Two journalists imprisoned for articles critical of the president
New York, July 18, 2005—One journalist was sentenced to three years in prison and another to three months today for commentaries in the private weekly L’Observateur that criticized President Idriss Déby, according to local sources. The Committee to Protect Journalists deplores the court’s decision and calls on authorities to release the two immediately. The paper’s…
Immediate release is sought
New York, July 18, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed deep concern today about the health of jailed Iranian journalist Akbar Ganji, who was reported hospitalized during his more than month-long hunger strike. Massoumeh Shafii, Ganji’s wife, told Reuters that Ganji had been taken to Tehran’s Milad Hospital, the news agency reported today. She said…
International Press Freedom and Freedom of Expression Mission to Nepal
July 2005 From 10 to 16 July 2005, twelve international organisations, including UN agencies, global media associations, freedom of expression advocates and media development organisations, undertook a mission to Nepal concerning freedom of expression and press freedom. These twelve organisations met with persons and institutions with a broad spectrum of opinion on the current media…
Independent radio station faces government ban
New York, July 15, 2005—Burundi’s National Communications Council has ordered the popular independent station Radio Publique Africaine off the air indefinitely, alleging that RPA’s recent election coverage was biased and that it had insulted the council. Alexis Sinduhije, RPA’s director, called the suspension unjust and said the station intended to stay on the air despite…
Publisher enters 5th day of detention
New York, July 15, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is troubled by the continued detention of Jean Marie Kanku, publisher of the private newspaper L’Alerte in the capital, Kinshasa. Kanku has been charged with criminal defamation stemming from a July 8 article alleging that a DRC official had misused humanitarian reconstruction funds, according to the…
Al-Iraqiya crew attacked by gunman
New York, July 15, 2005—A gunman fired on a car carrying an Al-Iraqiya television crew in Baghdad on Thursday, wounding three staffers, according to news reports. The crew was on its way to cover the funerals of car-bomb victims when a masked assailant walked up to its car in the New Baghdad neighborhood and opened…
Radio France Internationale suspended
New York, July 15, 2005—A media regulatory agency has ordered Radio France Internationale (RFI) to halt its broadcasts in Ivory Coast until it retracts two disputed reports and pays a fine. The order is the latest incident pitting Ivoirian authorities against the France-based public broadcaster, whom President Laurent Gbagbo’s supporters accuse of being biased against…
Belgrade broadcaster forced to evacuate following threat
New York, July 15, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a bomb threat made late Thursday night against the Belgrade-based independent radio and television station B92. An anonymous caller told a B92 security guard that a bomb would explode in an hour inside the station’s offices because of its “anti-Serb campaign,” according to local news…
Al-Iraqiya crew attacked by gunman
New York, July 15, 2005—A gunman fired on a car carrying an Al-Iraqiya television crew in Baghdad on Thursday, wounding three staffers, according to news reports. The crew was on its way to cover the funerals of car-bomb victims when a masked assailant walked up to its car in the New Baghdad neighborhood and opened…
Violent attacks on the press continue
New York, July 14, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by a recent series of violent attacks on journalists in Bangladesh, including a gang assault on a reporter inside a local press club. Rafiqul Islam, a correspondent for daily Amar Desh in the northwestern town of Rajshahi, was assaulted on July 6 by…