Posts Tagged ‘Libya’
August 2nd, 2011
Liverpool John Moores university has dropped its libel case against Conservative MP Robert Halfon, who had criticised the university’s alleged commercial links with the regime of Colonel Gadaffi.
The university had objected to materials posted on Mr Halfon’s blog and on YouTube. Mr Halfon had initially removed the comments and videos from the web when contacted by the university. However, the John Moores’ continued with its demands, requesting that Halfon apologise and pay a “donation” to the university.
Halfon is a vocal critic of UK connections to the Libyan dictator. Elected as Conservative MP for Harlow in the 2010 election, he is descended from a Libyan Jewish grandfather who was forced to flee the country after Gadaffi took power in 1969.
Robert Halfon commented: “I’m pleased that LJMU has withdrawn their libel threat against me. I am a firm believer in freedom of speech and people must have the right to express views even if they are unpalatable to some. I remain of the view that universities in general must be very careful as to which regimes they take their money from. I hope that universities who have had dealings with Libya and similar autocracies in the Middle East will think again before signing contracts or taking money.”
David Allen Green of Preiskel & Co, who was instructed by Mr Halfon, said the university’s action was “illiberal, confused, and misconceived” .
Michael Harris of the Libel Reform Campaign: “It is not acceptable that because of the inadequacies of English libel law, an MP can face libel action for raising legitimate concerns that a UK university may be dealing with a foreign dictatorship.”
(NOTE: Index on Censorship will be commencing a paid internship scheme in association with Liverpool John Moores University Journalism Department in Autumn 2011)
April 8th, 2011
The Libyan government has decided to
deport 26 foreign journalists from the country. The journalists, who had all been invited by the government, were initially told that they would have to leave by Thursday; however their departure has now been postponed until 9 April.
Reports suggest that the names of the reporters were posted in the lobby of the hotel they were staying in. This deportation follows the expulsion of various other journalists from the country.
April 4th, 2011
Al Jazeera reporter Lotfi Al Masoudi has been
released after being detained by Libyan forces. He was one of four journalists who were
arrested on 19 March. They were released on the 31 March, then
rearrested later the same day. The Libyan officials offered no explanation as to why they were detained and would not reveal where they were held. Al Masoudi has now returned to his native Tunisia, and has said that they were not mistreated.
March 22nd, 2011
Four New York Times reporters being held by pro-Gaddafi forces have now been
released, but a further 13 journalists from various media organisations are still missing or in detention. The New York Times reporters were released to Turkish diplomats on Monday and have
reported mistreatment including death threats and sexual assault on the only female reporter. The driver for the two AFP reporters and the Getty Images photographer who went missing in Libya
said that they are being held by pro-Gaddafi forces after being intercepted by soldiers.
March 21st, 2011
Four New York Times journalists who had gone
missing in Libya will be
released soon, it was reported on Friday. The journalists had entered Libya through Egypt and were reporting from the rebel held city of Ajdabiya, which was then overrun by the pro-Gadaffi army and they were arrested. Libyan officials have indicated that the journalists will be released very soon. Four Al Jazeera journalists are also said to be in
custody in Tripoli, while two Agence France-Presse journalists and a Getty Images photographer have been missing in Libya since Saturday.
March 18th, 2011
Liverpool John Moores University has threatened to sue a Conservative MP after he criticised its relations with the Libyan regime, Index on Censorship has learned.
Robert Halfon MP, whose grandfather was expelled from Libya in 1968, has been vociferous in his opposition to the Gadaffi family, and particularly its ties with UK universities.
London School of Economics director Sir Howard Davies resigned earlier this month after it was disclosed the school had taken £1.5 million from the north African state.
LJMU does not deny that it has had dealing with the Libyan regime,
saying in a statement that “everything that we have done has been delivered transparently, at the invitation or with the encouragement and the support of the FCO (through the British Ambassador) and the British Council.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron
said this week that Universities should ask “some pretty searching questions” about relations with Libya.
On Monday, the coalition government published its
draft libel reform bill, which proposes to protect expression of “honest opinion”.
March 17th, 2011
Gaith Abdul Ahad, a Guardian reporter, has been
released after being detained for a fortnight by Libyan authorities. Ahad, along with Andrei Netto, a Brazilian journalist, were
held after entering Libya from Tunisia. Netto was
freed a few days ago. The New York Times
reports that four of its journalists have been missing in Libya since 15 March.
March 14th, 2011
Ali Hassan Al Jaber, an Al Jazeera cameraman, was
killed in Libya on 12 March after being shot by unknown attackers, in an
ambush by forces loyal to Gaddafi.
After covering an anti-government protest, the Al Jazeera team was on its way to the city of Benghazi, when the car they were travelling in came under fire. Another journalist in the car received minor gun shot wounds. Al Jaber is the first journalist to have been killed while covering the recent unrest in Libya.
Wadah Khanfar, the director-general of Al Jazeera, condemned the attack on its journalists: “Al Jazeera reiterates the assault cannot dent its resolve to continue its mission, professionally enlightening the public of the unfolding events in Libya and elsewhere.”
It is also
reported that Brazilian journalist, Andrei Netto, who was being held by Libyan authorities has now been released. However, Ghaith Abdul-Ahad, a Guardian journalist who was
detained at the same time as Netto, is still in custody.
