Archive for October, 2011
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
A
parliamentary seminar to discuss proposed changes to
Sudan‘s press law was subject to a heated debate about pre-publication censorship on Monday. During the seminar, a leading member of the ruling National Congress Party (NCP), Fathi Shilah, described press censorship as an act of backwardness regardless of the authority that implements it. The current press law in the country,
passed in 2009, has been heavily criticised by journalists who claim the law only appears to create a free press. Newspapers are
confiscated and censored by security authorities aiming to prevent publication and large financial penalties can be handed to journalists.
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
Date: Tuesday 8 Nov
Time: 6.30pm
Venue: Free Word Centre, 60 Farringdon Road EC1R 3GA
To attend please RSVP to jo[at]indexoncensorship.org
The UK’s greatest political cartoonist, Martin Rowson has been lampooning the good, the great and the downright scurrilous in the pages of award-winning Index on Censorship magazine since 2001, and is a regular contributor to the Guardian and the Independent On Sunday. From Tony Blair and obscenity to Twitter and super-injunctions, Rowson’s satirical series is an unparalleled commentary on the highs and lows for freedom of expression over the past ten years.
This is a rare opportunity to buy an original Rowson cartoon and support the work of Index on Censorship in the fight for freedom of expression.
The auction will be hosted by Radio 4′s Laurie Taylor. There will be a drinks reception for guests.
View the catalogue for the auction here:
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
The
Ugandan opposition leader, Kizza Besigye, was
arrested during a protest against surging consumer prices and wasteful government spending yesterday. Besigye was arrested during the “Walk to work” protest on the outskirts of the capital Kampala. Opposition youths threw rocks at passing vehicles and smashing windscreens, following Besigye’s
“preventative” arrest. Police say the politician was later released and taken to his home in the Kasangati suburb. In April, the country experienced
deadly protests over the high costs of basic commodities and transport.
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
As Parliament takes a significant step in its slow removal of the UK’s pariah status on defamation, John Kampfner describes the progress on libel reform
(more…)
Wednesday, October 19th, 2011
The Libel Reform Campaign is calling for the government to honour manifesto promises for a defamation bill with a strong public interest defence to protect authors, bloggers, scientists, academics and NGOs
(more…)
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
Yelena Baturina, one of
Russia’s wealthiest women,
has won damages from The Sunday Times after the newspaper wrongly reported that she purchased a £50m London mansion through an off-shore “front company”. It was a sensitive topic because Baturina’s husband Yuri Luzkhov
was mayor of Moscow at the time and as the wife of a public official her financial assets had to be made public under anti-corruption legislation. Baturina was issued an apology and financial compensation.
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
A cameraman for Al-Yemen TV, Abd Al-Ghani Al-Bureihi,
was killed when
Yemeni security forces opened fire at a demonstration in Sanaa calling for the president to step down on 16 October. Two other cameramen were also allegedly injured at the same demonstration, including Salah Al-Hatar of Al-Jazeera.
Tuesday, October 18th, 2011
As Azerbaijan celebrates 20 years of independence, Index on Censorship tracks its citizens’ struggle for free expression
Michael Harris, Head of Advocacy at Index on Censorship will be speaking at the event Azerbaijan – 20 Years of Independence and the Struggle for Democracy on 20 October. Click here for more details
Dipity seem to be experiencing some technical problems. You can also view this timeline here
