attack on journalist
Friday 17.6.2022 Palestine - Latest Developments -
Calls for justice after journalist Shireen Abu-Akleh killed in ‘targeted attack’ by Israeli forces
On 11 May 2022, Shireen Abu Akleh, a prominent 51-year-old Palestinian-American journalist from Jerusalem, was killed while she was covering the aggression in Jenin Refugee Camp in the occupied West Bank, despite her wearing her press uniform. An investigation by CNN suggests that Abu Akleh was killed in a targeted attack by Israeli occupation forces with a direct bullet in the head. Restrictions on representatives of civil society organisations have continued. For instance, on 1st June 2022, Israeli authorities prevented Ubai Al-Aboudi, the Executive Director of the Bisan Center for Research and Development, from traveling to Amman, Jordan to attend a two-day expert meeting with the United Nations Economic and Social Commission for Western Asia. Separately, in an open letter to the President of the European Parliament, civil society representatives raised their concerns after Israeli authorities denied the entry of European Members of Parliament into Palestine. Read more
Thursday 16.6.2022 Afghanistan - Latest Developments -
The Taliban continues to target activists, journalists and stifle protests by women with impunity
In recent months, there have been reports of the growing pattern of arbitrary arrests, unlawful detentions and enforced disappearances by the Taliban. Detained women’s rights activists have been forced to make video confessions saying they had been incited to protest by foreign activists. There have been ongoing restrictions, detention and attacks on journalists by the Taliban, the banning of international broadcasts and forcing of female news presenters to cover up. Despite harassment and threats, women’s rights activists have continued to protest for their rights to education and employment. Read more
Monday 13.6.2022 Lebanon - Latest Developments -
Freedom of Expression violations during elections
The outcome of the May 2022 elections in Lebanon saw some moves in the right direction with the bloc led by Hezbollah losing its majority and independent candidates winning 13 of Parliament’s 128 seats. However, concerning developments on civic space continue to take place, which include violations on freedom of expression. Read more
Thursday 9.6.2022 Chile - Latest Developments -
Chile: journalist Francisca Sandoval dies after being shot when covering protest
On 1st May 2022, during the Workers’ Day march in Santiago, shooters opened fire following an alleged altercation with protesters. Four people were injured, three of them journalists covering the march. Francisca Sandoval, a 29-year-old journalist with La Victoria's Señal 3, was critically wounded and died from her injuries on 12th May 2022. Read more
Thursday 9.6.2022 Maldives - Latest Developments -
Harassment of journalists, activists as well as anti-protest decree erodes freedoms in the Maldives
In recent months, journalists have faced harassment for covering protests, threatened in their office while a right to information activist was threatened. Human Rights Watch released a report that highlighted how the authorities were failing to protect freedom of speech and association while the de-registration of human rights group the Maldivian Democracy Network (MDN) violated due process. A UN expert who visited the country raised concerns around the constriction of civic space and the digital harassment of women. The government has issued a decree restricting anti-India protests. Read more
Tuesday 7.6.2022 Philippines - Latest Developments -
Activists and journalists continue to be targeted as new president is elected in the Philippines
In recent months, journalists have faced online attacks and intimidation while covering the elections, while protesters have been violently dispersed. Activists continue to be arbitrarily arrested on trumped up charges and remain in detention, while there has been slow progress in ensuring accountability for the ‘Bloody Sunday’ killing of nine activists. Read more
Tuesday 31.5.2022 Sri Lanka - Latest Developments -
Protesters in Sri Lanka face excessive force, arbitrary arrests and attacks with impunity
Over the last two months, human rights groups have documented the use of excessive force by the police against protesters in Sri Lanka, including the use of water cannons, tear gas and rubber bullets. Hundreds have been arbitrarily arrested and there have also been incidents of torture or ill-treatment in detention, including denial of access to medical care and lawyers. Journalists have also been targeted and some are facing charges. The authorities also used state of emergency regulations to curtail protests and also shut down social media networks. Pro-government mobs were also unleashed to attack protesters and protest sites with impunity. Read more
Tuesday 17.5.2022 Colombia - Latest Developments -
Colombia: attacks on HRDs and journalists amid increasing violence
According to data from the Observatory of Human Rights, Conflict and Peace of the Instituto de Estudios para el Desarrollo y la Paz (Institute for Development and Peace Studies - INDEPAZ), 64 social leaders and human rights defenders were killed between the beginning of 2022 and 19th April 2022. Read more | Read in Spanish
Friday 13.5.2022 Somalia - Latest Developments -
Ahead of the elections, journalists and media outlets face brutal repression
Suicide bomber assassinates Abdiaziz Mohamud Guled, the director of the government-owned Radio Mogadishu; Hirshabelle police in Beledweyne raid local independent radio station Hiiraan Weyn and arrest seven journalists; police officers in the town of Abudwak, in the Galmudug regional state, raid privately owned Sooyal TV and Radio offices; Haramcad police officers (Special Operations Command Battalion) attack a group of journalists reporting a car bombing and gunfire attacks; Read more
Tuesday 10.5.2022 Syria - Latest Developments -
Media Networks and Journalists Face Brutal Repression
Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad ratified the Cybercrime Law No. 20 of 2022, which includes penalties ranging from one month to 15 years in prison, while fines range from 200,000 to 15 million (approx. 26,700 EUR) Syrian pounds for a group of acts classified by the law as cybercrimes; the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria—the regional government—announced that it was suspending Rudaw Media Network’s license to operate in north-eastern Syria; German court in the city of Frankfurt began hearing evidence in a trial involving allegations of torture and murder by state agents during Syria’s decade-long brutal armed conflict; Read more
