2008

  

Radio host gunned down in Tabasco

New York, September 25, 2008–Mexican radio host Alejandro Zenón Fonseca Estrada was gunned down Tuesday as he was putting up anticrime posters in Villahermosa, capital of the Gulf Coast state of Tabasco. The Committee to Protect Journalists is investigating possible links between Fonseca’s work as a journalist and his killing. Four unidentified men riding in…

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In Yemen, outspoken editor pardoned and released

New York, September 25, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release from prison today of Abdel Karim al-Khaiwani, an outspoken Yemeni editor who had been held since June on what were widely seen as retaliatory antistate charges. Al-Khaiwani, whose case was the focus of an international advocacy effort, told CPJ that he walked out…

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Police charge editor with sedition

JULY 20, 2008 Posted September 25, 2008 Abduhamid Adiamoh, Today HARASSED Police accused the managing director of the private daily Today with sedition on July 21, following his arrest and questioning three days earlier. Managing Director Abdulhamid Adiamoh told CPJ that he was arrested on July 17 and spent several hours at police headquarters in…

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A freed Yemeni editor offers thanks

Yemeni editor Abdel Karim al-Khaiwani walked out of a Sana’a prison today after being granted a presidential pardon. The outspoken journalist was serving a six-year prison term on what were widely seen as retaliatory antistate charges. Al-Khaiwani, whose case was the focus of a CPJ advocacy campaign, offered his gratitude. I thank the Committee to…

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Press freedom in the news 9/25/08

The Canadian Press has coverage of the release of CTV reporter Jawed Ahmad, who was freed from U.S. detention on September 22. The article quotes Ahmad as saying that he believes the Canadian military “told them I was a risk.” The piece also mentions our alert urging the U.S. military to reveal the evidence against…

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Lee family wins defamation case

September 24, 2008 Hugo Restall, Review Publishing, Far Eastern Economic Review LEGAL ACTION A High Court judge in Singapore ruled that the Far Eastern Economic Review had defamed Singapore’s leaders, according to international news reports. Justice Woo Bih Li decided the case in a summary judgment without trial, dismissing arguments submitted by the magazine’s lawyers…

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Press freedom in the news 9/24/08

CPJ’s letter to Spanish President Zapatero urging him to pressure Cuba on jailed journalists received significant coverage in the Spanish language press. Radio Marti ran a piece on the letter and the Spanish Web site PR Noticas has a story online. Cubaencuentro also has news coverage of the letter.Also today, the Web site of MarketWatch has…

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Web site editor beaten with hammers in Sofia

New York, September 23, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Monday’s brutal attack on Ognian Stefanov, editor of the investigative news Web site Frognews, in Bulgaria. The editor and his family had recently received anonymous phone calls warning Stefanov to stop his journalism or face consequences, Stefanov’s deputy, Aleksandar Ivanov, told CPJ. The site publishes…

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CPJ alerts Rice to threats in Tunisia

Dear Secretary Rice: The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to express its deep concern about the safety of Slim Boukhdhir, a Tunisian Internet journalist who has faced increasing harassment since he echoed your recent call to President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali to take further steps toward media and Internet reform.

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Malaysian blogger jailed for two years under security act

New York, September 23, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the two-year jail term handed down to Malaysian blogger Raja Petra Kamarudin by the country’s home minister today. Police arrested Raja Petra, who founded and edits the Malaysia Today Web site, on September 12 under the strict Internal Security Act, which allows for prolonged detention…

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