Index on Censorship » journalist arrested

Sudan: Journalists arrested in crackdown

Alice Purkiss — Wed, 27 Jun 2012 12:41:58 +0000

Sudanese security forces have brutally cracked down on protests against government austerity measures, arresting scores of people, including several journalists. Tear gas and rubber bullets were used as police to break up the protests, which have been ongoing since 16 June. Both local and international journalists have been arrested during their coverage of the protests, including Simon Martelli from Agence France Presse and Egyptian journalist Salma al-Wardany, from Bloomberg. Citizen journalist Nagla Sid Ahmed was summoned for questioning by security services on several consecutive days to prevent her from attending and covering the protests.

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Egyptian journalist, Salma El-Wardany, detained in Sudan

Alice Purkiss — Thu, 21 Jun 2012 14:24:32 +0000

An Egyptian journalist was arrested in Sudan this morning, whilst covering protests in the country. Salma El-Wardany from Ahram Online and Bloomberg, was reportedly covering ongoing protests in front of Khartoum University when she was arrested by National Intelligence and Security Services (NISS), along with blogger Maha El-Senosy. Senosy has since been released.

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Azerbaijan: Correspondent for Iranian media sentenced to two years in prison

Alice Purkiss — Tue, 12 Jun 2012 14:33:40 +0000

A journalist and government critic has been sentenced to two years in prison in Azerbaijan. Anar Bayramli, a correspondent for two Iranian media outlets, was sentenced for a drug possession charge following a controversial court case which was said to include contradictory evidence. Bayramli was arrested in February and charged with possession of four grams of heroin. The journalist was previously summoned by police on a number of occasions to disclose his political affiliation. The sentencing comes at a time when tensions between Azerbaijan and neighbouring Iran are particularly heightened.

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Israel: Haaretz journalist to be indicted for possession of classified IDF documents

Alice Purkiss — Wed, 30 May 2012 15:02:51 +0000

Israel’s Attorney General will indict a journalist from daily newspaper Haaretz, for possession of classified documents. The State Prosecutor’s Office claims that Uri Blau had thousands of top secret and military documents in his possession, which are believed to have been stolen by former IDF soldier Anat Kamm. Blau will be charged with “aggravated espionage” under Israel’s Penal Code, for which he faces a maximum of seven years in prison.

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Malawi: Journalist arrested for article on same-sex marriage

Alice Purkiss — Wed, 30 May 2012 11:00:17 +0000

A journalist has been arrested in Malawi for writing an article on a same-sex engagement ceremony. Clement Chinoko, who works for Blantyre Newspapers Limited, was arrested on 26 May after an article appeared in the Malawi’s Sunday Times on 20 May detailing the engagement of two women in the southern city of Blantyre. The journalist has been charged with ”conduct likely to cause breach of peace” and police spokesman Nicholas Gondwa has claimed the article is a fake. Chinoko has not yet been taken to court or been released on bail. Earlier this month, Malawi’s President Joyce Banda announced plans to repeal the country’s laws against homosexuality.

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Ethiopia: Police detain VOA reporter, interpreter

Alice Purkiss — Tue, 29 May 2012 13:48:03 +0000

Ethiopian Police have detained two journalists who were working for US funded broadcaster Voice of America (VOA). Peter Heinlein, a VOA correspondent, was arrested along with freelance reporter Simegnish Yekoye and an interpreter. The trio were detained whilst covering a demonstration of Muslims protesting against government interference in religious affairs. They are currently being held in a federal detention centre in Ethiopia’s capital, Addis Ababa, but no charges have been filed. A police spokesperson said Heinlein was arrested after refusing to show his press accreditation.

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Israel: Head of Palestinian prison news channel arrested

Alice Purkiss — Wed, 23 May 2012 09:44:13 +0000

The head of a new Palestinian news channel has been arrested on undisclosed charges in Israel. Bahaa Khairi Moussa, the general director of the Palestine Prisoner Channel, which covers the conditions faced by Palestinian prisoners in Israeli jails, was arrested on Thursday (17 May). Saher al-Qassim, the news broadcaster’s executive director, believes the channel’s specialist coverage has lead to the arrest. Moussa’s whereabouts is currently unknown.

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Syria: Citizen journalist sentenced to death for Al-Jazeera interview

Alice Purkiss — Mon, 21 May 2012 13:35:01 +0000

A citizen journalist has been sentenced to death in Syria, after giving a series of interviews to Al-Jazeera TV station. Mohammed Abdelmawla al-Hariri has been charged with “high treason and contacts with foreign parties” after giving the broadcaster an interview on the situation in his home town of Deraa. Hariri, who was arrested on 16 April shortly after giving an interview, has reportedly been subject to horrific torture after his arrest, resulting in partial paralysis. The Syrian government has accused the station of being part of a global plot to cause chaos in the country.

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Bahrain: journalist arrested

Alice Purkiss — Fri, 18 May 2012 15:00:55 +0000

A journalist critical of the proposed union between Bahrain and Saudi Arabia has been arrested in Manama. Freelance journalist Ahmed Radhi was arrested on Wednesday (16 May), after he appeared on an interview on BBC Arabic Radio, and suggested that the union would justify the presence of Saudi troops in Bahrain. Security forces raided Radhi’s house at 4am in the morning, after the journalist reposted his comments on social media networks. His whereabouts are currently unknown.

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Iraq: Kurdish authorities arrest magazine editor

Alice Purkiss — Thu, 17 May 2012 09:47:44 +0000

The editor of a Iraqi Kurdish magazine has been arrested for reprinting an allegedly blasphemous article. Hamin Ary, editor of Kurdish and Arabic monthly publication Chirpa (Al-Hamsah in Arabic) was arrested on 7 May after publishing an article by controversial writer Goran Halmat. Ary was arrested for “offences that violate religious sensibilities”, an offence which carries a maximum sentence of three years in prison. The article, entitled “Me and God” was originally posted on Facebook in 2010, and was deemed “offensive to Islam”.

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