Pakistan: Editor beaten for flood allegations

Abdul Rehman Afridi, editor of the local newspaper Daily Sitara in Jacobabad, Sindh province and vice president of the Jacobabad Press Club was attacked on 8 September. He was attacked by a gang angered at his publication of news stories about the district government’s mismanagement of relief material intended for flood victims. Afridi was threatened at the newspaper’s office and then beaten with wooden sticks.

Uzbekistan: reporter faces five to eight years in prison

Voice of America correspondent Abdulmalik Boboyev is facing between five and eight years in prison on four charges in Uzbekistan’s capital Tashkent, by prosecutors brought against him on 13 September. Three of the charges relate to his work as a journalist: “defamation” , “insult” and “preparing and disseminating material constituting a threat to public order and security”.

Boboyev has also been charged with “illegal entry into the country” and has been banned from going abroad.

Madagascar: Radio station suspended

The government has decided to suspend the broadcasts of radio station, Radio Mahafaly. The staff at the station, based in the central city of Antsirabé, were not given a reason for its suspension. The order came at the same time as the release of ten Radio Fahazavana employees who have been in pre-trial detention since 27 May on charges for inciting a revolt and rebellion.

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