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In August 2003, Craig Murray, Britain’s former ambassador to Republic of Uzbekistan, was confronted with a series of disciplinary charges by the Foreign Office, which he was not permitted to discuss with anyone, and instructed to resign. He refused. The allegations were dropped within a few weeks but not before Murray had had a breakdown and a pulmonary embolism that nearly killed him. He was finally removed from his post in October 2004. (24-MAY-05)

Many international free expression groups now believe the Tunisian government’s strategy is to isolate and intimidate its barristers and clear the way for advocates willing to toe the authorities’ repressive line. Index on Censorship was on hand to witness a tense stand-off between riot police and independent lawyers in Tunisia during the first week of May. Rohan Jayasekera reports from Tunis. (08-MAY-05)

In theory the combination of state control and limited access to the net should have barred Uzbekistan’s way to latest reports about the brewing revolt in the country, increasingly available in Uzbek and Russian online. But as report Daniil Kislov and Andrei Kudriashov, partners in Index on Censorship’s 2004 Ferghana Valley projects, that would be seriously underestimating the Uzbeks´ desire for information. (19-MAY-05)

About 1,500 reporters marched through Nepal´s capital Tuesday to mark World Press Freedom Day and demand an immediate end to government censorship and the release of colleagues detained since King Gyanendra seized power in February. Index on Censorship’s Rohan Jayasekera reports on fears that the supposed end of Nepal´s state of emergency will not end the repression of the country´s independent media. (03-May-05) 

British networks broadcast far-right British National Party (BNP) election propaganda ahead of the country´s 5 May elections despite the opposition of anti-fascist groups. For the BNP has qualified for the legal right to airtime for its election material, and as long as it passes technical standards and does not breach race hate or libel laws, the networks are obliged to show it. Index on Censorship’s Rohan Jayasekera reports. (26-APR-05)

Human rights activists were shocked to discover that imans at some of Cairo?s leading mosques  were preaching against two of their most prominent colleagues ? and that the driving force behind these organised sermons of hate appeared to be an Egyptian government ministry. Leading  human rights campaigners say imans? attacks incite murder. Index on Censorship?s  Rohan Jayasekera reports (25-MAR-05)

Women who use the Internet to disseminate their ideas have found themselves caught up in some governments´ harsh attempts to control information exchange on the worldwide web. To mark this year´s Women´s Day on 8 March, English PEN is focusing on cases of women under attack for using new information technology to challenge their governments. (08-MAR-05)
 

Index on Censorship hosted its 5th annual Freedom of Expression Awards on 1 March at City H all, Central London. The free expression organisation honoured writers, filmmakers, journalists, whistleblowers and lawyers who contribute significantly to the defence of freedom of expression worldwide. This year´s winners include a campaigner against human trafficking, a film about ethnic violence in India, and an organisation defending constitutional rights. (02-MAR-05)

Jailed Sierra Leonean journalist Paul Kamara has been moved to solitary confinement. Following reports that he has been threatened with violence by army officers, his wife has expressed fears for his life. (28-FEB-05)