Iraq: TV presenter shot dead

September 7th, 2010

Iraqi television presenter, Riad al-Saray was shot today as he was leaving his home in Baghdad by unknown gunmen. He presented religious and political programmes on al-Iraqiya TV. Reporters Without Borders have called the attack a “targeted murder”.

Afghanistan: TV journalist stabbed to death

September 7th, 2010

Former TV presenter Sayed Hamid Noori was murderedat his home in Kabul on 5 September. He had been stabbed and his throat had been cut. The motives are unknown but he was an active member of the National Union of Afghan Journalists. Noori was a well-known TV anchor who went into politics and became the spokesman of Mohammad Yunus Qanooni, an opponent of President Hamid Karzai.

Greek journalist murdered

July 19th, 2010

A prominent Greek journalist has been killed in front of his home by a gang of three masked gunmen. Sokratis Giolias, who ran radio station Thema FM and the popular news blog Troktiko, covering a number of political scandals in the process, was killed early on the morning of July 19.

Turkey: Journalist charged over court criticism

July 16th, 2010

A newspaper columnist has been charged with “insulting a public official” after he criticised the Turkish justice system’s management of the investigation into journalist Hrant Dink‘s murder.  Daily News columnist Cengiz Cangar described the court as reckless and frivolous, and accused it of “forgetting to bring in the most crucial witness”, in a column entitled Hrant and Justice are being ridiculed. In his testimony to Turkey’s prosecutor of press crimes, Cangar argued that he had not directed his criticisms towards any specific individual, and that the presiding judge in the trial agreed that the courtroom had lacked decorum at points.

Two Mexican journalists killed in separate shootings

July 13th, 2010

Two Mexican journalists have been  separately murdered in the North of Mexico. The killings bore the signs of gang violence and bring the number of  journalists murdered in Mexico this year to 11. Radio journalist Marco Martínez Tijerina was found in the North Eastern state of Nuevo León. His body had one gunshot to the head and bore signs of torture. On July 10, Guillermo Trejo, an employee of the State Commission for Human Rights in North West Mexico, was killed outside the offices of a newspaper he had previously worked for. Police found over forty bullet casings at the scene.

Journalist killed in Mexico

July 12th, 2010

The body of a local newspaper editor was found last week (7 July), he had been shot dead in a rural area of Michoacán state. Hugo Olivera Cartera also worked with news agency ADN and the newspaper La Voz de Michoacán. He was known for his crime coverage. His offices at El Día de Michoacán were raided and computer equipment was stolen shortly before the discovery of his body. In February Olivera filed a complaint with the National Commission of Human Rights, he claimed he had been beaten by federal police officers.

Rwanda: Editor murdered outside his house

June 29th, 2010

Jean Leonard Rugambage, the acting editor of independent newspaper Umuvugizi, was shot dead outside his home in Kigali on 24 June. Local authorities recently suspended the paper but it continued to publish online. Exiled chief editor Jean Bosco Gasasira, blames the government for the killing because of an article Umuvugizi published last weekend accusing the Rwandan security forces of murdering the former army General Faustin Kayumba Nyamwasa. Today (29 June) Rwandan police announced that they had arrested two men suspected of involvement in the killing.

Philippines: Three journalists killed in a week

June 22nd, 2010

Three Filipino journalists have been murdered in separate incidents over the last seven days. Sun FM broadcaster Desidario Carmangyan was shot on Monday 15 June, when on stage hosting a talent contest in the southern island town of Manay, Joselito Agustin, a broadcaster with DZJC Aksyon Radyo-Laoag, was gunned down on Tuesday by two unidentified motorcyclists near the northern town Baccara whilst walking home from work and on Saturday night, Kastigador reporter Nestor Bedolido was killed after being shot six times outside a karaoke bar in Digos city. All three had been outspoken about political corruption, malpractice and other illegal activities. Local authorities say they have set up a special task group to investigate the attacks.