St. Vincent and Grenadines adopts cybercrime law August 16, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) yesterday joined human rights defenders in a call on St. Vincent and the Grenadines to repeal a new cybercrime law that they said poses “a serious threat to freedom of the press, the free flow of online information, and public debate”. The new law, which the Caribbean nation’s Parliament approved […] Read more »
Bangladesh urged to free ailing journalist August 12, 2016 IPI Contributor Tara Nissl The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined 25 other members of the IFEX global free expression network in calling on Bangladesh to grant journalist Shafik Rehman compassionate release due to his deteriorating health. Rehman was arrested in Dhaka on April 16, 2016 on suspicion of seditious activity, reportedly in relation to an alleged plot to […] Read more »
IPI condemns journalist killings in Syria August 12, 2016 Naomi Hunt The International Press Institute (IPI) condemns the killing of journalist Naji Assaad (also spelled Naji al-Asaad) in Syria yesterday, as well as the recent string of targeted attacks perpetrated by both pro-government and opposition forces against journalists and media outlets. IPI Press Freedom Manager Barbara Trionfi said: “We condemn the targeted killing of any journalist, […] Read more »
Zaman Mehsud, Pakistan Senior Journalist Zaman Mehsud of Tank District in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was gunned down on Nov. 3, 2015. According to local media, Mehsud – who was working with the Daily Ummat and Nai Baat newspapers, and who served as president of the South Waziristan chapter of the Tribal Union of Journalists (TUJ) and as district coordinator of […] Read more »
Murder of Pakistani journalist highlights impunity again August 12, 2016 IPI Contributor Çağla Zimmermann The murder of yet another journalist in Pakistan this week because of his journalistic work once again raises the issue of journalists’ safety and the importance of ending the impunity both in that country and worldwide. Senior journalist Zaman Mehsud of Tank District in Pakistan’s northwest Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province was gunned down on Tuesday, one […] Read more »
IPI joins over 80 groups in calling for release of Syrian freedom of expression defenders August 11, 2016 The following is an appeal from over 80 groups, initiated by the Bahrain Centre for Human Rights (BCHR), the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR) and PEN International’s Writers in Prison Committee (WiPC), calling on the authorities to free human rights defenders, journalists, bloggers and writers in Syria, some of whom have been detained incommunicado: […] Read more »
French magazine office firebombed August 11, 2016 Scott Griffen The offices of a French satirical magazine were attacked on Tuesday night after the publication featured a cartoon of the prophet Muhammad on its cover. Some news reports suggested that the magazine had not yet been distributed. According to news reports, a petrol bomb was thrown through the window of Charlie Hebdo’s Paris headquarters around […] Read more »
Guatemala journalist shot dead walking with grandson August 11, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned the killing of television journalist in Guatemala who was shot dead yesterday by two unidentified attackers on a motorcycle while walking with his teenage grandson. Víctor Hugo Valdez Cardona, the head of a cultural programme on the local cable network TL-COM, was killed while walking in a street […] Read more »
IPI urges Maldives president to reject defamation bill August 11, 2016 IPI Contributor Tara Nissl and IPI staff The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged the president of the Maldives to reject a widely criticised defamation bill that the Indian Ocean archipelago’s Parliament passed on Tuesday. The law would reportedly criminalise defamation, as well as communication that includes any gesture deemed to be against “any tenet of Islam”, Reuters reported. President Abdulla Yameen’s […] Read more »
A year later, killers of Ukraine journalist Vadym Komarov still evading justice August 11, 2016 IPI Contributor Monika Martinovic One year ago today, Ukrainian local investigative journalist Vadym Komarov died in hospital of serious wounds he suffered from three devastating blows to the head with a heavy object. The brutal assault took place on the morning of May 4, 2019, when Komarov, 57, was attacked by an unidentified individual in his hometown Cherkasy in […] Read more »
IPI report finds ‘shadow over democracy’ in Zambia August 5, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today released a report on its joint emergency press freedom mission to Zambia last month with the African Media Initiative (AMI) to examine government pressure on opposition newspaper The Post ahead of Aug. 11 elections. The report finds that the ongoing seizure of the daily’s offices and printing press in Lusaka […] Read more »
