Editor goes on trial for blasphemy
New York, October 11, 2005—The editor of a monthly magazine about women’s rights went on trial today in Kabul’s provincial court on blasphemy charges for publishing articles purported to offend Islam. The prosecutor asked the court to “severely punish” Ali Mohaqiq Nasab, editor of the monthly Haqooq-i-Zan (Women’s Rights), as “a lesson for him and…
Reporters attacked while covering political dispute in Chinese village
New York, October 11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a series of violent attacks on journalists trying to cover the ongoing tensions between local authorities and residents in the village of Taishi in the southern Guangdong province. On Friday, two journalists, South China Morning Post reporter Leu Siew Ying and Radio France…
CPJ condemns Nepal’s repressive media law
New York, October 11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the restrictive media law implemented on October 9 by Nepal’s King Gyanendra. Local journalists report that the ordinance codifies severe restrictions on the press that were announced when the king sacked the multi-party government and claimed absolute authority on February 1. “These extremely repressive amendments…
In Thailand, media activist testifies about climate of fear’
Bangkok, Thailand, October 11, 2005—In her closing testimony today, media activist Supinya Klangnarong said a criminal defamation case brought against her by the telecommunications giant Shin Corp. has given rise to a “climate of fear” among journalists and activists in Thailand. But the presiding judge refused to include that portion of her testimony in the…
Critical journalist badly beaten by unidentified assailants
New York, October 11, 2005—The Committee to Protect Journalists voiced alarm today at the savage beating of publication director Dimas Dzikodo, whose weekly Le Forum de la Semaine is strongly critical of Togolese authorities. Unidentified attackers knocked Dzilan from his motorcycle on Sunday in the capital Lomé and beat him, local sources told CPJ. They…
NEPAL
OCTOBER 9, 2005 Posted October 17, 2005 All journalists CENSORED A restrictive media law was implemented by Nepal’s King Gyanendra. Local journalists said the ordinance codifies severe restrictions on the press that were announced when the king sacked the multi-party government and claimed absolute authority on February 1.
UNITED STATES
OCTOBER 8, 2005 October 18, 2005 Rich Matthews, Associated Press Television News HARASSED Two New Orleans police officers were caught on film beating a man suspected of public intoxication, and a third officer was caught on film harassing the Associated Press Television News producer whose crew was filming the scene.
CHINA
OCTOBER 7, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 Leu Siew Ying, South China Morning Post Abel Segretin, Radio France Internationale ATTACKED Benjamin Joffe-Walt, Guardian HARASSED Leu and Segretin were struck and threatened by unidentified men and then detained by police as they tried to enter the village of Taishi in the southern Guangdong province. They had…
TURKEY
OCTOBER 7, 2005 Posted October 18, 2005 Hrant Dink, Agos LEGAL ACTION A Turkish-Armenian journalist was convicted of “insulting and weakening Turkish identity through the media” An Istanbul court sentenced Dink, 52, editor-in-chief of the bilingual Turkish-Armenian weekly Agos, to a six-month suspended term. Dink and his lawyer, Fethiye Cetin, said they appeal.