Myanmar information minister to IPI World Congress: reforms ‘irreversible’ Myanmar Information Minister U Ye Htut today acknowledged setbacks in the country’s transition to democracy, but he assured participants at the opening ceremony of the International Press Institute (IPI)’s 2015 World Congress that the reform process “is irreversible”. “There is no turning back”, he said in an address that followed remarks by leaders of IPI […] Read more »
Gag law lands first strike on free expression in Spain March 23, 2015 Javier Luque, IPI Digital Media Coordinator; Scott Griffen, IPI Director of Press Freedom Programmes Lea este artículo en español Since Spain’s Public Security Law, known as the “gag law”, took effect on June 30 last year, the number of court cases challenging the measure’s constitutionality or asserting that certain provisions violate fundamental human rights has proliferated. But despite disapproval of the law by a majority of the Spanish public […] Read more »
Groups urge Syria’s Assad to release Mazen Darwish March 20, 2015 The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined with 23 other free expression groups in an open letter calling on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to release imprisoned Syrian activist and lawyer Mazen Darwish and two of his colleagues. The groups signing yesterday’s letter are members of the International Freedom of Expression Exchange (IFEX), a global network of […] Read more »
IPI condemns prison terms in Myanmar defamation case March 19, 2015 IPI Contributor April Reino A Myanmar court’s decision sentencing two journalists to prison at hard labour for allegedly defaming a military officer shows the need for the country to enact legal reforms to guarantee respect for media freedom, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. A court in the southern state of Mon yesterday handed two-month prison sentences to […] Read more »
Myanmar journalists decry ‘brutal’ police attacks March 16, 2015 Authorities in Myanmar urgently need to investigate the arrests and reported beatings by police officers of journalists covering recent protests and to punish all those responsible for the use of excessive force, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. “Reports that police officers targeted journalists seeking to cover demonstrations are shocking,” IPI Interim Executive Director […] Read more »
IPI calls on Syria to free World Press Freedom Hero Mazen Darwish March 12, 2015 The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on the Syrian government to release IPI World Press Freedom Hero Mazen Darwish, who has been imprisoned for over three years on spurious terrorism charges. IPI also called for the release of two of Darwish’s colleagues from the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression (SCM) detained […] Read more »
IPI urges Denmark to reconsider decision to keep blasphemy law March 9, 2015 Denmark should set an example on freedom of expression by repealing its criminal defamation and blasphemy laws, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. Danish Justice Minister Mette Frederiksen announced at the end of February that the government would not seek repeal of the country’s blasphemy law. Art. 140 of the Danish Criminal Code punishes […] Read more »
Italian journalist given prison sentence for defamation March 5, 2015 An Italian court ruling sentencing the editor of a news website to nine months in prison for defaming a public prosecutor is grossly disproportionate and violates European standards on freedom of expression, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. Roberto D’Agostino, founder of the site Dagospia, was convicted in late February of defaming a Genoa […] Read more »
Syrian Mazen Darwish named IPI World Press Freedom Hero February 26, 2015 The International Press Institute (IPI) today named as its 67th World Press Freedom Hero prominent Syrian lawyer and human rights defender Mazen Darwish, who has advocated for media freedom in his country for more than 10 years, and for the last three from behind bars. IPI also announced Mexican journalists’ network Periodistas de a Pie […] Read more »
#IPIWoCo Preview: U.N. Special Rapporteur David Kaye How can ongoing legal changes in Myanmar – still emerging from nearly five decades of isolation – lead to an atmosphere that promotes press freedom, rather than limiting it? David Kaye, the U.N. special rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, and others will answer that question […] Read more »
Ecuador media regulator sanctions newspaper over cartoon depicting lawmaker February 16, 2015 Ecuador’s media regulator on Friday ordered the daily newspaper El Universo to issue a public apology over a political cartoon satirising a lawmaker from President Rafael Correa’s party. In a statement, the Superintendent of Information and Communication (Supercom) said the cartoon amounted to “socio-economic discrimination” against the Afro-Ecuadorian community and therefore violated Ecuador’s Communications Law. […] Read more »
