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Ethiopia: Closure of independent newspaper Addis Neger, and exile of its Chief Editorsposted on: 2009/12/10

Independent weekly newspaper Addis Neger has been forced to close, and three of its editors have gone into exile, following a campaign of intimidation by the authorities. Mr Mesfin Negash, Managing Editor, Mr Abiye Teklemariam, Executive Editor, and Mr Tamerat Negera, Editor-in-Chief, left Ethiopia after they learned that the government was planning to prosecute them on anti-terrorism charges.

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Syria: Closure of the office of the Syrian Centre for Media and Freedom of Expression while its president, Mr Mazen Darwich, is at risk of judicial prosecutionposted on: 2009/09/15

The office of the human rights organisation, the Syrian Centre for Media & Freedom of Expression (SCMFE), has been officially closed and sealed off by the Syrian security authorities on 13 September 2009. Human rights defender and president of the SCMFE, Mr Mazen Darwich had not received any official warning prior to the closure of the office, however, on 7, 9 and 10 September he was summoned by to the State Security Office in Damascus where security personnel pressured him to stop the activities of the SCMFE.

Egypt: Threat to close down the Egyptian Organization for Human Rights (EOHR)posted on: 2009/05/07

Front Line is concerned following reports that the Egyptian Organisation for Human Rights (EOHR) received a letter from the Egyptian Ministry of Social Solidarity on 27 April 2009 threatening to dissolve the organisation for violating the Law of Association by receiving unauthorized foreign funding. EOHR is a leading non-governmental organisation in Egypt, founded in 1985 and registered at the Ministry of Social Affairs in 2003. It has its headquarters in Cairo and has 17 provincial branches located throughout Egypt. EOHR was granted special consultative status with the United Nations Economic and Social Council in 2006.

Sudan: Statement by SUDO on the dissolving of the Sudan Social Development Organisationposted on: 2009/03/06

On Thursday 5th March 2009 around 17:30 Sudan Social Development Organization (SUDO) received a letter signed by the General Commissioner of the Humanitarian Assistance Commission (HAC), that the Commission had decided to dissolve the organisation with immediate effect and handover all its 10 offices and all its properties and resources to a committee from HAC.

To read the full text of the statement issued by SUDO see Link to PDF below.

Sudan: Crackdown on human rights defenders intensifies – Closure of SUDO and threats of arrest against Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adamposted on: 2009/03/05

Front Line is deeply concerned following the closure of the Sudan Social Development Organisation (SUDO) and information on the imminent arrest of Dr Mudawi Ibrahim Adam. Mudawi Ibrahim Adam is the Chairperson of SUDO and one of the most prominent human rights defenders in Sudan. He was awarded the inaugural Front Line Award in 2005.

Zimbabwe: Government order to suspend operations of private voluntary organisations and including CARE Internationalposted on: 2008/06/06

Front Line is deeply concerned following information received concerning a government order to suspend the field operations of all private voluntary organisations (PVOs) and non-governmental organisations (NGOs), dated 4 June 2008, and the suspension of CARE International's field activities in Zimbabwe, ordered by the authorities on 30 May 2008. CARE International is an independent aid agency committed to poverty alleviation and the promotion of sustainable development in the developing world.

Iran: Closure of womens rights publication, Zananposted on: 2008/02/05

Front Line is deeply concerned following the order for the closure of the women's rights publication, Zanan. Zanan was established in 1992, and is dedicated to the promotion and protection of women's rights in Iran. On 29 January 2008, the management of Zanan were informed by the Press Monitoring Council and the Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance that the magazine's license was to be cancelled due to the publication of material that was threatening to the “psychological security of society”.