International Press Institute (IPI)

A proposal by Turkish officials to prohibit critical media from using state satellite broadcasting infrastructure just as the country is nearing general elections would amount to censorship, the International Press Institute said.

The Trinidad and Tobago Publishers and Broadcasters Association had previously criticised what it viewed as the government’s failure to allow sufficient public consultation on the bill, which was introduced in May 2014.

Charged under the Sedition Act in Malaysia, internationally known political cartoonist Zunar could face 43 years in jail for a tweet.

A defamation reform bill pending before the Lithuanian Parliament would constitute a welcome step in the right direction, but should be further amended to meet international standards, the International Press Institute (IPI) and Article 19 said, following a joint two-day mission to Lithuania.

Information Minister U Ye Htut said during IPI’s World Congress that Burma’s “reform process is irreversible”. Yet a month later a government representative could not cite any specific action that has been taken in regard to legislative reform.

On World Press Freedom Day, organisations from around the globe commit to defending the right to freedom of expression, even when that right is being used to express views that may be offensive.

On 3 May, join the worldwide call to #FreeMazen.

Concerns include the use of Malaysia’s Sedition Act to suppress legitimate criticism of government and courts.