Hungary: European Commission must take firm stance to defend media freedom March 23, 2020 Vera Jourova, Vice President, European Commission Commissioner for Values and Transparency 23.03.2020 ————————— Dear Commissioner Jourova, On behalf of the International Press Institute, the global network of leading editors, journalists and media executives for press freedom, I am writing to express our profound concerns about the dangers of certain European governments taking advantage of the […] Read more »
IPI urges Egypt to release journalist Mohamad Al-Yammani March 20, 2020 IPI Contributor Ayman Al-Rachid The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today expressed grave concern over the disappearance in police custody of Egyptian freelance journalist Mohamed Al-Yammani, who has not been seen since his arrest in December last year. According to Al-Yammani’s family, police raided their house in […] Read more »
Journalism in Kashmir: State of repression March 17, 2020 Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow, Minna Heikura Just one day after The Hindu last August published a report on what was described as “revolving door arrests in Kashmir”, Peerzada Ashiq, the newspaper’s correspondent in the region, heard a knock on his own door. It was a police summons. When Ashiq arrived at the station, he was questioned for about an hour about […] Read more »
IPI condemns police attacks on Malawi journalists March 12, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and journalists for press freedom, today condemned Tuesday’s attack on journalists by police in the Malawian capital Lilongwe. According to information gathered by IPI from local sources, police officials assaulted four journalists: Hebert Katanda from Luntha Television, Malumbo Ngwira of MIJ FM, Julius […] Read more »
IPI urges Pakistan to commit to open discussion on social media rules March 9, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today urged the government of Pakistan to have an open and transparent discussion with stakeholders on controversial new social media regulations. In January, the Pakistani government introduced new rules to regulate all social media usage in the […] Read more »
IPI urges Egypt to release journalist Ahmed Sabaie March 5, 2020 IPI Contributor Ayman Al-Rachid The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the arrest of Egyptian journalist Ahmed Sabaie on February 29 on the same alleged crimes for which he was imprisoned in 2013. Sabaie, a member of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate and a reporter at Afaq […] Read more »
EU and Member States must create safe environment for journalists reporting in Greece March 5, 2020 Download the joint statement Physical attacks, online harassment and censorship: In recent days, media freedom organisations have shed light on threats against journalists reporting on the arrival of migrants into Greece. These attacks are taking place in a context of violence against migrants and those supporting them, such as NGOs and self-organised groups. They restrict […] Read more »
Azerbaijan: IPI welcomes ECtHR judgment in Khadija Ismayilova case February 27, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and journalists, today welcomed the judgment of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in the case of Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova and called on Azerbaijan to implement it. The ECtHR today ruled that the 2014 arrest, detention and prosecution of Ismayilova […] Read more »
Tanzania journalist freed on condition of steep fine February 27, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, expressed dismay over the plea bargain that Tanzania journalist Erick Kabendera was forced to sign this week to secure his release after seven months in prison. Kabendera, an award-winning journalist, walked out of the prison on February […] Read more »
IPI urges Egypt to release journalist Badr Mohammad Badr February 26, 2020 By IPI Contributor Ayman Al-Rachid The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned Egyptian authorities’ decision to seek a retrial against an Egyptian journalist, Badr Muhammad Badr, who was ordered freed in December by the country’s Surpreme Court. “The Supreme Court issued Badr’s release on December 3, before […] Read more »
IPI urges China to provide information on missing citizen journalists February 18, 2020 Minna Heikura, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today called on Chinese authorities to provide information on the location and condition of two missing citizen journalists who had been covering the coronavirus epidemic. IPI also urged the authorities to ensure that journalists are able to […] Read more » TaggedChen Qiushi China coronavirus Fang Bin International Press Institute IPI journalists missing press freedom
