillance of the British public was unacceptable, but now the old policy seems to have risen from the grave as the innocuously-named Communications Capabilities Development Programme.

France

Threat from use of Internet surveillance to combat terrorism

RSF is concerned by a proposal by President Nicolas Sarkozy that would punish “any person who habitually consults websites that advocate terrorism or call for hatred and violence”.

Portugal

Police officer allegedly attacks photojournalist covering Lisbon strike

IPI called the attack on AFP photojournalist Patricia Melo "a chilling reminder of the dangers journalists face, even in Western democracy."

Turkey / Netherlands

Newspaper's Rotterdam offices attacked

This is the second time that "Zaman" newspaper's offices have been targeted, and editorial staff suspects it was more than ordinary vandalism.

Austria

IPI alarmed at Justice Ministry attempt to undermine confidentiality of sources

A law proposed by the Ministry would grant powers to the police and state prosecutors to force journalists to hand over material used in investigative stories, and identify sources, if the journalists are themselves subjects of a criminal investigation.

France

Genocide-denial law declared unconstitutional

ARTICLE 19 says the law's severe criminal sanctions would have interfered disproportionately with an individual's right to engage in historical debate.

Turkey / France / Germany

Turkish newspaper's Europe offices attacked

"Zaman" is blaming Kurdish militants for violence in Paris and Cologne, including an arson attack on its offices in the latter city. The newspaper also accused PKK supporters of carrying out prior attacks on its offices in London, Vienna and Zurich.

France

Documentary filmmaking threatened by court ruling

A court in the northern city of Lille has ordered documentary filmmaker Sophie Robert to remove interviews with three psychoanalysts from her film about the treatment of autism and to pay them a large sum in damages for “misrepresenting” their views.

Kazakhstan / Germany

Make rights key to good relations, says Human Rights Watch

The rights organisation is concerned about the violent crackdown on protesters and online censorship that occurred following a strike in the oil-rich town of Zhanaozen.

Western Europe / Turkey

TV satellite operator usurps court’s prerogative to silence Kurdish TV station

A Danish court had earlier found Roj TV guilty of supporting the Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK), an armed separatist group regarded by Turkey as a terrorist organization.

France

Senate must reject Armenian Genocide law, says ARTICLE 19

The adoption of a law criminalising any denial of the 1915 Armenian genocide would be in conflict with France’s obligation to respect the right to freedom of expression under international law.

Turkey / Denmark

Kurdish Roj TV fined but remains on air

A Copenhagen court fined Roj TV for violating the Danish anti-terror law but deemed that the television channel should not be shuttered for having allegedly spread propaganda for the PKK.

Germany

President pressures "Bild" to kill story

IPI criticised the president following revelations that he had pressured the country's leading tabloid to kill a critical story about an unusual personal loan he received.