Ethics and Freedom

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has expressed great concern over the trial of the Omani journalist and internet activist Ali al-Zwaidi who allegedly violated article 61 of the Omani communications law. The crime carries a sentence of up to a year in prison and a fine of one thousand Omani riyals (approx US$2,600). In August 2008, al-Zwaidi, a supervisor of the discussion...

The Arabic Network for Human Rights Information (ANHRI) has condemned the harsh ruling by Tetuan misdemeanours court against Moroccan journalist and blogger Hassan Barhoun for allegedly circulating false news. On March 6, in a hasty trial that took only one hearing session, the court sentenced him to six months in prison and a 5,000 Moroccan dirham fine (approx US$570). Some lawyers withdrew from...

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Belarusian authorities to renew work credentials for Andrzej Poczobut, a local correspondent for Poland's largest daily, Gazeta Wyborcza, and to investigate recent harassment of him and his family in the western city of Hrodno. Poczobut's credentials were pulled off after he reported on the policies of President Aleksandr Lukashenko and the...

The Court of Appeals (CA) in Manila has turned down a reconsideration motion filed by the president's spouse, Jose Miguel "Mike" Arroyo, to stop the hearing of the class suit filed against him by 36 journalists and three media organisations, the Manila-based Centre for Media Freedom and Responsibility (CMFR) has reported. On February 24, the CA's former Seventh Division affirmed its September 22...

Journalists were barred on March 4 from covering the proceedings of senate elections from the press gallery of the North West Frontier Province (NWFP) Assembly, the Pakistan Press Foundation (PPF) has reported. Security officials stopped journalists from entering the assembly hall soon after the polling began. The outraged journalists shouted slogans and staged a sit-in outside the main entrance...

Supporters of the ruling Movement for Multiparty Democracy (MMD) beat up the Post photojournalist Thomas Nsama on February 28, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has reported. The incident occurred at Chipata International Airport in Zambia's Eastern province. Nsama had gone to the airport to cover the arrival of Jacob Zuma, president of South Africa's African National Congress (ANC)...

Mfomfo Nkambule, a weekly columnist with the privately-owned Times of Swaziland newspaper, was fined on february 28 an undisclosed number of cattle by his chief for criticising King Mswati III in his articles as the authorities continue to harass the writer for his views, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA) has reported. Once Nkambule pays the imposed fine, the cattle would be given to...

An Algerian court has fined Abdelouahab Souag, a journalist for the daily El Watan, 50,000 DA (approx 500 euros) for publishing articles on a Muslim cleric, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). According to press reports, Souag was fined 20000 DA (Eur 200) by a court in Mascara which also ordered him to pay 30000 DA (Eur 300) compensation to an Imam at Aïn Kahla Mosque...

On February 27, an Accra High Court exonerated Western Publications Limited, publishers of the Accra-based privately-owned Daily Guide newspaper, on libel charges brought against it by Ghana's Foreign Minister, Alhaji Mohammed Mumuni. The court, presided over by Justice KA Acquaye, awarded 1,000 GH Cedis (approx US$800) each in favour of the defendants, the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)...

Christoph Müller, a leading Swiss TV reporter and producer, was handcuffed and arrested on arrival in Thailand on February 27, Reporters sans Frontières (RSF) has reported. He was freed on bail 24 hours later but the police confiscated his passport and he is not allowed to leave the country until further notice. His employer, the German-language Swiss TV station SF, has described the measures as a...