Articles by PEN International
Former editor sentenced to two years on press charges
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC of International PEN has condemned the two-year prison sentence handed down on 10 July 2002 to Tewodros Kassa on charges of disseminating false information. Kassa, former editor-in-chief of the weekly newspaper “Ethop”, was sentenced on the grounds that he had “fabricated information that could incite people to political violence” and had defamed […]
Two editors released on bail
(WiPC/IFEX) – Melese Shine, editor-in-chief of the weekly “Ethiop”, was released on bail of 12,000 birr (approx. US$1,440) on 25 June 2002. He had been detained since 19 March when he was charged with publishing and disseminating an article defaming the head of government, and publishing an interview with an alleged member of an illegal […]
Journalist receives death threat in custody
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply concerned by reports of death threats issued to detained journalist Carlos Alberto Domínguez. According to the independent Cuban news agency CubaNet, Domínguez has smuggled a message out of Valle Grande prison stating that he was threatened by a junior official from the Interior Ministry named Ricardo. […]
International PEN shocked at decision to uphold Grigory Pasko’s sentence
(WiPC/IFEX) – On 25 June 2002, the Supreme Court’s military division in Moscow upheld the verdict of treason against environmental journalist, Grigory Pasko, now serving a two-year and four months sentence in Vladivostok. International PEN is shocked at the decision to uphold the sentence, considering Pasko’s imprisonment to be a blatant violation of his right […]
Publisher Abdullah Keskin faces imminent imprisonment
(WiPC/IFEX) – Fears have heightened that Kurdish publisher Abdullah Keskin may be served a lengthy prison term following a court hearing on 25 June 2002. Keskin has been on trial since April under Article 8 of the Anti-Terror Law for the Turkish publication of a book by United States author and former “Washington Post” correspondent […]
Internet journalist sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment
(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN condemns in the strongest terms the prison sentence handed down to Internet journalist Zouhair Yahyaoui. According to information received by PEN, Yahyaoui, who uses the pseudonym Ettounsi (the Tunisian), was sentenced to two years and four months’ imprisonment on 20 June 2002 by the Tribunal de Première Instance […]
Writer seeks asylum following three-year and nine-month prison sentence
(WiPC/IFEX) – Writer, publisher and political activist Melih Pekdemir is seeking political asylum in Germany following the finalisation of a three-year and nine-month sentence served against him in Turkey. Pekdemir was found guilty in September 2001, under Article 169 of the Turkish Penal Code, for “supporting an illegal organisation”, the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), in […]
Journalists sentenced for “crimes against honour”
(WiPC/IFEX) – WiPC of International PEN condemns the sentence handed down on 4 June 2002 to former journalist Michelle Lescure for alleged “crimes against honour”. Lescure, former editor of the newspaper “El Siglo”, and Jaime Padilla Béliz, the newspaper’s former owner, were sentenced to eighteen months’ imprisonment. Carmen Boyd Marciaq, an “El Siglo” columnist, was […]