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 »
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 »
