2005-2014

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is shocked and distressed to hear of the loss of life in Islamabad, Pakistan, during the day-long confrontation between government forces and a radical religious group operating in and around the premises of the Lal Masjid on July 3. The IFJ extends its deepest condolences to the family of Javed Khan, a photojournalist who was killed after...

The freeing of Alan Johnston after a little over 16 weeks in captivity is a huge relief to his family, friends and BBC colleagues - and to the mass of people around the world who have identified with his plight. He was held for a far shorter period, and treated less cruelly, than two other journalist prisoners, Anthony Grey during the Chinese Cultural Revolution and John McCarthy during the...

An ebullient and relieved Alan Johnston, the BBC correspondent set free Wednesday after 114 days as a captive in the Gaza Strip, suggested the turning point that led to his release was Hamas' takeover of the strip. The armed Islamic movement is considered a terrorist organization by the United States, the European Union and Israel, whose right to exist it does not recognize. But Johnston said...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has voiced its continuing concern about internet censorship in Thailand, after the recent ratification of new cyber crime legislation. According to IFJ sources, under the newly passed Computer-Related Offences Commission Act, the Ministry of Information and Communication Technology (MICT) has been given the authority to apply for judicial review in...

Hundreds of people belonging to the Jain community along with a number of journalists staged a road blockade here Wednesday demanding immediate arrest of the culprits who had shot dead a journalist and his driver a day before. Pawan Jain, editor of evening newspaper Virdohi Dhara published from the neighbouring Vidisha town, and his driver Sardar Singh were shot dead near the city's posh J.K. Road...

Iran's leading reformist daily newspaper Hammihan (Compatriot) has been ordered closed, less than two months after it was allowed to resume publishing. Hammihan, banned in 2000 by the hardline Iranian judiciary after the newspaper called for improving Iranian ties with the United States, had resumed publishing in May this year, publisher Gholamhossein Karbaschi told the Associated Press (AP). A...

The European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) today condemned the adoption of the new Journalist Statute by the Portuguese Parliament on 21 June 2007, accusing lawmakers of threatening journalists’ rights to protect their sources by “recruiting journalists to do police work.” The law says that courts investigating offences such as threats to the security of the state and organized crime may order...

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) today signed the first-ever global framework agreement in the media sector with Germany’s WAZ Media Group in a move that commits both sides to work together to protect freedom of the press, to promote quality standards in journalism and to secure fair working conditions for employees in the media. “It’s a breakthrough, which paves the way for...

Journalists from across the continent joined together last Friday to call on African Union leaders to release imprisoned media professionals and end the persecution of the press. “We believe it is unacceptable that journalists will be jailed simply for exercising their profession,” Saidou Arji, coordinator of the Network of African Freedom of Expression Organisation, said at a press conference...

Staff at Les Echos, France's top financial daily, have gone on strike for the third time in three weeks to protest against the possible sale of their title to luxury group Louis Vuitton Moet Hennessy by UK owner Pearson. The latest strike comes as Bernard Arnault, the LVMH chief executive and chairman, said today he would guarantee Les Echos's editorial independence if he bought it. Journalists at...