IFEX Digest | 14 - 20 March 2011

International

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World Day Against Cyber-Censorship: RSF releases new "Enemies of the Internet" list (RSF)

2011 RSF Netizen Prize: Tunisian bloggers honored as groups promote online free expression (RSF)

Recommendations to journalists covering the disaster in Japan (RSF)

Africa

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Angola

Ruling Armed Forces for the Liberation of Angola obstruct independent reporting (CPJ)

Free journalist jailed for reporting on judge (Human Rights Watch)

Benin

Media regulatory body suspends nine newspapers for one week (MFWA)

Cameroon

Freedom House calls for release of political and civil society activists (Freedom House)

Comoros

Two journalists charged over coverage of presidential handover (CPJ)

Côte d'Ivoire

Investigative journalist in hiding after escaping kidnap attempt; radio station ransacked, set ablaze (MFWA)

Radio station suspends normal programming for fear of attacks by Gbagbo's forces (MFWA)

Newspapers back on newsstands following three-day suspension (RSF)
+ Gbagbo forces block pro-Ouattara papers (CPJ)

Pro-Gbagbo forces hold newspaper distribution workers hostage (MFWA)
+ No newspapers on sale as a result of political crisis (RSF)

Ghana

Newspaper editor detained, released without charge (MFWA)

Police arrest five demonstrating teachers, thwart demonstration (MFWA)

MP who threatened editor summoned by police (MFWA)

Liberia

Judge dismisses criminal malevolence charge against newspaper (CEMESP)

CEMESP launches 2010 annual freedom of expression review (CEMESP)

Niger

WAN-IFRA welcomes commitment to free press (WAN-IFRA)

Somalia

NUSOJ General Assembly closes with national action pledge (NUSOJ)

Tanzania

ARTICLE 19 provides submission to Universal Periodic Review (ARTICLE 19)

The Gambia

Two family members of exiled opposition leader arrested for displaying political campaign materials (MFWA)

Togo

Regulatory authority closes down another radio station (MFWA)
+ Fourth radio station closed by government agency (RSF)

Uganda

ARTICLE 19 raises freedom of expression concerns for upcoming Universal Periodic Review (ARTICLE 19)

Demonstrating students assault two journalists (HRNJ-Uganda)

Two journalists injured during a demonstration (HRNJ-Uganda)
+ CPJ condemns police attack at Jinja protest (CPJ)

Zimbabwe

Bulawayo man denied bail in Facebook case (MISA)

Zimbabweans ready to risk lives to vote in 2011, says Freedom House poll (Freedom House)

Americas

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WAN-IFRA América Latina conference tackles main press freedom issues (WAN-IFRA)
+ Latin America Conference summaries (WAN-IFRA)

Cuba

Last of the "Black Spring" writers released (WiPC)

Ecuador

President of the republic will use contempt against "anyone who insults him" (Fundamedios)

President increases aggressiveness of his stigmatising speech against the private press (Fundamedios)

Honduras

IFEX-ALC calls on Honduras to uphold commitments it made by accepting the recommendations of the United Nations Human Rights Council (IFEX-ALC)

Community radio station director threatened, shot in the leg (AMARC)
+ Police try to hush up shooting of community radio station's president (RSF)
+ Community radio director shot; staff threatened (CPJ)

Freedom of expression still in decline despite government's promises to the United Nations (IFEX-ALC)

Peru

Prosecutor calls for four-year prison sentence for owner of Radio La Voz (IPYS)

Asia & Pacific

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Bangladesh

Opposition editor released after nine months in prison on contempt charge (RSF)

China

Beijing censors site after claim of health scandal cover-up (CPJ)

Indonesia

AJI condemns bombing aimed at activist (AJI)
+ SEAPA condemns violence against human rights advocates (SEAPA)

Revoke provincial decrees to ban a faith (Human Rights Watch)

Malaysia

Case against blogger withdrawn, but disturbing message prevails (CIJ)

Mongolia

Journalists win right to attend parliamentary meetings (Globe International)

Nepal

Journalist receives death threats from government representative (Freedom Forum)
+ More violence and threats against journalists (IFJ)

Pakistan

Camera operator struck by stray bullet at Punjab Assembly premises (PPF)
+ TV cameraman shot in the back, police blame "stray bullet" (RSF)

Interviews with journalists shed light on dangers, difficulties of the profession (RSF)

Thailand

Web designer sentenced to 13 years' imprisonment for lese majeste, cyber-crime law violation (SEAPA)
+ Web developer's 13-year prison sentence another setback for freedom of expression (ARTICLE 19)

ARTICLE 19 reports on declining freedom of expression for Universal Periodic Review (ARTICLE 19)
+ No more laissez-faire for freedom of expression (ARTICLE 19)

Vietnam

Authorities urged to overturn labour activists' harsh prison sentences (Human Rights Watch)

Europe & Central Asia

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Armenia

International reporters denied entry (CPJ)

Azerbaijan

Radio Free Europe journalist reportedly beaten covering demonstration in Baku (IPI)
+ Concerns about Fatullayev's prison conditions fall on deaf ears (RSF)

Dozens of peaceful protesters convicted (Human Rights Watch)

Government continues crackdown to prevent protests (Human Rights Watch)
+ IRFS condemns suspension of Human Rights House (IRFS)

Council of Europe Ministerial Committee calls on authorities to end Fatullayev's detention (IRFS)

