Turkish newspaper’s offices attacked in Paris and Cologne

The Paris and Cologne offices of a Turkish newspaper were attacked by supporters of the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) last week.  Zaman newspaper says that a group of nearly 15 masked PKK supporters entered its Paris office on 15 February, threatening employees and breaking furniture and computers. Meanwhile AFP has reported that arsonists torched the paper’s Cologne headquarters on the evening of the same day. The EU, USA and Turkey all classify the PKK as a terrorist organisation.

Russia: Expelled French journalist allowed to return

Russia’s head of Federal Migration has said that the decision to expel prominent French journalist and author Anne Nivat earlier this week was “groundlessly harsh”, and that she will be allowed to return. Nivat was expelled from the country on 13 February for alleged violation of her visa status. The journalist believed the move to be politically motivated, with authorities expressing their disliking that she had met with opposition politicians as part of her research for a book on Russia’s current political climate.

Russia: French journalist expelled for interviewing opposition

Prominent French journalist and author Anne Nivat was expelled from Russia yesterday (13 February) for alleged violation of her visa status. Nivat has said she believes the move to be politically motivated, with authorities expressing their disliking that Nivat had met with opposition politicians. Nivat, who was conducting interviews for a new book on Russia’s current political climate, has said authorities cancelled her visa and gave her three days to leave the country.

Russia: opposition newspaper office destroyed in arson attack

The offices of weekly opposition newspaper Vecherny Krasnokamsk were ravaged in an arson attack on 28 January in the south-west Russian Perm region. The paper’s editor Olga Kolokolova has linked the attack to a series of investigative reports recently published by the newspaper on corruption, which implicated the town’s mayor’s office.

India: Media group targeted by violence

The offices of an Indian media group have been attacked by a group of right-wing Hindu nationalists in Mumbai. Dozens of supporters of right-wing nationalist group Shiv Sena attacked the building Times of India on Saturday, protesting against a local newspaper’s coverage of their internal politics. The article, which ran in the Maharashtra Times, a Marathi-language daily that is part of the news group, said Sena politician Anandrao Adsul was going to change allegiances and join the rival National Congress Party (NCP). Seventeen Sena activists were arrested, following the attack.

Germany’s Mein Kampf ban has not stopped anti-Semitism

The prohibition of Hitler’s infamous work is a symbolic measure that has lost all impact, says Daniella Peled

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Azerbaijan: newspapers fined for damaging businessman’s honour

Azerbaijani newspapers Yeni Musavat and Azadliq were fined 2000 manats (1,634 GBP) this week, they had been accused of damaging businessman Anar Mammadovov’s honour and business image. Mammadov, the son of Transport Minister Ziya Mammadov, appealed to the court citing articles two articles — one headlined “Kamaladdin Heydarov’s Bear Eaten” and the other “Sheikh drives Anar Mammadov out of Dubai”  — published in July and September 2010 respectively.

Kazakhstan: newspaper editor detained in media crackdown

Igor Vinyavsky, editor of the Almaty-based independent weekly Vzglyad, was detained on Monday evening in an ongoing crackdown by Kazakhstan‘s National Security Committee (KNB) on critical media and opposition activists. Two groups of KNB agents simultaneously raided Vinyavsky’s apartment and Vzglyad’s offices, confiscating all reporting equipment. Vinyavsky was detained following the newsroom raid. The crackdown has also involved a raid on independent broadcaster Stan TV.