IFEX Digest | 11 - 17 July 2011

Africa

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Central African Republic

Judge fines and releases two journalists (RSF)

Sierra Leone

Newspaper reporter receives death threat (MFWA)

Sudan

ANHRI condemns imprisonment of journalist Fatima Ghazali (ANHRI)

"Rai al-Shaab" editor and "Al-Sahafa" journalist now face death penalty (WiPC)

Americas

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Brazil

Five suspects arrested in murder of editor and politician (CPJ)

Colombia

One journalist killed, two threatened (WiPC)

Ecuador

Columnist resigns in attempt to stop president's lawsuit against paper (Fundamedios)

Journalist accused of terrorism threatened once again (Fundamedios)

Honduras

Radio director killed in Candelaria (C-Libre)
+ Young radio station manager gunned down on eve of community radio station meeting (RSF)
+ Pro-Zelaya journalist gunned down (IPI)
+ IAPA calls for increased efforts to ensure press freedom (IAPA)
+ Provincial journalist murdered (CPJ)

Mexico

UN human rights official voices dismay as third journalist is killed in a month (RSF)
+ Journalist and his son murdered in Mexico State (WiPC)

Paraguay

SPP condemns death threats against journalists in Alto Verá (SPP)

Peru

Journalist sentenced to prison for accusation he did not make (IPYS)

Venezuela

Photojournalist assaulted, briefly detained (IPYS-Venezuela)

Asia & Pacific

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Bangladesh

Reporters attacked in separate incidents (Media Watch)
+ Journalist and wife injured in bomb attack (RSF)

Burma

Traditional dance troupes face additional restrictions (Mizzima News)

Cambodia

Appeal Court upholds prison sentence for human rights worker (CCHR)
+ Human Rights Watch calls for release of human rights worker (Human Rights Watch)

Community activists detained overnight in police custody (CCHR)

China

Mongolian cyber-dissident and relatives still in prison, relatives harassed (RSF)

Hong Kong (China)

HKJA condemns police action against demonstrators (HKJA)
+ IFJ protests treatment of journalists, human rights observers (IFJ)
+ Human Rights Watch calls for investigation into police actions at 1 July rally (Human Rights Watch)

Indonesia

IFJ backs calls for improved professionalism among journalists (IFJ)

Malaysia

Crackdown on electoral reform protesters violates right to free expression, says ARTICLE 19 (ARTICLE 19)
+ Call for investigation into crackdown on pro-democracy march (Human Rights Watch)

Maldives

IFJ concerned over police investigation into journalist's sources (IFJ)

Nepal

Editor receives threatening phone call (Freedom Forum)

Pakistan

Senior minister harasses, threatens TV team (PPF)

Top US military official says Pakistani government sanctioned journalist's murder (IPI)
+ Slain journalist's associates say murder investigation has ground to a halt (RSF)

Philippines

"Special court" designated to handle Ampatuan massacre case (CMFR)
+ Court denies motions to exclude prosecution witnesses (CMFR)
+ Ampatuan massacre suspect plea to be state witness rejected (IFJ)
+ IFJ fears further delay in Ampatuan massacre trials (IFJ)

Singapore

British author Alan Shadrake freed and deported, status of his book remains unclear (SEAPA)
+ British author Alan Shadrake released from prison and deported (WiPC)

Thailand

Media targeted in political transition (CPJ)

Tibet (China)

Writer and editor sentenced (WiPC)

Vanuatu

Risible fine for minister who assaulted newspaper publisher (RSF)

Vietnam

Journalists detained, released in clampdown (CPJ)

Award-winning writer and journalist released into exile (WiPC)

Europe & Central Asia

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Cyprus

IFJ condemns attack against Turkish Cypriot journalist (IFJ)

Georgia

Three photographers arrested, accused of espionage (IPI)
+ Questions raised by detention of four photographers on spying charges (RSF)
+ IFJ joins calls for release of detained photojournalists (IFJ)

Germany

Proposed sale of tanks to repressive regime sends wrong signal, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)

Hungary

IPI conducts six-month follow-up press freedom visit (IPI)

Macedonia

IPI concerned over latest media developments (IPI)

Montenegro

IPI welcomes decriminalisation of defamation (IPI)

Tajikistan

After being held for one month, BBC reporter must be freed without delay (RSF)

Authorities continue to hold BBC journalist (CPJ)

Turkey

IFJ condemns attack against Turkish Cypriot journalist (IFJ)

United Kingdom

IFJ welcomes inquiries into media ethics after closure of scandal-ridden tabloid (IFJ)

Middle East & North Africa

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Bahrain

Foreign journalists face continued harassment, restrictions imposed by authorities (BCHR)

Egypt

Four journalists arrested after filming anti-government protests in Suez (IPI)

Appointment of information minister a setback for free expression, media coalition says (ANHRI)
+ Reinstatement of Information Ministry is a setback, says CPJ (CPJ)

Iran

Detained journalists abused (CPJ)

Iraq

Lawsuits, violence by security forces now daily events for journalists, says RSF (RSF)

Human Rights Watch calls on government to revise draft law that curbs protests, speech (Human Rights Watch)

Israel

Anti-boycott bill stifles expression, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)
+ MADA condemns anti-boycott bill (MADA)

Kuwait

Call for release of jailed Internet scribes (Human Rights Watch)

Morocco

Human rights provisions in revised Constitution should protect right to demonstrate, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)

Palestine

MADA condemns arson attack on Ma'an news agency's Gaza headquarters (MADA)
+ Molotov cocktail attack on news agency's Gaza City bureau (RSF)

Saudi Arabia

Islamic scholar detained for criticising interior ministry (Human Rights Watch)

Lebanese newspaper's website blocked (ANHRI)

Proposed sale of tanks to repressive regime sends wrong signal, says Human Rights Watch (Human Rights Watch)

Syria

Dutch reporter briefly detained, deported to Turkey (CPJ)

Young man killed after singing anti-Assad song during demonstration (ANHRI)
+ Poet and song writer killed for a protest song, says WiPC (WiPC)

Blogger arrested, held at unknown location (ANHRI)
+ Regime steps up information war (RSF)

Defectors describe orders to shoot unarmed protesters (Human Rights Watch)

The challenge of covering Syria: as Assad regime allows handful of foreign journalists in, news organisations and activists strive to penetrate "kingdom of silence" (IPI)

Tunisia

AMARC and IMS conclude mission on media development (AMARC)

New decree on access to information rolls back culture of secrecy (ARTICLE 19)

United Arab Emirates

End trial of activists charged with insulting officials (ANHRI)

Blogger Ahmed Mansoor to appear in court (RSF)

Yemen

ANHRI condemns ongoing censorship, confiscation of newspaper copies (ANHRI)