Belarus

Prominent human rights defender expelled (Human Rights Watch)

Authorities carrying out campaign to stifle free expression, says Human Rights Watch report (Human Rights Watch)

Czech Republic

IPI condemns military police raid on Czech Television offices (IPI)

Kazakhstan

ARTICLE 19 opposes Kazakhstan's candidacy for membership in UN Human Rights Council (ARTICLE 19)

Serbia

Organisations show solidarity with broadcaster under threat (IPI)

Turkey

Twenty former DTP members convicted on propaganda charges (BIANET)

Journalist faces complaint for interview with PKK leader (BIANET)
+ Courts continue to hound journalists who cover Kurdish minority issues (RSF)

Publisher and writer convicted on charges of "spreading propaganda" for an illegal organisation (IPA)
+ Author Guler and publisher Zarakolu convicted (BIANET)
+ Publisher Ragip Zarakolu fined; writer Mehmet Guler receives suspended sentence (WiPC)

International press groups condemn journalist arrests (WAN-IFRA)

IPI delegation on emergency visit to Istanbul (IPI)

Uzbekistan

Government shuts down local Human Rights Watch office (Human Rights Watch)

Middle East & North Africa

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CIHRS expresses concern to UN Human Rights Council over brutal repression of demonstrators in the Arab region (CIHRS) Bahrain expels CNN reporter, detains newspaper correspondent (CPJ)
+ Thousands demonstrate peacefully (Human Rights Watch)

Bahrain

Protest leaders arbitrarily detained (Human Rights Watch)
+ Islamic scholar urged to abandon sectarian rhetoric, tolerance of oppressive regimes (ANHRI)

Activist Abdul-Jalil Alsingace re-arrested, fears for his safety (WiPC)

Mob damages press in Bahrain; Saudis oust international reporter (CPJ)
+ IFJ concerned over new media crisis in Bahrain (IFJ)
+ In support of professionalism and respect of peoples' will: ANHRI urges Al-Jazeera to cover Bahrain news (ANHRI)
+ Martial law does not trump basic rights (Human Rights Watch)

As unrest bubbles, Bahrain and Yemen obstruct press (CPJ)
+ Authorities begin to target foreign journalists, six deported (RSF)
+ IFJ urges Yemeni president to protect journalists after raid on union offices (IFJ)
+ Four foreign journalists expelled from Yemen; local reporters face beatings (IPI)

Egypt

Human rights organisations condemn break up of peaceful protest, mistreatment of demonstrators in Cairo (ANHRI)
+ End torture, military trials of civilians (Human Rights Watch)
+ Human rights organisations comment on newspaper interview with military police commander (ANHRI)
+ Complaint submitted to health minister over mistreatment of detainees (ANHRI)

Iran

Journalist sentenced to six years in prison, another one expelled amidst crackdown on media professionals (RSF)

Lebanon

Television correspondent receives death threats (SKeyes)

Three websites attacked by hackers (SKeyes)

Libya

Four "New York Times" journalists missing; "The Guardian" correspondent released (IPI)
+ Foreign reporters still hounded, four "New York Times" journalists missing (RSF)

Al-Jazeera journalist killed, another wounded (CPJ)
+ Al-Jazeera cameraman killed in ambush near rebel stronghold of Benghazi (RSF)
+ IFJ issues warning over safety as journalist is killedin Libya (IFJ)
+ End violent crackdown in Tripoli, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)

CPJ seeks release of "Guardian" reporter; obstruction continues (CPJ)

16th Session of the UN Human Rights Council - statement by Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)

Palestine

MADA demands investigation into attacks on journalists covering protest (MADA)
+ Hamas forces attack journalists covering Gaza protest (CPJ)
+ SKeyes correspondent beaten and another stabbed during a protest (SKeyes)

MADA hosts two free expression workshops in Gaza (MADA)
+ MADA holds free expression workshop in Bureij camp, Gaza Strip (MADA)

Human Rights Watch calls on authorities to investigate claims that security officials tortured blogger; journalists threatened (Human Rights Watch)

Saudi Arabia

Mob damages press in Bahrain; Saudis oust international reporter (CPJ)
+ IFJ concerned over new media crisis in Bahrain (IFJ)
+ In support of professionalism and respect of peoples' will: ANHRI urges Al-Jazeera to cover Bahrain news (ANHRI)
+ Martial law does not trump basic rights (Human Rights Watch)

Syria

Peaceful demonstration violently dispersed; 34 reported detained, including prominent activists (Human Rights Watch)
+ Media observer arrested during Damascus sit-in (RSF)

Journalist Ali al-Abdullah gets 18-month sentence (WiPC)
+ Already imprisoned journalist given a new jail sentence (RSF)

Yemen

Journalist fatally shot, another injured (CPJ)
+ Yemeni journalist killed in shootings on protestors (IPI)
+ US: Suspend military aid to Yemen (Human Rights Watch)
+ More harassment of journalists covering pro-democracy demonstrations, one killed in Yemen (RSF)
+ IFJ blames state violence over killing of journalist (IFJ)

As unrest bubbles, Bahrain and Yemen obstruct press (CPJ)
+ Authorities begin to target foreign journalists, six deported (RSF)
+ IFJ urges Yemeni president to protect journalists after raid on union offices (IFJ)
+ Four foreign journalists expelled from Yemen; local reporters face beatings (IPI)

Suspend aid after attacks on protesters (Human Rights Watch)