State Persecution

3 June 2010
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CPJ denounces Israel’s use of footage seized in flotilla raid

CPJ denounces Israel’s use of footage seized in flotilla raid

The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has denounced Israel’s editing and distribution of footage confiscated from foreign journalists aboard the Gaza-bound flotilla that was raided on Monday. On Wednesday, the Israel Defence Forces spokesman’s office released edited portions of confiscated video on its YouTube channel, where the footage was labeled as “captured.” The Foreign Press Association...

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2 June 2010

Police in Armenia detain pro-opposition journalist

Armenian authorities have detained Ani Gevorgian, a journalist for the pro-opposition daily Haykakan Zhanamak, after she was arrested on assignment on Monday, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Police in capital Yerevan arrested Gevorgian as she was covering a sit-in at Liberty Square being staged by activists with the Armenian National Congress, Anna Akopyan, Haykakan...

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2 June 2010

In Bangladesh, newspaper shut down, editor arrested

The police on Wednesday closed down the Bengali-language, pro-opposition daily Amar Desh based in capital Dhaka, according to Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Police cited supposed publishing irregularities when they arrested acting editor Mahmudur Rahman early Wednesday, news reports said, but the shutdown appeared to be politically motivated. On Tuesday, the newspaper’s publisher, Hashmat...

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1 June 2010

Madagascar: Journalists jailed pending trial, radio station closed

Ten Radio Fahazavana employees, including six journalists, were placed in pre-trial detention in a prison in Madagascar on May 27 on charges of threatening state security and inciting revolt, according to Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). They had been held in police custody since a May 20 raid on the station, which has been closed. “Radio Fahazavana’s employees have the right to a trial as soon as...

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1 June 2010
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Israeli forces detain journalists aboard humanitarian flotilla

Israeli forces detain journalists aboard humanitarian flotilla

Israeli forces arrested 20 journalists aboard the humanitarian flotilla on Monday; three have since been released, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). “We condemn the arrests of these journalists, who were on the boats reporting an unfolding news event,” said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Programme Coordinator Mohamed Abdel Dayem. “Israel must give a full accounting of all...

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31 May 2010
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Israeli military prevents media from covering assault on humanitarian flotilla

Israeli military prevents media from covering assault on humanitarian flotilla

Censorship attempts that accompanied Monday's deadly assault by Israel on a flotilla that was carrying humanitarian aid, 750 pro-Palestinian activists and several journalists to the Gaza Strip, according to Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). “We deplore this assault, which left a heavy toll of dead and wounded,” Paris-based RSF said. “The journalists who were on the flotilla to cover the...

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26 May 2010

Israeli soldiers continue to attack Palestinian journalists in the West Bank

Three Palestinian journalists have been physically attacked by Israeli soldiers in the West Bank in the past 10 days while a Palestinian journalist and an Israeli journalist have been arrested, according to Reporters sans Frontières (RSF). “The incidents are increasing,” Paris-based RSF said. “More than 30 journalists have been physically attacked and injured by members of the Israel Defence...

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25 May 2010

Sudanese editor charged with terrorism and espionage

Sudanese authorities have charged an opposition journalist with terrorism and espionage and allegedly tortured him while in custody, according to local news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for the immediate release of Abu Zar al-Amin, deputy editor of the opposition daily Rai al-Shaab. Khartoum’s prosecutor-general charged al-Amin with “undermining the constitution,”...

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25 May 2010

Yemeni court gives five journalists suspended jail terms

The Press and Publication Court in Yemen handed down suspended jail sentences to an editor and four reporters on Monday, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The sentences come just a few days after local media reported that President Ali Abdullah Saleh pardoned all journalists being tried or convicted of press offenses to mark the 20th anniversary of Yemen's unification. On...

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20 May 2010

Egyptian journalist Hamdi Kandil faces defamation charge

Egyptian Foreign Affairs Minister Ahmed Aboul Gheit has filed a criminal defamation suit against independent journalist Hamdi Kandil, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). He faces up to six months in jail and a discretionary fine if convicted. A prosecutor summoned Kandil on Tuesday to inform him of defamation charges brought in connection with a May 3 article in the opposition...

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