Index on Censorship

Driven by the deaths of 600 journalists over the past decade, this year’s World Press Freedom Day conference is devoted to the theme of promoting safety and ending impunity for journalists, bloggers and everyday citizens who cross red lines to speak their minds.

With Egypt divided into two camps: liberal and Islamist, the media is also split, aligning itself with one side or the other.

The draft constitution, set to be approved in the coming months, still contains elements to silence dissident voices, and free speech advocates remain concerned over Islamist vows to criminalise blasphemy.

Two dozen IFEX members call on Turkey to free prominent translator and women’s rights activist Ayşe Berktay, winner of the 2013 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.

The member states of the United Nations should hold Azerbaijan to account during its Universal Periodic Review on 30 April 2013 for its failure to protect basic human rights, says the International Partnership Group on Azerbaijan.

Tunisia’s Court of Cassation failed to review the seven-and-a-half year sentence of Jabeur Mejri, who was convicted last year of publishing cartoons of the prophet Muhammad on Facebook.

After a three-and-a-half year campaign, changes will be made to England’s defamation law, which was being used to silence legitimate criticism and debate both in the U.K. and internationally.

While Egyptian Defence Minister Abdel Fattah al-Sissi denied charges of abuse by the military during and after the 18-day mass uprising that toppled Hosni Mubarak, a video clip posted on YouTube shortly after his statement was broadcast on Egyptian state TV tells an entirely different story.