Turkey: Leading the World with Imprisoned Journalists
At 94 journalists jailed (according to the Journalist Union of Turkey), Turkey stands as the most repressive country for journalists on strictly imprisonment terms. Most of the imprisoned journalists hail from the Kurdish minority. Ragip Zarakolu was arrested ...
March 12, 2012
Category: Bahrain, Civil Society, Egypt, Featured, Freedom, Human Rights, Journalism, Kurds, PKK, Syria, Turkey
Senate Resolution Addresses Elections in Iran
On Tuesday, in a voice vote, the U.S. Senate adopted a resolution introduced by John Hoeven (R-N.D.), which called for "free and fair elections in Iran." Of the 50-plus cosponsors, the lead cosponsors featured Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.), Joe Lieberman (I-Conn.), ...
March 7, 2012
Category: Democracy Promotion, Featured, Freedom, Human Rights, Iran, Journalism, US foreign policy
POMED Notes: The Legal Enabling Environment for Independent Media in Iraq
On Thursday, the Center for International Media Assistance (CIMA) and the Middle Eastand North Africa Program at the National Endowment for Democracy (NED) hosted a roundtable discussion on the recent legislation adopted by the Iraqi government on the media restricting the freedom of expression after years of experiencing media freedom after the fall of former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein. The panel featured Oday Hatem Iraqi journalist and president of the ...
March 1, 2012
Category: Event Notes, Iraq, Journalism, Kurdish Region, Legislation, Media, Middle Eastern Media
British Journalists Held in Militias’ Custody in Libya
On Tuesday 21, two British journalists, Gareth Montgomery-Johnson and Nicholas Davies, and their two Libyan colleagues, were arrested by former rebels of the newly-formed Misrata Brigade. Montgomery-Johnson and Davies, employees of the Iranian-owned English language television station Press TV, were arrested in Tripoli where they ...
February 29, 2012
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Category: Elections 2012, Featured, Human Rights, Journalism, Legislation, Libya, Political transition
Thousands Demonstrate In Tunis Against Government
On Saturday, thousands of people protested against the coalition government, led by the moderated Islamist party Ennahda. The demonstration was organized by the Tunisian General Labor Union (UGTT), which suspected Ennhada members to be part of the campaign of vandalism, and to have stolen documents. The ...
POMED Notes: Arab Spring Developments in the Arab World and Jordan
On Tuesday, the Jordanian National Movement and the Jordan National Council hosted a press conference outlining the most recent issues and concerns regarding the “Arab Spring” developments in the Arab world and Jordan. The press conference dealt with King Abdullah II regime’s corruption, human rights records, and the systematic harassment of opposition leaders, journalist and activist in Jordan. The panel featured Stephen McInerney, executive director of Project on Middle East Democracy, ...
February 23, 2012
Category: Corruption, Democracy Promotion, Jordan, Journalism, Judiciary, Military, Monarchy
Syrian Forces Received Orders to Kill Journalists
After intercepting communication between Syrian Army Officers, Lebanese intelligence staff has determined that "direct orders were issued to target the makeshift press centre in which Colvin had been broadcasting." This news comes as a shock after the recent death of the 55 year old Sunday Times reporter Marie Colvin and 28 year old photographer Remi Ochlik. Lebanese intelligence reported that if journalists were successfully killed, their deaths were to be made out to ...
Violence Kills Two Journalists in Syria
The above video includes graphic images. Two Western journalists died during the continued bombardment of Homs; which has been besieged by the military forces since February. American reporter, Marie Colvin who worked for Sunday Times, and French photographer Remi Ochlik perished when a shell struck their makeshift media centre in the Baba Amr district. During the strike, 2 other foreign journalists were injured, British photograph Paul Conroy and French journalist, for the newspaper Le Figaro, Edith Bouvier. The strikes on Wednesday left 20 dead, while ...
Arab Uprising Impact’s on Press Freedom
In its 10th annual press freedom index, Reporters Without Borders (RWB) assessed the evolution of press and media freedom after one year of turmoil in the Arab world. RWB noted "The transitions that have begun are not necessarily leading towards more ...
