PEN International

(WiPC/IFEX) – On 19 October 2001, the publication director of the weekly “Le Canard Liberé”, Abdoulaye Tiémogo, was sentenced to six months’ imprisonment and ordered to pay fines and damages totalling 5.1 million CFA francs (approx. US$7,100) for “defamation.” The judgment was handed down by the Tribunal de première instance in Niamey. The court case […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – On 5 October 2001, journalist, professor and sociologist Antero Gargurevich Oliva was released from prison after serving eight-and-a-half years of a twelve-year sentence. The unconditional release comes after a review of his case by a body set up by the Ministry of Justice. Gargurevich Oliva was arrested on 6 March 1993 and sentenced […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – On 29 August 2001, General José Francisco Gallardo Rodríguez was moved from his cell to a punishment cell measuring eight square metres. At first, the Neza-Bordo prison authorities stated that the move was made in the interests of the general’s own security after an alleged contretemps with a fellow prisoner. This story was […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – Turkish journalist Burak Bekdil faces possible trial for an article deemed to be “insulting to the state and its institutions.” The article, published in August 2001 in the prestigious English-language “Turkish Daily News” (TDN), tackles the serious issue of corruption within the judiciary in a light hearted commentary. Bekdil was called to the […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – On 21 September 2001, another trial hearing was held against Asiye Güzel Zeybek. The outcome was a further delay as the court was adjourned to 7 December. A journalist for two radical newspapers, Zeybek has been detained for over four and a half years, most of which in untried detention. Her trial started […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – Asiye Güzel Zeybek, a journalist for two radical newspapers (now defunct) has been detained for over four and a half years. Her trial started in February 2001, four years after her arrest. This is in direct contravention of international standards that require states to bring prisoners to court within a “reasonable” amount of […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is deeply disturbed by the spiralling deterioration of freedom of expression in Zimbabwe. The most recent manifestation of the onslaught on the independent media in the country is the detention of six “Daily News” journalists in two separate incidents. Geoffrey Nyarota, the newspaper’s editor, was arrested at just […]

(WiPC/IFEX) – The WiPC of International PEN is welcoming the release of poet Xue Deyun (pen-name Ma Zhe), who had served three-and-a-half years of a five-year sentence for his underground literary activities. According to WiPC’s information, Xue was released on 25 July 2001 after Guizhou’s High Court reduced his sentence on appeal. Poet Xue Deyun, […]