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Kazakhstan: Violent attack against human rights defenders and journalists Asan Amilov and Orken Bisenovposted on: 2011/11/07

On 26 October 2011, human rights defenders and journalists Messrs Asan Amilov and Orken Bisenov were attacked by four unknown individuals a few kilometres outside Aktau, the capital of Mangystau province.

The Gambia - Front Line welcomes the release and pardon of six journalists posted on: 2009/09/11

Front Line welcomes the release of six Gambian journalists on 3 September 2009, but remains concerned about the safety of human rights defenders and the integrity of freedom of expression in the Gambia. Emil Touray, Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, secretary general and first vice president respectively of the Gambian Press Union (GPU), Pap Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh, managing editor and news editor of The Point newspaper respectively, and Sam Sarr, managing editor of Foroyaa newspaper had been convicted on August 6 by a Banjul High court for supposedly defaming President Yahya Jammeh and received a mandatory sentence of two years’ imprisonment and fined 250,000 Dalasis (US$10,000).

The Gambia - Front Line welcomes the release and pardon of six journalists posted on: 2009/09/11

Front Line welcomes the release of six Gambian journalists on 3 September 2009, but remains concerned about the safety of human rights defenders and the integrity of freedom of expression in the Gambia. Emil Touray, Sarata Jabbi-Dibba, secretary general and first vice president respectively of the Gambian Press Union (GPU), Pap Saine and Ebrima Sawaneh, managing editor and news editor of The Point newspaper respectively, and Sam Sarr, managing editor of Foroyaa newspaper had been convicted on August 6 by a Banjul High court for supposedly defaming President Yahya Jammeh and received a mandatory sentence of two years’ imprisonment and fined 250,000 Dalasis (US$10,000).

On 3 September 2009, in a press statement on the state-owned Gamba Radio and Television Services (GRTS), President Jammeh said the pardon of the journalists was in line with the spirit of the month of Ramadan which encourages Muslims to forgive each other.

The charges stemmed from a 11 June 2009 GPU press statement that criticised President Jammeh for slandering the memory of the late Deyda Hydara, a veteran journalist who was brutally murdered by unknown assailants in 2004.

Uzbekistan: Committee to Protect Journalists demands the release of imprisoned Uzbek journalistsposted on: 2009/03/02

According to a recent statement by the Committee to Protect Journalists, with eight journalists in prison, Uzbekistan has confirmed its title as the leading jailer of journalists in Europe and Central Asia, Uznews.

Gabon: Charges against five human rights defenders and journalistsposted on: 2009/01/09

Front Line is concerned at the charges of 'possession of a document for dissemination for the purpose of propaganda’ and ‘oral or written propaganda for incitement of rebellion against state authorities’ brought against the following five human rights defenders and journalists, arrested in Libreville on 31 December 2008: Mr Marc Ona Essangui, national coordinator of Publish What You Pay (PWYP) Gabon, Mr Georges Mpaga, president of Réseau des organisations libres de la société civile pour la bonne gouvernance au Gabon – ROLBG (Gabonese civil society network for good governance), Mr Gregory Ngoua Minsta, public servant and plaintiff in a civil complaint lodged in Paris calling for an investigation into the assets acquired in France by the President of Gabon, Mr Gaston Asseko, technical director of Radio Saint-Marie, and Mr Dieudonne Koungou, journalist with the private magazine Tendance Gabon.

Brussels: Lorenzo Natali Prize for Journalists Launchedposted on: 2007/09/19

The European Commission launches the 15th edition of the Lorenzo Natali prize for journalists writing on topics of human rights and democracy in the developing world. A total of 50.000 EUR prize money is awarded to outstanding pieces of print and online journalism in Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Asia and Latin America/Caribbean.

Two Nigerien human rights defenders lose appeal , Front lineposted on: 2006/11/09

Journalists Mamane Abou and Oumarou Keita lost their appeal against charges of defaming the state and spreading false news in a court in Niger on 25 September. They were arrested following the publication of articles exposing government corruption and for accusing the Prime Minister of "wooing the Iranians" to the extent of being prepared to close down Western embassies. All requests for bail were denied.

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The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network meets Eritrea's Ambassador to Kenyaposted on: 2006/11/03

The East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) established in November 2005, to support and act in solidarity with human right defender organizations from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Somaliland, Sudan, Tanzania and Uganda, presented the Eritrean Ambassador to Kenya on 30 October 2006 with a petition on behalf of 16 journalists detained in Eritrea since 2001. Read the petition letter below.

30th October 2006

To: Eritrean President, His Excellency Isaias Afewerke Office of the President P.O. Box 257 Asmara Eritrea

Thru: The Eritrean Ambassador to Kenya

Your Excellency,

RE: ERITREAN JOURNALISTS UNDER CONTINUED DETENTION -EHAHRD-Net CALLS FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Human rights defenders from Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Somalia and Somaliland, Sudan including Southern Sudan, Uganda and Tanzania, comprising the East and Horn of Africa Human Rights Defenders Network (EHAHRD-Net) and working to protect the rights of over 220 million people within the sub-region, are very concerned about the continued detention of journalists in your country for now over five years.