Egypt must allow NGOs to work freely in the country November 10, 2014 Vanessa I. Garnica The International Press Institute (IPI) expressed alarm today over the Egyptian government’s decision to enforce a Mubarak-era law requiring all non-governmental organisations to register with the authorities or face criminal repercussions. The deadline for registration is today, Nov. 10, 2014. A number of international organisations working in Egypt for press freedom, freedom of expression and […] Read more »
IPI urges Egypt to heed global criticism of rights record November 6, 2014 The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on Egyptian authorities to heed criticism levelled against the country’s human rights record yesterday during a U.N. review. “Egypt’s government needs to ensure that the promises of free expression enshrined in the new Constitution approved early this year are actually implemented,” IPI Senior Press Freedom Adviser Steven M. […] Read more »
Defendants in Ethiopia Zone 9 case see 11th court delay November 6, 2014 IPI Contributor Siobhan Hagan An Ethiopian court this week delayed proceedings for an 11th time against six bloggers and three independent journalists, who were arrested in April in connection with their activities as part of the Zone 9 collective. The court at a hearing on Tuesday adjourned the case until Nov. 12, 2014. The nine defendants, who were arrested […] Read more »
Icelandic official seeks prison time for journalists in libel case November 3, 2014 Lawyers for an Icelandic Interior Ministry official are requesting prison time for two journalists who erroneously identified the official as a target in a police investigation into a government leak. In June, journalists Jón Bjarki Magnússon and Jóhann Páll Jóhannsson incorrectly identified Þórey Vilhjálmsdóttir, a political assistant to Iceland’s interior minister, as “employee B”, who the […] Read more »
IPI welcomes ECHR rulings in Iceland, Poland defamation cases October 28, 2014 The International Press Institute (IPI) today welcomed two recent European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) decisions upholding the media’s right to report on issues of public concern in the face of libel suits. In the first ruling, Erla Hlynsdóttir v. Iceland [No.2],published on Oct. 21, the Court unanimously ruled that Iceland violated a journalist’s right […] Read more »
Venezuelan authorities block Grupo Infobae website again October 23, 2014 Vanessa I. Garnica Argentine news organisation Grupo Infobae said this week that Venezuelan authorities have blocked access to an online platform the group created to circumvent a similar block on its main website less than two weeks ago. The group announced that it was setting up a new domain, Infobae.media, in the wake of authorities’ decision to block […] Read more »
New report highlights “unsettled” legal situation on anonymous speech October 22, 2014 Reflective of a lack of global legal consensus, media policies toward anonymous online reader comments remain in an “experimental” stage, a new report commissioned by the International Press Institute (IPI) has concluded. The report, released today, examines law and media best practices from around the world on the question of anonymous speech online, an issue […] Read more »
NGO coalition calls attention to Spain’s free expression violations October 20, 2014 IPI Contributor Siobhan Hagan The International Press Institute (IPI) has joined with eight other press freedom organisations to submit a letter to the U.N. Human Rights Committee listing concerns to be considered during Spain’s sixth country review under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). The review process is generally conducted every four years, when members of […] Read more »
Tapani Ruokanen honoured for accomplishments in the media industry October 16, 2014 IPI Contributor Siobhan Hagan The International Press Institute (IPI) is proud to congratulate its member and former IPI Finnish National Committee Chair Tapani Ruokanen for winning the Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation’s Honorary Award on Oct. 9. The prize is awarded each year by the Finnish Jenny and Antti Wihuri Foundation in support of persons who make important contributions […] Read more »
Ethiopian court adjourns trial for imprisoned Ethiopian bloggers and journalists October 15, 2014 IPI Contributor Siobhan Hagan Three journalists and six bloggers jailed in Ethiopia since April under allegations of terrorism and related activities faced the 10th delay in their case today, as the trial was adjourned until Nov. 4. The International Press Institute (IPI) previously reported the journalists and bloggers were arrested in Addis Ababa between April 25 and 26 for allegedly working […] Read more »
In France, judicial evolution in defamation cases protects work of civil society September 25, 2014 Scott Griffen [content_boxes layout=”clean-horizontal” columns=”1″ icon_align=”left” title_size=”” backgroundcolor=”#e6eef0″ icon_circle=”” icon_circle_radius=”” iconcolor=”#e6eef0″ circlecolor=”#e6eef0″ circlebordercolor=”#e6eef0″ circlebordercolorsize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”#e6eef0″ outercirclebordercolorsize=”” icon_size=”” link_type=”” link_area=”” animation_delay=”” animation_offset=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ class=”” id=””] [content_box title=”” icon=”” backgroundcolor=”#e6eef0″ iconcolor=”#000000″ circlecolor=”#e6eef0″ circlebordercolor=”” circlebordercolorsize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”” outercirclebordercolorsize=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”no” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” linktext=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″] This article is part of our series “Notes […] Read more »
