In recent months, North Africa has seen a crescendo of accusations, moves and measures that leave no doubt: Morocco and Algeria are on a collision course. The big question is whether the cold war in the Maghreb will end in an armed conflict. Both neighboring countries have engaged in an arms race and are armed to the teeth. … Continue reading Algeria and Morocco on collision course
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Gaza can’t wait
It is like a movie that is repeated over and over again. In 2008-09, 2012, 2014 and May 2021, there were large-scale Israeli attacks on Gaza. More than 4,000 people lost their lives, 260 of them in May; a quarter of a million homes were damaged, of which 4,000 this year and the total damage … Continue reading Gaza can’t wait
Message to Rural Media Network Pakistan
Safety Training for Pakistani journalists Dear friends and colleagues I’m saluting you from The Netherlands. As a long time friend of the Rural Media Network Pakistan my thoughts are with you and the important work you’re doing. On World Press Freedom Day (3d of May) we celebrate the fundamental principles of press freedom. Those principles … Continue reading Message to Rural Media Network Pakistan
2015: mes op de keel van onafhankelijke journalistiek
De jaarwisseling is traditioneel aanleiding voor lijstjes. De donkerste dagen van het jaar zijn kennelijk geschikt om de balans op te maken. Van de beste oliebollenbakkers van het AD, de Top 2000 van Radio 2, tot de landen die in de ogen van the Economist er het beste van afbrachten in 2015. Dat was Myanmar … Continue reading 2015: mes op de keel van onafhankelijke journalistiek
Ali Lmrabet asks Moroccan prime minister to intervene
In a long letter to prime minister Abdelilah Benkirane, journalist Al Lmrabet asked him to intervene in order to get his Moroccan passport and ID-card. According to Lmrabet the Moroccan authorities refuse to grant him the documents. “If you don’t intervene I will be a ‘sans-papier’ in my own country”, Lmrabet wrote. Lmrabet has been … Continue reading Ali Lmrabet asks Moroccan prime minister to intervene
Moroccan journalist Lmrabet on hunger strike
Moroccan journalist Ali Lmrabet has gone on hunger strike Wednesday 24th of June. Lmrabet started a sit-in in front of the UN headquarters in Geneva. Reason of his protest is the refusal by the Moroccan authorities to renew his passport and ID-document. He claims Morocco wants to silence him by turning him into an undocumented … Continue reading Moroccan journalist Lmrabet on hunger strike
Media Freedom under Pressure in Turkey
Human Right Watch’ Emma Sinclair-Webb spoke via Skype from Istanbul to the hundred or so attendants of the Press Freedom event in Amsterdam. The meeting on June 4 (on the eve of the Turkish elections on June 7) was organized by Zaman vandaag newspaper in cooperation with the Dutch Association of Journalists (NVJ) and the … Continue reading Media Freedom under Pressure in Turkey
Yemeni journalists threatened; war underreported
In Yemen a humanitarian catastrophe is in the making. The war, which started in March, is getting uglier by the day. Daily air strikes and an air and naval blockade have disrupted normal life completely, caused enormous destruction and left about half of the 26 million Yemenis in need of food and other basic necessities. … Continue reading Yemeni journalists threatened; war underreported
Prominent Omani blogger in solitary confinement
The Emirates State Security Apparatus has transferred prominent Omani blogger Muawiya Al-Rawahi to the Al Wathba prison, where he was placed in solitary confinement. This according to the Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR). He had been detained incommunicado since February. Despite repeated attempts by his family and his colleagues, the UAE authorities have reportedly refused to … Continue reading Prominent Omani blogger in solitary confinement
Will Inter TV go off the air?
Is Ukraine rescinding the Inter Channel broadcasting license? On the 28th of May the Ukrainian Broadcasting Council had to take a decision. Inter is accused of "destructive behavior" by prominent members of Parliament and of not being patriotic enough. The station is also accused of taking a pro-Russian stance. But the Ukraine's government broadcasting licensing authority has … Continue reading Will Inter TV go off the air?
Focus on Media Freedom 