Mexico’s new president urged to protect journalists October 12, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists, has urged Mexico’s newly inaugurated president, Andrés Manuel López Obrador, to end the impunity with which journalists are being killed in the country. In a letter, Deputy Director Scott Griffen urged President Obrador to order law enforcement agencies to expedite […] Read more »
Canada urged to prioritise free expression in relationship with China October 7, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined 34 other civil society organisations in calling on Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to put human rights, especially free expression and press freedom, at the heart of Canada’s “renewed” relationship with China. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang recently visited Canada for talks with Prime Minister Trudeau, during which an agreement […] Read more »
IPI Nepal Committee welcomes arrest of suspects in 2004 journalist killing October 6, 2016 Siromani Dhungana The International Press Institute’s (IPI) Nepal National Committee today welcomed the decision of police in Dailekh, in mid-western Nepal, to prosecute suspects allegedly involved in the 2004 abduction and subsequent killing of Dailekh-based journalist Dekendra Thapa. Dailekh district police arrested five individuals all belonging to the then-Communist Party of Nepal (Maoist). A further four accused, […] Read more »
Russia detains Ukraine journalist on espionage charge October 5, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined calls for Russia to free a Ukrainian journalist detained late last week on charges of espionage, voicing concern that the arrest was a politically motivated move to impact the ongoing conflict between the two countries. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) detained Roman Sushchenko, 47, a foreign correspondent for Ukrainian […] Read more »
Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta target of fresh attacks October 5, 2016 IPI Contributor Antonio Prokscha The International Press Institute (IPI), a global network of editors, media executives and leading journalists for press freedom, today condemned the latest attacks on the independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta. IPI calls on the Russian authorities to protect independent media and thoroughly investigate the threats against the newspaper and its staff. On Monday, March 15, […] Read more »
Another journalist murdered in Russia’s Dagestan Republic October 5, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) condemns the murder on Tuesday of Dagestan-based newspaper editor Malik Akhmedilov, who was found dead in his car near the republic’s capital Makhachkala with bullet wounds to the stomach. Akhmedilov’s killing starkly underscores Russia’s worrying reputation as one of the most dangerous countries in the world for reporters. According to […] Read more »
Pakistani journalists stand up against online harassment October 3, 2016 Eden Vered, IPI Contributor Leading Pakistani women journalists appeared before a parliamentary committee on human rights on August 18 to address pervasive online attacks against women in the industry, after launching a campaign under the hashtag #AttacksWontSilenceUs earlier this month. The campaign, including a joint statement signed by tens of prominent journalists and organizations, describes the violent nature of […] Read more »
Two more Mexican journalists killed October 3, 2016 Naomi Hunt Journalists Juan Francisco Rodríguez Ríos and Maria Elvira Hernández Galeana were killed Monday evening in Coyuca de Benitez, a town located near the resort city of Acapulco in Mexico’s Guerrero state, according to local news reports. Rios worked for the newspaper El Sol de Acupulco and for Diario Objetivo de Chilpancingo as well as for […] Read more »
In Veracruz, powers that be have clear message: Don’t mess with us October 3, 2016 Scott Griffen A well-known investigative journalist who covers organised crime for a nationally renowned news magazine is found beaten and strangled to death in her home. Shocked, the local authorities immediately launch an investigation, exhausting any and all possible leads in order to find out who killed her and why. The national government, alarmed at the implications […] Read more »
Two more Mexican journalists killed, as slaying of journalists intensifies October 3, 2016 Naomi Hunt Less than three weeks after two journalists – a man and his wife – were gunned down in an Internet café in Mexico, a further two reporters have been killed, edging Mexico past Honduras as the world’s most dangerous country for journalists so far in 2010. Marco Aurelio Martinez Tijerina of Montemorelos in Nuevo Leon […] Read more »
