22 Mar 11 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Four New York Times reporters being held by pro-Gaddafi forces have now been released, but a further 13 journalists from various media organisations are still missing or in detention. The New York Times reporters were released to Turkish diplomats on Monday and have reported mistreatment including death threats and sexual assault on the only female reporter. The driver for the two AFP reporters and the Getty Images photographer who went missing in Libya said that they are being held by pro-Gaddafi forces after being intercepted by soldiers.
21 Mar 11 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Four New York Times journalists who had gone missing in Libya will be released soon, it was reported on Friday. The journalists had entered Libya through Egypt and were reporting from the rebel held city of Ajdabiya, which was then overrun by the pro-Gadaffi army and they were arrested. Libyan officials have indicated that the journalists will be released very soon. Four Al Jazeera journalists are also said to be in custody in Tripoli, while two Agence France-Presse journalists and a Getty Images photographer have been missing in Libya since Saturday.
18 Mar 11 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost, News and features
Liverpool John Moores University has threatened to sue a Conservative MP after he criticised its relations with the Libyan regime, Index on Censorship has learned.
Robert Halfon MP, whose grandfather was expelled from Libya in 1968, has been vociferous in his opposition to the Gadaffi family, and particularly its ties with UK universities.
London School of Economics director Sir Howard Davies resigned earlier this month after it was disclosed the school had taken £1.5 million from the north African state.
LJMU does not deny that it has had dealing with the Libyan regime, saying in a statement that “everything that we have done has been delivered transparently, at the invitation or with the encouragement and the support of the FCO (through the British Ambassador) and the British Council.”
British Prime Minister David Cameron said this week that Universities should ask “some pretty searching questions” about relations with Libya.
On Monday, the coalition government published its draft libel reform bill, which proposes to protect expression of “honest opinion”.
17 Mar 11 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost
Gaith Abdul Ahad, a Guardian reporter, has been released after being detained for a fortnight by Libyan authorities. Ahad, along with Andrei Netto, a Brazilian journalist, were held after entering Libya from Tunisia. Netto was freed a few days ago. The New York Times reports that four of its journalists have been missing in Libya since 15 March.
