Latest

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)
 

In a ground-breaking judgment delivered today, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that the libel trial launched by McDonalds against two campaigners who had criticised its social and environmental practices, often referred to as the McLibel case, had been unfair and violated their right to freedom of expression. Article 19 reports. (16-FEB-05)

Amid threats to personal safety, accusations of disloyalty, and mixed messages from the US authorities, Iraqi journalists and media workers reported widely on the 30 January election.  How did they manage? Index on Censorship´s Rohan Jayasekera reports. (10-FEB-05)

English PEN has launched a campaign to stop the British Government introducing legislation that could make it illegal to express provocative views on people’s religion. (24-JAN-05)