The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about official harassment and threats against Sudanese editor Mohamed Taha Mohamed Ahmed.

Ahmed is being tried this month on criminal charges of insulting the Prophet Mohammed after publishing an April 21 article in the daily Al-Wifaq. The article, by the well-known Muslim historian Al-Maqrizi, called into question the Prophet Mohammed's lineage, according to a local source and press reports. Ahmed, himself an Islamist, claims he published the historian's account in order to rebut it, according to the BBC and a CPJ source.

Newspapers and religious leaders attacked Ahmed following the publication of the article. The National Press Council, Sudan's official press regulator, imposed a three-day suspension on the paper, and the state prosecutor brought charges against Ahmed.

The exact charges against Ahmed are unclear, although press reports said that Ahmed could face the death penalty if he is found guilty of apostasy. Press reports said that mobs of angry people called for Ahmed's death on Wednesday and clashed with police outside the courtroom. [CPJ]

Media freedom in Indonesia is on the brink of ruin, with two senior journalists in Lampung being sentenced to nine months in jail for defamation.

The verdicts on Wednesday are hurtful to democracy, moreover coming on the heels of government efforts to produce a new Criminal Code that will be detrimental to freedom of expression, a legal expert commented.

The two journalists, Darwin Ruslinur and Budiono Syahputra, received the jail terms after they were found guilty of defaming Alzier Dianis Thabranie, chairman of Golkar Party's Lampung chapter. The case surfaced last year when defendant Budiono, the managing editor of Koridor weekly tabloid, was informed by an anonymous Golkar member that Alzier and his colleague Indra Karyadi had yet to disburse an amount of Rp 1.25 billion (US$131,500) to him. The money was supposed to have been distributed by the Golkar member to Golkar supporters. The supporters were to receive Rp 50,000 each during first round of presidential elections last year to encourage them to vote for the presidential candidate backed by Golkar. Darwin Ruslinur, the tabloid's chief editor, said that the case was newsworthy and that should be printed.

The news article, printed on page 18 of the tabloid's July edition last year, was headed "Alzier and Indra Karyadi allegedly embezzle Rp 1.25b Golkar fund".

At Wednesday's court session, presiding judge Iskandar Tjake found that the tabloid never confirmed the story with Alzier and Indra Karyadi, and on this basis he decided that the two journalists were guilty of defamation.[Asia Pacific Media Network]

RSF has condemned the latest crackdown on cyber-dissidents and bloggers in the southern city of Qom. Mojtaba Lotfi, who is serving a prison sentence in the city for articles he posted on the Internet, is gravely ill. Local courts in Qom are also harassing bloggers Farid Modaressi and Mohamad Reza Fathi.

"Writing about politics or even social issues is an act of bravery in Iran, especially since the local authorities are now taking over the role of gagging bloggers from the central government. For this reason, we hail the human rights report which has just been adopted by the European Parliament, condemning Iran's 'abject policies' towards journalists and cyber-dissidents," RSF said.

Fathi, wh is a professor, was first summoned on 26 March by the Edareh Amaken (morality squad) and interrogated about his blog, http://www.savehjam.blogspot.com, in which he has criticised the provincial government and the mayor of Saveh, near Qom. In a letter to President Mohammad Khatami, he voiced exasperation at the "scant capacity of civil servants to accept criticism."

Local police arrested Fathi nine days later in the street, in front of his students, and paraded him handcuffed through the city. He was held for three days and was questioned again in camera, without his lawyer being present. On his release, he was resigned to closing down his blog, despite its local popularity. Nonetheless, he will have to appear before the local judicial authorities again on various charges, including publishing false information, insults and disturbing the peace.

Modaressi, a blogger who was previously imprisoned for one month in late 2004, has received a summons to appear before a Qom court on 14 May on charges of "insulting regime officials" in comments about the president and others in his blog, http://farid.blogset.com. He has also been summoned to appear before a Tehran court on 10 May on a charge of "attacking state security".

