PEN International

**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 […]

Source: Amnesty International Publisher Yu Dok-ryol and editor Kim Chon-hee of the Han Publishing Company were arrested with bookshop owner Shim Bom-sok on 17 July 1995. The three were arrested for publishing and distributing the autobiography of the now deceased president of North Korea, Kim Il Sung. They are charged under Article 7 of the […]

**Updates IFEX CH alerts dated 31 July, 7 June, 5 May, 21 April, 22 March, 24, 17, 8, 6 February, 20, 11 January 1995** According to reports from Rivers State, Nigeria, Ken Saro-Wiwa’s publishing office in Port Harcourt was broken into in late July 1995. His books and the manuscripts of several other writers are […]

**Updates IFEX alerts dated 14 April, 27, 4 January 1995; 15, 9 December 1994** After nine months of hearings, the High Court ruled on 1 August 1995 that the trial should commence against Taslima Nasrin, the Bangladeshi author charged with “insult to religious sentiments.” Nasrin’s defence lawyers question the legal foundation of the government’s sanction […]

The former director of the Institute of Marxist-Leninist Philosophy and a founding member of the Club of Former Resistance Fighters have been charged with spreading “anti-socialist propaganda” following the publication of their writings. Hoang Minh Chinh, former director of the Institute of Marxist- Leninist Philosophy, is said to have been arrested on 14 June 1995 […]