IFEX Digest: 20-24 July 2007

International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX)

IFEX Digest: 20-24 July 2007

Recent headlines on freedom of expression collected from 71 non-governmental organisations that are members of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), a global network that works to defend and promote the right to freedom of expression.

----------AFRICA----------

DEMOCRATIC REPUBLIC OF CONGO:
Journalist in hiding after being sentenced to prison without notice (CPJ)
http://www.cpj.org/news/2007/africa/drc19july07na.html

ETHIOPIA:
Four journalists convicted of treason pardoned and freed (RSF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85036/

THE GAMBIA:
Trial against US-based journalist resumes (MFWA)

GUINEA-BISSAU:
IFJ condemns threats against two journalists covering drug trafficking
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85054/

GUINEA-BISSAU:
Police prevent journalist from taking photographs (MFWA)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/84957/

MALAWI:
High Court nullifies improperly-appointed communications regulatory board (MISA)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85027/

NIGER:
- One-month ban on RFI broadcasts fuels concern about rapid decline in press freedom (RSF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/84995/
- RFI suspended following interview with former army officer-turned-rebel (CPJ)
http://www.cpj.org/news/2007/africa/niger20uly07na.html

NIGER:
- Army chief threatens to kill journalist (MFWA)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/84963/

SOMALIA:
Somaliland authorities free newspaper reporter after seven days (RSF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/84960/

SOUTH AFRICA:
Court gags media from publishing details of alleged corruption and abuse at public broadcaster (FXI)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85007/

SOUTH AFRICA:
Committee to hear FXI complaint about blacklisting by public broadcaster (FXI)
http://www.fxi.org.za/content/view/125/1/

ZAMBIA:
Security personnel prevent journalists from photographing stranded airplane of visiting president (MISA)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85050/

ZAMBIA:
Police prohibit radio station from covering demonstration (MISA)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85035/

----------AMERICAS----------

AMERICAS:
- Hemispheric conference urges legal reforms to combat impunity in crimes against journalists (IAPA)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85055/
- IAPA concerned over deteriorating state of press freedom in hemisphere
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85043/

GUATEMALA:
Police doubt robbery was motive for photographer's killing (RSF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85045/

MEXICO:
Newspaper photographer beaten as police look on for covering traffic accident (CEPET) http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85031/

MEXICO:
- CAPSULE REPORT: State grossly ineffective in protecting freedom of expression, reveals report by CENCOS and ARTICLE 19
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85030/
- JOINT ACTION: Four IFEX members issue pronouncement before IACHR on freedom of expression situation
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85018/
- Government urged to keep promises made at IACHR hearing on press freedom (RSF)
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=23039

MEXICO:
ARTICLE 19 submission on international standards regarding broadcast regulation presented to the OAS
http://www.article19.org/pdfs/press/broadcasting-regs-pr.pdf

PARAGUAY:
Photographer, cameraman assaulted, threatened for filming shopping mall fire (SPP)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85028/

PERU:
Journalist beaten unconscious by striking teachers, hospitalised; his camera broken (IPYS)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85047/

PERU:
Protesting teachers intimidate journalists in Huanta, beat and threaten another in Tingo María (IPYS)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85037/

----------ASIA-PACIFIC----------

AFGHANISTAN:
Journalist released following 13-day detention over article that reportedly angered president; another freed on bail, goes into hiding after being questioned on critical online articles (IFJ)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85067/

BURMA:
Government department to sue journal for criticising tourism efforts (Mizzima News)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/84969/

CHINA:
Journalist accused of fabricating story arrested, held on unclear charges; authorities allegedly suppress follow-up coverage (CPJ)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85061/

CHINA:
Hackers block access to human rights website 64tianwang (RSF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85057/

INDONESIA:
AJI supports revocation of defamation articles (AJI)

MALAYSIA:
Government bans media debate on constitution, law and religion (SEAPA)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/84994/

NEPAL:
Distribution of two major dailies halted by trade union action (CEHURDES)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85051/
Distribution of two newspapers disrupted by striking delivery boys (FNJ)
http://www.fnjnepal.org/news_alert_detail.php?id=160

NEPAL:
- Right to information bill passed into law (CEHURDES)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/84970/
- FNJ welcomes right to information bill
http://www.fnjnepal.org/release_detail.php?id=52
- Information bill passed (FNJ)
http://www.fnjnepal.org/release_detail.php?id=51
- Parliament approves law on right to information (RSF)
http://www.rsf.org/country-50.php3?id_mot=263&Valider=OK

NEPAL:
Still no news of kidnapped journalist (RSF)
http://www.rsf.org/country-50.php3?id_mot=263&Valider=OK

PAKISTAN:
Journalists barred entry into North Waziristan (PPF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85034/

PAKISTAN:
Wife of murdered journalist Daniel Pearl files lawsuit against 23 members of Al-Qaeda, Pakistani bank and Islamic trust (RSF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/84962/

PHILIPPINES:
Constitutionality of anti-terror law questioned in Supreme Court (CMFR)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85068/

SOUTH KOREA:
Closure of press rooms "an explicit attempt to restrict journalists' access to important government sources", says IFJ
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85062/

VIETNAM:
Police suppression of protesting farmers "a vivid demonstration of continuing intolerance for government critics", says Human Rights Watch
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/84961/

----------EUROPE AND CENTRAL ASIA----------

AZERBAIJAN:
- To mark Press Day, CPJ urges release of jailed journalists
http://www.cpj.org/news/2007/europe/azer20july07na.html
- Seven journalists to spend National Press Day in prison (RSF)
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=23003

GREECE:
ECHR challenges application of law on libel and defamation in case against radio journalist, programme coordinator (IFJ)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85049/

POLAND:
Journalist sentenced to six months' imprisonment, fined for defaming judge (IPI)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85052/

RUSSIA:
- Free expression under threat from law that would step up fight against "extremism" (RSF)
http://www.rsf.org/article.php3?id_article=23034
- WAN seriously concerned at implications of new legislation on "extremism"

SPAIN:
Judge orders seizure of satirical magazine over cartoon of prince and wife (RSF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85040/

----------MIDDLE EAST AND NORTH AFRICA----------

IRAN:
- Two Kurdish journalists sentenced to death (RSF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85060/
- IFJ calls for reprieve for journalists facing execution after secret trial
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=5151&Language=EN

MOROCCO:
- Detained editor receives provisional release, colleague sent to prison pending trial (RSF)
http://www.ifex.org/en/content/view/full/85069/
- IFJ calls for Moroccan journalists to be set free after prolonged detention
http://www.ifj.org/default.asp?Index=5146&Language=EN
- Journalists charged for publishing secret government documents (CPJ)
http://www.cpj.org/news/2007/mideast/morocco24july07na.html

TUNISIA:
Persecuted "Kalima" editor goes to court on August 12 (WPFC)
http://www.wpfc.org/ProtestsTunisia71307.html

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The IFEX Digest on Freedom of Expression is a service of the International Freedom of Expression eXchange (IFEX), a global network of non-governmental organisations working to defend and promote the right to free expression. Visit the IFEX website for more information: http://www.ifex.org

ENDS

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