Germany’s Mein Kampf ban has not stopped anti-Semitism
Read more »
The prohibition of Hitler’s infamous work is a symbolic measure that has lost all impact, says Daniella Peled
Egypt: self-censorship and the military hinder press freedom
Read more »
A crisis in a new Egyptian newspaper over an academic’s criticism of the SCAF leadership does not bode well for the future of independent media
Lord Macdonald and his role as Index trustee
In response to reports about his role in advising the News Corporation board, Lord Macdonald, a trustee of Index on Censorship, comments:
In connection with the police investigation into phone hacking, News International has been conducting a trawl of News of the World data records. Recently, this trawl turned up a number of emails that appeared to suggest that some senior journalists on the News of the World may have been involved in making corrupt payments to police officers.
Hickman Rose, a leading criminal law firm, engaged meto examine these emails and to provide advice to the News Corporation Board on their content. I advised them, inter alia, that the emails appeared to be evidence of serious crime and that they, and any other supporting material coming to light must be handed over to Scotland Yard. The News Corp Board immediately accepted this advice and the emails and other material were passed over to police last month. As a result of this disclosure of information, police have been able to commence an investigation into the question of payments to police by News of the World journalists.
My role has been confined to advising on this single issue. I have not seen any material relating to the phone hacking investigation nor provided any advice in relation toit.
Jonathan Dimbleby, Chair of Index on Censorship, comments:
I am pleased to confirm that, in the circumstances described by Lord Macdonald, Index on Censorship sees no conflict of interest with his role as a trustee. It is an important aspect of our approach to the protection of free speech that any trustee who is also a lawyer should be free to represent any client in the absence of such conflict.
Tags:
Bahrain: Life sentences for exercising their right to free speech
Activists are accused of belonging to a secret network, but the court has failed to prove its existence or even its name, says Saeed al-Shehabi, exiled in the UK and sentenced in absentia
Freedom of expression has been dealt heavy blows in recent months by the government of Bahrain. A military court in Manama has this week issued heavy sentences against several people for openly expressing political views.
Eight were sentenced to life imprisonment, all of whom have been punished for their views and are considered “Prisoners of Conscience”. Although they were accused of belonging to a secret network, the court has failed to prove its existence or even its name.
Among those is Dr Abdul Jalil Al Singace, a blogger and an open critic of the regime. He was first arrested on 8 August 2010 upon his return from UK after he criticised the government at a House of Lords seminar three days earlier.
He was severely tortured in his six months incarceration, blindfolded, deprived of his glasses and crutches (he is severely disabled as a result of polio since his birth), hanged from hands and knees, subjected to electric shocks with what appears to be Taser machine and deprivation of sleep. His two sons were also arrested as means of pressure.
Dr Saeed Shehabi, a UK citizen, who has also received a life sentence in absentia is a journalist with a weekly column at Al Quds Al Arabi (and Arabic daily published in London) and a former editor of the Arabic weekly (Al Aalam).
Ali Abdul Emam, the most known blogger in Bahrain, received a 15 years sentence after being tried in absentia. He is the founder of Bahrainonline.org, the largest and most popular website in Bahrain. He had been arrested last summer together with more than 500 Bahrainis in a government crackdown against the opposition.
Two weeks ago, Ayat Al Qurmuzi, a 20 year old poet was jailed for one year for reciting a poem in February at Pearl Square.
The attack on freedom of expression has claimed many other victims. Among them is Dr Mansoor Al Jamri, the editor of the semi-independent daily newspaper, Al Wasat, who is on trial with other staff members for publishing news unfavourable to the government.
While most of the victims have been Shia Muslims, at least one Sunni Bahraini has been punished for expressing his views; Mohammad Bu Flasa disappeared on 17 February shortly after addressing the crowds at Pearl Square. He is still languishing in jail.
Image: The Sniper on Flickr.
Howard Jacobson speaks out for scepticism
Booker prize-winning novelist Howard Jacobson gave the keynote address at last night’s Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards, sponsored by SAGE
Arrest of Turkish reporters raises doubts over Ergenekon case
Read more »
For many journalists and opinion leaders who supported the Ergenekon investigations from the beginning, Ahmet Şık and Nedim Şener’s arrests are absurd and plainly wrong, says Kaya Genç
History lessons: Islam’s tradition of debate
Imam Usama Hasan has been caught up in a storm of religious controversy over his views. In an article from the Index archive, he argues that Islam traditionally embraces debate Read more »
Tags: Islam,John Pilger,Usama Hasan
Freedom sacrificed for an easy life, in Apple’s Brave New World
Read more »
Apple should be part of the open online society, rather than the architects behind a system of control, argues Bill Thompson
