Middle East & North Africa

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Middle East & North Africa

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Link to: CPJ urges the government to end its campaign against the independent media

CPJ urges the government to end its campaign against the independent media

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 26 February 2002 letter to Algerian President Abdel Aziz Bouteflika, CPJ expressed its concern that independent Algerian journalists are facing criminal prosecution for defaming the military under restrictive new laws passed in June 2001. During a 25 February court hearing, the Ministry of National Defense charged Selima Tlemcani, a journalist for […]

Link to: Sentences of writer Mehrangiz Kar and publisher Shahla Lahiji reduced on appeal

Sentences of writer Mehrangiz Kar and publisher Shahla Lahiji reduced on appeal

(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC of International PEN has been informed that final verdicts have been reached in the trials of writer, editor and lawyer Mehrangiz Kar and publisher Shahla Lahiji. Both their sentences have been reduced to six months’ imprisonment, calculated as time served (two months’ imprisonment) plus a 500,000 rial (approx. US$285) fine. A human […]

Link to: Conservative daily suspended

Conservative daily suspended

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to the head of the magistracy, Ayatollah Sharudi, RSF protested the two-month suspension of the daily “Siyassat-é-Rouz”. “We ask that you annul this decision,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. According to information obtained by RSF, on 24 February 2002, Judge Said Mortazi ordered the two-month suspension of the daily “Siyassat-é-Rouz”, […]

Link to: CPJ protests shooting of journalist

CPJ protests shooting of journalist

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 21 February 2002 letter to Prime Minister Ariel Sharon, CPJ strongly protested last week’s shooting of journalist Sagui Bashan, a reporter with Israel’s Channel 2 television station, by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) soldier(s) near the Gaza Strip. On 14 February, one or more IDF soldiers opened fire on Bashan while the […]

Link to: CPJ condemns IDF troops’ destruction of Palestinian broadcast facilities in Gaza

CPJ condemns IDF troops’ destruction of Palestinian broadcast facilities in Gaza

(CPJ/IFEX) – The following is a 21 February CPJ press release: ISRAEL: IDF troops destroy Palestinian broadcast facilities in Gaza New York February 21, 2002-The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns the destruction of a Palestinian broadcasting facility in the Gaza Strip by Israeli forces today. Early this morning in the Gaza city of Al-Shijaieh, […]

Link to: IFJ condemns bombing of Palestinian radio and television facilities

IFJ condemns bombing of Palestinian radio and television facilities

(IFJ/IFEX) – The following is an IFJ media release, followed by the organisation’s letter to Israeli Prime Minister Ariel Sharon: TV Bombing: IFJ Warns Israel Over “Making the world a dangerous place for journalists” THE International Federation of Journalists today warned Prime Minister Ariel Sharon that Israel’s latest bombing of Palestinian radio and television facilities, […]

Link to: Appeals Court prosecutor seeks one-year prison sentence against “El Watan” editor

Appeals Court prosecutor seeks one-year prison sentence against “El Watan” editor

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Justice Minister Ahmed Ouyahia, RSF protested the Algiers Appeals Court prosecutor’s seeking of a one-year prison-sentence against the editor of the private daily newspaper “El Watan”, Omar Belhouchet, for “attacking official bodies”. RSF notes that in a document dated 18 January 2000, United Nations Special Rapporteur for Freedom of […]

Link to: Weekly newspaper “Al-Shumou” suspended

Weekly newspaper “Al-Shumou” suspended

(CPJ/IFEX) – In a 20 February 2002 letter to Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh, CPJ protested the recent suspension of the weekly newspaper “Al-Shumou”. CPJ has learned that the Ministry of Information issued an order for the indefinite closure of the newspaper on 3 February 2002. Seif al-Hadheri, “Al-Shumou”‘s editor-in-chief, told CPJ that the ministry […]

Link to: Spanish journalist murdered

Spanish journalist murdered

(WAN/IFEX) – In a 19 February 2002 letter to Moroccan Interior Minister Driss Jettou, WAN and the World Editors Forum expressed their outrage at the murder of Spanish journalist José Luis Percebal. According to reports, Percebal, a long-time Morocco correspondent for the independent Spanish radio station Cadena Cope, was found dead in his home on […]

Link to: Soldiers fire at journalist’s car and injure him

Soldiers fire at journalist’s car and injure him

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Israeli Chief of Staff Shaul Moffaz, RSF protested Israeli soldiers’ shooting at Sagui Bashan’s car in Netzarim (Gaza Strip). Bashan is a journalist for Israel’s second television channel. “Whatever their nationality, journalists should be able to move freely around the different territories without putting their lives at risk,” stated […]

Link to: “Journal hebdomadaire” editors’ prison sentences commuted to suspended sentences

“Journal hebdomadaire” editors’ prison sentences commuted to suspended sentences

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Justice Minister Omar Azziman, RSF protested the sentencing on appeal of Aboubakr Jamai and Ali Amar, managing editor and managing director of “Journal hebdomadaire”, respectively, to suspended prison sentences. The organisation asked the minister to “use all his influence to have the decision overturned by the Supreme Court.” According […]

Link to: Journalists prevented from entering Gaza Strip

Journalists prevented from entering Gaza Strip

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Israeli Chief of Staff Shaul Moffaz, RSF protested the ban imposed on journalists on 13 February 2002. Journalists were barred from covering Israeli army operations in the Gaza Strip on that day. “It is unacceptable that Israeli authorities prevent journalists from doing their jobs,” stated RSF Secretary-General Robert Ménard. […]

Link to: IPI denounces ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation against journalist Nayyouf’s family

IPI denounces ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation against journalist Nayyouf’s family

(IPI/IFEX) – In a 15 February 2002 letter to Italian President Carlo Azeglio Ciampi, on the eve of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s official state visit to Italy (19-21 February), IPI brought to the Italian president’s attention the ongoing campaign of harassment and intimidation against Syrian journalist Nizar Nayyouf’s family. As a result of their refusal […]

Link to: Several journalists brought in for questioning by police

Several journalists brought in for questioning by police

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to President Mohammed Khatami, RSF protested the summoning of several journalists by the Tehran police. “We are concerned by this wave of interrogations, which appear to be a case of police interference in journalists’ private lives,” stated Robert Ménard, the organisation’s secretary-general. “We ask that you use your influence to […]

Link to: Filming prohibited in Jenin

Filming prohibited in Jenin

(RSF/IFEX) – In a letter to Vice-Minister of the Interior Ahmed Said Tamimi, RSF protested the intimidation of journalists and confiscation of their equipment on 5 February 2002 in Jenin. “Under no circumstances should the Palestinian Authority prevent media from doing their job, especially when they are covering tragic events such as the ones that […]

Link to: Cassation Court accepts re-trial of sentenced academic and his colleagues

Cassation Court accepts re-trial of sentenced academic and his colleagues

(EOHR/IFEX) – The following is a 6 February 2002 EOHR press release: The Cassation Court accepted the re-trial of Dr. Saad El Deen Ibrahim and his associates EOHR welcomes the ruling of the Cassation Court, issued in its session of 6 February 2002. The court accepted Dr. Saad’s appeal and challenge and referred him to […]