PEN International

Three Italian journalists were convicted of defaming a Palermo magistrate in an article published in the weekly news magazine Panorama in 2010. The article in question alleged that the magistrate had connections to organised crime.

Sign an on-line letter to Tunisian authorities calling for the release of Tunisian blogger Jabeur Mejri, jailed for seven years in prison in 2012 for “blasphemy” after he published a satirical book about Islam.

Over 50 NGOs worldwide signed a joint appeal to the U.N. against the ill-treatment and torture of detained human rights defenders, activists and photojournalists in Bahrain, calling for U.N. and Red Cross visits.

The International Partnership Group for Azerbaijan strongly condemns a series of repressive legislative amendments that Azerbaijan’s National Assembly adopted on 14 May 2013. The existing penalties for criminal defamation and insult have been extended to online content and public demonstrations.

Nineteen regional and international human rights organisations call on the Syrian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release and drop all charges against Mazen Darwish and two of his colleagues from the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM).

Jean Laokolé was charged with defamation after being arrested by men in civilian clothes and detained incommunicado for three days. The charges are thought to relate to a series of articles he wrote denouncing corruption, poor governance and nepotism in Chad.

Over 400 people and NGOs from over 50 countries around the world signed a petition to help free translator and women’s rights activist Ayşe Berktay, along with many other publishers and journalists jailed in Turkey.

Two dozen IFEX members call on Turkey to free prominent translator and women’s rights activist Ayşe Berktay, winner of the 2013 PEN/Barbara Goldsmith Freedom to Write Award.