International Publishers Association (IPA)

Articles by International Publishers Association (IPA)

Link to: Call for release of publisher detained in China since October

Call for release of publisher detained in China since October

The IPA has called on China to immediately release Yao Wentian, a 73 year-old publisher who has been detained without trial for nearly three months. Police have not revealed the nature of the charges against him. Yao’s wife has said that the elderly publisher is suffering from heart problems and that he has fainted repeatedly during his detention.

CCHR/ARTICLE 19/PEN International/IPA

Failing Cambodia human rights record reviewed at UN as crackdown on protests continues

A coalition of human rights groups urged the international community to address the increasingly severe crackdown on free speech in Cambodia, during the country’s Universal Periodic Review at the UN in Geneva.

A boy holds a textbook of the Chess Palace teaching programme at the Dezso Lemhenyi school in Budapest, 15 October 2013., REUTERS/Laszlo Balogh

Hungary nationalises its school textbook market

Hungary’s Parliament has adopted a law to nationalize the school textbook market. From 1 September 2014, a state-owned body will create and publish school books which will be provided free of charge to primary schools. From now on, only two books will be available per subject and class.

Link to: Turkish publisher’s acquittal plea thrown out in Apollinaire case

Turkish publisher’s acquittal plea thrown out in Apollinaire case

A Turkish court has thrown out Irfan Sancı’s acquittal appeal in a case against his having published Guillaume Apollinaire’s 1911 novel, Les Exploits d’un jeune Don Juan. Prosecution has merely been suspended for three years, meaning the publisher must live under constant threat of imprisonment.

Romania’s Parliament, led by Prime Minister Victor Ponta (left), voted to recriminalise insult and libel, a move that President Traian Basescu (right) promised to veto., http://www.victorponta.ro/

In an attack on free expression, libel may be recriminalised in Romania

IFEX members are calling on the president of Romania to veto proposed changes to the penal code passed by Parliament that would recriminalise insult and libel.

Several dozen journalists suffered serious injuries following a brutal attack by soldiers on 1 December 2013 in Kyiv. , Efrem Lukatskiy

Worldwide condemnation for brutal attacks on over 50 journalists in Ukraine

IFEX members strongly condemn recent attacks on journalists during public demonstrations in Kyiv and call for those responsible to be held accountable.

Tunisian Constituent Assembly President Mustapha Ben Jaafar in the assembly building in Tunis in November 2013. After months of crisis, a new constitution is about to be signed in to law., REUTERS/Anis Mili

Tunisia’s constitution should be a model to protect free expression in the region, say rights groups

Over 50 IFEX members and partners appeal to the civil society groups assisting in a consultation process with elected representatives to protect freedom of expression in the new Tunisian Constitution.

Radio Shabelle is one of Mogadishu's most popular radio stations and has exposed itself to considerable danger in the past for actively taking a stance against the terrorist organisation Al-Shabab., AU-UN IST PHOTO / TOBIN JONES

Somali government urged to rescind Radio Shabelle’s eviction order

Dozens of media freedom groups are calling on the Prime Minister of Somalia to rescind the arbitrary eviction order currently faced by the Shabelle Media Network. The eviction would place Radio Shabelle staff in immediate physical danger.