IPI welcomes Egypt’s release of Al Jazeera journalists February 12, 2015 IPI Contributor April Reino The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed the announcement that an Egyptian court has ordered Al Jazeera journalists Baher Mohamed and Mohamed Fahmy freed on bail. The move today came nearly two weeks after the deportation of the journalists’ Australian colleague, Peter Greste, and followed international outcry demanding the pair’s release. Fahmy, a former Egyptian-Canadian […] Read more »
New member interview (Albania): “We believe in what Exit does and what it needs to do” IPI is proud to welcome the Albanian news portal Exit, together with Exit editors Alice Taylor, Bledar Qalliu and Neritan Sejamini, as new members of its global network. Exit was started in 2015 as a blog site by lecturers at the University of Tirana in social and political sciences. It was created as a way of […] Read more »
IPI urges Georgia to drop bill to ban ‘strife-inciting calls’ January 30, 2015 IPI Contributor April Reino The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on Georgia’s Ministry of Internal Affairs to drop a proposed, vaguely worded bill that would criminalise “strife-inciting calls”. In a joint statement issued Monday, over a dozen news outlets and 20 Georgian media freedom and human rights groups said the bill “carries a risk of unreasonably restricting freedom […] Read more »
SEEMO blasts ruling on Macedonian journalist’s conviction January 28, 2015 The South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) today condemned a decision by a court in Macedonia (Republic of Macedonia / FYROM) upholding the conviction of journalist Tomislav Kezarovski for allegedly revealing the identity of a protected witness. The Skopje Court of Appeal on Jan. 15 rejected Kezarovski’s challenge to the conviction, but reduced his prison […] Read more »
In IPI interview, Bahrain rights defender says prison sentence a ‘message’ January 23, 2015 Leading Bahraini human rights defender Nabeel Rajab is waiting for a call from his lawyer to know when he will need to appear in court to appeal the verdict that left him facing a six month prison sentence for comments posted on Twitter. A court convicted Rajab of insulting public institutions after he suggested that […] Read more »
Bahrain activist given prison sentence January 21, 2015 A court in Bahrain yesterday ordered prominent human rights defender and activist Nabeel Rajab imprisoned for six months for having suggested in posts on Twitter that there were links between Bahrain’s security forces and the Islamic State group. The IPI Weekly Digest & IPI Distribution List Subscribe for all IPI press freedom news and updates, […] Read more »
In EU, calls to repeal blasphemy laws grow after Paris attacks January 16, 2015 Calls in Europe for the abolition of the continent’s remaining blasphemy laws have grown louder following last week’s deadly attack on Charlie Hebdo, a French magazine known for its unsparing religious satire. At least 14 EU member states maintain criminal blasphemy or religious insult laws, according to research led by the International Press Institute (IPI). […] Read more »
Kidnapped Mexican journalist remains missing January 9, 2015 The International Press Institute (IPI) expressed concern today about missing Mexican journalist Moisés Sánchez Cerezo, who disappeared last week in Medellín de Bravo, Veracruz. Sánchez, who reported on corruption among local officials and drug-related violence in the area, has been missing since the evening of Jan. 2, when his family reported that nine armed men […] Read more »
Kenyan Parliament approves restrictive security bill December 19, 2014 IPI Contributor Siobhan Hagan Kenya’s Parliament passed a controversial security bill yesterday evening during a fraught session that was adjourned twice after heated debate culminated in shouting matches and some physical blows. Governing Jubilee Coalition MPs approved the Security Laws (Amendment) Bill 2014 despite opposition accusations that Kenya would become a “police state”. The bill contains provisions that carry the […] Read more »
Strong civil society needed to counter diverse challenges to free expression in Spain, mission finds December 11, 2014 Lea este artículo en español Spanish civil society must speak out to counter diverse challenges to freedom of expression, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today following a four-day international mission to Madrid and Barcelona. Participants in the mission concluded that a lack of coordinated monitoring and advocacy has hindered efforts to enhance the free […] Read more »
African rights court rejects imprisonment in defamation cases December 11, 2014 The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed a landmark ruling by the African Court on Human and People’s Rights (ACHPR) against the application of imprisonment in defamation cases. The Court unanimously ruled on Dec. 5 in the case of Konaté v. Burkina Faso that the country violated the free expression rights of a journalist when it […] Read more »
