Tag Archives: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

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Update: The Year’s Top 10 ‘Jailers of Journalists’

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Tadias Magazine
By Tadias Staff

Published: Wednesday, December 12, 2012

New York (TADIAS) – The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists released its 2012 census of imprisoned journalists yesterday identifying 27 offending countries with 232 writers, editors, and photojournalists behind bars this year, an increase of 53 from 2011 and the highest since the organization began the survey in 1990. According to CPJ, the 2012 figure surpasses the previous record of 185 journalists imprisoned in 1996.

The report said the trend was driven primarily by terrorism and other anti-state charges levied against critical reporters and editors.

CPJ highlighted Turkey, Iran, and China as the three leading jailers of journalists, while Eritrea and Ethiopia are the only African countries that are listed among the top ten press offenders.

“Rounding out the top five jailers were Eritrea, with 28 journalists in prison, and Syria with 15; the worst abusers of the rule of law,” the organization said. “None of the journalists in jail in either country have been publicly charged with a crime or brought before a court or trial.”

More than half (118) of those held globally were online journalists and more than a third were freelancers.

CPJ singled out Burma for “some improvement” this year: “For the first time since 1996, Burma did not rank among the nations jailing journalists. As part of the country’s historic transition to civilian rule, authorities released at least 12 imprisoned journalists in a series of pardons in 2012.”

Of the 27 countries imprisoning journalists, the top 10 jailers were:

Turkey: 49
Iran: 45
China: 32
Eritrea: 28
Syria: 15
Vietnam: 14
Azerbaijan: 9
Ethiopia: 6
Saudi Arabia: 4
Uzbekistan: 4

Click here to read the full report at CPJ.
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Related:
Court delays Eskinder Nega’s appeal (Africa Review)
MEPs urge Ethiopia to release journalist (The Guardian)
Record number of reporters jailed globally (BY kirubel Tadesse/AP)
Federal High Court Expresses Doubts About Eskinder Nega’s Conviction (VOA)
Friends and Supporters React to Reeyot Alemu’s Media Award (TADIAS)
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News

Ethiopia May Grant Clemency to Two Swedish Journalists

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Tadias Magazine
News Update

Wednesday, February 8, 2012

New York – Ethiopia has signaled it may grant clemency to journalists convicted under the country’s controversial anti-terrorism law.

“Prime Minister Meles Zenawi said on Wednesday Ethiopia could pardon politicians and journalists arrested under a 2009 anti-terrorism law, but dismissed opposition criticism he was using the law to clamp down on dissent,” Reuters reported. “Rights groups say the government has used the law to crack down on its opponents, saying 150 opposition politicians and supporters have been detained under its provisions in the past three years.”

“All trials are transparent, all suspects are allowed access to lawyers and some have even been freed when no evidence was found to justify their arrests,” Meles said. “But we would also consider granting clemency if culprits admit guilt and to making mistakes.”

Ten journalists are among those charged under the anti-terrorism law. And regarding the case of reporter Martin Schibbye and photographer Johan Persson of Sweden, the prime minister compared the case to Rupert Murdoch’s News Corp. scandal in England. “Phone-tapping is criminal enough to have journalists stand trial, let alone aiding a terrorist group and entering a country illegally, he said. “No journalist can escape charges if rules are broken.”

Persson and Schibbye were accused of supporting a terrorist group and also charged with immigration violations. They were arrested in July after being caught with fighters from an Ogaden National Liberation Front. They had pleaded not guilty to the terror charges, but admitted entering the country illegally from Somalia.

The reporters say their investigation was focused on Sweden’s Lundin Petroleum and an oil company in Ethiopia that bought licences from Lundin in 2009 to operate in Ethiopia’s rebellious Ogaden region.

“Rights groups have called for their release and Sweden, the European Union and United States have expressed concern. The two Swedes are seeking clemency rather than lodging an appeal, in the hope of securing a quicker release.”

Read more at Reuters.com.
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