Experts voice concern as Turkey’s media under siege February 22, 2017 IPI Contributor Florence Peschke The Turkish government’s crackdown on independent media poses serious risks to democracy and stability, journalists from the country told a Vienna audience today at an International Press Institute (IPI) event examining media freedom in Turkey ahead of an April constitutional referendum that could vest even greater power in the hands of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. […] Read more »
ECPMF/ECtHR Conference 2017 (March 24, 2017) IPI is pleased to be among the supporters of the ECPMF/ECtHR Conference 2017, which will explore current developments and challenges in the freedom of expression case law of the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR). Led by the European Centre for Press and Freedom Freedom (ECPMF), the one-day conference aims to bring together judges and lawyers of […] Read more »
Three months on, Qatar still blocking Doha News February 16, 2017 Independent online news portal Doha News has blasted the Qatari government’s ongoing block of the website in the country, saying that the nearly-three-month-old effort amounted to censorship. The country’s two telecommunications providers, Ooredoo and Vodafone, have blocked access to Doha News since Nov. 30 and the site is only accessibly through a Virtual Private Network […] Read more »
Turkey’s Media Under Siege: IPI Expert Panel and Solidarity Event (Feb. 22, 2017) One-hundred-fifty journalists are currently behind bars in Turkey, the world’s leading jailer of journalists. The vast majority of those held were detained – many arbitrarily and without formal charges – as part of a sweeping government crackdown on independent media following the July 2016 coup attempt. At the same time, government pressure on Turkey’s judicial […] Read more »
Wave of attacks on Ecuador news sites before election February 9, 2017 Lea esta noticia en español. Ecuador’s restrictive communications laws have limited investigative journalism to news websites constantly struggling amid precarious economic circumstances, so the takedown of five online media outlets in less than 72 hours following numerous digital attacks represents a troubling development. The incidents have come ahead of a presidential election set for Feb. […] Read more »
Oleada de ataques contra medios digitales en Ecuador antes de los comicios February 6, 2017 Read this article in English. La restrictiva Ley de Comunicación de Ecuador ha reducido el periodismo de investigación a portales especializados que lidian constantemente con una situación económica precaria. En este sentido, es especialmente preocupante los ataques que han recibido cinco páginas web de noticias en menos de 72 horas y que, como consecuencia, estuvieron offline […] Read more »
IPI blasts Bahrain cases against Nabeel Rajab February 3, 2017 IPI Contributor Florence Peschke and IPI Staff The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Bahrain to free prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab after prosecutors said a charge that he spread “false news” harming the state’s image stemmed from his claim that journalists and international NGOs were banned from entering Bahrain. The disclosure, the first time that Bahrain’s government identified the basis […] Read more »
Egypt urged to free Al Jazeera journalist tomorrow February 2, 2017 The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on Egypt to release an Al Jazeera journalist who was detained on Dec. 20 when he entered the country on holiday and urged authorities not to extend his detention for a third time tomorrow. Egypt’s government accuses Mahmoud Hussein, a Doha-based Egyptian national with more than two decades […] Read more »
Q&A: the abuse of libel laws in Malta February 1, 2017 Despite its small size, the Mediterranean island nation of Malta sees a surprisingly high number of libel cases. Notably, criminal defamation remains on the books in Malta – with a potential penalty of a year in prison – and the country’s politicians have traditionally not been shy about filing charges against journalists who scrutinise their […] Read more »
Ugandan journalist allegedly shot at by police January 28, 2017 Naomi Hunt IPI condemns the alleged attack on a photojournalist working for the Daily Monitor newspaper in Uganda. The reporter was allegedly shot at by a police officer while covering an opposition demonstration in Kampala, according to a first-person account in the newspaper and a report from the Human Rights Network for Journalists-Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda). Isaac Kasamani was […] Read more »
Greek defence minister takes on media in libel cases January 17, 2017 IPI Correspondent Lambrini Papadopoulou; IPI Staff Last week was a busy one, to say the least, for press freedom in Greece: two major libel cases brought by Defence Minister Panos Kammenos, leader of the Independent Greeks (ANEL) party, made headlines in and outside the courtroom. On Thursday, an Athens court heard evidence in Kammenos’ suit against well-known Greek political cartoonist Andreas […] Read more »
