Chinese Artist Ai Weiwei has claimed that he was attacked by plainclothes policemen. Ai, who was nominated for an Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Award in 2009, says he and an assistant were on their way to report a previous assault when they were set upon by up to 10 men, who tore their clothes and attempted to take their photographic equipment.
Reports from Khartoum state that the Sudanese government has suspended BBC radio stations over alleged smuggling offences which included bringing satellite equipment into the country. The stations broadcast in Arabic to around four million people in the north of the country.
Recently the government demanded that journalists in the country provide private information regarding political views, friends, addresses, bank details and floor plans of their houses. The deadline for the return of this information was August 5. Since then the government has announced that it’s official censorship of newspapers has ended, but despite this, some newspapers remain closed and intimidation continues.
Southampton FC has declared that it will retain its ban on all non-official photographers, despite widespread condemnation. The original company sourced to provide photographs for the media, The Digital South, has since refused to work with the League One Club, declaring that they felt the ban was a bad idea. Southampton have nonetheless continued with the ban and will now use its own team of photographers to provide coverage of all home games this season.
Police arrested 38 people in Selangor, Penang and Kelantan who were part of a nationwide candlelight vigil which was held to denounce the 50th year of the Internal Security Act (ISA) on 1 August.
The ISA targets any person who “has acted, is about to act, or is likely to act in any way manner prejudicial to the security of Malaysia.” According to the act, the police can detain anyone for up to 60 days without trial without access to a lawyer.