Attacks on the Press 2007: Middle East and North Africa Snapshots
AlgeriaBahrainJordanKuwaitLibyaMauritaniaSudan Syria ALGERIA • Authorities arrested Kamel Bousaad, editor of the pro-Islamist weekly Errissala, on February 8 and Berkane Bouderbala, managing editor of the weekly Essafir, on February 11, after their newspapers published controversial Danish cartoons depicting the Prophet Muhammad. The editors faced charges under Article 144 of the penal code for insulting the Prophet…
Tunisian writer sentenced to jail
New York, December 5, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the one-year prison sentence handed down on Tuesday to a Tunisian freelance journalist known for his published criticism of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and members of the first family. A court in Sakiet Ezziet, in the suburbs of Sfax, Tunisia’s second-largest city…
Critical writer jailed in Tunisia
New York, November 27, 2007–The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by the detention of a Tunisian freelance journalist known for his published criticism of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali and members of the first family. On Monday, police in Sfax, Tunisia’s second largest city, detained Slim Boukhdhir, a well-known blogger and contributor…
Cairo court sentences Al-Jazeera producer to six months in jail
New York, May 2, 2007—On the same day the Committee to Protect Journalists cited Egypt for its deteriorating press conditions, a judge in Cairo convicted an Al-Jazeera producer on charges of “harming Egypt’s national interest” and “falsely depicting events” for her work on a documentary exposing police abuse. The court sentenced Howayda Taha Matwali, who…
Journalists hit by Israeli stun grenades in the West Bank
New York, March 8, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned that two journalists were bruised by Israeli stun grenades at an Israeli military checkpoint between Jerusalem and the West Bank city of Ramallah today. Rami al-Faqih, a correspondent for the local Al-Quds Educational Television, and Iyad Hamad, a cameraman for The Associated Press, were…
Attacks on the Press 2006: Tunisia
TUNISIA Despite its election to the newly established U.N. Human Rights Council in May, Tunisia under the autocratic rule of President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali continued to pursue a policy of muzzling critical media and harassing independent journalists and their families. In February, the U.N. vote approaching, Ben Ali pardoned Hamadi Jebali, editor of…
Al-Jazeera producer charged with harming Egypt’s national interests
New York, January 17, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed that Egyptian authorities have brought criminal charges against an Al-Jazeera producer in connection with her work on a documentary about torture. Howayda Taha Matwali, who also works as a reporter for the London-based daily Al-Quds al-Arabi, was charged after authorities found unedited footage showing…
Journalist, two media workers murdered
New York, November 22, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder of an Iraqi journalist in the city of Baqubah near Baghdad, and the killing of two media support workers in the northern Iraqi city of Mosul. Luma al-Karkhi, 25, a reporter for the Baghdad-based daily Al-Dustour, was gunned down in the Tahreer neighborhood…
Two journalists detained after writing about divisions
New York, May 16, 2006—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the detention of two journalists who have written about divisions within Syria. Military intelligence service detained prominent activist and writer Michel Kilo on May 14 in Damascus, according to CPJ sources. Online journalist Muhammad Ghanem has been in detention for 47 days. Kilo,…