IPI welcomes Austria’s chairmanship of the OSCE January 16, 2017 IPI Contributor Florence Peschke The Vienna-based International Press Institute (IPI) welcomed Austria’s assumption of the 2017 chairmanship of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE) last week, calling on the country to use the opportunity to strengthen cooperation to protect and promote media freedom among OSCE participating states. Austrian Federal Minister for Europe, Integration and Foreign Affairs […] Read more »
Ex-IPI board member, Jerusalem Post editor Ari Rath dies Renowned Austrian-Israeli editor and former International Press Institute (IPI) Executive Board Member Ari Rath, who headed the English-language broadsheet newspaper The Jerusalem Post for 14 years and was a staunch proponent of Palestinians’ right to have their own state, died in Vienna on Friday, just one week after celebrating his 92nd birthday. “Ari Rath was […] Read more »
Defamation defence manual launched in four new languages January 12, 2017 IPI/MLDI reference guide now available in Greek, Turkish, Italian and Russian Read more »
In Greece, judges’ application of European libel law seen as lacking January 10, 2017 IPI Correspondent Lambrini Papadopoulou In December 2015, Greek legislators received plaudits for finally tackling the country’s industry of vexatious defamation claims by enacting important reforms to the country’s press law. Good laws, however, are only part of the picture: protecting journalists’ rights in defamation cases also depends upon having experienced and knowledgeable judges. “Greece may have truly taken some […] Read more »
In Depth: Libel damages squeeze Ireland’s press January 4, 2017 Scott Griffen The amount that media outlets in Ireland are forced to pay in defamation cases is far above the European average and continues to spiral, despite reform attempts. In this in-depth piece,, part of IPI's coverage of libel laws and freedom of expression in Europe, we take a look at what's contributing to the rise, how Irish media are feeling the pressure and what solutions are in sight. Read more »
Concerns as head of Azerbaijan news agency arrested December 25, 2016 IPI Contributor Henri Mikael Koponen Last week’s arrest in Azerbaijan of Mehman Aliyev, head of the independent Turan Information Agency, and the criminal charges his news outlet faces have renewed concerns about deteriorating media freedom in the country, where at least 11 other journalists are currently behind bars. Aliyev, who has headed the news agency since its founding in 1990, […] Read more »
Remembering Anna Politkovskaya: ‘She became a role model for many young Russian journalists’ December 25, 2016 IPI Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Fellow Ronja Koskinen It has been 15 years since prominent Russian journalist and human rights activist Anna Politkovskaya was brutally murdered after receiving several threats. Her death shocked the nation and made headlines all over the world. Until this day it is unclear who ordered the assassination. On October 7, 2006, Politkovskaya was carrying groceries to her central […] Read more » TaggedAnna Politkovskaya impunity IPI press freedom Russia
IPI deeply concerned at death of RFE/RL correspondent in Turkmenistan December 24, 2016 According to information before IPI, Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) Turkmen Service correspondent Ogulsapar Muradova died in custody while serving a prison sentence on charges that were said to be politically motivated. Her relatives were notified by police on 14 September, but the circumstances of her death remain unclear. Based on media reports, Muradova’s body […] Read more »
Widad Hussein Ali, Iraq Widad Hussein Ali, 28, an Iraqi Kurdish reporter for the pro-Kurdistan Workers Party (PKK) news agency RojNews, was abducted in broad daylight by unidentified men in the city of Duhok on Aug. 13, 2016 and found dead on the side of a road later the same day. Ali’s body displayed serious wounds and bruises, including […] Read more »
Bittersweet end for Greek journalist who won libel trial but lost job December 7, 2016 IPI Correspondent Lambrini Papadopoulou Greek journalist Alekos Andrikakis strikes a bittersweet tone when describing his long-awaited acquittal last month on libel charges brought by the former mayor of Heraklion, on the island of Crete. “There is a great sense of victory,” Andrikakis said in an interview with the International Press Institute (IPI). “A personal victory and a victory for […] Read more »
Indonesia urged to address press freedom violations in West Papua December 7, 2016 IPI Contributor Tara Nissl Just five months before Indonesia is set to host UNESCO’s 2017 celebration of World Press Freedom Day, its government still has not met a regional human rights watchdog’s demands to address press freedom violations in the country’s restive West Papua province. Upon the announcement in July that UNESCO would mark May 3, 2017 with a […] Read more »
