The pardoned journalist has been imprisoned for one year at the request of the US administration. Iona Craig reports
Yemen: Shaye commences hunger strike
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CATEGORY: Middle East and North Africa
Egypt: Australian journalist freed
An Australian journalist who was detained in Egypt on the first anniversary of the ousting of former president Hosni Mubarak has been freed. Cairo-based freelance writer Austin Mackell was detained alongside an American student and their Egyptian...
Morocco: French magazine confiscated for publishing “Persepolis” images
The most recent issue of the French magazine "Le Nouvel Observateur" was confiscated by Moroccan authorities after it published an image from the French-Iranian film "Persepolis". The issue, due to be distributed on 2 February, included an article...
“The cruelty displayed by the Bahraini government is astounding”
Abdulhadi Alkhawaja was arrested on 9 April 2011. He was dragged from his house and beaten by 20 masked men along with his two sons in law, while his daughters and wife were insulted, assaulted and locked in a room. In may he was given life in...
The return to Pearl Roundabout
A year ago today, mass protests took place at the now demolished Pearl Roundabout in the Bahrain capital, Manama. This year protesters have been attempting to return to the square where, for a month last year, thousands gathered to call for change....
Why is Bahrain keeping out the international community?
This week the departure lounge at Bahrain’s airport seems to be full of people who were turned back at the passport desk without being allowed into the country. The authorities are incredibly sensitive about who’s going to see what and report what...
The downside to international education partnerships
I worked in higher education in Bahrain at the College of Arts, University of Bahrain from 2007-2008, and at Bahrain Teachers College, University of Bahrain --- founded in 2008 as a key part of the Crown Prince’s “Bahrain 2030 Vision” from...
Returned University of Bahrain students still face challenges
After the events of 13 March 2011 and the shameful attack on University of Bahrain (UoB) students by a group of militias that supported by the Bahraini regime, the UOB administration dismissed more than 400 innocent students and many of them get...
Bahrain’s PR machine threatens free speech
The Bahraini government spends thousands and thousands of dollars on PR companies every month. Their purpose of using such companies is simple: to project a positive image of Bahrain while also tempering any negative press coverage. One such...
“Interpol is meant to be tackle serious crime, not act as the little helper for régimes that want to kill journalists”
The global police organisation went beyond its remit in pursuing Saudi Arabian journalist Hamza Kashgari, says Denis MacShane MP. Now we must ensure the kingdom’s authorities respect free speech