A Shadow Over Democracy [separator style_type=”none” top_margin=”20″ bottom_margin=”20″ sep_color=”#eae9e9″ border_size=”” icon=”” icon_circle=”no” icon_circle_color=”#ffffff” width=”” alignment=”center” class=”” id=””] “A Shadow Over Democracy” reports on the July 13 to 15, 2016 press freedom mission to Zambia carried out by IPI and the African Media Initiative (AMI) in response to government pressure on opposition newspaper The Post ahead of Zambia’s August 2016 […] Read more »
Daughter of murdered Guatemala journalist shot dead August 4, 2016 The daughter of a veteran Guatemalan radio journalist gunned down on June 25 by unidentified attackers was herself fatally shot on Tuesday, prompting the International Press Institute (IPI) to call on authorities to do more to protect journalists and bring their killers to justice. Lindaura Aceituno, daughter of Álvaro Alfredo Aceituno López and a manager […] Read more »
St. Vincent and Grenadines urged to amend cybercrime bill August 3, 2016 The St. Vincent and the Grenadines House of Assembly should amend a pending cybercrime bill to provide stronger protection for freedom of expression and journalistic work in the public interest, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. Following in the footsteps of other Caribbean legislatures, the House of Assembly is scheduled to vote shortly on a […] Read more »
Turkey jails journalists as president drops insult cases August 1, 2016 Turkey imprisoned 23 journalists this weekend amid an ongoing purge purportedly targeting those linked to the July 15 coup attempt, while its president, citing the country’s unity in the wake of the failed bid, said he was withdrawing all insult complaints he has filed against detractors. President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan said the one-time gesture was intended […] Read more »
Turkey issues warrants to detain 42 journalists July 25, 2016 Amid an ongoing purge, Turkish authorities today issued 42 warrants to detain* journalists with alleged links to the U.S.-based cleric the government accuses of orchestrating the failed July 15 coup. The AP reported that authorities had detained five of the journalists and that another 31 academics had been taken into custody. Initial reports suggested that one […] Read more »
IPI voices fear for future of democracy in Turkey July 22, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today said it was deeply concerned about the future of democracy in Turkey, commenting that a growing crackdown on those accused of links to last weekend’s failed coup attempt risked fully plunging the country into authoritarianism. Parliament yesterday approved a three-month state of emergency giving President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan sweeping […] Read more »
Pakistan cybercrime bill raises fears of online censorship July 21, 2016 IPI Contributor Annie Mose A bill that would give extraordinary power to the Pakistani government to censor online content continues to raise alarm among the country’s civil society as it moves through Parliament. Passed in April by the National Assembly, the lower house of Pakistan’s Parliament, the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill (PECB) is currently under review by a […] Read more »
IPI, AMI call on Zambia to allow opposition daily to reopen immediately July 15, 2016 Delegates from the International Press Institute (IPI) and the African Media Initiative (AMI) call on Zambian authorities to allow opposition daily The Post to reopen immediately, noting that the apparent politically motivated attempt to silence it ahead of elections is part of a chain of events raising deep concerns over the state of democracy in […] Read more »
Court suspends prison sentence of Kazakh journalist July 15, 2016 IPI Contributor Annie Mose and IPI Staff The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed a Kazakh court decision suspending the 18-month prison sentence of journalist Guzyal Baidalinova on libel-related charges. The Almaty Court of Appeals suspended Baidalinova’s sentence on July 12, but ordered her not to leave Kazakhstan’s largest city, according to reports. She had been detained since her arrest in December […] Read more »
Recommendations on protecting journalists from online harassment Journalists and bloggers are increasingly the victims of online harassment including death threats, verbal abuse and smear campaigns, in addition to technical attacks. The aggressors in these cases share a common goal: to intimidate journalists into silence and put a stop to critical commentary or investigative reporting that is intended to expose misdeeds and serve […] Read more »
Algeria urged to end harassment of critical media July 8, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined 22 other free expression organisations in urging the Algerian government to end harassment of independent media and to bring the country’s broadcast legislation in line with international standards. In a joint statement, the groups specifically called for the release of Khabar Broadcasting Corporation (KBC) Director Mehdi Benaissa and […] Read more »