RSF has learned that the health of Lotfi, a cyber-dissident and Qom resident, has seriously deteriorated since he was sentenced to three years and 10 months in prison in February. Conditions inside the prison have reportedly aggravated a lung ailment he has suffered from since being exposed to chemicals during the Iran-Iraq war.

In a recent international human rights report, the European Parliament condemned Iran's "abject policies" as regards the arrest and imprisonment of journalists and cyber-dissidents and violations of press and media freedom.[IFEX]

A broadcast journalist who was shot and critically wounded Wednesday in Dipolog City, Zamboanga del Norte, became the latest fatality in attacks that have prompted an international watchdog to call the Philippines the world’s "most murderous" country for reporters.

Klein Cantoneros, 32, a radio broadcaster, succumbed to gunshot wounds around 11 p.m. Wednesday after being in critical condition for almost 24 hours.

He was the 67th journalist killed since democracy was restored in the Philippines in 1986 and the fourth this year. He was the third journalist to be killed in Dipolog City after the assassinations of Jacobo Amatong in the 1980s and Ferdinand Reyes in 1995. [ABS CBN News ]

RSF has condemned a new death threat against Gilberto Martínez Prado, the manager of Colmundo Radio in Ibagué (in the center-western department of Tolima), as well as the threats and harassment to which he has been constantly subjected for years.

"The police protection he has been getting for the past two years is not enough on its own to guarantee his right to freely practice his profession and does not relieve the Colombian government of its duty to investigate the corruption allegations he has made, which have prompted the death threats and harassment that have forced him to leave the region several times," the organisation said. [IFEX]

During commemorations in Beirut for World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization announced the creation of a Press Freedom Award for 2005. Falling within UNESCO's mandate to promote press freedoms in the service of human rights and democracy, the award aims at "fostering pluralism and independence of media."

The head of UNESCO's offices in Beirut, Georges Awad, said: "This award encourages institutions and people in Lebanon to work toward the dissemination of a culture of good governance, which will lead to an enhanced quality of life for individuals and society."

UN spokesperson Najib Friji added: "Journalists work on the frontline of every event in order to provide us with live feedback of it. Their sole tools are pictures and words, and their joint works give us more power and knowledge."

Many journalists, he noted, have been subjected to torture and imprisonment for the sake of "spreading the word."

Friji said: "This award salutes the courage of such journalists, who would put their lives on the line with no hesitation, for the sake of their profession."

 
The award consists of a cash prize and an honorary degree given to the best non-political article featured in a non-political publication. The results are to be disclosed by the end of the year.[Daily Star ]

A Muslim journalist who spent 17 months behind bars in Bangladesh, accused of spying for Israel, has been released on bail.

Salah Uddin Shoaib Choudhury – who was jailed after publishing articles that urged his nation of Bangladesh to recognize Israel, advocated interfaith dialogue and condemned terrorism and radical Islam – was freed Saturday. [WorldNetDaily]

The threat of prosecution came from Philip Yeo, chairman of the government's Agency for Science, Technology and Research (A*STAR), which grants research scholarships. The agency claimed it was libelled in a blog (http://www.scs.uiuc.edu/~chen6/blog) run by Jiahao Chen, a Singaporean student who is presently finishing his studies in the United States.

Under the pseudonym "Acid Flask", Chen criticised Yeo and the A*STAR scholarship system. He also agreed to have his remarks appear in the online newspaper "Electric New Paper" (http://newpaper.asia1.com.sg). Yeo sent Chen several e-mails demanding that he delete from his blog all references to him and A*STAR, and threatening legal action if he did not.

