Articles by International Press Institute (IPI)
At least six foreign reporters held by pro-Assad forces and rebel forces in Syria
Syrian forces are urged to immediately release foreign journalists currently being held captive in the country and ensure that all journalists are free to report on the civil war without the threat of abduction.
Caribbean nations must honour pledges to review criminal defamation
A report released by the International Press Institute (IPI) following its April 2013 mission to five Caribbean countries urges governments to follow through on commitments received during IPI’s visit to repeal archaic criminal defamation laws. During a nearly three-week long mission, IPI delegates met with representatives of government, law enforcement, media, and civil society in […]
Zambian authorities block critical news site, arrest reporters
Actions taken by Zambian authorities against three journalists are the latest in a series of escalating tactics against the “Zambian Watchdog”. Clayson Hamasaka, Thomas Zyambo and Wilson Pondamali have been detained out of suspicion that they are affiliated with the website.
35 IFEX members call for amendments to Somalia’s draft media law
IFEX members issued a joint call for amendments to a deeply-flawed draft media law in Somalia before it goes to parliament for approval in August.
Jamaican Senate passes bill to abolish criminal defamation
Currently, all 16 independent countries in the Caribbean maintain some form of criminal defamation law, including seditious libel or desacato. Should the Defamation Bill 2013 pass the House of Representatives, Jamaica would become the first country in the Caribbean to have no such laws on the books.
Worrying escalation of violence against journalists in Bulgaria
A recent case in Bulgaria saw a fan of the football club CSKA allegedly attack Anton Toni Chalakov, a photographer with the daily newspaper Standart, breaking Chalakov’s nose.
Investigation into arson attack on Bolivian journalist stalled
The International Press Institute is concerned over a reported lack of progress in the investigation into the October 2012 arson attack on Bolivian radio journalist Fernando Vidal. Vidal was targeted by a group of hooded attackers who doused him in gasoline before setting him and the station alight during a live radio broadcast.
Grenada may be taking step back with Internet defamation law
A year after becoming the first Caribbean country to decriminalise libel, Grenada has appeared to take a step in the opposite direction by passing a sweeping cyber-crimes law that includes a provision for online defamation.