IFEX Communique - Vol. 21 No. 19 | 9 May 2012

Vol. 21 No. 19 | 9 May 2012
Headlines
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Canada: Canada once again gets failing grade in free expression

United Kingdom: Queen announces major libel reform bill

Russia: Activist fined for speaking out in support of gay community

Libya: IFEX members demand repeal of law banning insults of state, Gaddafi glorification

Ethiopia: Journalist could face death penalty at Friday verdict

International: No retreat on press freedom globally for first time in eight years, says Freedom House

International: Facebook joins Internet freedom group

Free Expression Spotlight
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CANADA: CANADA ONCE AGAIN GETS FAILING GRADE IN FREE EXPRESSION
In the free expression world, Canada receives failing grades for the way it muzzles its scientists and for its archaic access to information laws, says Canadian Journalists for Free Expression (CJFE). Read more>>

Regional news
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UNITED KINGDOM: QUEEN ANNOUNCES MAJOR LIBEL REFORM BILL
Thanks largely to Index on Censorship's libel reform campaign, the government will introduce a law "to protect freedom of speech and reform the law of defamation" in the next parliament. Read more>>

RUSSIA: ACTIVIST FINED FOR SPEAKING OUT IN SUPPORT OF GAY COMMUNITY
A Russian gay rights activist is believed to have become the first person to be punished under a municipal law for distributing "gay propaganda", report Index on Censorship and news reports. Read more>>

LIBYA: IFEX MEMBERS DEMAND REPEAL OF LAW BANNING INSULTS OF STATE, GADDAFI GLORIFICATION
Human Rights Watch and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) are urging Libya's interim government to repeal a broad new law that bans criticising last year's revolution and spreading false news or "propaganda" that endangers the state. Read more>>

ETHIOPIA: JOURNALIST COULD FACE DEATH PENALTY AT FRIDAY VERDICT
A verdict in the trial of Ethiopian journalist Eskinder Nega and other activists accused of inciting terrorism is expected on Friday, 11 May, report PEN American Center and other IFEX members, whom Nega has worked with. If convicted, Nega could face the death penalty. Read more>>

INTERNATIONAL: NO RETREAT ON PRESS FREEDOM GLOBALLY FOR FIRST TIME IN EIGHT YEARS, SAYS FREEDOM HOUSE
With authoritarian regimes crumbling in the Middle East and North Africa, freedom of the press made precarious gains in 2011, and for the first time in eight years showed no overall decline, says Freedom House in its annual global survey. Read more>>

INTERNATIONAL: FACEBOOK JOINS INTERNET FREEDOM GROUP
Facebook has become the first official observer at the Global Network Initiative (GNI), a non-government organisation dedicated to promoting Internet freedom and privacy rights, GNI announced last week. Read more>>

ENDS

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