7 Feb 2012 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Two journalists were shot by security services, and another detained whilst covering the political unrest in Egypt over the weekend. Mahmoud al-Ghazali, Nile TV correspondent, was shot with pellets early on Saturday morning, whilst reporting on clashes between protesters and security forces. Al-Ghazali was shot in the eye, causing extensive damage. Online journalist Salma Said was shot around 1am on Monday by security forces while she filmed clashes in central Cairo. The journalist was hit in the face, legs and stomach. Mohamed Rabee from independent newspaper Al-Badil was forcibly detained by plain clothed officers yesterday, as he dictated a news story to his colleague via mobile phone.
17 Jan 2012 | Africa, Index Index, minipost
21 journalists were detained by security forces in Somalia over the weekend, following demonstrations against ongoing media crackdowns. Police stormed the main headquarters of HornCable TV and two production studios of the television network, in the capital town Hargeisa on Saturday. The following day, at a peaceful protest organised by the journalists, the presidential guard attacked protesters, and arrested 18 staff members from HornCable TV. Police hunted down other journalists who took part in the protest and arrested them. All 21 detained journalists were released yesterday.
6 Jan 2012 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Two female journalists have been assaulted by police whilst covering protests in Tunisia. Sana Farhat of French-language daily Le Temps and Maha Ouelhezi from news website Web Manager Center were assaulted by plain clothed officers as they covered a demonstration by university teachers outside the ministry of higher education in Tunis yesterday. Farhat had her press card and camera seized, and was dragged along the ground by her hair after she demanded her equipment be returned. The video Farhat was making was wiped by officers. Ouelhezi’s camera was also seized and smashed by an officer.
5 Dec 2011 | Africa, Sub-Saharan Africa
Supporters and relatives of a former Zambian minister, who appeared in a Lusaka court on Thursday in connection with a large amount of cash which was found buried at his farm, assaulted four journalists covering the case and damaged their equipment.
Photojournalists Richard Mulonga of Times of Zambia, Mackon Wasamunu of Zambia Daily Mail, Joseph Mwenda of The Post and Muvi Television’s Mabvuto Phiri is managing editor were covering the ongoing trial of the ex-minister Austin Liato, when his supporters began verbally abusing the journalists.
As Liato was led to police cells after taking his plea in court, the photographers were beaten, and their equipment was confiscated and damaged.
Mulonga was brutally stabbed in his left hand during the attack and had to undergo treatment at Lusaka’s University Teaching Hospital, where he received an injection for tetanus.
A police officer who came to the rescue of the four reporters was also badly injured. Police have since arrested two people in connection with the incident, who are believed to be assisting with identifying the attackers.
Liato is facing charges of receiving stolen property after he allegedly received and kept 2.1 billion kwacha (US$412,000) in cash with the full knowledge that it was stolen.
The attack on the journalists went against the very tenets of democracy, which Zambia supposedly upheld, MISA Zambia chapter chairperson Daniel Sikazwe said.
Sikazwe said it was the duty of the media to inform the public on issues that affected everyone’s welfare and they should not be victimised for performing their duty.
Press Freedom Committee (PFC) Executive Secretary, Leah Kabamba said there was no justification for Liato’s supporters’ targeting of journalists, who had found themselves at the court grounds to execute their duty of informing the public.
“We condemned in strongest terms this attack on journalists. It barbaric and malicious,” Kabamba said.
She added: “Journalists do not need anyone’s permission to inform the general public on matters of public interest.”
