Articles by Social Media Exchange (SMEX)
![Bassel al-Amin/Twitter](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/479.jpeg)
Lebanese journalism student detained for six days over Facebook status
Bassel al-Amin, a Lebanese journalism student in his early 20s, was released on bail on 12 December 2016 after being detained by authorities for six days over a Facebook status.
![Imprisoned journalist Faisal Hayyat](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/faisalbahrain.jpg)
Bahrain must cease judicial harassment of Faisal Hayyat and other Bahraini journalists
48 human rights organizations have signed a letter asking King Hamad to cease its judicial harassment of human rights defenders and its violation of their right to freedom of expression.
![AP Photo/Ahmed Gomaa](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ap_491014174862.jpg)
Egypt’s Draft NGO Law Dismantles Civil Society
We, the undersigned civil society organisations unequivocally condemn the law on civic associations (non-governmental organisations) adopted by Egypt’s Parliament on 15 November 2016. The Parliament has debated and approved the bill in its entirety in record time, and referred it to the State Council for legal review (non-binding on the Parliament in this case). If […]
![Image courtesy FB Censors Palestine, a Facebook Page that protests the Israel-Facebook agreement., https://www.facebook.com/FaceBCensorsPalestine](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ctns8wtxeaaurq2.jpg)
Facebook-Israel agreement could change face of social media
Agreements between countries and social media companies loom as one of the most significant threats to free expression around the world.
![](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/03/sheikhmaythamalsalman__3x2_303.jpeg)
Bahrain must end reprisals and harassment of human rights defender Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman
IFEX members call on the Government of Bahrain to stop the and judicial harassment and reprisals against Sheikh Maytham Al-Salman.
![BCHR/MLDI](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/nazeehasaeed_bchr.jpg)
NGOs to Bahrain: Rights of Nazeeha Saeed and all journalists to report must be respected
On Sunday 17 July 2016 award-winning journalist Nazeeha Saeed was charged by Bahraini Public Prosecution for reporting to foreign media outlets without a license.
![Joint Debate of Assembly and ECOSOC on Partnerships for Post-2015 Agenda, UN Photo/Paulo Filgueiras](https://ifex.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/ecosoc_chamber.jpg)
Leading press freedom group and IFEX member should be granted access to UN bodies
Civil society groups ask ECOSOC to reconsider granting valued press freedom group and IFEX member, The Committee to Protect Journalists, consultative status at the UN.
![Link to: Iraq shuts down its internet, again](https://ifex.org/wp-content/themes/ifex/assets/images/placeholder.png)
Iraq shuts down its internet, again
A leaked email that originated from an Iraqi Internet service provider (ISP) and was shared with SMEX confirms that on May 16, 2016, the Internet will be shutdown for three hours, from 5 a.m. to 8 a.m., “in all regions of Iraq.”