IFEX Digest | 17 - 23 January 2011

Africa

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Liberia

Newspaper reporter barred from legislature (MFWA)

Rwanda

Call for 33-year jail term for journalist alarms world's press (WAN-IFRA)

World's press condemns lengthy sentences for Rwandan journalists (WAN-IFRA)

The Gambia

Authorities shut down radio station (MFWA)

Togo

Authorities shut down three radio stations (MFWA)

Uganda

Magazine editor and director detained over cartoon of President Museveni (HRNJ-Uganda)
+ Ugandan magazine questioned over Museveni cartoon (CPJ)

Zambia

Police record statement from station manager over alleged broadcast of seditious material (MISA)
+ Journalist arrested for allegedly running seditious material on Radio in western Zambia (MISA)

Radio station effectively closed; "Post" newspaper journalist detained (IPI)

Zimbabwe

Soldiers in Gutu prevent vendors from selling copies of "The Mirror" newspaper (MISA)

Americas

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IPI supports resolution naming 2011 "The Year of Freedom of Expression in the Western Hemisphere" (IPI)

Argentina

IAPA concerned over blockade of papers' printing presses (IAPA)

IAPA insists on clear rules for the allocation of state advertising, protests discriminatory practices (IAPA)

Canada

CJFE concerned that Vancouver journalist may be forced to reveal her source (CJFE)

Colombia

IAPA welcomes legal reform facilitating battle against impunity (IAPA)

Ecuador

Judge rejects journalist's appeal, sends case to trial (Fundamedios)

Ecuador must return property seized from news magazine (CPJ)

Government presents referendum question for the creation of a media regulating committee (Fundamedios)

Government interrupts interview programme (Fundamedios)

Private media prevented from covering event (Fundamedios)

Guatemala

Two journalists assaulted during political event in Quiché (CERIGUA)

Honduras

AMARC concerned over restrictions against two radio journalists (AMARC)
+ Restrictions imposed in absence of any guilty finding (RSF)

Radio station forced off the air by threats (RSF)

Mexico

Member of community radio station apprehended in Veracruz (AMARC)

Paraguay

IFJ rejects link between firing of union leader and bomb attack at television network (IFJ)

United States

IAPA concerned over tension between Florida's new governor and the press (IAPA)

Obama administration to take steps to facilitate free exchange of ideas across borders, State Department says (PEN American Center)

Asia & Pacific

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Afghanistan

Prominent reporter attacked with acid (CPJ)
+ IFJ condemns acid attack on senior Afghan journalist (IFJ)

China

IFJ urges medical parole for jailed writer Hu Jia (IFJ)

US should recognize critics of Chinese government, raise deteriorating rights environment (Human Rights Watch)

Malaysia

Auxiliary police allegedly assault, arrest photographer (CIJ)

IFJ calls on newspaper management to respect rights of working journalists to freely discuss industry issues (IFJ)

Mongolia

General prosecutor files criminal defamation case against journalist (Globe International)

Globe International dismayed over discrimination against journalists (Globe International)
+ Journalists win right to attend parliamentary meetings (Globe International)

Nepal

Journalists harassed by political party cadres in Lalitpur (Freedom Forum)

Breaching of freedom of expression rife (Freedom Forum)

IFJ report outlines continuing challenges for journalists (IFJ)

Pakistan

Zardari must address attacks on journalists in Pakistan (CPJ)

Philippines

IFJ urges speedy resolution of journalist's murder (IFJ)

Sri Lanka

Journalists demand investigations into death, disappearance in Sri Lanka (IFJ)

Thailand

Photojournalists face deportation (CPJ)

Vietnam

Journalist critically injured in fiery attack (CPJ)

CPJ concerned as government plays "national security" censorship card (CPJ)

Europe & Central Asia

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Azerbaijan

IRFS appeals to European Commission president on the occasion of state visit (IRFS)

Belarus

Two more independent journalists jailed (CPJ)

Hungary

EU Telecoms chief says media law may violate EU law on press freedom, broadcasting (IPI)

ARTICLE 19 issues statement on controversial new media laws (ARTICLE 19)

Norway

Writer detained, faces deportation (Norwegian PEN)

Switzerland

Former WikiLeaks informant due to appear before Zurich court (RSF)

Turkey

Academic faces 36 years in prison amidst fears she is being targeted for her research and commentary (WiPC)
+ Activist's trial a travesty of justice (Human Rights Watch)

RTUK: "Magnificent Century" series clashes with "moral values" (BIANET)

Ukraine

Access to information law adopted (ARTICLE 19)

Uzbekistan

CPJ urges EU to press Uzbekistan on its press freedom crisis (CPJ)

Middle East & North Africa

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Bahrain

Internet activist arrested for expressing his views online (BCHR)

BBC correspondents prevented from reporting on situation in Bahrain (BCHR)

Egypt

In the first meeting of this kind in the Arab world, UN Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Opinion and Expression attends Cairo discussion (ANHRI)

Iraq

ARTICLE 19 and IFJ welcome appeal court victory for "The Guardian" in defamation case (IFJ)

Israel

CPJ condemns security personnel for humiliating inspections of journalists (CPJ)

Saudi Arabia

Saudi online media regulations alarmingly restrictive (CPJ)

Syria

Palestinian journalist goes missing in Damascus while doing research on Hamas (RSF)

Tunisia

IFEX-TMG welcomes release of Fahem Boukadous but says struggle for freedom of expression not over yet (IFEX-TMG)
+ IFJ welcomes release of Fahem Boukaddous (IFJ)
+ Ailing TV reporter freed after 189 days in prison (RSF)
+ Boukaddous and seven others released (WiPC)
+ The Tunisian uprising: lessons in confronting tyranny (CIHRS)

IFJ seeks freedom for ailing journalist Fahem Boukadous (IFJ)
+ Tunisia should free Boukadous, lift remaining press freedom obstacles (CPJ)

French photographer dies in hospital following tear gas attack (RSF)

End use of excessive force; free political prisoners, Human Rights Watch urges (Human Rights Watch)

Ben Ali's escape from country will not spare him legal pursuit, ANHRI says (ANHRI)

President's ouster provides opportunity for reform in Tunisia (Freedom House)

Pledge to free press vindicates journalistsl struggle, says IFJ (IFJ)

Predator of press freedom leaves, RSF says (RSF)

As Ben Ali's regime falls, 3 journalists freed (CPJ)

Journalists and bloggers abducted, detained and jailed, fear for their safety (WiPC)

Yemen

Reporter sentenced to five years in prison for alleged Al-Qaeda links (RSF)
+ ANHRI condemns sentencing of journalist by a special court (ANHRI)
+ Journalist who covers Al-Qaeda given jail sentence (CPJ)
+ IFJ condemns terrorism conviction of journalist (IFJ)
+ Journalist sentenced to 5 years in prison (WiPC)
+ World's press condemns jailing of journalist for alleged links to terror organisation (WAN-IFRA)

Yemen should free two critical journalists (CPJ)