Middle East & North Africa
2001
CPJ concerned about detained Lebanese journalists
New York, August 21, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is concerned about the recent arrests of two Lebanese journalists accused of having illegal contacts with Israeli officials. The journalists’ incarceration followed a series of large-scale arrests of Christians who oppose Syria’s military presence in Lebanon. About 250 individuals have been detained this month alone.…
Journalist attacked after being released from prison
New York, August 20, 2001—Plainclothes police officers attacked Tunisian journalist and human rights activist Sihem Bensedrine and a group of her supporters on August 17 as they gathered to celebrate her recent release from prison, Bensedrine told CPJ. Bensedrine was jailed for six weeks after criticizing the Tunisian government during a June 17 television appearance…
Soldier assaults Egyptian TV crew at West Bank checkpoint
New York, August 14, 2001—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is gravely concerned about yesterday’s attack on an Egyptian television crew by an Israeli soldier in the West Bank, although we are pleased that the soldier involved has been disciplined. On the morning of August 13, Tarek Abdel Jaber and Abdel Nasser Abdoun, a reporter…
Army chief orders commanders to ensure safety of journalists
New York, July 27, 2001–Responding to concerns repeatedly expressed by the Committee to Protect Journalists and other international press freedom groups, Israeli military authorities have ordered field commanders to protect journalists who cover street clashes in the West Bank and Gaza Strip. Israeli Embassy spokesman Mark Regev informed CPJ via e-mail today that Israeli Defense…
Journalist sentenced in absentia on defamation charge
New York, July 25, 2001 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is troubled by the recent trial and sentencing of Algerian journalist Faouzia Ababsa, managing editor of the French-language daily L’Authentique, on defamation charges. On July 11, Ababsa was convicted in absentia of defaming Abdelkarim Mahmoudi, president of the Confederation of Finance Managers, a private…
CPJ Condemns New Jail Term for Iranian Journalist Ganji
New York, July 16–CPJ strongly condemns the six-year prison sentence issued to imprisoned Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji today and reiterates calls for the release of all jailed journalists in Iran. Ganji was a popular investigative journalist whose reporting on the murders of Iranian intellectuals and dissidents in 1998 implicated several top government officials. Today he…
Journalists harassed over Ben Barka coverage
New York, July 13, 2001 — CPJ is disturbed by the recent Moroccan government harassment of Alain Chabod, deputy chief editor of France 3 Public Television, and Ali Lmrabet, director of the Moroccan weekly Demain Magazine, as well as by the temporary freeze on the printing of Demain. Moroccan secret service (DST) agents began following…
CAMERAMAN COMES UNDER MACHINE GUN FIRE IN HEBRON
New York, June 29, 2001—A free-lance cameraman working with the Associated Press Television News (APTN) in the West Bank city of Hebron came under heavy machine gun fire while riding in his car on Tuesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists has learned. At around dusk on June 26, Hazem Bader, a veteran Hebron-based cameraman who…
Journalist and human rights activist jailed after London TV appearance
New York, June 28, 2001 — CPJ is gravely concerned about the recent arrest of Tunisian human rights activist and journalist Sihem Bensendrine, apparently for criticizing the regime of President Zine Al-Abdine Ben Ali during a London television appearance. Bensendrine is the spokeswoman for the non-governmental National Council for Liberties in Tunisia (CNLT) and the…