A freelance journalist in Angola has been released on bail. Armando José Chicoca was sentenced to one year in prison on March 3 for reporting on sexual harassment allegations against a top judicial official. Chicoca spent 33 days in prison and posted bail of $2,500.
A Canadian court has placed numerous restrictions on an activist as part of his bail release. Alex Hundert may not speak with any member of the press, nor may he plan, attend, or participate in any public event related to a political issue. He was charged with three counts of conspiracy for involvement in violent activities at the G20 summit in Toronto last June. Hundert was released in July on $100,000 bail with around 20 court-imposed restrictions, including a ban on attending public demonstrations. After being rearrested for participating in a panel discussion at Ryerson University, he was released on 13 October on the condition that he adhere to additional restrictions. The Canadian Civil Liberties Association has said the measures are “only aimed at silencing speech“.
Film director Jafar Panahi has been released from Tehran’s Evin prison on a bail of $200,000 (£140,000) after more than two months in custody. Although it has been rumoured he was imprisoned for shooting a film about last June’s disputed presidential elections, it seems more likely his arrest was due to his support for opposition leader Mir Hossein Mousavi. Panahi, who was supposed to sit on the jury of the 2010 Cannes Festival, went on a hunger strike last week to protest the circumstances of his detention. Cannes jury head, US director Tim Burton, joined with Iranian independent filmmaker Abbas Kiarostami and other international filmmakers’ calls for Panahi’s release.
In past month many Iranian journalists and bloggers have been released on bail by authorities before the start of the Iranian New Year. Those currently on bail include Sasan Aghaei, Ali Moazemi, Kivan Farzin, Behrangh Tonkaboni, Arvin Sedaghat Kish, Hamid Mafi, Ehsan Mehrabi, Naimeh Dostar, Bahaman Ahamadi Amoee, Kivan Samimi Behbani and Saide Lylaz. However, several other journalists were denied bail or the right to visit during the festival period, including Masud Lavassani, Mehdi Mahmudian and Emadoldin Baghi. For more information about imprisoned journalists in Iran, please help support the campaign Our Society Will Be A Free Society.