IPI urges investigation in attack on Russian journalist in Chechnya February 11, 2020 Minna Heikura, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the attack on Russian investigative journalist Yelena Milashina and her lawyer Marina Dubrovina and urged authorities to carry out a full investigation in the case and bring those responsible to justice. Milashina, a well-known and […] Read more »
Watching the watchdogs: Pegasus spyware and the surveillance of journalists February 11, 2020 IPI Contributor Jamie Wiseman In the past five years a growing trend has emerged of autocratic governments around the world using sophisticated spyware tools purchased from private Western companies to snoop on journalists. Originally designed for criminal or intelligence operations, these privately developed technologies are increasingly being used by state agencies to spy on critical and investigative reporters and […] Read more » Taggedjournalists Pegasus press freedom surveillance WhatsApp
Slovak opinion writer charged with ‘defaming’ religious believers February 10, 2020 Slovak prosecutors should drop charges against an opinion writer accused of defaming religious believers, the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, said today. The opinion writer, Michal Havran, is accused of defaming the faith of Catholic believers through a 2018 article in which he mocked and sharply […] Read more »
Egypt moves to brand ‘opposition’ media as terrorist entities February 7, 2020 IPI Contributor Jamie Wiseman Egyptian lawmakers should reject legislation that would allow media outlets to be branded as “terrorist entities”, the International Press Institute, a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, said today. Last week, the Egyptian parliament’s legislative and constitutional affairs committee approved an amendment to the Egyptian penal code which would […] Read more » TaggedAbdel Fattah al-Sisi amendment Egypt entities freedom independent IPI jail journalists law media newspaper Parliament Prasad press prison radio Sisi State Security Prosecution terrorism terrorist tv
IPI joins over 40 rights groups in condemning Brazil’s prosecution of Greenwald January 24, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, has joined nearly four dozen other press freedom and civil liberties organizations in an open letter condemning Brazil’s decision to charge U.S. journalist Glenn Greenwald in response to his reporting with The Intercept Brasil. IPI separately called […] Read more » TaggedBolsonaro Brazil charges cybercrimes Greenwald journalist press freedom
IPI supports call for investigation into hacking of Jeff Bezos’s phone January 22, 2020 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and journalists, today supported the call by two U.N. special rapporteurs for an investigation into the hacking of The Washington Post owner Jeff Bezos by the Saudi government. According to media reports, Bezos’s phone was hacked in 2018 by deploying spyware in a […] Read more » TaggedAmazon crown prince Jeff Bezos Khashoggi phone Saudi Arabia Washington Post
Ghana must expedite investigation into journalist’s killing January 15, 2020 Minna Heikura, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI One year after the killing of Ghana journalist Ahmed Hussein-Suale, the International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, expressed deep concern over the lack of progress in the murder investigation. Ahmed Hussein-Suale, an investigative journalist working for the organization Tiger Eye, was shot dead on […] Read more »
Fidel Ávila Gómez, Mexico Fidel Ávila Gómez, 42, a host and manager of the radio station La Ke Buena, in Huetamo in Mexico’s Michoacan state, was found dead on January 9, with bullet wounds. The journalist had been kidnapped by some armed men on November 29, 2019 while he was on his way to cover an event in in the city of […] Read more »
11 years later: Sri Lanka fails to investigate journalist murder January 8, 2020 Minna Heikura, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today renewed its call on the government of Sri Lanka to investigate the murder of IPI World Press Freedom Hero and former Sunday Leader editor Lasantha Wickrematunge and bring those responsible to justice. Wickrematunge was killed near […] Read more »
Disappearances and detentions continue in another dark year for Egyptian journalists December 16, 2019 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the continued disappearances and arbitrary detention of journalists in Egypt and called on authorities to immediately release all those swept up in a recent crackdown. The last three months have seen the biggest wave of […] Read more »
Nigeria must amend vague ‘hate speech’ bill December 11, 2019 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, joined its Nigerian National Committee in expressing concern over two cybercrime bills being considered in Nigeria targeting vague concepts of “hate speech”, “fake news” and misinformation. The first bill, the National Commission for the Prohibition of Hate […] Read more »