Bahrain Shuts Out Media as Anniversary Approaches
Bahrain has denied visas for multiple journalists who requested to be in the country for the February 14 anniversary of the uprisings. Denied media outlets include the New York Times, BBC, Wall Street Journal, Christian Science Monitor, and Al Jazeera. Several of the correspondents were vocal on ...
February 8, 2012
Category: Bahrain, Featured, Freedom, Government, Human Rights, Journalism, US foreign policy
Iraq Heads Towards Civil Strife
In less than a month after U.S. troops exited the country Iraq's government appears in turmoil. Barham Salih, Prime Minister of the autonomous northern Kurdish region, said the internal conflicts are "tearing the country apart," with the new motto being, "I'll have him for lunch before they have me for dinner." Over the past several months, the security services, under Iraq Prime Minister Nouri al-Maliki, have incarcerated more than 1,000 members ...
January 23, 2012
Category: Civil Society, Freedom, Government, Human Rights, Iraq, Journalism, Kurdish Region, Military, Political Parties, Political transition
Report: Freedoms in Iraq: An Increasing Repressive Legal Net
In December, 2011, IREX, in partnership with the Centre for Law and Democracy, published the report Freedoms in Iraq: an Increasingly Repressive Legal Net, detailing five pieces of legislation affecting the freedoms of assembly and expression in Iraq. The Journalists Rights Law is the only one passed into law as of August 2011, while the other four – the Commission of Media and Communication Law, Informatics Crimes Law, Political Parties Law and ...
France Suspects Manipulation in Journalists’Death
French President Nicolas Sarkozy requested that Syrian authorities "shed light" on the attack against the convoy transporting journalists, among them Gilles Jacquier who was killed. A source close to the President declared that they believed a manipulation occurred, but emphasized that there is ...
POMED Notes: “From Arab Spring to Coptic Winter: Sectarian Violence and the Struggle for Democratic Transition in Egypt”
On Tuesday, November 15th, the Helsinki Commission held a hearing entitled “From Arab Spring to Coptic Winter: Sectarian Violence and the Struggle for Democratic Transition in Egypt.” Testimonies were provided by Michael H. Posner, assistant secretary of State in the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, Dina Guirguis, attorney at Egyptian American Rule of Law Association (EARLA), Samuel Tadros, research fellow at the Hudson Institute, and Dr. Michele Dunne, ...
November 20, 2011
Category: Congressional Hearing Notes (House), Egypt, Elections, Government, Human Rights, Islam and Democracy, Journalism, Judiciary, Justice, Political transition, Protests, Public Opinion, Reform, Rule of Law, Sectarianism, US foreign policy
Qatar Urges Saleh to Tender Resignation
Qatar pressed Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to sign a power transfer deal "without delay" after prolonged protests against his rule. "We call on the Yemeni President Ali Abdullah Saleh to immediately sign the Gulf initiative without delay," Prime Minister ...
November 17, 2011
Category: Arab League, Featured, Journalism, Political transition, Protests, Qatar, Yemen
November 9, 2011
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Category: Featured, Freedom, Government, Human Rights, Journalism, Rule of Law, UAE
October 24, 2011
Category: Egypt, Featured, Freedom, Journalism, Media, Political transition, Protests, Reform
Egypt: Amb. Patterson “Not Comfortable” Talking to MB
U.S. Ambassador to Egypt Anne Patterson said she is "not personally comfortable enough" yet talking to the Muslim Brotherhood. Patterson added that the staff of the U.S. Embassy in Cairo had been in "contact" with Muslim Brotherhood members. The ...
October 18, 2011
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Category: Diplomacy, Egypt, Elections, Journalism, NGOs, US foreign policy
Bahrain: Vote of No Confidence Against US Ambassador
Bahrain's parliament "issued a vote of no confidence in the appointment of new US Ambassador Thomas C. Krajeski, who they claimed had a volatile agenda towards Bahrain." Members of Parliament stated that they found his "meetings in the ...
October 12, 2011
Category: Bahrain, Democracy Promotion, Diplomacy, Featured, Human Rights, Journalism, Middle Eastern Media, Political Parties, Protests