A few days later, Chen shut down his blog and posted a message of apology to Yeo in its place. Other Singaporean blogs that had reproduced the remarks quickly posted apologies or closed down as well. [IFEX]

The Freedom of Expression Institute (FXI) is deeply alarmed at government "threats" to introduce legislation to make individuals and organisations ...   more »

May 3, 2005

TO:  His Excellency Hu Jintao
President, People's Republic of China
C/o Embassy of the People's Republic of China
2300 Connecticut Ave., NW
Washington, D.C. 20008

Via facsimile: (202) 588-0032

 

Your Excellency:

The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply troubled by the ongoing harassment of acclaimed poet and freelance radio journalist Liu Hongbin. Liu, who lives in exile in the United Kingdom, has been banned from returning to China to visit his mother, who has fallen seriously ill.

On an October 2004 visit, Liu and his 3-year-old daughter were detained upon arrival in Beijing. He and his daughter were held in a detention center for three hours before being transferred to a hotel, where they were held incommunicado overnight before being allowed to continue on their journey to visit his mother in the city of Qingdao. Liu's daughter was distraught and suffered insect bites on her face and legs.

Liu, who has been in exile since 1989, recently learned that a ban on his return to China was renewed on March 15, 2005. He is therefore barred from again visiting his mother, who has been hospitalized.

Liu's writings became well known during the pro-democracy demonstrations at Tiananmen Square. As well as being a prominent poet and literary figure, Liu has worked as a journalist for the Chinese service of Radio France International since 2000. He has also made freelance contributions to independent magazines in Hong Kong, Taiwan and the United States.

In articles and in interviews that have appeared in the Western media, Liu has spoken out for democratic reform in China. His criticisms and his work as a journalist have contributed to his ongoing harassment at the hands of officials.

As an independent organization of journalists dedicated to defending our colleagues worldwide, CPJ appeals for the ban on Liu's return to China to be revoked and for an end to his harassment.

Thank you for your attention to this urgent matter. We await your response.

Sincerely,

Ann Cooper
Executive Director
[CPJ]

The Press Council again called for the government to revise the controversial draft of the new Criminal Code, which allows for the criminal prosecution of journalists who violate the law in the course of their jobs.[Jakarta Post ]

The Swedish government on Tuesday called for the release of a Swedish journalist jailed in Eritrea for four years as Sweden marked the 15th annual World Press Freedom Day.

"Dialogue is a prerequisite for democracy, to exchange views with each other. Dawit Isaak knows this, and that is why he is in jail," Development Aid Minister Carin Jaemtin told a crowd holding a 24-hour vigil for Isaak in central Stockholm, news agency TT reported.

Isaak, who holds both Swedish and Eritrean citizenship, was jailed in September 2001 after calling for democracy and press freedom in Eritrea.

Eritrean police jailed him, along with 11 other prominent journalists, accusing him of violating national security laws for his criticism of the Asmara regime.
[Sudan Tribune ]

 

Journalists in Yemen have rejected a new draft of the press and publications law put forward by the Ministry of Information (MoI), saying it is even more restrictive than the existing bill which has been in force since 1990. [Reuters AlertNet]

 

The Middle East, Africa and Asia are the most dangerous places to work if you are a journalist, according to a new report.

Reporters Without Borders (RWB) said on Tuesday that press freedom "remains just a frustrated hope in Africa", and "informing the public in North Africa, the Middle East and Iran is a very risky business".

The Paris-based organisation also said that many Asian journalists have been reduced to "propaganda".

In a separate report, the Brussels-based International Federation of Journalists (IJF) said the "war on terrorism amounts to a devastating challenge to the global culture of human rights and civil liberties".

The reports coincided with World Press Freedom day which was marked by journalists around the world by a series of protests and sit-ins.

In the Middle East, journalists work in fear of government repression, said RWB.

Five countries in the region were particularly criticised for cracking down on the press - Tunisia, Libya, Syria, Iran and Saudi Arabia.[Aljazeera.net ]

Just as Filipino journalists marked World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday, another broadcast journalist was shot and seriously wounded by gunmen in Barangay Santa Felomina, Dipolog City early Wednesday.

Police reports said newsman Cline Cantoneros, a blocktimer at DXAA radio, was shot by three motorcycle-riding assailants wielding .45 caliber pistols at around 12:30 a.m.

