26 Aug 2011 | Index Index, minipost
The Brazilian Superior Court of Justice this week sentenced J.L. Editora, publisher of the newspaper Folha do Espirito Santo, and journalists Jackson Rangel Vieira and Hinger Mansur to pay Judge Camilo José D’Ávila Couto for moral damages. The judge accused the journalists and publisher of publishing articles that distorted facts and contained slanderous content, in which Couto was described as “omnipotent,” “young without experience,” “vindictive,” and “drunk with power.” The judge considered them attacks on his honour, public image and personal integrity.
26 Aug 2011 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Syrian political cartoonist Ali Farzat was abducted for several hours yesterday while driving home from his office in Damascus. The masked members of security forces broke Farzat’s left hand, which he uses to draw his famous cartoons, and burnt him with lit cigarettes before dumping him on the side of the road with a bag over his head. Some of his drawings as well as his belongings were confiscated.
25 Aug 2011 | Americas, Mexico
[UPDATE] The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that Salazar was found dead early on Thursday 25 August in Sinaloa near the state capital, Culiacán, with a gunshot wound to the head.
Humberto Millán Salazar, a journalist from the north western state of Sinaloa, Mexico, was kidnapped yesterday. The 53 year old reporter has worked for local media for the last three decades. He is a reporter for a local website notoriously critical of Sinaloa’s local government. Salazar is also a radio broadcaster on Radio Formula, one of the top national radio networks in the country.
The Special Prosecutor for Crimes Against Freedom of Speech Gustavo Salas said 13 journalists had disappeared across the country since 2000. Salazar’s disappearance comes only a month after the disappearance and murder of another reporter in the southern state of Veracruz.
A local journalist group Periodistas Siete de Junio released a drawing on its Facebook page demanding the return of Salazar. The group also asked local authorities to ask for federal authorities to help them in the search of Salazar who was an active participant of the group.
25 Aug 2011 | Index Index, minipost
Two gunmen on a motorcycle shot radio commentator Niel Jimena, 42, on Monday night near his home in the Negros Island town of E.B. Magalona, Philippines. He was riding his own motorcycle when he was shot, and died of multiple gunshot wounds before arriving at a local hospital. The National Union of Journalists of the Philippines said in a statement that police have not determined a motive in the case or whether the killing was work-related. Jimena broadcast political commentary on DYRI-RMN Radio in nearby Iloilo City.
