Hard-earned press freedom in Tunisia is under threat as journalists are squeezed between violent extremists and security services sensitive to criticism in the wake of deadly terror attacks. While Islamist militants threaten the media, the government introduces restrictive legislation and security forces legally harass and even assault journalists. In this climate, which is further restricted by regulatory disputes, some news outlets resort to self-censorship. A CPJ special report by Safa Ben Said.
CPJ and VICE News call on Turkey to release Iraqi journalist Mohammed Ismael Rasool. British journalists Jake Hanrahan and Philip Pendlebury from VICE News, arrested alongside Rasool in August, are already free. At least seven journalists are in jail in Turkey, most on anti-state charges, CPJ research shows. An emergency mission by press freedom groups in October finds journalists are severely restricted as the country prepares for elections.
The EU faces challenges to its press freedom record from member states that have repressive laws and regulations, and by its failure to act swiftly when countries renege on their commitments.
Dear Prime Minister Borissov: The Committee to Protect Journalists, an international press freedom organization, is writing to alert you to the harassment of journalists at the independent news website Bivol. In recent weeks a reporter has been followed and his home was broken into, and the website's journalists have been warned they are at risk of retaliation for their reporting.
New York, November 13, 2015--CPJ has joined Free Press Unlimited and seven other organizations in a statement of support for seven Moroccan journalists and human rights defenders who will face trial on November 19, on charges ranging from defamation to harming national security. One of the journalists, Hicham Mansouri, is already behind bars on an adultery conviction in retaliation for his work.
Please join the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission and the Senate Human Rights Caucus for a briefing and dialogue with the 2015 recipients of the Committee to Protect Journalists International Press Freedom Award.
Journalists foster accountability through their reporting on politics, crime, corruption and human rights abuses. However, in many countries journalists work in a climate of fear, intimidation and censorship generated by repressive governments and, increasingly, by illegal non-state actors and criminal organizations.
Each year, the Committee to Protect Journalists recognizes courageous journalists from around the world with its International Press Freedom Award. The 2015 awardees are all from countries where press freedom is under stark attack:
• Zone 9 bloggers (Ethiopia) • Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, "Zunar" (Malaysia) • Cándido Figueredo Ruíz (Paraguay) • Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently (Syria)
These journalists have endured death threats, physical attacks, legal harassment, imprisonment, and exile in the course of their work. They will share their insights and concerns about the state of media freedom in their respective countries, and provide recommendations as to how the U.S. government, and especially the Congress, can strengthen and support media freedom in an increasingly contentious and conflict-ridden world.
Panelists:
• Candido Figueredo Ruiz, Paraguay • Abdel Aziz Al-Hamza, Raqqa is Being Slaughtered Silently, Syria • Soleyana Gebrichael, Zone 9 Bloggers, Ethiopia • Zulkiflee Anwar Ulhaque, "Zunar," Malaysia
Moderator:
• Dr. Courtney C. Radsch, Committee to Protect Journalists
Opening Remarks
• Congressman James McGovern, Co-Chair, Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission
23rd Annual Ceremony and Dinner to benefit the Committee to Protect Journalists. More »
Do you believe the free flow of information must be protected? Sign the #RightToReport petition and demand that President Obama immediately:
1. Issue a presidential policy directive prohibiting the hacking and surveillance of journalists and media organizations.
2. Limit aggressive prosecutions that ensnare journalists and intimidate whistleblowers.
3. Prevent the harassment of journalists at the U.S. border.
Or click here to see the full petition, and join leading journalists like Christiane Amanpour, The Guardian’s Alan Rusbridger, Editor of the AP Kathleen Carroll, and Arianna Huffington in signing on.
https://cpj.org
