Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Over 70 rights and expression organisations worldwide entreated the UN Human Rights Council’s 34th session to call on Turkey to take immediate steps to address the ongoing free expression crisis in the country.

78 civil society groups condemn the crackdown on dissent in the lead up to elections in Cambodia and call on the government to cease their unlawful attacks on human rights defenders.

On 31 January 2017, anti-corruption activist Abdul Fatoma was arrested without a warrant, shortly after speaking on the radio about a national corruption scandal. Police confiscated Fatoma’s passport the following day.

Internet shut down in two anglophone regions follows protests over government decision to impose French in schools and courts.

MISA Zambia welcomes the pronouncement by Justice Minister Given Lubinda at the 2017 Universal Periodic Review that the Access to Information bill is ready and that the government is working on systems that will readily avail the information to the public.

On World Radio Day, members of the African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) send an audio message calling on governments in the region to ensure that radio operates freely and independently.

Ts’enolo FM (104.6MHZ) and People’s Choice FM (95.6 MHZ) were cut off in Lesotho for allegedly airing defamatory content about Prime Minister Bethuel Mosisili and Deputy Prime Minister Mothejoa Metsing.

25 IFEX members question Australia’s detention of dissident journalists, cartoonists and actors at Manus Island.