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 »
Indonesia reporter in hiding after harassment campaign June 8, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) urged Indonesia to ensure the safety of journalists after a reporter covering demonstrations related to the country’s 1965 anti-communist massacre was threatened with violence and forced into hiding. On Thursday, Rappler.com reporter Febriana Firdaus attempted to cover the second day of a gathering in Jakarta of over 300 Islamic hardliners […] Read more »
Fundamental Rights Forum (June 20 to 23) More than 700 participants from over 28 countries actively discussed existing challenges and best practices related to the Forum’s three main themes – Inclusion, Refugee Protection and the Digital Age – during 27 workshops, six panel debates and 10 talks at the Fundamental Rights Forum, organised by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA) and in partnership […] Read more »
Sudan security forces stifle press ability to breathe Beginning early last April, observers of the press situation in Sudan have monitored the emergence of a new trend in which security services have tightened their grip on newspapers and stifled their ability to breathe. Ever since, the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service (NISS) has doubled its already harsh punishment against newspapers defying its […] Read more »
Italian Senate considers bill to increase prison time for defamation May 31, 2016 Investigative journalism could soon become riskier business in Italy, with the country’s Senate set to consider a bill that would increase jail time for defaming public officials. The Senate’s Justice Committee on May 3 unanimously approved a bill to elevate the maximum possible prison term for defamation by up to one-half when the alleged victim […] Read more »
Order to free Azerbaijan’s Khadija Ismayilova welcomed May 25, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed news that Azerbaijani investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova has been ordered freed after spending nearly 18 months behind bars on charges of tax evasion and embezzlement that supporters say were politically motivated. Ismayilova was sentenced to seven-and-a-half years in prison in September, but Azerbaijan’s Supreme Court today reduced that […] Read more »
Three journalists missing in northern Colombia May 24, 2016 Lea este comunicado en español The International Press Institute (IPI) today expressed grave concern over the disappearances of three journalists in northern Colombia and called on the authorities to use every means possible to find them. Following the disappearance of Spanish journalist Salud Hernández-Mora, a long-time correspondent for Spain’s El Mundo newspaper and a columnist […] Read more »
IPI joins as partner of Fundamental Rights Forum 2016 May 24, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) is proud to be a partner of the upcoming Fundamental Rights Forum 2016, set to be held in Vienna from June 20 to 23 under the banner “Rights, Respect, Reality: the Europe of Values in Today’s World”. Organised by the EU Agency for Fundamental Rights (FRA), the Forum will focus […] Read more »
Release of journalists’ info in Ukraine blasted May 12, 2016 A Ukrainian website’s release of the personal information of more than 4,000 individuals from domestic and international media outlets who operated in the country’s restive east was ‘irresponsible’ and ‘ill-advised’, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today, condemning the move. On Tuesday night, a Kiev-based website with apparent links to Ukraine’s security services released a list […] Read more »
Welcome to our new website! IPI is changing! Welcome to the new home of the global network for media freedom. We’re very excited to share our updated website, just in time for our annual World Congress and 65th General Assembly in Doha, Qatar (March 19-21, 2016 – be sure to follow the livestream here!). Take a look around! Our new […] Read more »
IPI condemns shooting attack on Turkey journalist Can Dündar May 6, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned the attempted shooting of Turkish journalist Can Dündar today outside the courthouse where he was expected to hear the verdict in a criminal case over reports claiming that Turkey’s intelligence agency secretly armed Islamist rebel groups in Syria. Dündar, editor-in-chief of daily newspaper Cumhuriyet, escaped unharmed when a […] Read more »
International groups urge freedom for Syrian rights defenders April 29, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today marked the birthday of award-winning Syrian human rights defender Razan Zaitouneh, who remains missing since her abduction along with three colleagues in December 2013, by joining some 30 other human rights watchdogs in a message of solidarity and a call for their freedom. Armed men kidnapped Zaitouneh and the others […] Read more »
