Harassment by authorities continues
New York, September 10, 2003—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns Algerian authorities’ recent detention of two journalists, Mohamed Benchicou, managing editor of the French-language daily Le Matin, and Ali Dilem, a cartoonist with the French-language daily Liberté. Youssef Razzouj, Le Matin’s editor, told CPJ that police arrested Benchicou on Monday, September 8, at his…
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is deeply concerned about the Algerian state printers’ refusal to print a number of private newspapers in recent weeks. On August 14, state printers issued an ultimatum to six privately owned dailies—El-Khabar, Errai, Le Soir d’Algérie, Le Matin, L’Expression, and Liberté—stating that if they did not pay…
Foreign media banned from covering prisoner release
New York, July 3, 2003—Algerian authorities banned foreign media from covering yesterday’s release of two convicted leaders of the Islamic Salvation Front (FIS), a group that was outlawed in 1992 when its party was poised to win parliamentary elections. At least two French news crews were expelled today for ignoring the ban. According to CPJ…
Journalists who disappeared
CPJ research indicates that the following journalists have disappeared while doing their work. Although some of them are feared dead, no bodies have been found, and they are therefore not classified as “Killed.” If a journalist disappeared after being held in government custody, CPJ classifies him or her as “Imprisoned” as a way to hold…
Attacks on the Press 2002: Africa Analysis
Although the Kenya-based East African Standard, one of Africa’s oldest continuously published newspapers, marked its 100th anniversary in November, journalism remains a difficult profession on the continent, with adverse government policies and multifaceted economic woes still undermining the full development of African media.
Attacks on the Press 2002: Middle East and North Africa Analysis
The Arab world continues to lag behind the rest of the globe in civil and political rights, including press freedom. Despotic regimes of varying political shades regularly limit news that they think will undermine their power. Hopes that a new generation of leaders would tolerate criticism in the press have proved illusory, with many reforms…
Attacks on the Press 2002: Algeria
Algeria’s private press has survived a brutal, extremist-led assassination campaign that lasted from 1993 to 1996 and took the lives of 58 journalists. Since the early 1990s, it has also weathered government interference. Nevertheless, the private press has earned a reputation for tough criticism of the government and politicians.
Attacks on the Press 2002: Israel and the Occupied Territories (Including the Palestinian Authority Territories)
While the press is largely free within Israel proper, the country’s military assault on the Occupied Territories fueled a sharp deterioration in press freedom in the West Bank and Gaza during much of 2002. Despite vocal international protest, the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) committed an assortment of press freedom abuses, ranging from banning press access…