IPI urges Spain to free journalist held on Turkey warrant August 9, 2017 Spain should immediately release a dual Turkish-Swedish writer and journalist arrested in Barcelona on an Interpol warrant issued by Turkey, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today, calling it “a troubling new nadir in the Turkish government’s ongoing efforts to criminalise journalism”. Authorities detained Hamza Yalçin, 59, on Aug. 3 at Barcelona’s airport as he […] Read more »
Hong Kong media sees trouble as China tightens grip August 9, 2017 IPI Contributor Henri Mikael Koponen Journalists in Hong Kong are voicing concern over the deteriorating state of press freedom in the special administrative region, lamenting growing mainland influence through ownership of traditional media outlets, an increase in self-censorship and attacks on journalists. While various independent online publications have been founded in the past few years to counter these concerns, digital-only […] Read more »
Israel seeks to close Al Jazeera bureau, pull credentials August 7, 2017 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned the Israeli government’s announcement that it plans to revoke media credentials of Al Jazeera journalists, close the Qatar-based network’s office in Jerusalem and pull its broadcasts from local cable and satellite providers. Communications Minister Ayoub Kara said yesterday that the moves were aimed at bolstering Israel’s security and “to bring a […] Read more »
‘Black Code’ at the Frame[o]ut 2017 Festival (Aug 11) IPI joined a public discussion on digital surveillance and the limitations of free speech on the Internet ahead of the Austrian premiere of the documentary film “Black Code” on Aug. 11 at the 2017 Frame[o]ut Festival in Vienna, in a screening curated and co-organised by the organisers of the This Human World international human rights film […] Read more »
Turkey court orders seven Cumhuriyet journalists freed July 28, 2017 A coalition of international free expression groups and professional journalist organizations today welcomed a ruling by a court in Istanbul freeing seven of 11 journalists held nearly nine months in a criminal case targeting independent daily Cumhuriyet. But they expressed deep concerns over the case, saying it should not have been brought, and demanded the […] Read more »
Cumhuriyet trial draws attention of international media July 26, 2017 IPI Contributor Henri Mikael Koponen, IPI Staff The ongoing trial of journalists and executives with Turkey’s last major critical newspaper has received an abundance of international criticism and media coverage. This week, International Press Institute (IPI), together with other leading international free expression groups as well as international journalists and European Parliament members, travelled to Istanbul to observe the trial, in which 17 […] Read more »
Kadri Gürsel’s defence: ‘charges against me defy logic’ July 26, 2017 Cumhuriyet columnist and IPI Executive Board Member Kadri Gürsel delivered a stirring defence of the rights of journalists on Monday as he stood in court to face sham charges of aiding terrorism. Gürsel, who faces up to 15 years in prison, is one of 17 prominent Cumhuriyet journalists and executives on trial this week in […] Read more »
Cumhuriyet trial Day One: International observers slam “bogus” charges July 24, 2017 IPI Contributor Henri Mikael Koponen The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined other leading international free expression groups as well as international journalists and European Parliament members in observing the start of a major trial against journalists with Turkey’s last major critical newspaper. The 17 journalists and executives with the secular daily Cumhuriyet – some of whom face up to […] Read more »
IPI in Istanbul to monitor trial of Cumhuriyet journalists July 24, 2017 Steven M. Ellis, IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined other international free expression organisations in a demonstration outside an Istanbul courthouse prior to the start of the trial against 17 journalists from Turkey’s Cumhuriyet newspaper. In an address at the demonstration, IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications Steven M. Ellis urged authorities to release the journalists and […] Read more »
Freedom of Expression: Facing Up to the Threat (July 24-25, 2017) The Qatar National Human Rights Committee, in cooperation with the International Press Institute (IPI) and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), hosted the international conference “Freedom of Expression: Facing Up to the Threat” in Doha, Qatar from 24-25 July 2017. The event was held amid a diplomatic crisis in the Middle East pitting Qatar against […] Read more »
Emergency powers in Zambia threaten media freedom July 21, 2017 The International Press Institute (IPI) today expressed concern over the imposition of emergency powers in Zambia and recent comments made by the inspector-general of police that some publications could be closed while the 90-day state of emergency was in place. On July 5, Zambian President Edgar Lungu initiated a “state of threatened public emergency” and […] Read more »
