Media Freedom

Pacific media condemn PNG police shootings, latest journo assault

Journalists and media practitioners across the region have joined their news colleagues in Papua New Guinea in solidarity and support, calling for global pressure on PNG's Police and leaders to take "immediate steps" to address the "abhorrent and totally unnecessary" use of firearms at a peaceful protest organised on the morning of June 8th, 2016 at the national university. In the panic and pandemonium caused by Police tear gas and shooting at unarmed citizens, a female journalist was assaulted - the second incident involving PNG Police in the space of a week. Just…Read more

Newspaper and website editor attacked, call for investigation

The Free Media Movement of Sri Lanka vehemently condemns the attack on the editor of the regional newspaper and website Meepura and requests the Government conduct an immediate inquiry to take proper legal action against the perpetrators. The editor, Mr. Freddy Gamage, came under attack while he was returning from the Negambo Municipal Council after covering its General Meeting. He was assaulted by two men wearing full face helmets as he was walking towards his vehicle. As he turned to get a better view of the two men, feeling suspicious over the way they were monitoring…Read more

India jails reporter for accusing government of discriminating against Muslims

Indian authorities should immediately release Pushp Sharma, who is being held in pretrial detention for alleged forgery and incitement, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police in Delhi arrested Sharma, a journalist for The Milli Gazette, a biweekly, English-language publication aimed at Indian Muslims, on May 14, on suspicion that he fabricated a document in a March 11 article claiming the government discriminates against Muslims. The document, which Sharma said was from the Ministry of Ayurveda, Yoga and Naturopathy, Unani, Siddha, and Homeopathy (AYUSH) purported to show that the ministry denies Muslims jobs as yoga trainers,…Read more

Critical television journalist shot dead in India

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the National Union of Journalists (India) in deploring the murder of a television journalist in Chatra of Jharkhand state in India on Thursday, May 12, 2016. The IFJ demands urgent action from the authorities to find those responsible and bring them to justice. Indradev Yadav, also known as Akhilesh Pratap Yadav, was shot dead by unidentified people near his home while he was on his motorcycle. Yadav, 35, was a local correspondent for Taaza TV, a Hindi news channel based in Kolkota. The assailants fired…Read more

Social media blocked in Uganda as President Museveni sworn in for fifth term

Human Rights Network for Journalists - Uganda The government switched off social media platforms in Uganda ahead of the swearing in of President Yoweri Museveni, after the 18 February 2016 disputed elections, which saw the incumbent – who has been in power since 1986 – win against seven other contenders. This is the second time social media platforms are being switched off. A message circulating reportedly from the telephone service providers to their subscribers quotes a directive from the communications regulator, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) to switch off all social media platforms…Read more

Nigerian journalist arrested for news report

Committee to Protect Journalists Nigerian authorities should drop all criminal charges against journalist Jacob Onjewu Dickson and release him without delay, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Dickson has been held in pre-trial detention on incitement charges since Friday. Police invited Dickson, a reporter for the news website Authentic News Daily, to the Kaduna State Police station on Thursday to discuss an April 27, 2016, news report Dickson wrote that cited witnesses as saying youths had pelted the state governor with rocks as he tried to broker a peace between residents of two adjacent neighborhoods.…Read more

The Windhoek Declaration, 25 years on: What’s changed?

This statement was originally published on whk25.misa.org  On the occasion of World Press Freedom Day 2016, the Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA), salutes all the champions of media freedom and freedom of expression across the world who have assumed the risks associated with such an effort. We wish to pay our deepest respects to all journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty; our thoughts go out their families, friends and colleagues who will miss them for the rest of their lives. We also extend our prayers and solidarity to…Read more

Well-known activist, editor of LBGTI magazine, murdered

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF) in condemning the murder of the editor of the country's first and only LBGTI magazine in Dhaka on April 25,2016. The IFJ demands immediate action from the Bangladeshi government to end the attacks against freedom of expression in Bangladesh. According to reports, Zulhaz Mannan, the editor of Bangla-language LBGTI magazine Roopbaan, a local staffer of USAID and the cousin of former foreign minister Dr Dipu Moni, was hacked to death along with a friend, Tanay Fahim, at his residence in Dhaka's Kalabagan…Read more

Ugandan press freedom group suffers attempted break-in

On 10 April 2016, the premises of HRNJ-Uganda were broken into by unknown assailants. The break-in started at about 4:00PM, when a youthful lady approached the security guard on duty and requested him to open the building to which he complied. Upon querying her, he then offered her a seat just by the guard's booth. They seemed to converse, and later she stepped out of the compound, only to return with some food and shared it with the guard. Moments after consuming the food, the guard passed out. There after some two able…Read more

Maldives government proposes law to criminalise defamation

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) in strongly criticising the proposed 'Defamation and Freedom of Expression Act' in the Maldives. The IFJ demands immediate withdrawal of the bill and urges the Maldivian government to review it with all stakeholders, including the media and journalists, to ensure it meets international standards. On March 22, 2016, the ruling Progressive Party of Maldives Parliamentary Group leader MP Ahmed Nihan presented the defamation and freedom of expression bill to the Maldives parliament. The draft law prescribes hefty fines of…Read more