Turkey’s detention of journalists ‘monumental injustice’ December 6, 2016 Turkey’s imprisonment of more than 100 journalists for months without any chance to contest the flimsy allegations they face is a monumental injustice that is completely incompatible with democratic values, the International Press Institute (IPI) said yesterday. IPI made the statement on the one-month anniversary of the arrest of IPI Executive Board Member Kadri Gürsel […] Read more »
“Frame by Frame” and IPI at This Human World Film Festival (Dec. 10) [fusion_text]IPI, with the support of the Embassy of Canada to Austria, has teamed with Austrian international human rights film festival “this human world” to screen the documentary “Frame by Frame”, the story of four Afghan photojournalists navigating their country’s emerging and dangerous media landscape, on Dec. 10 at Vienna’s Top Kino theatre. Following the screening, […] Read more »
Groups urge Panama to release Dutch journalist November 25, 2016 Panamanian authorities should immediately release Dutch investigative journalist Okke Ornstein and abolish the crime of criminal defamation, Transparency International, the International Press Institute (IPI) and ARTICLE 19 said today. Ornstein is currently facing a 20 month prison sentence for reporting on alleged corruption through his blog. “Journalists must be allowed to do their jobs freely,” Cobus […] Read more »
IPI sends letter of hope to Kadri Gürsel, all jailed journalists in Turkey November 21, 2016 “We will not stop fighting until you and your colleagues walk free”, IPI Executive Director Barbara Trionfi concluded in the letter she addressed directly to IPI Executive Board Member Kadri Gürsel and all journalists currently in jail in Turkey. The letter is intended to bring hope to all imprisoned journalists, and specifically to Kadri Gürsel, […] Read more »
Governments urged to press Turkey on media freedom November 11, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today endorsed a call by the Association of Caribbean Media Workers (ACM) on governments to rethink relations with Turkey in light of ongoing efforts to silence independent media in the country. The ACM, a strategic partner of IPI, urged Caribbean governments to speak out against Turkey’s actions and to hold […] Read more »
Global coalition slams Cumhuriyet arrests, media closures November 2, 2016 A coalition of 14 leading international press freedom and freedom of expression organisations today condemned as an “extraordinary attack on press freedom” the jailing of top journalists with Turkey’s Cumhuriyet newspaper and the closure of 15 pro-Kurdish media in a letter to leading Turkish officials. On Monday, October 31, Turkish authorities launched a mass operation […] Read more »
IPI members speak out for detained Turkish journalists On Monday, 31 October, IPI’s global network yesterday awoke to the news of the arrest of at least 13 journalists at the Turkish opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet, among them IPI Executive Board Member Kadri Gürsel and IPI Member and Cumhuriyet Editor-in-Chief Murat Sabuncu. Gürsel, Sabuncu and their colleagues are the latest victims of the Turkish government’s […] Read more »
Letter: Harassment of Indonesian independent journalists continues October 24, 2016 H. E. Gen. Haji Mohamed Suharto President of the Republic of Indonesia Office of the President Jakarta Indonesia Vienna, 20 March 1995 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI) is most concerned about the latest development in the Indonesian government’s campaign of harassment against members of the Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI). The IPI Weekly […] Read more »
Groups urge Turkey: end emergency powers abuses October 19, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) and a broad coalition of international human rights defenders today urged Turkey’s government to revoke provisions of the ongoing state of emergency following a failed July coup attempt that violate citizens’ fundamental human rights. At least 25 international groups – including Amnesty International, Human Rights Watch and others – have […] Read more »
Letter: IDF appears to target media in latest military offensive October 18, 2016 His Excellency Ariel Sharon Prime Minister Israel Fax: (+ 972-2) 513 950 Vienna, 13 March 2002 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, strongly condemns the Israeli army’s most recent attacks on journalists and media outlets in the city of Ramallah. The IPI Weekly Digest […] Read more »
Court: Burkina Faso must investigate journalist’s 1998 death October 12, 2016 IPI Contributor Cora Henry The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed the African Court for Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR)’s decision to reopen the investigation into the death of Norbert Zongo, an investigative reporter killed nearly 17 years ago, and three companions killed with him. The ACHPR ruled that the Burkina Faso government must search for the killers and […] Read more »