Despite Danish repeal, blasphemy laws still common in Europe July 13, 2017 In voting last month to repeal their country’s centuries-old blasphemy law, Danish lawmakers joined a growing trend in Europe toward securing free speech on matters related to religion. A comprehensive IPI study on criminal defamation and insult laws published in March by the Representative on Freedom of the Media of the Organization for Security and […] Read more »
Bahrain activist Nabeel Rajab given two-year sentence July 11, 2017 IPI Contributor Austin Faulds and IPI Staff The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned the two-year prison sentence that a Bahrain court gave human rights activist Nabeel Rajab on accusations that he spread “false or malicious” information in a bid to harm the country’s image. The court issued the sentence yesterday. Rajab was not present for the proceeding, but was instead in […] Read more »
IPI urges states in Qatar row to drop media demands July 3, 2017 IPI Contributor Henri Koponen and IPI Staff Saudi Arabia and three other Arab nations that have blockaded Qatar and cut diplomatic relations over accusations that it supports terrorism should drop demands that it close Doha-based news network Al Jazeera and other media outlets, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. Earlier today, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Bahrain and Egypt agreed […] Read more »
Azerbaijani journalist forcibly repatriated from exile June 2, 2017 Austin Faulds and IPI staff The International Press Institute today called on Azerbaijani authorities to release journalist Afgan Mukhtarli, who was apparently kidnapped in neighbouring Georgia on Monday and forcibly returned to Azerbaijan, where he now faces charges of smuggling and illegal border crossing. Mukhtarli’s lawyer, Elchin Sadigov, told the Associated Press that his client was abducted from his home […] Read more »
Analysis sees progressive evolution in Slovak civil defamation cases June 1, 2017 Progressive recent court rulings in Slovakia have helped to limit excessive protection granted to public officials in civil defamation trials, a new analysis released today by the International Press Institute (IPI) suggests. Media watchdogs, including IPI’s Slovak National Committee, had in previous years raised alarm about the propensity of high-level political figures and judges to […] Read more »
67th IPI World Congress to open June 21 in Abuja, Nigeria The 67th World Congress of the International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, will be inaugurated by Nigerian President Muhammadu Buhari in Abuja, Nigeria on Thursday, June 21. Under the theme “Why Good Journalism Matters”, the Congress will affirm the indispensable role of quality media in building strong […] Read more »
#IPIWoCo: When journalists seek refuge Hundreds of journalists have been forced into exile, escaping war, destruction, attacks and death threats; many of them choose Germany as their second home. Exiled from their homelands they face numerous obstacles (bureaucracy, language barriers, lack of social capital, cultural differences, unemployment, etc.) How can exiled journalists contribute to the news and serve the public […] Read more »
IPI members urge EU states to defend media freedom May 20, 2017 Members of the International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Germany and other EU member states, as well as the EU itself, to embrace their role as defenders of human rights globally, including the rights to freedom of expression and the press, amid troubling times for media freedom. The members made the call in a resolution […] Read more »
#IPIWoCo honours Ethiopian, Afghan journalists “Eskinder Nega’s courage made him a familiar name, a symbol of resistance for many Ethiopians,” exiled Ethiopian journalist and human rights activist Mesfin Negash told attendees of the International Press Institute (IPI)’s 2017 World Congress in Hamburg on Thursday as he accepted IPI’s 2017 World Press Freedom Hero award on behalf of Nega, who remains […] Read more »
Letter: Journalist arrested; IPI calls for lifting of restrictions on reporting May 17, 2017 H.E. Charles Taylor President of the Republic of Liberia Executive Mansion POB 10-90010 Capitol Hill 1000 Monrovia 10 Liberia Vienna, 17 May 2002 Your Excellency, The International Press Institute (IPI), the global network of editors, leading journalists and media executives, is deeply disturbed by the arrest of a journalist in the provincial city of Gbarnga, […] Read more »
Jailed Turkey journalists get Austria press freedom prize May 4, 2017 The International Press Institute (IPI) today saluted imprisoned journalists in Turkey who were collectively honoured with the Presseclub Concordia’s annual prize for press freedom and freedom of information at a ceremony yesterday in Vienna, but expressed concern that a Kurdish journalist was not given an Austrian visa in time to travel to accept the award […] Read more »