The victim has just stepped out of the radio station and was about to go home when attacked.

Cantoneros was shot seven times and is currently in critical condition in a hospital.[ABS CBN News]

Tunisia's strict censorship policy is so tough that even writing about onion prices can land a reporter in trouble, a ...   more »

The journalists observed "World Press Freedom Day" by taking out peaceful processions to press their demand of implementation of 7th ...   more »

Iraq is now the most-deadly war for journalists since the Vietnam conflict ended 30 years ago, the media watchdog group Reporters Without Borders said Tuesday on the 15th commemoration of World Press Freedom Day.

Iraq was singled out as "world's largest minefield" for journalists, where 19 journalists were killed last year and more than 15 were reported kidnapped. In all, 56 journalists have been killed since fighting began two years ago, seven less than the 63 killed during the two-decadelong U.S. involvement in Vietnam.[Washington Times ]

About 1,500 reporters marched through Nepal's capital Tuesday to mark World Press Freedom day and demand an immediate end to government censorship and the release of colleagues detained since King Gyanendra seized power in February. [Guardian Unlimited]

 Nepalese Government's grip on the media remains unrelenting

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) regards the removal of the state of emergency in Nepal as an attempt to hoax the international community into believing that human rights are improving in Nepal.

"While the Nepalese Government appears to be giving lip service to its human rights obligations at the international level, its actions in Nepal are the exact opposite," said IFJ President Christopher Warren.

On 29 April, King Gyanendra lifted the state of emergency which was declared on 1 February and included the suspension of human rights and press freedom. The IFJ had hoped that the Nepalese Government would begin to loosen its grip on the media after agreeing at the UN Human Rights Commission on 20 April to lift media censorship. However it is now clear that the Government is unwilling to restore press freedom as the strict censorship of the media continues.

The Nepalese Government has refused to withdraw a six-month-long notice imposing newspaper censorship issued on 2 February. Newspapers are still banned from publishing any reports which go against "the spirit and letter of the 1 February royal proclamation and supports and encourages the activities of the terrorists directly or indirectly".

"The Nepalese Government must restore press freedom; its stranglehold on the free and independent press is a blatant denial of press rights set out in its constitution."

In addition to the continuing press censorship, the Kathmandu Chief District Officer, Baman Prasad Neupane, issued orders banning political activities at a number of major locations in Kathmandu on 30 April.

According to the Asian Centre for Human Rights, more than 3,000 political activists have been arrested during the state of emergency and a number of journalists are still being held.
[IFEX]

Truth and consequences N.C. journalists see firsthand Jordan's struggle for free press AMMAN, Jordan -- Osama Al-Shareef, the American-educated editor of a Jordanian newspaper, was explaining to North Carolina journalists why his colleagues are often so timid, even though King Abdullah II encourages a free press. "It's always a matter of Russian roulette," he said of his country's media laws. "You never know when you're stepping on a mine and someone will say you've gone too far."   more »

The Philippines, which prides itself on having the freest media in Southeast Asia, has become the world's "most murderous" country for journalists, an international press group said on Monday.
 
With 18 journalists murdered since 2000, the Philippines is on top of the list of the five "most murderous countries for journalists" worldwide, the Committee to Protect Journalists, based in New York, said in a report titled "Marked for Death." The report was released on Monday in time for World Press Freedom Day on Tuesday.
 
The other countries on the list, in order of rank, are Iraq, Colombia, Bangladesh, and Russia.[International Herald Tribune]

A Chinese editor whose newspaper broke stories about China's SARS outbreak and a fatal police beating has been ordered not to attend a ceremony to accept a United Nations press freedom award, a news report said Monday.

Cheng Yizhong, former editor-in-chief of the Southern Metropolis News in China's southern province of Guangdong, was to receive the US$25,000 (euro19,000) award on Tuesday in Dakar, Senegal, the South China Morning Post of Hong Kong reported. Citing an unidentified source, it said he was ordered not to attend the ceremony.[Santa Fe New Mexican]