Mexican journalists demand president tackle climate of impunity October 3, 2016 Mexican journalists in the drug-violence-wracked city of Ciudad Juarez called on Mexican President Felipe Calderon on Tuesday 12 October to take action against the climate of impunity shrouding attacks on journalists, joining calls made by freedom of expression groups last month. In an open letter to the president, who was visiting the northern Mexican city, […] Read more »
Turkey shutters at least 20 more TV, radio stations September 30, 2016 Turkey’s use this week of emergency powers granted in the wake of the July 15 coup attempt to shutter more than 20 media outlets with no discernible relationship to the failed putsch, and calls to extend the state of emergency, again illustrate the need for safeguards to prevent arbitrary use of such power, the International […] Read more »
Prominent Sri Lankan journalist’s body exhumed September 28, 2016 The body of slain newspaper editor and International Press Institute (IPI) World Press Freedom Hero Lasantha Wickrematunge was exhumed yesterday at Colombo’s general cemetery in the presence of a magistrate and under tight security as part of a fresh investigation into his death. Wickrematunge’s grave had been under armed guard since a new autopsy was […] Read more »
Russian journalist conducting training beaten September 28, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on Russian authorities to bring to justice those responsible for yesterday’s assault on well-known investigative journalist Grigory Pasko, who was attacked while in the city of Barnaul in Russia’s Altai region to train local journalists. Pasko, director of the Community of Investigative Journalists – Fond 19/29, said that […] Read more »
Yemeni journalist shot dead at his home in northwest Yemen September 26, 2016 Louise Hallman Yemeni journalist Mohammed Shu’i al-Rabu’i was shot and killed on 13 February at his home in Beni Qais, in the northwest of the country. Al-Rabu’i, 34, had worked for the monthly newspaper Al Qaira, published by the main opposition party, the Islamic Reform Grouping (Islah), for more than 10 years and had written several articles […] Read more »
Mazen Darwish warns of marriage of dictatorship and terrorism in Syria Prominent Syrian journalist Mazen Darwish, president of the Syrian Center for Media Freedom, spoke to the International Press Institute (IPI) last week on the current situation in Syria, where he says an international “proxy war” is putting political interests above the safety of civilians. The war in Syria has taken its toll on Darwish himself. […] Read more »
Series on mixed emotions of Holocaust survivors wins Alfred Fried award September 22, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined the Austrian publishing house Lammerhuber in warmly congratulating German photographer Helena Schätzle as the winner of the 2016 Alfred Fried Photography Award for peace photography. In selecting Schätzle, the international jury described her portrait series of Holocaust survivors as having captured “late moments of solace, tenderness and intimacy in […] Read more »
Charlie Hebdo insult case highlights weaknesses of Italian defamation law A lawyer for the Italian town of Amatrice, where nearly 300 people died in an earthquake in August, announced last week that the town would file criminal defamation charges against the French satirical magazine Charlie Hebdo. Earlier this month the magazine “commented” on the earthquake with two cartoons, the first of which crudely depicted victims […] Read more »
IPI calls for full investigation into Rwandan journalist’s murder September 16, 2016 Naomi Hunt The International Press Institute (IPI) has called for a full investigation into the murder of Charles Ingabire last week, which other Rwandan exiles have said was linked to the victim’s journalistic work, reports say. Ingabire, 32, was the editor of Inyenyeri News, an online opposition news site, news reports say. Ugandan police told the Human […] Read more »
CNN reports Al-Massar TV director shot dead in Iraq September 16, 2016 In what seems to be a deterioration of conditions for journalists in volatile Iraq, the director of an Iraqi television station was killed in Baghdad today, according to a report from CNN. Taha Hameed, the head of al-Massar TV, was driving with Iraqi human rights activist Abed Farhan Thiyab when they were “shot dead by […] Read more »
U.N. experts to Egypt: free ‘Rabaa Operations Room’ journalists September 16, 2016 IPI Staff and IPI Contributor Annie Mose A U.N. body of human rights experts has called for the release of nine journalists that Egypt is holding in connection with the bloody clearing of Cairo’s Rabaa Square in August 2013, saying that their detention is arbitrary and a violation of their human rights. The U.N. Working Group on Arbitrary Detention, in an opinion […] Read more »