New Telecommunications Law in Mexico endangers press freedom September 17, 2014 In July of this year, Mexican President Enrique Peña Nieto signed into law a new regulatory framework for the country’s telecommunications sector (Ley de Telecomunicaciones y Radiodifusión, “Broadcasting and Telecommunciations Act”). The legislation was designed to put into practice a 2013 constitutional reform that, according to the Mexican government, aimed to increase competition in a historically […] Read more »
Expert: Portuguese libel laws reflect ‘authoritarian concept of power’ September 5, 2014 [content_boxes layout=”clean-horizontal” columns=”1″ icon_align=”left” title_size=”” backgroundcolor=”#e6eef0″ icon_circle=”” icon_circle_radius=”” iconcolor=”#e6eef0″ circlecolor=”#e6eef0″ circlebordercolor=”#e6eef0″ circlebordercolorsize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”#e6eef0″ outercirclebordercolorsize=”” icon_size=”” link_type=”” link_area=”” animation_delay=”” animation_offset=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ class=”” id=””] [content_box title=”” icon=”” backgroundcolor=”#e6eef0″ iconcolor=”#000000″ circlecolor=”#e6eef0″ circlebordercolor=”” circlebordercolorsize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”” outercirclebordercolorsize=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”no” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” linktext=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″] This article is part of our series “Notes […] Read more »
Despite libel prosecution, Bulgarian journalist committed to her mission August 28, 2014 [content_boxes layout=”clean-horizontal” columns=”1″ icon_align=”left” title_size=”” backgroundcolor=”#e6eef0″ icon_circle=”” icon_circle_radius=”” iconcolor=”#e6eef0″ circlecolor=”#e6eef0″ circlebordercolor=”#e6eef0″ circlebordercolorsize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”#e6eef0″ outercirclebordercolorsize=”” icon_size=”” link_type=”” link_area=”” animation_delay=”” animation_offset=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″ margin_top=”0″ margin_bottom=”0″ class=”” id=””] [content_box title=”” icon=”” backgroundcolor=”#e6eef0″ iconcolor=”#000000″ circlecolor=”#e6eef0″ circlebordercolor=”” circlebordercolorsize=”” outercirclebordercolor=”” outercirclebordercolorsize=”” iconrotate=”” iconspin=”no” image=”” image_width=”35″ image_height=”35″ link=”” linktarget=”_self” linktext=”” animation_type=”0″ animation_direction=”down” animation_speed=”0.1″] This article is part of our series “Notes […] Read more »
Ethiopian journalists, bloggers charged with terrorism July 30, 2014 IPI Contributor Grayson Harbour The International Press Institute (IPI) today strongly condemned Ethiopian authorities’ decision to bring terrorism charges against three journalists and seven bloggers. The group, one of whom was charged in absentia, is accused of planning attacks to “destabilize” Ethiopia and working with the U.S.-based opposition group, Ginbot 7, which Ethiopian authorities consider a terrorist organisation, news […] Read more »
20 Years of Fear in Gambia July 23, 2014 The International Press Institute (IPI) yesterday joined an international call for an end to two decades of repression and impunity for human rights violations in Gambia on the 20th anniversary of President Yahya Jammeh’s rise to power. The full text of the statement, also posted on the website of Article 19, appears below. Joint Statement […] Read more »
IPI urges Brazil to implement journalist safety measures July 21, 2014 Vanessa I. Garnica The International Press Institute (IPI) today urged Brazil to implement safety measures for journalists amid reports that at least 36 were attacked between June 12 and July 13 while covering protests against the World Cup. The Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalists (ABRAJI) told IPI that almost 90 percent of the attacks – which included 17 […] Read more »
EU defamation laws fall dramatically short of international standards, IPI report indicates July 17, 2014 An International Press Institute (IPI) report on defamation law in the European Union (EU) indicates that EU member states fall dramatically short of fulfilling relevant international standards on freedom of expression, with the vast majority maintaining criminal defamation provisions that threaten the media’s ability to report on matters in the public interest. According to “Out […] Read more »
Five journalists jailed in Myanmar July 14, 2014 Grayson Harbour The International Press Institute (IPI) today called for the immediate release of five journalists sentenced last week to spend 10 years in prison for alleged defamation and violations of Myanmar’s national security laws. The Pakokku Township Court on Thursday sentenced four reporters and the chief executive of the Unity Journal to imprisonment at hard labour […] Read more »
IPI Board calls on Egypt’s president to pardon journalists June 26, 2014 Members of the International Press Institute (IPI)’s Executive Board today in an open letter to Egyptian President Abdel Fattah El-Sisi expressed outrage at the lengthy sentences handed out this week to three Al Jazeera journalists behind bars in Egypt as well as sentences pronounced against six other journalists in absentia. Calling the sentences “unjustifiable”, the […] Read more »
Trinidad and Tobago discusses Cybercrime Bill this week June 24, 2014 Vanessa I. Garnica Last February, Trinidad and Tobago was praised by many human rights groups, including the International Press Institute (IPI), for approving legislation to partially decriminalised defamation. However, today press freedom advocates in the country are concerned about a cybercrime bill, currently being discussed in Parliament this week, which in its current language imposes disturbing restrictions on […] Read more »