IPI: Journalists held in Turkey ‘not alone, not forgotten’ May 3, 2017 Lesen Sie diesen Artikel auf Deutsch To mark World Press Freedom Day, IPI sent the following open letter of support for journalists imprisoned in Turkey for their work to daily Cumhuriyet for publication so that those in prisons who are prevented from sending or receiving correspondence might be able to read it. The letter, as […] Read more »
Ethiopia’s Eskinder Nega named IPI Press Freedom Hero April 25, 2017 Ethiopian journalist and blogger Eskinder Nega, who has been imprisoned since 2011 after criticising his country’s abuse of anti-terror laws to silence the press, has been named the International Press Institute (IPI)’s 69th World Press Freedom Hero. IPI also announced today the Afghan Journalists Safety Committee as the recipient of the 2017 Free Media Pioneer […] Read more »
Syria court drops charges against Mazen Darwish April 24, 2017 The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed reports that all charges against 2015 IPI World Press Freedom Hero Mazen Darwish will be dropped after a Syrian court ruled that a 2014 amnesty applies to the case. “We are extremely pleased to hear of this decision, which was long overdue”, IPI Director of Advocacy and Communications […] Read more »
Denmark urged to repeal blasphemy law April 24, 2017 Danish lawmakers should repeal the country’s outdated criminal blasphemy law, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. Art. 140 of the Danish Criminal Code sanctions “mocking a person’s religion or the doctrine of a faith” with up to four months in prison. The provision had fallen out of use in recent years, but in February […] Read more »
Syrian Center for Media and Free Expression joins IPI The International Press Institute (IPI) is pleased to welcome the Syrian Center for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM), an NGO dedicated to protecting media freedom and supporting journalists’ rights in Syria, as an institutional member. SCM was founded in 2004 by renowned Syrian journalist and human rights defender Mazen Darwish and regularly reported on […] Read more »
Turkey not alone in shielding leaders from criticism April 20, 2017 Last Sunday, Turkish voters narrowly approved constitutional changes that observers fear will lead to authoritarian rule under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. While international election observers have criticised technical aspects of the vote, Erdoğan’s crackdown on the press – including the jailing of at least 150 journalists – and nurturing of a state propaganda machine had […] Read more »
Journalist sentenced to death in Yemen for ‘spying’ April 13, 2017 IPI Contributor Nicholas Wong, IPI Staff Houthi rebels in Yemen should immediately release a veteran journalist sentenced to death for allegedly spying for Saudi Arabia, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. A court in rebel-held Sana’a sentenced journalist Yahya Al Jubaihi, who has been detained since Sept. 6, on charges of collaborating and spying for an “enemy state”. In what […] Read more »
Study: Insulting foreign leaders a crime in 18 OSCE states April 12, 2017 Just over one year ago, German satirist Jan Böhmermann performed a reading of a vulgar poem about Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan that would unleash both a debate about the limits of satire and the fury of Turkey’s thin-skinned strongman. Despite German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s decision to grant Erdoğan’s request to allow a case against […] Read more »
Greek journalist arrested on libel charges April 11, 2017 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned the arrest of prominent Greek investigative journalist Kostas Vaxevanis on charges of libelling the wife of the head of Greece’s central bank. Vaxevanis was detained yesterday morning after appearing voluntarily at a police station in Athens. A prosecutor later ordered his release pending preliminary investigation. According to Greek […] Read more »
In Depth: Greek libel reforms only first step toward greater press freedom March 30, 2017 IPI Correspondent Dr. Lambrini Papadopoulou In December 2015, Greek lawmakers approved wide-reaching reforms to the country’s Press Law, popularly known as the “press killer”, that aimed to better protect press freedom and combat the ease with which Greek journalists could be taken to court for defamation. Few would deny that the reforms were a much-needed step toward combating and reducing […] Read more »
Q&A: Hungary rights defender on criminal libel repeal March 27, 2017 Earlier this month, the International Press Institute (IPI) released a comprehensive study highlighting ways in which Hungary’s civil defamation laws present obstacles to the coverage of political affairs. While those findings add yet another dimension to Hungary’s press freedom challenges, focus in recent times has rightly been on the abuse of Hungary’s criminal defamation laws, […] Read more »
