Articles by ARTICLE 19
Malawi Report: Communications Reform and Freedom of Expression
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 19 October 1998, ARTICLE 19 released the following report on communications reform and freedom of expression in Malawi: Malawi Communications: another sorry tale of frustration Since Malawi’s return to multi-party democracy in 1994, there have been major changes in broadcasting, telecommunications, Internet and e-mail. However, according to a new report by […]
Belgrade free media to be sacrificed for Kosovo deal?
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 14 October 1998, ARTICLE 19 called for “an immediate, clear and determined response” by the international Contact Group to the latest crackdown on Serbia’s independent media. Over the last three days, newspapers and broadcasters have forcibly been closed by the Serbian authorities, with equipment seized and threats of further action. Frances […]
Commonwealth asked to censure Malaysia, hold the line on Nigeria
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 has challenged the Commonwealth Ministerial Action Group (CMAG), which meets in London from 8 to 9 October 1998, to create a new category of countries considered “at risk” of committing serious and persistent human rights violations, starting with Malaysia. Malcolm Smart, Deputy Director of ARTICLE 19 said: “At present, CMAG […]
Anti-censorship group challenges Lord Chancellor on UK obscenity law
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 2 October 1998, ARTICLE 19 wrote to the Lord Chancellor, Lord Irvine of Lairg, appealing to him to urgently review British obscenity laws and stating that they represent an excessive restriction on freedom of expression. Frances DâSouza, Executive Director of ARTICLE 19, said: “The Obscenity Act is impossibly subjective and is […]
Reaction to draft media law
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 1 October 1998 ARTICLE 19 produced a Memorandum on the Bulgarian Draft Law on National Radio and Television. The Draft Law was recently vetoed by Bulgarian President Petar Stoyanov and awaits further debate in the Bulgarian National Assembly. What follows is a summary of this memorandum. **Further to IFEX alerts of […]
Appeals Court confirms prison sentence
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 is extremely concerned at the confirmation by the Court of Appeals on 23 September 1998 of the sentence of 10 months’ imprisonment imposed on the mayor of Istanbul, Tayyip Erdogan. In a letter of 23 April this year, ARTICLE 19 had considered the sentence, imposed for repeating a passage from […]
Appeals Court confirms prison sentence
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 is extremely concerned at the confirmation by the Court of Appeals on 23 September 1998 of the sentence of 10 months’ imprisonment imposed on the mayor of Istanbul, Tayyip Erdogan. In a letter of 23 April this year, ARTICLE 19 had considered the sentence, imposed for repeating a passage from […]
Guatemala’s Constitutional Court to rule on freedom of expression
(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – In a 23 September 1998 letter to Guatemalan President Álvaro Arzú, ARTICLE 19 expressed concern that the guarantee of freedom of expression in the Guatemalan Constitution may not be applicable to ordinary individuals. Article 35 of the Guatemalan Constitution guarantees freedom of expression, but it restricts the guarantee to “medios de difusion,” […]