ARTICLE 19

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 26 January 1998, the Jordanian Supreme Court decided to revoke the May 1997 amendments to the 1993 Press and Publications Law. The Court decided that the May 1997 Law was unconstitutional because it was enforced without the ratification of the Jordanian Parliament. On 28 January, ARTICLE 19 pledged to continue supporting […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – According to Article 19, at the time of the arrest of “Herald Guardian” newspaper journalist Sylvanus Kanyako (see IFEX alert), jounalists David Koroma and Mohamed Kallon were also arrested. The three were arrested by officers of the National Intelligence Service at the newspaper’s offices. According to ARTICLE 19’s information, the reason for […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 16 January 1998, ARTICLE 19 unequivocally condemned the banning by Turkey’s constitutional court of the Welfare Party and the prohibition of its leaders from political activity. Said Essoulami, head of ARTICLE 19’s Middle East programme, responded to this action by commenting that “today, four million Turkish citizens have been disenfranchised. Experience […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – On 17 January 1998, Michael Danielson, a sports writer for the “Independent Observer”, was arrested by soldiers in Freetown. He is still being held at an unknown location. Danielson had been in Freetown researching a story about a soldier. In the course of his research the soldier came to his home and […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is the complete text of a letter from Article 19 to “The Times” newspaper. For a copy of the editorial to which A19 is responding, please contact them directly. Letter printed in The Times, 6 January 1997 Sir, Your editorial today, “Algeria’s Great Fear”, rightly draws attention to the need […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – The following is the resolution on media freedom and censorship in Jordan adopted by participants at a seminar organised by ARTICLE 19 and its two Jordanian partners, al-Urdun al-Jadid and the Arab Media Institute, in Amman, Jordan on 28-29 October 1997. SEMINAR RESOLUTION Fundamental Principles 1. Freedom of expression is a fundamental […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – According to ARTICLE 19, the European Council of Ministers is likely to water down measures designed to penalise the Nigerian regime when the EU Common Position renewal is agreed next week. Measures adopted by the EU in 1993, when the Nigerian military anulled democratic elections, were reaffirmed in 1995. ARTICLE 19 has […]

(ARTICLE 19/IFEX) – ARTICLE 19 on 17 November 1997 welcomed the announcement by Nigeria’s General Sani Abacha that he will release some political detainees, but expressed scepticism that the move heralds any sea change in the human rights situation. Richard Carver, Head of ARTICLE 19’s Africa Programme said: “The European Union review of sanctions against […]