Bahrain journalist jailed overnight September 16, 2016 Nisha Thanki Jaffer al-Alawai, a prominent journalist, blogger and poet, was arrested on 8 November. He was released after spending over 24 hours in custody. It is still unclear why he was arrested and whether he will be formally charged. Al-Alawai previously worked as an anchor for the Bahrain Radio and Television Corporation, the state-controlled, sole television […] Read more »
Journalist shot dead in Honduras September 16, 2016 Mariela Hoyer Guerrero Honduran journalist Adán Benítez (42) was shot in the head on Monday, 4 July, after two individuals intercepted him and stole his belongings. The journalist and TV producer was killed while he was walking home in La Ceiba, Atléntida department, in the northern part of Honduras. Benítez worked for Radio Makintosh and La Ceiba´s 14 […] Read more »
Pro-Zelaya journalist gunned down in Honduras September 16, 2016 Nayana Jayarajan According to media reports, 26-year-old Nery Jeremias Orellana was riding a motorcycle to work in the morning when he was stopped and shot in the head by unidentified assailants. He was found on the road connecting San Lorenzo village to Candelaria. He died later in a hospital. Orellana headed Radio Joconguera de Candelaria in the […] Read more »
Greek journalist’s libel conviction overturned on appeal September 15, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed an appeals court ruling overturning the criminal conviction of a prominent Greek investigative journalist for defamation. A three-judge panel of the Athens Court of Appeal on Monday unanimously threw out the conviction of Kostas Vaxevanis, editor of the investigative magazine HotDoc. A lower court sentenced him to 26 […] Read more »
Former editor-in-chief of women’s magazine arrested in Turkey September 15, 2016 Nayana Jayarajan The International Press Institute (IPI) is concerned by reports that two journalists working for the Renge Heviya Jine magazine in Turkey have been taken into custody for articles they wrote. On 5 December, authorities arrested the former editor-in-chief of the magazine, Berivan Eker, as she was on her way to a meeting with her lawyer. […] Read more »
Feature: Turkey trolls’ use of insults stifling reporting September 15, 2016 IPI Contributor Çağla Zimmermann Over the last decade, social media platforms such as Twitter and Facebook have democratised the production and flow of news, allowing any user to play an active role in the news cycle. But that change has not come without a dark side. Increasingly, it has left journalists, citizen reporters and bloggers exposed to abusive behaviour, […] Read more »
Russian TV journalist stabbed to death September 15, 2016 Steven M. Ellis The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on Russian authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the stabbing death of a journalist working for a regional television company in northern Russia. Anatoly Bitkov, the chief editor of Kolyma Plus regional television company, was found dead in his apartment this morning in the city of Magadan […] Read more »
Sami Jodat al-Rabah, Syria Islamic State group militants executed five Syrian media activists in December 2015, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The five are identified as Samer Mohamad al-Aboud, Mahmoud Shaaban al-Haj Kheder, Mohamad Abdulkader al-Essa, Mostafa Haj Hasa and Sami Jodat al-Rabah. They were captured by the group in October 2015 and killed for their […] Read more »
Mostafa Haj Hasa, Syria Islamic State group militants executed five Syrian media activists in December 2015, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The five are identified as Samer Mohamad al-Aboud, Mahmoud Shaaban al-Haj Kheder, Mohamad Abdulkader al-Essa, Mostafa Haj Hasa and Sami Jodat al-Rabah. They were captured by the group in October 2015 and killed for their […] Read more »
Mohamad Abdulkader al-Essa, Syria Islamic State group militants executed five Syrian media activists in December 2015, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The five are identified as Samer Mohamad al-Aboud, Mahmoud Shaaban al-Haj Kheder, Mohamad Abdulkader al-Essa, Mostafa Haj Hasa and Sami Jodat al-Rabah. They were captured by the group in October 2015 and killed for their […] Read more »
Mahmoud Shaaban al-Haj Kheder, Syria Islamic State group militants executed five Syrian media activists in December 2015, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The five are identified as Samer Mohamad al-Aboud, Mahmoud Shaaban al-Haj Kheder, Mohamad Abdulkader al-Essa, Mostafa Haj Hasa and Sami Jodat al-Rabah. They were captured by the group in October 2015 and killed for their […] Read more »
Samer Mohamad al-Aboud, Syria Islamic State group militants executed five Syrian media activists in December 2015, the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported. The five are identified as Samer Mohamad al-Aboud, Mahmoud Shaaban al-Haj Kheder, Mohamad Abdulkader al-Essa, Mostafa Haj Hasa and Sami Jodat al-Rabah. They were captured by the group in October 2015 and killed for their […] Read more »
