Middle East & North Africa

  

Israel sentences two to prison terms for censorship breach

New York, June 17, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns an Israeli court decision to sentence two television journalists on charges of breaching the military censorship law during the offensive in Gaza in December and January.

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Special Report: Journalists in Exile 2009

Sri Lankan journalists flee under severe pressure in the past year. Iraq and Somalia, two deadly countries for the press, also rank high in numbers of journalists forced into exile. Hundreds of journalists have been driven into exile this decade. By Karen Phillips

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Iran bars foreign media from reporting on protests

New York, June 16, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Iranian government’s decision to bar foreign journalists from leaving their offices to report, film, or take photographs–a restriction intended to prevent news coverage of protests over the disputed presidential election.  

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CPJ condemns Tehran’s ban on foreign reporting

We issued the following statement in response to media reports today from Iran of repeated disruptions in mobile communications and Internet services, and an Interior Ministry ban on foreign reporters covering “illegal protests” without prior permission…

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Iranian authorities crack down on media

New York, June 15, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists called today for an end to the Iranian authorities’ ongoing crackdown on media following the disputed re-election of incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. 

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Group sues journalist on behalf of Moroccan royals

New York, June 15, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by defamation charges filed against a Moroccan editor by a group that represents close relatives of King Mohammed VI. A Casablanca court has summoned the editor to appear on Tuesday.

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Repressive press law passed in Sudan

New York, June 11, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the ‎passage of a Sudanese press law on Monday that falls short of ‎international standards for freedom of expression‎. 

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CPJ, JFO cite press freedom abuses in Iraq

Dear Prime Minister al-Maliki: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the Journalistic Freedoms Observatory (JFO) would like to bring to your attention several issues that harm press freedom in Iraq. In recent months, our organizations have documented a number of assaults and instances of harassment committed by government officials against journalists in various parts of the country under the control of Iraq’s central government.

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Saberi (Reuters)

Saberi to Lee and Ling: ‘You are not alone’

Roxana Saberi, who was imprisoned in Iran for nearly four months, offers her thoughts on the detentions of U.S. journalists Laura Ling and Euna Lee in North Korea. In this interview with CPJ, Saberi, left, said she was “amazed and very moved at the support I received” while in prison. “You are not alone,” she…

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CPJ
(Reuters)

Meeting Sami al-Haj

In conjunction with the International Freedom of Expression Exchange general meeting, the Norwegian government hosted a Global Forum on Freedom of Expression featuring three days of discussions, seminars, and lectures from leading experts. For me, a highlight was finally meeting Sami al-Haj, at left, the Al-Jazeera correspondent who was held for six years at Guantanamo…

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