Articles by ARTICLE 19
Outspoken businessperson threatened for denouncing extortion
Farooq Sumar, a prominent Karachi businessman, has suffered threats against himself and his family because of his courageous and outspoken denunciation of criminal extortion in Karachi. Widespread suspicions that recognized political parties tolerate and profit from these iniquitous practices represent a grave threat to the democratic foundations of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan. Recommended Action […]
Three “Le Messager” vendors mistreated by police; two of them detained; copies of newspaper confiscated
Two newspaper vendors were arrested and another was manhandled in Douala on the morning of 17 April 1995. Emile Kouakam reportedly was manhandled by police; Ernest Ndongmo and Simon also were mistreated and then were taken to the Central Commissariat in Douala. According to ARTICLE 19’s sources, the three vendors were targeted by the police […]
“New Breed” journalists released on bail
**Update to IFEX CH alerts dated 13 December 1994 and 12 January 1995** Mohamed Bangura, one of the four journalists from “The New Breed” charged with sedition, was released on health grounds on 16 January 1995. The prosecutor entered a “nolle prosequi” — in other words the case against him will not proceed although it […]
“Ozgur Ulke” edition seized
On 9 January 1995, an entire edition of the newspaper “Ozgur Ulke” was seized following official complaints about an article on the second page of the paper, even though this article was deleted by the editorial board before publication. In spite of this effort at compliance, the Prosecutor apparently ordered the seizure to be carried […]
Sentencing and detention of human rights lawyer under Anti-terror law
In a 6 January 1995 letter to Turkish officials, ARTICLE 19 expressed profound concern over reports of the sentencing on 1 December 1994 of the human rights lawyer, Sedat Aslantas, and his subsequent arrest and detention on 5 December. His sentence, under Article 8 of Turkey’s Anti-Terror, violated his right to freedom of expression, as […]
BBC bans interviews with gay group
Peter Tatchell, the gay rights activist, has protested to ARTICLE 19 that the British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) has banned him and members of his organization, OutRage, from being interviewed live on BBC programmes. Tatchell wrote in a letter to ARTICLE 19 that the source of this information is a reporter from “Capital Gay” newspaper, Rob […]