As World Cup continues, so do attacks against press in Brazil June 23, 2014 Vanessa I. Garnica The International Press Institute (IPI) today called on the Brazilian government to implement measures approved by the country’s Human Rights Secretariat to promote the safety of journalists covering protests currently taking place in various cities across Brazil. At least 19 Brazilian and international journalists were attacked in Brazil between June 12, the day the ongoing […] Read more »
Egyptian authorities sentence three journalists to lengthy prison terms June 23, 2014 Grayson Harbour Egyptian authorities have sentenced three Al Jazeera reporters to lengthy prison terms based on ungrounded and extraordinary claims, the International Press Institute (IPI) said today. Peter Greste, Mohamed Fahmy, and Baher Mohamed, reporters for Al Jazeera English, were sentenced today on charges they were conspiring with the Muslim Brotherhood to broadcast false reports of civil […] Read more »
Zimbabwe court issues initial ruling against criminal defamation June 18, 2014 Alison Graham, IPI Zimbabwe’s Constitutional Court ruled on June 12 that the country’s criminal defamation law violates a constitutional safeguard on freedom of expression. The ruling came in a case against two journalists charged with criminal defamation following a complaint by Munyaradzi Kereke, a member of the ruling Zanu PF party. Kereke filed the complaint in 2011 against […] Read more »
Israel halts printing of Gaza papers in West Bank May 30, 2014 The International Press Institute (IPI) today condemned an Israeli security forces raid on a Palestinian printing plant in an apparent effort to halt publication of several newspapers. Security forces stormed the Al-Ayyam daily and stopped its printing operations, according to the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms and IPI sources. The Ramallah-based newspaper prints […] Read more »
Court orders Bolivian newspaper to reveal sources May 28, 2014 Lea esta historia en español A Bolivian judge earlier this month ordered a journalist and editor in chief* to reveal the sources behind a recent investigative article, despite provisions guaranteeing source confidentiality in the country’s press law. “A source has never been revealed in this country,” said Juan León Cornejo, president of the National Press Association […] Read more »
Syrian journalist focuses on the human side of conflict May 28, 2014 Alison Graham As the uprising against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad turned into a nationwide civil war in 2011, a group of university students gathered in a friend’s basement in Aleppo to write articles and design the cover of their new magazine, Rebel. The Syrian revolution was becoming increasingly violent, but the danger didn’t stop the students in […] Read more »
IPI condemns censorship amid Thai military coup May 23, 2014 Alison Graham, IPI All independent television and radio broadcasts in Thailand, including transmissions from foreign stations such as the BBC, Fox and CNN, have been suspended since Thursday’s military coup, replaced by a military-run TV and radio broadcast that has been playing throughout the country. Print media, Internet and news apps are still running and available, but social […] Read more »
Caribbean journalists mark World Press Freedom Day May 3, 2014 Caribbean media workers from 12 island nations today joined in downtown Kingston to sign the Declaration of Emancipation Park in observance of World Press Freedom Day 2014. The signers acknowledged the role of independent media in promoting good governance, empowerment and the eradication of poverty, and they pledged to monitor and influence the rule of […] Read more »
Groups mark Europe’s support on World Press Freedom Day April 30, 2014 The European Commission’s support for projects addressing violations of media freedom and pluralism, and providing practical support to journalists, gives European Union countries reason to celebrate this year on May 3, World Press Freedom Day, media freedom watchdogs said today. However, new research into defamation law and practice – one of four, one-year projects launched […] Read more »
Ethiopia arrests journalists, bloggers April 28, 2014 Ethiopian authorities have arrested nine journalists and bloggers on allegations that they worked for foreign human rights groups or used social media to incite violence, sources told the International Press Institute (IPI) today, saying they feared additional detentions. IPI condemned the arrests, which targeted some individuals who met with the organisation’s representatives during a press […] Read more »
Tanzania press freedom plunges into unprecedented crisis April 15, 2014 Sanna Pekkonen, Helsingin Sanomat Foundation Journalism Fellow at IPI Since Tanzanian President John Magufuli took office in late 2015, the weekly newspaper Mawio has been forcibly shut down not just once, but twice. Most recently, the paper was banned after it published an article in June 2017 detailing problems in Tanzania’s mining industry and attaching pictures of two former presidents to the story. Using […] Read more »
IPI members call for court review of South African bill Leading global journalists are urging South African President Jacob Zuma to send controversial legislation to the Constitutional Court for review amid concerns that the bill could block reporters’ access to sensitive public information. The General Assembly of the International Press Institute (IPI), meeting in Cape Town yesterday, unanimously called on Zuma to submit the Protection […] Read more »
