International Press Institute (IPI)

“We are now at the point where simply interacting with the Facebook page of an independent media website can land a journalist in jail in Belarus” – International Press Institute.

IFEX joins other organisations in once again urging the Turkish authorities to immediately and unconditionally release news editor, reporter and poet Nedim Türfent, and to overturn his conviction. It’s been 2000 days since he was arrested and subsequently sentenced on trumped-up terrorism charges, following an unfair trial.

Freedom of expression and digital rights come under fire during Sudan’s military coup, as journalists are detained and access to socal media is blocked once more.

“Criminals and authoritarian forces are silencing independent journalism with violence, and face very little consequences for doing so. Impunity encourages and accelerates further attacks, undermining the future of critical reporting and ultimately democracy.”

Recent pardons for those convicted of lèse-majesté is a welcome step in acknowledging that laws criminalizing heads of state and others in power have no place in a democratic country, said IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi.

The proposed amendments to Article 191 of the Civil Code would introduce fines and jail sentences for journalists found guilty of publishing “false news”.

“Unless action is taken to hold those responsible for press freedom violations to account, this repressive trend will only gain steam, jeopardizing the future of independent news and, by extension, democracy across the globe.”

“The key to the Recommendation’s success will lie in effectively following up on its outcomes and holding the member states to account if their implementation is lacking.”