Is Chechnya’s President Kadyrov welcome in the country’s journalists’ union or not, asks Anna Sevortian On the 5 March Ramzan Kadyrov, the president of Chechnya, was inducted into the Union of Journalists of Chechnya, which is part of the Russian...
Dutch MP Geert Wilders has posted his controversial film Fitna on the Internet. The film, a polemic against the 'Islamicisation' of Europe made up of clips of bombings and speeches from imams and politicians, has been the subject of huge...
As President Nicolas Sarkozy visits Britain, Natasha Lehrer looks at the changing relationship between France’s political elite and the media In a radical break with French tradition, the amorous antics of the country’s President have lately become...
The verdict on whether a police Production Order should be served on journalist Shiv Malik will not be revealed until next Monday, Index has learned. Malik, author of Leaving Al-Qaeda, an account of the extremist activities of former Islamist...
A Chinese dissident has been jailed for five years for circulating a petition calling on the authorities to improve human rights. Drafted by unemployed factory worker Yang Chunlin, the petition read ‘We don’t want the Olympics, we want human...
Fox Broadcasting has announced that they will refuse to pay a fine imposed by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) for 'indecency' broadcast in a 2003 episode of a reality show. The show, Married By America, featured digitally-obscured...
Journalist Shiv Malik is appearing in court this morning after Greater Manchester Police requested a Production Order for materials relating to his forthcoming book, Leaving Al-Qaeda. Malik, who is co-writing the book with former Islamist Hassan...
Five Jordanian journalists have been sentenced to prison terms in two separate defamation cases in the past week. Editor Taher al-Adwan and reporter Sahar Qassam, of Al Arab al Youm, and former editor of Ad Dustour Osama Sharif and Ad Dustour...
A man imprisoned in Morocco for creating a fake Facebook profile of the king’s brother has been released after receiving a royal pardon. Fouad Mourtada was arrested in February and sentenced to three years in prison for 'usurping the identity of...
The shortlists for the 2008 Index on Censorship Freedom of Expression Awards have been finalised. The awards will be presented on 21 April in London
The T R Fyvel Book Award
The Loser by Fatos Kongoli, Seren.
Holy Warriors: A journey into the Heart of Indian Fundamentalism by Edna Fernandes, Portobello
The Art of Political Murder: Who killed Bishop Gerardi? by Francisco Goldman, Atlantic Books
The Reluctant Fundamentalist by Mohsin Hamid, Penguin
The Guardian Journalism Award
Arat Dink (Turkey)
Huang Liangtian (China)
Iqbal Athas (Sri Lanka)
Manana Aslamazyan (Russian Federation)
The Bindmans Law and Campaigning Award
Lydia Cacho (Mexico)
The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (Pakistan)
U Gambira (Burma)
Yetaai Vs China Telecom (China)
The Economist New Media Award
AJ Naklasila/Channel 4 New Media / Truevision (UK)
Ethio Zagol (Ethiopia)
Wikileaks (International / US)
Iran Proxy (Iran)
The Index Film Award
Battle For Haditha Dir: Nick Broomfield, 93 minutes, UK (2007)
Ahlam (Dreams) Iraq (2006), 110 Minute Running Time, Language: Arabic, English Sub-Titles
Black Gold Dir: Nick Francis and Marc Francis, Running Time: 78 minutes,
12.08 East of Bucharest (A Fost sau n-a fost?) Dir: Corneliu Porumboiu, Romania, 2006 / 89 Mins / In Romanian with English Subtitles