PEN International

Wang Xizhe, a veteran democracy campaigner and writer, was arrested around 1 June 1996, and has reportedly been given an administrative sentence of 15 days in prison. It appears that this action has been taken to stop him from staging activities commemorating the 7th Anniversary of the 1989 Tiananmen Square demonstrations. Recommended Action Send appeals […]

On 15 May 1996, writer and journalist Dr Haluk Gerger was sentenced by an Istanbul court to 20 months in prison and fined T 500,000 (approximately US$ 6) for an article published in the 30 June 1995 edition of the leftist daily “Evrensel” on the state of emergency in southeast Turkey. In the same trial, […]

**Updates IFEX alerts dated 19, 17 April, 26 and 15 February 1996** At the end of April 1996, freelance journalist Mahdi Rabea was sentenced to six months in prison for writing “false information” that he distributed to organisations abroad. His sentence will end on 20 June 1996, as it commenced retroactively from the date of […]

The whereabouts and well-being of Sudanese translator Abdelrahman Ali Gaily continue to remain a mystery. In 1982, Gaily was offered a job at the International Centre of Research in Tripoli, Libya, as translator of the “Green Book”, written by Colonel Mu’ammar al-Gaddafi and which is his political and socio-economic theory. In April 1983, Gaily’s wife, […]

**For background to previous harassment of Mohamed Nasheed, see IFEX alerts dated 10 March 1995, 8 and 1 December 1994** On 3 April 1996, journalist Mohamed Nasheed was sentenced to two years in prison. He was convicted under Law No. 38B of the Penal Code for sedition and defamation of the State for an article […]

**For background to cases, see IFEX alert dated 24 May 1995** Chen Yanbin and Zhang Yafei, editors of the underground magazine “Tielu” (“Iron Currents”), have entered their sixth year of imprisonment. In 1990, both were charged with incitement and making counter-revolutionary propaganda. Recommended Action Send appeals to authorities: expressing concern that Chen Yanbin and Zhang […]

Sources: Human Rights Watch/Asia, Vietnamese Committee on Human Rights, PEN members, others On 15 August 1995, the Venerable Thich Quang Do, a Buddhist scholar and religious leader who is the author of numerous books and poetry, was sentenced to five years in prison. Five others were also convicted with him to sentences of up to […]

Sources: Bonded Labour Liberation Front of Pakistan; Amnesty International; others **Updates IFEX alerts dated 4 July and 9 June 1995** Journalist Zafaryab Ahmad (also reported as Zaffaryab Ahmed) has been released on medical bail, but may be required to return to prison within the next few weeks despite his ill-health. Ahmad was freed at the […]