Articles by Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Newspapers suspended
(CPJ/IFEX) – Between 24 and 25 September 1997, the Ministry of Information ordered at least twelve weekly newspapers — “Al Majd”, “Al-Mithaq”, “Al-Hadath”, “Al-Bilad”, “Sawt al-Maraa”, “Al Sayad”, “Hawadeth al-Sa’a”, “Al-Hadif”, “Al-Faris”, “Tareeq al Mustaqbal”, “Al-Umma” and “Al-Urdun” — to suspend publication because they had reportedly failed to meet requirements of the amendments to the […]
Details on journalists wounded during clashes between Israelis and Palestinians
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented at least eleven television journalists and two drivers who have been injured in recent clashes between Palestinians and Israelis in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. On 25 September 1996, two journalists and a driver from the Palestinian Broadcast Corporation (PBC) were wounded by rubber bullets believed […]
Journalist Usamah al-Rantisi arrested and charged with “inciting sedition”
On 22 August 1996, Usamah al-Rantisi, a journalist with the weekly “Al-Ahali”, was arrested and held in detention for fifteen days by Jordanian security. He is being charged under the Press and Publications Law with “inciting sedition” and could face anywhere from six months to three years in prison. The charges stem from an article […]
Cameraman Issa Freij shot while covering clashes between Israelis and Palestinians
On 26 September 1996, Issa Freij, a cameraman for the American television station CBS, was seriously wounded during violent clashes between Israelis and Palestinians near Ramallah in the West Bank. Freij, a Palestinian, was shot in the chest — apparently the result of crossfire — and is believed to be recovering at the present time. […]
“Feral Tribune” journalists Viktor Ivancic and Marinko Culic acquitted of defaming President Franjo Tudjman
On 26 September 1996, Viktor Ivancic, editor-in-chief of the satirical weekly “Feral Tribune”, and reporter Marinko Culic were acquitted of defaming Croatian President Franjo Tudjman. Judge Marin Mrcela delivered his verdict at Zagreb Municipal Court, saying that the offending material in “Feral Tribune” was obviously absurd and merely intended to pass judgment on political activity. […]
Concern over continued detention of journalist Babakr Othaman
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has expressed deep concern over the continued detention of Sudanese journalist Babakr Othaman. **Updates IFEX alert dated 11 September 1996** Othaman, a correspondent for the Qatar-based daily “Al-Watan”, was arrested by Sudanese security forces on 4 September 1996 and continues to be held incommunicado without charge. Colleagues at “Al-Watan” […]
Weekly “Middle East Times” banned from publishing article
On 12 September 1996, officials from the Ministry of Information’s Foreign Press and Publications Bureau informed the English-language weekly “Middle East Times” that it would not be permitted to publish a featured interview with Saudi dissident Mohammed Maasari in its 15-21 September 1996 issue. The newspaper was subsequently forced to replace the interview with another […]
Bashkort journalist threatened with prison for libelling President
In early August 1996, Eduard Khusnutdinov, editor-in-chief of “Vecherny Neftekamsk”, a newspaper formerly published in Bashkortostan, a constituent republic of the Russian Federation, was notified by a local prosecutor that he could face up to five years of imprisonment for libel of President Murtaza Rakhimov, leader of the autonomous region in the Urals. The independent […]