Journalists receive threats via social media in the aftermath of early December general election
The Media Foundation for West Africa is calling on the police to investigate grave threats made against journalists working for Ghana’s Multimedia Group in the aftermath of the December election.
Liberian government’s practice towards media fuels infodemic
The Liberian government’s decision to restrict media outlets allowed to cover the Ministry of Information’s pandemic briefings has resulted in citizens turning to consuming unverified information.
Turkey: Can Dündar sentenced to 27 years and 6 months in prison because of his journalism
The former editor-in-chief of “Cumhuriyet” daily was on trial over the newspaper’s 2015 coverage of allegations that Turkey sent weapons to insurgents in Syria on trucks operated by the National Intelligence Agency.
Turkey: ECtHR orders immediate release of opposition politician Selahattin Demirtaş
Demirtaş, the former co-chair of the pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Democratic Party (HDP), has been in pre-trial detention since November 2016 on various spurious charges, many terrorism-related. The ECtHR ruled that his detention was politically motivated.
Journalists in India face attacks, legal action, and threats
Dozens of local journalists were included in lists allegedly identifying them as “anti-Hindu” or as “Indian agents”. Because of this, several reporters in the list faced police investigations and attacks while performing their duties.
Poet and writer Tran Duc Thach sentenced to 12 years in Vietnamese prison
Vietnamese writer Tran Duc Thach was convicted on charges of subversion under Article 109 of the country’s criminal code. He was arrested in April for Facebook posts criticizing corruption in government and human rights abuses in the country.
Russia cracks down on political performance art
“Graphic political performances are symptoms of pent-up public frustrations. It would be smarter for the authorities to listen to people’s critical voices, especially the distressed ones, even when they are expressed through controversial performance.”
HCLU and partners’ statement on Hungary’s failure to comply with ECJ ruling on foreign-funded NGOs
In June 2020, the ECJ ruled that Hungary’s restrictions on foreign-funded NGOs broke EU law. In light of Hungary’s failure to comply with the ruling, HCLU and allies offer three recommendations and call on the European Commission to act.
Australia: ‘Journalists need better protection, not prosecution’
The Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance said there is still an urgent need for much broader reform to remove laws that criminalise journalism in Australia.
Nepal: Police arrest another individual convicted in journalist Thapa’s murder
Freedom Forum welcomed the arrest of Hari Lal Pun, one of the individuals convicted for the killing of journalist Thapa. It acknowledged that the arrest is important in addressing the impunity for crimes against journalists in Nepal.
Pakistan: ‘Inappropriate’ Twitter trends, cyber armies and the role of political parties
Bytes for All criticized offensive online trends targeting women members of political families. It noted that cyber armies of political parties are accountable for this disturbing online content.
Open letter to Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube: Stop silencing critical voices from the Middle East and North Africa
On the 10th anniversary of the Arab Spring, activists, journalists, and rights organizations voice frustration and dismay at how platform policies and content moderation procedures all too often lead to the silencing and erasure of critical voices from marginalized and oppressed communities across the region.
What’s good and what’s worrying in the EU’s draft Digital Services Act and Digital Markets Act
“The DSA places new transparency and due diligence obligations on very large online platforms. The DMA imposes dos and don’ts on gatekeepers that provide ‘core platform services’. Both Acts have the potential to be a blueprint for regulation and competition across online platforms.”
Malta: Threats to the independence of the public inquiry into the assassination of Daphne Caruana Galizia must stop
Thirty-eight months after the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia, rights organisations reiterate that a fully independent and transparent public inquiry is key to achieving justice for Daphne’s assassination and ensuring that this will never happen again.
Rights organizations call on Biden administration to shift US policy toward Bahrain
In a joint letter to President Elect Joseph Biden, organizations raise their concerns about the deteriorating political situation in Bahrain and urge him to ensure that democracy and human rights are returned to the center of American foreign policy.
Opposition crushed ahead of Condé’s inauguration
The inauguration of Alpha Condé for his controversial third term as president for Guinea is being held against the backdrop of a violent crackdown on opposition leaders and supporters.