In 2009 the government, courts and the police have connived in the suppression of investigative journalism and scientific research. But campaigns for free expression are fighting back says
John Kampfner
CATEGORY: News and features
Take on the libel bullies
Not everyone can be as lucky as I was, says Alexei Sayle. Our defamation laws are as outdated as barristers’ wigs and gowns
Lord Chief Justice will chair Singh appeal
The Lord Chief Justice, Lord Judge, is to chair the bench in what could be a landmark hearing for libel law in England. Lord Judge will preside over science writer Simon Singh's appeal against an earlier ruling on meaning in the case he is...
Tiger Woods wins UK injunction
Golfer Tiger Woods has gained an injunction from an English court against further reporting of his private life. Woods, 33 has been in the spotlight because of revalations of extra-marital affairs. Read more here
China: crackdown on file-sharing
China has closed one of the country's largest file-sharing sites. The State Administration of Radio Film and Television said the site BTChina did not have a license to distribute audio and video content. Another popular website, the Chinese...
Christian hoteliers cleared of insulting Muslim guest
A devout Christian couple have been cleared of insulting a Muslim guest at their hotel because of her faith and asking her if she was a terrorist when she wore the hijab. Benjamin and Sharon Vogelenzang denied using threatening, abusive or...
Tibet: two jailed over Dalai Lama pictures
Two Tibetan web users have been sentenced to three-year jail terms after posting pictures of the exiled Dalai Lama on the Internet. Gyaltsen and Nyima Wangdu were given three-year sentences after being convicted of "communicating information to...
Launch of National Campaign for Libel Reform
“England’s libel laws are unjust, against the public interest and internationally criticised — there is urgent need for reform” this is the message performers, writers, poets, patient groups, legal experts, broadcasters, journalists and others represented by the Coalition for Libel Reform are sending to politicians.
The global libel war
Across the world, defamation laws are used to stifle debate and persecute individuals, writes Agnès Callamard
Nepal: female journalist assaulted
A journalist and councillor for the Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ), Tika Bista, was yesterday found in an unconscious state near her home. According to Bista's colleague Dhanbir Dahal, she had called him saying three men were following her...