Prison term for Turkey journalists over Charlie Hebdo image condemned April 29, 2016 IPI Staff and IPI Contributor Katy Witkowski The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined observers around the world in condemning the two-year prison sentence handed to two journalists who republished the cover of satirical French magazine Charlie Hebdo featuring an image of the Prophet Muhammad. An Istanbul court convicted daily Cumhuriyet journalists Ceyda Karan and Hikmet Çetinkaya of “openly encouraging hate and […] Read more »
Shields Up! Protecting journalists, bloggers from online harassment April 28, 2016 Javier Luque, IPI Digital Media Coordinator 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 »
Nepal publisher detained in corruption case April 26, 2016 The International Press Institute (IPI) today called for the immediate release of prominent Nepali publisher, editor and columnist Kanak Mani Dixit, who was arrested by authorities on corruption charges Friday. Dixit, founder of the Kathmandu-based news magazine Himal Southasian, was taken from his home in Patan, Lalitpur district by some 20 police officers deployed by […] Read more »
IPI urges Kyrgyzstan to free journalist serving life term April 22, 2016 IPI Contributor Katy Witkowski and IPI Staff The International Press Institute (IPI) today joined in calls for Kyrgyzstan to free political activist and journalist Azimjan Askarov after the U.N. Human Rights Committee found that authorities had violated several of his human rights during his trial and the nearly six years he has spent behind bars. Authorities accuse Askarov of having caused ethnic […] Read more »
Myanmar’s president pardons Unity journalists April 18, 2016 IPI Contributor Michael Kudlak The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed Myanmar President Htin Kyaw’s pardon of some 83 political prisoners, including four journalists and a media CEO imprisoned since 2014 over news reports on an alleged secret military chemical weapons factory. The pardon, signed by the president on Saturday, came just weeks after the new government of Aung […] Read more »
Böhmermann case shows it’s never too early to repeal bad laws German politicians of all stripes are suddenly calling for the abolition of a seldom-used provision in Germany’s Criminal Code that punishes insulting foreign heads of state with up to five years in prison. That’s welcome news for press freedom and freedom of expression. The provision in question, Art. 103, is a relic of the outdated […] Read more »
“How can we protect journalism with dictators in power?” On the sidelines of the International Press Institute (IPI)’s World Congress last month in Qatar, IPI interviewed Nobel Peace Prize recipient and Yemeni journalist Tawakkol Karman on the state of press freedom in the Middle East. In the interview, Karman criticised in particular an ongoing regional ‘counterrevolution’ for rolling back gains in human rights, including […] Read more »
Myanmar shelves investigation into journalist killing April 4, 2016 Myanmar must not allow the case of a journalist killed in 2014 while in military custody to sink into impunity, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today after police dropped their investigation into the incident. Aung Kyaw Naing, better known as Ko Par Gyi, was shot in October 2014 while under military arrest near Kyaikmayaw, […] Read more »
Turkey should drop charges against Cumhuriyet journalists March 24, 2016 On the eve of a trial scheduled to start on March 25, 2016, a coalition of leading international free expression and press freedom groups condemns the criminal case targeting Cumhuriyet journalists Can Dündar and Erdem Gül, and calls on authorities in Turkey to drop all charges against them. Dündar, editor-in-chief of Cumhuriyet, and Gül, the […] Read more »
Myanmar’s Media Moving Forward – A Dangerous World [The following was contributed in connection with a presentation made by Myanmar journalist Soe Myint on March 21, 2016 at the International Press Institute (IPI) World Congress in Doha, Qatar.] Myanmar’s Media Moving Forward – A Dangerous World As we are at a time of political transition in our country, it is vital that we […] Read more »
IPI General Assembly Resolution 2016: Iran The members of the International Press Institute (IPI), meeting at their 65th Annual General Assembly during the IPI World Congress on March 21, 2016 in Doha, Qatar, adopted by unanimous vote a resolution welcoming recent political developments in Iran, but urging the country to free imprisoned journalists and ensure greater respect for human rights and […] Read more »
