CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa

Twitter under attack

Social networking site Twitter has come under a denial of service (DNS) attack, the site reports. The source of the attack is unkown. Twitter was a key part of reporting on unrest after Iran's disputed elections. Read more here

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Morocco: magazines confiscated

On 2 August it was reported that Moroccan magazines Telle Qu'elle and Nichane were confiscated after publishing a survey about how Moroccan’s view the monarchy. The government has promised to carry out the same action on any paper or magazine which...

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Iran: Maziar Bahari in court

Iran: Maziar Bahari in court

Canadian-Iranian filmmaker Maziar Bahari was among over 100 protestors, activists and journalists who appeared in court in Iran on Saturday, 1 August. Index on Censorship has been campaigning for his release with Newsweek, the Committee to Protect Journalists and Canadian Journalists for Free Expression. Maziar Bahari has not been allowed to see a lawyer since his detention on 21 June

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West Bank journalist rearrested

The Palestinian intelligence service have arrested freelance journalist Mustafa Sabri in Qalqilya city north of the West Bank having only been released from preventative security prison a few days before. He has been arrested and interrogated many...

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Iraq revives book censorship

Iraq's Ministry of Culture has revived regulations forbidding the import of some books, prompting critics to accuse it of restoring Saddam Hussein-era censorship. The ministry has begun requiring publishers to submit lists of titles for approval....

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Iran releases 140 political prisoners

The Iranian government has released 140 people who were being detained for their part in the unrest following the disputed election. Another 150 people are believed to be still in detention. This comes amid increasing reports of abuse and torture...

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Terror group threaten Brüno star

Palestinian militant organisation, the al-Aqsa Martyrs Brigade that was ridiculed in the new Sacha Baron Cohen film has threatened to "respond in the way we find suitable" against the London-born satirist. The armed wing of the Fatah movement, has...

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Jailed Egyptian poet acquitted

Egyptian poet and teacher Mounir Saeed Hanna who had previously been sentenced to three years imprisonment and a US$18,000 bail has been acquitted. He was originally charged with writing a poem that insulted the president. Read more here

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