Azerbaijan journalist detained in ‘suicide incitement’ case December 10, 2014 The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on authorities in Azerbaijan to release investigative journalist Khadija Ismayilova while they investigate allegations that she incited a former colleague to attempt suicide. A Baku court on Friday ordered Ismayilova detained for two months pending trial, reportedly based on the accusations of a man who said she spread […] Read more »
Letter from the Chair of the IPI Executive Board December 10, 2014 Dear IPI Members, Partners and Friends, As the New Year approaches I would like to announce changes in the leadership of the International Press Institute (IPI), a world’s leading organization fighting for press freedom, protection of human rights, freedom of expression, as well as the promotion of the free flow of information and high standards […] Read more »
IPI’s Indian Committee grants journalism excellence awards December 9, 2014 The International Press Institute (IPI)’s Indian National Committee on Friday presented its 2014 Award for Excellence in Journalism to daily newspaper Hindustan Times and weekly newsmagazine The Week at a ceremony in Delhi. The Committee honoured the Hindustan Times for an investigation by Harinder Baweja into acid attacks on women in India. The Week garnered its award […] Read more »
Groups launch new civil society coalition in Spain December 3, 2014 A diverse group of journalists, activists lawyers, academics, activists and consumer advocates converged yesterday in downtown Madrid for the official launch of the Platform for the Defence of Freedom of Expression (Plataforma en Defensa de la Libertad de Información), a new civil-society coalition that observers hope will fill an advocacy and monitoring gap in Spain. […] Read more »
IPI calls for release of World Press Freedom Hero Gao Yu November 26, 2014 IPI Contributor Siobhan Hagan The International Press Institute (IPI) today called for the release of Chinese journalist and IPI World Press Freedom Hero Gao Yu, whose trial for allegedly leaking state secrets began Friday behind closed doors in a Beijing court. “Gao Yu’s ongoing detention, reportedly for the alleged dissemination of a document highlighting the ideology behind Beijing’s policies, […] Read more »
First International Freedom of Expression Mission to Spain Dec. 1 to 3 November 26, 2014 A mission of international freedom of expression experts will visit Spain from Dec. 1 to 3, 2014 in order to gather information about levels of press freedom, freedom of expression and the right of access to information. The first mission of its kind, it is led by the International Press Institute (IPI) in coordination with Access Info […] Read more »
Roundtable raises alarm over defamation law in Slovakia November 25, 2014 A lack of caps on damages has made civil defamation lawsuits in Slovakia a “cash cow” for plaintiffs, attendees were told at a public roundtable discussion on Tuesday organised by the International Press Institute’s (IPI) Slovak National Committee. Arpad Soltesz, a Slovak journalist who has been a defendant in both criminal and civil defamation cases, […] Read more »
In Slovenia, officials indicate willingness to consider criminal defamation repeal November 24, 2014 The International Press Institute (IPI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) today expressed optimism about the possibility of defamation reform in Slovenia following statements of good will from key Slovenian officials. Justice Minister Goran Klemenčič, a former anti-corruption official, told a joint IPI/SEEMO delegation that he was “personally against” the application of criminal […] Read more »
IPI urges Iran to drop sedition charges against Mashallah Shamsolvaezin November 20, 2014 IPI Contributor Siobhan Hagan In an open letter to Iranian President Hassan Rouhani, the International Press Institute (IPI) appealed for respect of international press freedom standards in the case of 2014 IPI World Press Freedom Hero Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, who is set to appear before Tehran’s Revolutionary Court on Nov. 29 on charges of ‘propaganda against the state’. The charges […] Read more »
Croatian MPs voice support for criminal defamation repeal November 20, 2014 The International Press Institute (IPI) and the South East Europe Media Organisation (SEEMO) today welcomed support from key Croatian parliamentarians for the repeal of the country’s criminal defamation laws. Meeting with a joint IPI/SEEMO delegation in Zagreb, Mladen Novak, chair of the parliamentary Committee on Information, Computerisation and the Media, called criminal defamation laws “unacceptable” […] Read more »
IPI urges Myanmar Attorney General to uphold media freedom November 13, 2014 IPI Contributor Siobhan Hagan The International Press Institute (IPI) has called on Myanmar to thoroughly investigate the recent death of a journalist at the hands of the military and to release five staffers from a weekly newspaper sentenced to seven years behind bars. IPI Executive Director Alison Bethel McKenzie in an open letter urged Myanmar Attorney General Dr. Tun […] Read more »
