Music journalist Behrang Tonekaboni who was detained by the Iranian authorities two months ago has been released on bail. Tonekaboni was arrested at the offices of music journal Farhang va Ahang in January along with his colleague Kayvan Farzin and his mother Lily Farhadpour. The whereabouts of the latter two have not been made public and both have yet to be released.
Libel lawsuits against Liberia’s independent media are being used to silence dissenting voices in the West African country, according to Tom Kamara, editor-in-chief of the New Democrat. In an interview with Liberia Webs, Kamara expressed concern that President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf’s government may be using state resources to influence libel cases against the media. He cited the fine his newspaper received for libelling the Consolidated Group, after it published a story focusing on the company’s purchase of “useless” road building equipment for the government. Last week, the Centre for Media Studies & Peace Building accused Liberia’s government of resorting to intimidation to censor the media.
UK film-makers join the Libel Reform campaign for a free event highlighting the impact our libel laws have on British films and documentaries
Thursday 11 March, 6:30pm at Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road, London, EC1R 3GA
This is a FREE event. Phone 0207 324 2570 or email: [email protected], to book your place.
Speakers include:
Tracy Worcester is a documentary film maker who directed and produced the film ‘Pig Business’. During the making of her film, Tracey was threatened with libel actions, and spent months re-editing her work. She will talk about how English libel law has affected her work.
Christopher Hird is a leading figure in UK independent documentary making. He runs Dartmouth Films, chairs the Channel Four Britdoc Foundation and a board member of Index on Censorship.
Duncan Campbell is an investigative journalist and filmmaker who specialises in privacy, civil liberties and secrecy issues. He has faced successive libel actions for 20 years. In 1976, he was the first journalist to reveal the existence of intelligence agency GCHQ. As a result, the government made a failed attempt to jail him for up to 30 years for breaking official secrecy laws.
The event will include the screening of an extract from the film ‘Pig Business’.
The right to a fair trial can override free expression, says Carl Gardner
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