IFEX Digest | 26 September - 2 October 2011

International

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Countries start signing anti-counterfeiting accord that was negotiated secretly (RSF)
+ European Parliament urged to reject Anti-Counterfeiting Trade Agreement (ARTICLE 19)

ARTICLE 19 celebrates advancements in the right to freedom of information (ARTICLE 19)

Resolutions issued by IPI membership at World Congress point to concerns over impunity, criminal defamation and restrictive legislation (IPI)

Freedom House releases report on growing challenges to internet freedom (Freedom House)

Africa

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MISA launches reports on most open and most secretive public institutions in southern Africa (MISA) World's press welcomes African declaration on access to information (WAN-IFRA)

Burundi

Authorities urged to lift news blackout imposed after Gatumba massacre (RSF)

Democratic Republic of Congo

Cameraman attacked while filming opposition demonstration (JED)

Equatorial Guinea

UNESCO director-general urged to cancel Obiang prize (RSF)

Eritrea

Journalists face threats in covering Dawit Isaac's imprisonment (CPJ)

Malawi

Journalist threatened after allegedly publicising conversation involving presidential candidate (MISA)

Rwanda

Rugambage murder trial verdict raises more questions than it answers, says RSF (RSF)

Senegal

Three "La Tribune" journalists detained over story on police violence (MFWA)

Somalia

AU forces say four soldiers responsible for journalist's death (CPJ)
+ NUSOJ welcomes AU apology over Malaysian journalist's killing, demands probe on death of Somali journalist (NUSOJ)

Harassment and attacks on journalists in Puntland and Somaliland (RSF)

Sudan

Newspaper closed, others suspended or seized, journalists physically attacked (RSF)
+ Authorities shut down "Al-Jarida" newspaper, confiscate its assets (ANHRI)

The Gambia

Lawyer jailed for defending his client (MFWA)

Uganda

Journalist harassed over political talk show (HRNJ-Uganda)

Zambia

Injunction on private media houses lifted (IPI)

"Zambia Daily Mail" crew attacked (MISA)

Americas

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Cuba

IAPA condemns increased harassment of dissidents (IAPA)

Ecuador

"El Universo" threatened with two more lawsuits (Fundamedios)

Correa lambastes press in Columbia speech (CPJ)

IAPA calls attention to Correa's conflicting positions on press freedom (IAPA)

Honduras

Armed men threaten journalist, steal his laptop (C-Libre)
+ One opposition journalist threatened, another pursued by coup general (RSF)

Mexico

IAPA highlights absence of government action following assassination of yet another journalist (IAPA)
+ Journalist's decapitated body found in Mexico (CPJ)
+ World's press condemns brutal killing of newspaper editor (WAN-IFRA)
+ Newspaper editor beheaded in Nuevo Laredo, young reporter missing in Veracruz (RSF)
+ One journalist murdered, another missing (WiPC)
+ Journalist murdered due to online activities (ARTICLE 19)
+ Journalist kidnapped, beheaded (IPI)

Journalist reported missing in Veracruz (ARTICLE 19)
+ Police reporter missing in Veracruz (CPJ)

After wasted month in prison, two social network users freed, charges dropped (RSF)

Nicaragua

IAPA protests harassment of journalists in Venezuela, Argentina, Nicaragua (IAPA)

Peru

Journalists receive death threats via leaflets left at their homes (IPYS)

Newspaper editor, correspondent given two-year suspended prison sentences (IPYS)
+ Decriminalisation urged after suspended jail terms for two journalists (RSF)

United States

United States urged to take tough stance on Uzbekistan (Human Rights Watch)
+ PEN urges Secretary Clinton to stand up for human rights in Uzbekistan (PEN American Center)
+ Human Rights Watch calls on Clinton to set record straight on rights (Human Rights Watch)

Venezuela

Hackers use Twitter to intimidate reporters (IPI)

Asia & Pacific

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Freedom of expression groups urge ASEAN to promote access to information (SEAPA)
+ On Right to Know Day, AJI calls on journalists to monitor implementation of public information law (AJI) Conference participants discuss situation of online media in Southeast Asia (SEAPA)

China

State secrecy laws used to intimidate journalists (IFJ)
+ IFJ concerned by illegal threats to journalists in Southern China (IFJ)

Authorities arrest South Korean journalists near North Korean border (RSF)

Fiji

IFJ supports citizens' calls for press freedom (IFJ)

Malaysia

Broadcast ban placed on video aimed at increasing voter registration (SEAPA)

North Korea

Panel participants highlight challenges of reporting on closed society (IPI)

