Iran: Two more journalists detained

December 13th, 2010

The Iranian authorities have arrested former journalist Mehran Faraji, and Reyhaneh Tabatabaei, Shargh newspaper’s political correspondent. Last week,  four other workers from the reformist newspaper, Ahamd Gholami, Farzaneh Roostayi, Keyvan Mehrgan, Ali Khodabakhsh, were detained. Iran currently holds more journalists in  prison that any other country in the world.

Iran: Workers at reformist newspaper detained

December 10th, 2010

Security authorities raided into the office of reformist newspaper Shargh on 7 December and detained journalists Keyvan Mehregan, Farzaneh Roostayi and Ahamad Gholami, along with chief editor Ali Khodabakhsh. According to reformist website Kaleme, the authorities also physically checked the staff’s mobile phones. The raid coincided with national student day which brought student protests across university campuses in the country.

Russia: guarantee to pursue journalist murder cases

September 30th, 2010

Top Russian investigators say they guarantee to pursue 19 cases of murdered journalists presented to them by a delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists. The CPJ delegation led by CPJ Chairman Paul Steiger and board member Kati Marton met with the Chairman of the Investigative Committee Bastrykin and other investigators examining the cases. CPJ representatives met with the Investigative Committee in September 2009 to discuss unsolved cases concerning Russian journalists. This year they returned for an update. The investigator told CPJ delegation that Alkhazur Bashayev, alleged murderer of journalist Natalya Estemirova is alive. Authorities are trying to locate his whereabouts in Russia. Bastrykin also said he will find and arrest the suspected murderer of Anna Politkovskaya, who has fled in Europe.

Drug cartels divide the Mexican press

September 23rd, 2010

Following Mexican newspaper El Diario’s front-page appeal this week, Ana Arana explains why journalists in Mexico remain split over whether to negotiate with drug cartels
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Iran: Human rights activist and journalist gets six years

September 21st, 2010

Iran has sentenced a human rights activist, Shiva Nazar Ahari who is the founder of the Committee of Human Rights Reporters in Tehran, to six years in prison on charges of anti-government activities. Her lawyer said she has to pay a $400 fine as an alternative punishment to 74 lashes.  n 13 september, Ahari was released from prison on bail of around USD$200,000. She was convicted of moharebeh or ”waging war against God” and had received three years for that charge.

Azerbaijan: a bleak landscape

September 15th, 2010

Conditions for journalists are worsening in the run up to elections, reports Natasha Schmidt in Baku
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Madagascar: Radio station suspended

September 13th, 2010

The government has decided to suspend the broadcasts of radio station, Radio Mahafaly. The staff at the station, based in the central city of Antsirabé, were not given a reason for its suspension. The order came at the same time as the release of ten Radio Fahazavana employees who have been in pre-trial detention since 27 May on charges for inciting a revolt and rebellion.

Bahrain: Blogger Ali Abdulemam arrested

September 8th, 2010

Blogger, author and founder of Bahrain’s BahrainOnline forum, Ali Abdulemam was arrested on 4 September by Bahraini authorities for allegedly spreading “false news” on the BahrainOnline.org portal. On the afternoon of 5 September, BahrainOnline was shut down for good, by the authorities. A  crackdown on media began in Bahrain on 13 August.