IFEX Digest | 30 August - 5 September 2010

Africa

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Burundi

Judges urged to release editor awaiting trial on treason charge (RSF)

Cameroon

Newspaper editor hospitalised after being attacked in his cell (RSF)
+ Fears for health of imprisoned editor (WiPC)
+ CJFE worried about well-being of injured journalist (CJFE)

Liberia

Sports journalist attacked by three members of the national soccer team (MFWA)

Malawi

President threatens to close newspapers that "lie" (IPI)

Senegal

Newspaper editor gets six months in prison for defaming president's chief of staff (RSF)
+ Editor jailed in absentia (MFWA)

Somalia

Journalist murdered in Galkayo (NUSOJ)
+ Journalist is stabbed to death in Puntland (RSF)
+ Journalist stabbed to death in Somalia's autonomous Puntland region (IPI)
+ In Puntland, radio journalist fatally stabbed (CPJ)

The Gambia

President's aide launches defamation suit against US-based online newspaper (MFWA)

Togo

President files more defamation suits against two newspapers (MFWA)

Uganda

Photojournalist arrested over alleged publication of defamatory material (HRNJ-Uganda)

Zimbabwe

Journalist arrested over former Vice President’s statue (MISA)

Americas

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Colombia

Journalist escapes unharmed from assassination attempt (FLIP)

Ecuador

Television journalist critical of the government resigns from his position (Fundamedios)

Arrest warrant issued for journalist, mayor threatens to initiate legal action against him (Fundamedios)
+ Critical journalist charged with terrorism (CPJ)
+ Prosecutor suspends hearing during which journalist's prison sentence was to be appealed (Fundamedios)

Camera operator detained by police (Fundamedios)

Guatemala

Shots fired at journalist's home (CERIGUA)

Honduras

Radio station forced off air by vandalism (C-Libre)
+ No let-up for radio stations that opposed coup (RSF)

Continued persecution of community radio station in Zacate Grande (AMARC)

Honduran president pledges to solve murders of journalists (IAPA)

Mexico

"Noroeste" newspaper threatened yet again (CEPET)

"Noroeste" newspaper facilities in Sinaloa attacked by armed men (CENCOS)
+ IAPA condemns attack on "Noroeste" newspaper (IAPA)

Car bomb explodes outside Tamaulipas Televisa offices (CEPET)
+ Car bomb detonates outside Mexico's biggest broadcaster in fourth explosives attack on the station this year (IPI)
+ Third bomb attack on national TV network’s offices in 10 days (RSF)
+ Car bomb explodes outside Televisa offices in northern Mexico (CPJ)
+ IAPA outraged at car bomb targeting Televisa inTamaulipas (IAPA)

Paraguay

SPP concerned over threat against journalist (SPP)

United States

Writers support Park51 project, religious freedom (PEN American Center)

Venezuela

Ban on publication of violent photographs lifted (IPYS)

Asia & Pacific

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Cambodia

International groups condemn sentencing of local rights staffer (Human Rights Watch)

China

Police block reporting of aircraft crash (IFJ)

Two-year jail sentences for two student magazine editors (RSF)

India

IFJ welcomes new disclosure rules for media (IFJ)

Indonesia

Government must step up investigation into journalist deaths (PFF)

Malaysia

Editor charged over satirical blog post (SEAPA)
+ Malaysia power company can't take a joke, prosecutes blogger (CPJ)
+ Blogger faces trial for malicious intent over satirical article (RSF)

Nepal

Politician threatens journalists; another journalist assaulted (Freedom Forum)

Death threat made against journalist in the Terai, Nepal (IFJ)

Pakistan

TV reporter assaulted, receives death threats after reporting on lynching (PPF)
+ Murder attempt on journalist over TV report of lynching (RSF)
+ Reporter who exposed lynching brutally assaulted in Pakistan (IFJ)

Philippines

Lawyer interviewed as Maguindanao massacre trial resumes (RSF)
+ IFJ dismayed by delay for massacre trial (IFJ)

Don't blame media for hostage tragedy, says HKJA (HKJA)
+ Philippines siege - IFJ warns against charging journalists (IFJ)

Thailand

Grenade explodes in front of government's TV station (SEAPA)
+ Thai media groups: Journalists must not be targets of intimidation, physical attacks (SEAPA)

Vietnam

Government urged to pardon detained journalists and netizens (RSF)

Europe & Central Asia

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Azerbaijan

Journalist stabbed (IRFS)

Kosovo (Serbia)

IPI alarmed at limitation on freedom of movement of Kosovo journalists (IPI)

Turkey

IPI joins Turkish media organisations in launch of campaign against imprisonment of journalists (IPI)
+ Journalist organisations call for fair trials for journalists (BIANET)

ECHR rules against Turkey in case of murdered journalist (BIANET)
+ Amicable agreement in Hrant Dink case? (BIANET)
+ Government will propose friendly settlement in Hrant Dink case (Antenna -TR)
+ Foreign minister calls for reclassification of freedom of speech cases at ECHR (BIANET)

Ukraine

Witness in case of missing editor disappears, newspaper's lawyer locked in his apartment by police (IMI)

Two TV stations have licences revoked, could face criminal charges (IPI)

Shots fired at windows of newspaper office (IMI)

Middle East & North Africa

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Bahrain

Abduljalil Alsingace brutally tortured, detained for weeks (BCHR)
+ Bahrain gags press as it cracks down on opposition (CPJ)
+ Bahrain: Pursue Torture Allegations (Human Rights Watch)
+ Appeal for urgent intervention (2): political, human rights and religious figures facing torture and humiliation (BCHR)
+ Activist arrested; fears of ill-treatment (WiPC)

Egypt

Journalist and blogger fined and sentenced to six months in jail (ANHRI)

ANHRI issues third guide on legal defence for bloggers and journalists (ANHRI)
+ ANHRI issues fourth title in legal defence series for journalists (ANHRI)

Thirty-five IFEX members and other organisations appeal for charges to be dropped against prominent human rights activists and blogger (EOHR)

Iran

Release rights activist, guarantee her a fair trial, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)
+ Freedom House committee demands release of Iranian activist (Freedom House)

Iraq

Police attack journalist's home in Baghdad (RSF)

Jordan

Government yields to protests, modifies cyber crimes law (RSF)

Palestine

Attack on Watan TV crew a flagrant violation of free expression, says MADA (MADA)

Yemen

IFJ accuses Yemen of broken promises as journalists are held without charge (IFJ)