IPI Board urges end to harassment of Zambia’s The Post June 29, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI)’s Executive Board today blasted an ongoing campaign of harassment targeting daily newspaper The Post in Zambia, saying that if efforts to silence independent media persist, upcoming general elections would be rendered “little more than a sham; an exercise inconsistent with democracy”. Citing a number of recent events targeting The Post […] Read more »
Eritrea urged to free Dawit Isaak, all detained journalists June 23, 2016 IPI Contributor Annie Mose and IPI Staff Following Eritrea’s announcement this week that Swedish-Eritrean journalist Dawit Isaak is alive after nearly 15 years behind bars without trial or official charge, the International Press Institute (IPI) renewed its call for the release of Isaak and all journalists detained there in connection with their work. Eritrean Foreign Affairs Minister Osman Saleh made the announcement […] Read more »
Groups condemn Turkey arrests before U.N. rights body June 22, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) co-sponsored a joint statement delivered today before a meeting of the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva calling on Turkey to immediately and unconditionally release Reporters Without Borders (RSF) Turkey representative Erol Önderoğlu, journalist Ahmet Nesin and academic Şebnem Korur Fincancı. The three were arrested and charged on Monday with […] Read more »
IPI condemns Turkey’s arrest of RSF representative June 20, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned Turkey’s arrest of two prominent journalists and an academic, including the local representative of Reporters Without Borders (RSF), on accusations that they supported terrorism by standing in solidarity with a pro-Kurdish newspaper. A judge in Istanbul ordered the arrests of RSF representative Erol Önderoğlu, Ahmet Nesin and Prof. […] Read more »
India criminal defamation ruling fails to recognise threat June 16, 2016 IPI Contributor Annie Mose Hopes that India’s Supreme Court would strike down laws criminalising defamation were dashed last month when the Court, upholding the laws, opined: “‘Reputation’ of one cannot be allowed to be crucified at the altar of the other’s right of free speech.” Rejecting claims that criminal defamation laws damage free speech, the Court refused to recognise […] Read more »
Tried in absentia, Egypt journalist can ‘expect anything’ June 15, 2016 IPI Contributor Katy Witkowski “We were sitting in a coffee shop [in Doha, Qatar], the lawyer and myself, and by chance another Egyptian was passing by the coffee shop,” Egyptian journalist Ibrahim Helal recounts. “He was also sentenced [in Egypt in absentia].” Helal continues: “We started to make jokes – you introduce yourself to me, I’m Egyptian, you’re Egyptian, […] Read more »
Bahrain arrests leading rights activist Nabeel Rajab June 15, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned Bahrain’s arrest of prominent human rights defender Nabeel Rajab on charges of “spreading false news and rumours about the internal situation in a bid to discredit Bahrain” and it called for his immediate and unconditional release. Rajab, who is the president and co-founder of the Bahrain Center for […] Read more »
IPI urges Tonga PM to end harassment of local journalist June 10, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined 28 other members of IFEX in calling on Tongan Prime Minister Samuela ʻAkilisi Pohiva to end the harassment of local journalist Viola Ulakai and to cease threats to have her suspended. Ulakai, head of programmes and news at the publicly-owned Tonga Broadcasting Commission (TBC), had been urging the […] Read more »
En peligro la existencia de la CIDH por falta de financiación June 10, 2016 Read this statement in English. El Instituto Internacional de la Prensa (IPI, por sus siglas en inglés), escritores y miembros de la red de Intercambio Internacional por la Libertad de Expresión (IFEX) instan a todos los estados miembros, observadores permanentes y otros donantes potenciales de la OEA a que reconsideren su falta de apoyo económico […] Read more »
Inter-American rights body facing serious financial crisis June 10, 2016 Lea este comunicado español The International Press Institute (IPI), writers and members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX) have urged all OAS member states, permanent observers and other potential donors to reconsider their financial support of the Inter-American Commission on Human Rights (IACHR), which the body says it urgently needs to continue to […] Read more »
IPI concerned by attack on Sri Lanka editor June 9, 2016 IPI Contributor Katy Witkowski The International Press institute (IPI) today called on Sri Lanka’s government to bring to justice those behind the recent beating of a journalist who was attacked and struck in the head with a pole. Freddy Gamage, editor of website Meepura and convener of Sri Lanka’s Professional Web Journalists Association was walking towards his car after […] Read more »
