Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

IFEX members express their concern over the current situation of press freedom in Ecuador and the conditions of extreme hostility in which the country’s journalists and private media must do their work.

On 1 June, the King of Bahrain has promised to end the state of emergency he imposed in mid-March to quell pro-democracy demonstrations. This would be a welcome occasion for the Bahraini government to end human rights abuses including lifting the travel ban on Nabeel Rajab so that he can join us in Beirut.

At a recent round table discussion, Raymond Atuguba, David Annan, Abraham Amaliba and Larry Bimi gave credence to several research findings claiming the judiciary was one of the most corrupt institutions in the country.

Franklin Doloque had gone to a school to inquire about pregnant candidates who had been denied the opportunity to write certificate exams.

In recent months there have been many cases of national security personnel interfering with journalists reporting on issues involving security agencies, according to MFWA.

Forty-two IFEX members and 15 partners appealed for global attention to stop detention, torture and threats to journalists and free expression activists, including to IFEX member Bahrain Centre for Human Rights.

Takyi Boateng says he is shocked by the behaviour of the policemen who detained him at the station as he had produced his press card and sought permission from the court’s registrar before he began photographing.

MFWA’s correspondent reported that only foreign journalists were allowed to cover the president’s inspection of the palace with the explanation that the palace could not accommodate a large number of journalists.