Albania urged to reject draconian new media laws December 10, 2019 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, joined seven other international media freedom organizations in calling the Parliament of Albania to reject a so-called “defamation package” of media laws that would empower the authorities to shut down online media without judicial oversight. The full letter, […] Read more »
IPI executive board condemns death threats to Dawn editor and CEO in Pakistan December 5, 2019 The undersigned members of the global Executive Board of the International Press Institute (IPI) are appalled by death threats made against fellow IPI Executive Board member and Dawn editor Zaffar Abbas as well as Dawn CEO Hamid Haroon during demonstrations outside the offices of Dawn in Pakistan. On December 3 protestors laid siege to Dawn’s […] Read more »
Troubled transition: cracks appear in Ethiopia’s media reform project December 4, 2019 IPI Contributor Jamie Wiseman In October, Ethiopia’s 43-year-old reformist prime minister, Abiy Ahmed, made international headlines by becoming the first African statesman in over a decade to win the Nobel Peace Prize. Along with his critical role in building long-term peace and international cooperation in the Horn of Africa, the Nobel Committee also recognized the young leader’s remarkable success […] Read more »
IPI welcomes EU Commissioner Jourova’s commitment to defending media freedom December 3, 2019 The new European commissioner for values and transparency, Věra Jourová, assured the International Press Institute (IPI) in a meeting in November that the European Commission will do its utmost to ensure the protection of media freedom and media pluralism in the EU. Jourová told an IPI delegation, led by IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi, that […] Read more »
“Radio Silence” and IPI at THW film festival (Vienna, Dec. 10, 2019) To mark International Human Rights Day, IPI will co-host the Austrian premiere of Juliana Fanjul’s documentary Radio Silence on Dec. 10 at 20:15 at Vienna’s Topkino. IPI is partnering with This Human World (THW) film festival for the fifth consecutive year. Synopsis: After revealing a corruption case within the Mexican government, the well-known journalist Carmen Aristegui gets fired from the popular radio […] Read more »
Groups launch Turkey press freedom mission report November 18, 2019 The International Press Institute (IPI) highlighted the continued jailing of over 120 journalists in Turkey as a deep stain on the country’s human rights record at the launch of a joint report by eight international press freedom and journalism organizations on the status of press freedom in the country. Stay informed. Stay engaged. Join thousands […] Read more »
Turkey’s Journalists in the Dock (Brussels, Nov 18, 2019) • Still over 120 journalists in jail in Turkey • Over 100 terror-related investigations opened since Turkey’s incursion into Syria • Fair trial principles routinely breached • New efforts to stifle online media • Is the judicial reform strategy a sham or an opportunity? • How should the EU respond? The International Press Institute (IPI) […] Read more »
Mass journalist arrests in Uganda highlight long-term crackdown on press freedom November 7, 2019 IPI Contributor Jamie Wiseman The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today expressed serious concern at the recent mass arrests, assaults and use of teargas against journalists peacefully protesting recent police brutality in Uganda. On Monday, November 4, over twenty journalists from different media unions and organisations were detained […] Read more »
Mexican government declines to recognize freedom of expression crisis November 7, 2019 The International Press Institute (IPI) this week took part in an international press freedom mission to Mexico, where verbal attacks on the press by President Andrés Manuel López Obrador have added a new dimension to a country mired in a crisis of journalist safety and impunity. At a press conference on November 6 in Mexico City, the […] Read more »
Impunity: Democracies around the world failing to protect journalists October 31, 2019 Democracies around the world are failing to protect journalists and investigate killings and crimes against them, the International Press Institute (IPI) said to mark International Day to End Impunity for Crimes against Journalists on November 2. According to the Vienna-based IPI’s Death Watch, as many as 40 journalists lost their lives over the last year. […] Read more » Taggedimpunity journalist murder press freedom
Turkey: Coalition intervenes at ECtHR to support Kurdish journalist’s case October 25, 2019 A coalition of 10 international press freedom and journalism organizations including the International Press Institute (IPI) has intervened at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) in support of a case brought by İdris Sayılğan, a Turkish-Kurdish journalist jailed since 2016 on baseless anti-terror charges. The intervention focuses on the crucial question of domestic remedy, which […] Read more » TaggedECtHR Idris Sayilgan jail Kurdish press freedom prison
