SUDAN
JUNE 12, 2005 Posted: June 21, 2005 The Khartoum Monitor CENSORED Sudanese justice officials canceled the license of Sudan’s English-language daily, The Khartoum Monitor. Alfred Taban, the paper’s chairman, said he was notified in a letter from the National Press Council, the government agency that regulates the press. Taban told CPJ that a criminal court…
Jordanian government harassament, censorship draw concern
Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned that Jordanian authorities have harassed and censored journalists on several occasions since your government was formed in April. Several journalists interviewed by CPJ in recent weeks said that authorities have pressured printers to delay the publication of newspapers until editors agreed to remove critical articles. Further, editors have received phone calls from security officials instructing them how to cover certain events.
Body of missing journalist found
New York, June 6, 2005—Missing journalist Daif al-Gahzal al-Shuhaibi was discovered dead late last week. Al-Shuhaibi’s body was found on the coast of Benghazi, about 1,000 km (620 miles) east of the capital, Tripoli, according to press reports. An unnamed government official said that al-Shuhaibi, a former reporter for the government-owned Azahf Al-Akhdar, appeared “to…
Journalist assassinated in car bombing
June 2, 2005, New York, NY—The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the murder of Lebanese columnist Samir Qassir, who was killed in a car bombing outside his home in Beirut’s Ashrafiyeh neighborhood this morning. Qassir, a prominent columnist for the Lebanese daily Al-Nahar, died when his car exploded after he started the engine, international…
LIBYA
JUNE 2, 2005 Posted: June 21, 2005 Daif al-Gahzal al-Shuhaibi, freelance KILLED—CONFIRMED Al-Ghazal’s body was found in Benghazi, his hometown, about 1,000 km (620 miles) east of the capital, Tripoli, on or about June 2 after he went missing from his home on May 21, according to several sources. Al-Ghazal was a former journalist for…
EGYPT
JUNE 2005 Posted: June 21, 2005 Shaymaa Abol Kheir, Al-Dustour Abeer al-Askary Al-Dustour HARASSED On May 25, government supporters beat several foreign and local journalists covering a protest over limited presidential elections. Journalists interviewed by CPJ said that Egyptian security forces did not intervene. Journalists said they suspected some of the assailants were actually security…
IRAQ
MAY 31, 2005 Posted: June 17, 2005 Jerges Mahmood Mohamad Suleiman, Nineveh TV KILLED—CONFIRMED Suleiman, a news anchor at Nineveh TV, was shot by unidentified assailants in the Iraqi city of Mosul in late May. Nineveh TV is a local affiliate of Al-Iraqiya TV, which is part of the U.S.-backed Iraqi Media Network. The Associated…
IRAQ
MAY 31, 2005 Posted: June 15, 2005 Mouthana Ibrahim, Al-Arabiya ATTACKED Ibrahim a reporter with the Dubai-based Arabic satellite channel Al-Arabiya was injured after being shot in Mosul, his hometown. The journalist, who has been threatened repeatedly by insurgents for his work, was driving with his family in an industrial area of the city, when…
Journalist released from prison
New York, May 31, 2005—Iranian authorities temporarily released imprisoned journalist Akbar Ganji. Ganji was released for medical leave on Sunday, according to press reports. Judicial authorities had previously refused Ganji’s request to be released on medical leave, prompting him to start a hunger strike on April 18. Ganji ended the strike after his release. Ganji’s…