Index on Censorship

While the recent conviction of two hitmen is welcome, we lament the lack of implementation of the recommendations made by the Public Inquiry into Caruana Galizia’s assassination, and the exclusion of structured public consultation on proposed legal amendments relating to the safety of journalists and SLAPPs.

In a joint letter to the UK Foreign Secretary, rights groups raise the draconian sentences handed to Salma al-Shehab and several others who have been imprisoned solely for exercising their right to freedom of expression.

The two human rights defenders were taken by Guangzhou police on 19 September 2021, and formally arrested on charges of ‘inciting subversion of state power’ after 37 days in custody.

Investigative journalist Scott Stedman, his US media company Forensic News, and three of his colleagues, are facing legal proceedings over their reporting on a British-Israeli businessman summoned by the US Senate Intelligence Committee. The case is expected to go to trial before the end of 2022.

Dozens of organisations express their solidarity with the people of Ukraine, particularly Ukrainian journalists who now find themselves at the frontlines of a large-scale European war.

The Olympic Games have a history of protest, but China is going out of its way to stop that. With growing concern over the Uyghurs and Hong Kong, Index on Censorship looks at how likely they are to win.

“When this lawsuit was filed more than two years ago, several organisations came together to call this legal action out as a SLAPP, aimed at intimidating and silencing Cadwalladr. We today reaffirm this characterisation and unreservedly reiterate our support for Cadwalladr as she continues to defend her public interest work,” the organisations, including IFEX, said.

IFEX joins civil society organisations in expressing serious concern at the legal proceedings that are being brought against journalist and author Catherine Belton and her publisher HarperCollins.