IFEX Digest | 11 - 17 October 2010

Africa

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Democratic Republic of Congo

Provincial governor orders community radio station's closure (JED)

RFI back on the air after 15-month signal interruption (JED)

Newspaper journalist detained by intelligence agency (RSF)

Somalia

Radio director arrested by Al-Shabaab militants (NUSOJ)

Uganda

Police arrest journalist's attackers, subsequently release them on bond (HRNJ-Uganda)

Radio reporter survives lynching (HRNJ-Uganda)

Twenty-eight IFEX members voice concern about journalists' safety in the lead up to the elections (HRNJ-Uganda)

Zimbabwe

Journalist detained while covering demonstration (MISA)

MISA welcomes information minister's comments on ensuring greater access to information in marginalised areas (MISA)
+ MISA Zimbabwe community radio initiatives come under fire (MISA)
+ MISA Zimbabwe statement on Zimpapers' Star FM talk radio launch (MISA)

Americas

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Argentina

Senate passes right to information bill (ARTICLE 19)

Bolivia

IAPA calls on President Morales to reject clauses in new law that violate press freedom (IAPA)

Adopted unchanged, anti-racism law's media clauses will need judicious enforcement (RSF)

Cuba

Cuba frees another journalist jailed in 2003 crackdown (CPJ)

Ecuador

Journalist who is facing legal proceedings assaulted by public servant (Fundamedios)

IAPA denies allegations in teleSUR report (IAPA)

Minister "summons" journalists to provide statements (Fundamedios)

Minister threatens to file lawsuit if book is not withdrawn from circulation (Fundamedios)

Mexico

IAPA posts video on anti-impunity battle in Mexico on Youtube (IAPA)

Community radio station in Chiapas forcibly shut down (CENCOS)
+ Police raid silences Chiapas community radio station (RSF)

Mexican journalists demand president tackle climate of impunity (IPI)

Asia & Pacific

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China

Former Communist Party officials call for freedom of speech (IPI)
+ IFJ welcomes party elders' call for media reform in China (IFJ)

Arrests, censorship and propaganda in reaction to Liu Xiaobo's Nobel Peace Prize (RSF)
+ Crackdown on supporters of prominent dissident writer and Nobel laureate Liu Xiaobo (WiPC)

IFJ Press Freedom in China Campaign Bulletin - October 2010 (IFJ)

News blackout on Liu Xiaobo's Nobel Peace Prize (RSF)
+ Authorities seek to block news of Liu's Nobel (CPJ)
+ Authorities blocks reporting on Peace Prize for Liu Xiaobo (IFJ)
+ IFJ says peace prize is welcome boost for press freedom in China (IFJ)

Fiji

Spin and silence reign as Fiji clampdown on free speech continues, says PFF (PFF)
+ Editor's departure highlights concerns at silencing of critics (IFJ)

Pakistan

AMARC and PPF mission makes key recommendations for disaster response (AMARC)
+ Field mission to Pakistan by AMARC and PPF has begun (AMARC)

Philippines

IFJ demands investigation into threats against safety office staff (IFJ)

Europe & Central Asia

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Azerbaijan

Access to "Azadlig" daily's website banned (IRFS)

Bosnia and Herzegovina

Political party places reporting ban on TV channel (IPI)

Kazakhstan

Kazakhstan failing to uphold press freedom pledges to OSCE, panellists warn at IPI/CPJ briefing (IPI)

Russia

Rally in memory of Anna Politkovskaya held in Moscow (GDF)

Outspoken journalist attacked for criticising city administration (CJES)

Slovenia

Journalist reports alleged death threat from mayor's son (IPI)

Turkey

Two journalists face imprisonment following publication of books about the Ergenekon organisation (BIANET)

Three journalists indicted following publication of critical article (BIANET)

Prosecutor calls for 20-year prison sentence against editorial manager of women's magazine (BIANET)

Magazine editor faces up to seven and a half years in prison (BIANET)

More than 1,000 people sign petition calling on authorities to drop trial against Kurdish singer (BIANET)

Ukraine

ARTICLE 19 welcomes Council of Europe resolution on Ukraine's democratic development (ARTICLE 19)

Journalist ordered to compensate member of parliament (IMI)

Uzbekistan

Russian journalist faces jail on defamation and insult charges (CJES)
+ Authorities should drop charges against journalists, says CPJ (CPJ)

Middle East & North Africa

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Bahrain

ANHRI affirms need for monitoring of election coverage as authorities continue imposing restrictions (ANHRI)
+ Bahrain: Elections to take place amid crackdown (Human Rights Watch)

Egypt

Free expression organisations express support for targeted newspaper (EOHR)
+ British organisation names Ibrahim Eissa "International Journalist of The Year" (ANHRI)

Four TV stations closed in rising crackdown on free expression (ANHRI)
+ ANHRI denounces crackdown on Muslim Brotherhood leaders (ANHRI)
+ Egypt clamps down on media ahead of November elections (IPI)
+ Authorities tighten control over news media six weeks ahead of elections (RSF)

ANHRI expresses concern over new restrictions on text messaging (ANHRI)
+ Repeated attacks on freedom of expression ahead of parliamentary elections (EOHR)

Dostor owners claim dismissal of Ibrahim Eissa was a financial dispute (ANHRI)

World's press condemns attacks against independent Egyptian media (WAN-IFRA)

Iran

One blogger sentenced to heavy jail term, another arrested (RSF)

Iran must disclose identities of detained Germans, says CPJ (CPJ)

IFJ condemns expulsion of "El País" correspondent (IFJ)
+ Renewed crackdown on foreign media (RSF)

Iraq

WAN-IFRA expresses concern over pattern of media oppression (WAN-IFRA)

Palestine

IFJ accuses Hamas over shutdown of journalists' union office in Gaza (IFJ)
+ Closure of journalists' syndicate headquarters in Gaza is flagrant violation of freedom of expression (MADA)
+ ANHRI condemns Hamas decision to close down journalists' syndicate (ANHRI)

Syria

Blogger charged; fears for safety (WiPC)

Tunisia

IFEX-TMG members call for immediate release of ailing journalist on hunger strike (IFEX-TMG)
+ Tunisia must release ailing journalist on hunger strike (CPJ)

United Arab Emirates

RSF concerned about lack of transparency in BlackBerry deal (RSF)