17 Mar 2010 | Index Index, Middle East and North Africa, minipost, Uncategorized
A media ban on a corruption trial involving several leading Jordanian figures and the former Minister of Finance has been issued by a military court in Amman. The case, involving the Jordan Petroleum Refinery Company, first came to light after revelations in the media. Now only reports personally approved by Attorney General Yousef Faouri may be published, in order, court officers claimed, to allow the judicial authorities to work calmly on the case.
17 Mar 2010 | Index Index, minipost
Afghanistan has watered down plans to ban the media from reporting on live attacks. Authorities had claimed such reports would embolden militants, but an outcry resulted in a new resolution being hammered over three days. The new resolution bars the press from showing the faces of security personal or broadcasting “disturbing” images, but allows media to report on live attacks. The law does not define “disturbing”. Afghan journalists’ groups said they remained suspicious of the motives behind the new guidelines, which they believed could be used to cover up government failings.
15 Mar 2010 | Index Index, minipost
Baris Yarkadas, editor of online newspaper Gercek Gündem, faces five years in jail for failing to remove a comment posted on his website insulting President Gül. The comment, written by an anonymous reader, accused President Gül of allowing his Armenian counter-part to defy him, and of bringing shame upon Turkey. Yarkadas is also charged with insulting the head of the Turkey’s Institute for Forensic Medicine by reporting
allegations brought about by human rights NGOs.
8 Mar 2010 | Index Index, minipost
Vedat Kursun, former editor of Azadiya Welat, has been charged with 105 counts of “helping and abetting [the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party] by spreading propaganda” and “glorifying crimes and criminals”. His newspaper published numerous articles regarding statements and activities of the organisation, which his lawyer cites as published under the scope of freedom of expression and right to inform. His successor, Ozan Kilinç, was convicted and sentenced to 21 years imprisonment on similar charges in February.