Philippines

Journalist's daughter kidnapped (CPJ)

Singapore

ARTICLE 19 disappointed by government's failure to commit to greater free expression during UPR process (ARTICLE 19)

Thailand

Journalist dies from bomb blast injuries (CPJ)
+ Reporter dies from burn injuries in far-south bombings (RSF)

Vanuatu

PFF welcomes UN concern over media freedom (PFF)
+ IFJ welcomes UN statement on attacks on media (IFJ)

Vietnam

Dissident writers amnestied (WiPC)
+ CJFE condemns continued detainment of bloggers and journalists (CJFE)

Europe & Central Asia

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Serbia

IPI condemns physical attack on TV Tutin crew (IPI)

Spain

WPFC-FH applauds court decision declaring lawsuit against "Leer" magazine null and void (WPFC)

Sweden

Journalists face threats in covering Dawit Isaac's imprisonment (CPJ)

Tajikistan

Journalist faces 16 years in jail if convicted on defamation charges (CPJ)
+ Prosecutor requests lengthy prison sentence for reporter who criticised local officials (RSF)
+ Tajikistan must release reporters (CPJ)

Turkey

RSF alarmed over premature closure of prosecution case in Dink murder trial (RSF)
+ Lawyers walk out of courtroom in protest over premature closure (BIANET)
+ Justice for Hrant Dink - time running out (RSF)
+ Court of Appeals ruling: "no defamation of Hrant Dink" (BIANET)

Uzbekistan

United States urged to take tough stance on Uzbekistan (Human Rights Watch)
+ PEN urges Secretary Clinton to stand up for human rights in Uzbekistan (PEN American Center)
+ Human Rights Watch calls on Clinton to set record straight on rights (Human Rights Watch)

Middle East & North Africa

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Bloodbath in Yemen, violence throughout the region (RSF)
+ ANHRI condemns blocking of "Yemen Nation" news website (ANHRI)
+ Issue of national newspaper confiscated in Egypt (ANHRI)
+ Egypt must stop censoring newspapers (CPJ)
+ Yemeni journalist succumbs to gunshot wounds (IPI)
+ More press freedom attacks in Egypt (IPI)

Bahrain

Photographers brought to trial (RSF)

Sentences upheld against jailed human rights defenders, writers and bloggers (WiPC)
+ Authorities uphold lengthy prison terms for journalists (CPJ)
+ Activists detained in Qurain Prison are prisoners of conscience, must be released immediately (BCHR)

Human Rights Watch calls for reinstatement of expelled students, faculty (Human Rights Watch)

Egypt

Police raid Al-Jazeera offices again (CPJ)

ANHRI concerned over sharp decline in freedom of expression (ANHRI)
+ "White columns" initiative protests military interference in newspapers' editorial content (ANHRI)
+ World's press calls for greater protection of freedom of expression (WAN-IFRA)

Jailed blogger's brother harassed for supporting him (RSF)
+ Authorities urged to free blogger at military court appeal (RSF)
+ Appeals in the cases of Maikel Nabil and Nassary Hassan accepted (ANHRI)
+ Jailed blogger's retrial adjourned again as military plays for time (RSF)
+ Re-trial of blogger Maikel Nabil Sanad repeatedly postponed; serious concerns for his health (WiPC)

Government moves to restrict rights and democracy groups (Human Rights Watch)

In a lecture to National Security officers, Bahey eldin Hassan warns of the dangers of reviving the policies and practices of Mubarak and al-Adli and the application of the emergency law (CIHRS)

National Coalition for Media Freedom condemns deterioration of media freedom (ANHRI)

Iran

More arrests, threats and sentences for journalists (RSF)

Iraq

Journalist, playwright, filmmaker and member of Iraqi PEN murdered (WiPC)

Israel

French journalist wounded in grenade attack while covering march (MADA)

Charge or release Al Jazeera bureau chief (Human Rights Watch)

Jordan

Parliament criminalises reporting on corruption (ANHRI)
+ Anti-corruption bill would restrict press, says CPJ (CPJ)

Lebanon

Two lawyers face disciplinary measures for publishing article (Maharat Foundation)

Palestine

One journalist detained; security forces storm another journalist's home in Nablus (ANHRI)

French journalist wounded in grenade attack while covering march (MADA)

Tunisia

ANHRI contributes to seminar on status of media, free expression (ANHRI)

United Arab Emirates

Trial of activists "fundamentally unfair," say rights groups (Human Rights Watch)
+ Families' plea to free activists (Human Rights Watch)

Yemen

Sniper fire claims life of cameraman (CPJ)