WAN - World’s Press Protest Arrests, Closures Over Mohammed Cartoons

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World’s Press Protest Arrests, Closures Over Mohammed Cartoons

Here are the letters sent by WAN and the WEF to the governments of Russia, Algeria, Yemen, and Malaysia protesting against the arrests of journalists and closure of newspapers that published the Mohammed cartoons. WAN and WEF called for the release of all journalists and the re-opening of their newspapers.
Right Honourable Leonid Dododzhonovich Reyman Minister of Information Moscow, Russia Email: webmaster@ptti.gov.ru 17 February 2006 Dear Minister, We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries, to express our serious concern at the closure of the newspaper Gorodski Vesti for publishing a cartoon showing the Prophet Muhammad and other religious figures. According to reports, on 16 February local authorities in Volgograd closed Volgograd-Info, publisher of Gorodski Vesti, following the publication on 9 February of an article entitled ’There is no room for racists in power’ that was accompanied by caricatures of Christ, Moses, Buddha and Muhammad. The four religious figures were seated in front of a television set that showed two groups of men about to start a fight. "We never taught them that!" the caption read. While appreciating that the cartoon may have caused offence to many Muslims, we respectfully remind you that the decision as to whether or not to publish such material is an editorial decision and not one with which the state should interfere. We respectfully remind you that the closure of Gorodski Vesti is a breach of the right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by numerous international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 of the Declaration states: ’Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.’ We respectfully call on you to do everything possible to ensure that Gorodski Vesti is immediately permitted to publish free from state intervention. We urge you to take all necessary steps to ensure that in future your government fully respects the right to freedom of expression. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Yours sincerely, Gavin O‚Reilly President World Association of Newspapers George Brock President World Editors Forum cc : Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General, UNESCO WAN is the global organization for the newspaper industry, with formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. The organization groups 18,000 newspapers in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups. WAN is non-governmental and non-profit. ================== His Excellency President Abdelaziz Bouteflika Algiers, Algeria Email: President@el-mouradia.dz 17 February 2006 Your Excellency, We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries, to express our serious concern at the closure of two newspapers and the arrest of their editors for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that were first published in Denmark and have caused a storm of Muslim protest around the world. According to reports, Kamel Bousaad, director of Panorama weekly, was arrested on 8 February and Berkane Bouderbala, editor of the weekly Essafir and its religious supplement Arrisala, was arrested on 11 February. Both publications have been closed. While appreciating that the cartoons have caused offence to many Muslims in Algeria and elsewhere, we respectfully remind you that the decision as to whether or not to publish such material is an editorial decision and not one with which the state should interfere. We respectfully remind you that the jailing of Mr Bousaad and Mr Bouderbala and the closure of their newspapers is a breach of the right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by numerous international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 of the Declaration states: ’Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.’ We respectfully call on you to do everything possible to ensure that Mr Bousaad and Mr Bouderbala are immediately released from jail and that their newspapers are permitted to publish free from state intervention. We urge you and your government to set an example to the Muslim world by demonstrating tolerance and engaging in dialogue, rather than succumbing to censorship and repression. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Yours sincerely, Gavin O‚Reilly President World Association of Newspapers George Brock President World Editors Forum cc : Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General, UNESCO WAN is the global organization for the newspaper industry, with formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. The organization groups 18,000 newspapers in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups. WAN is non-governmental and non-profit. ===================== Right Honourable Husayn Dayfallah al-Awadi Minister of Information Sana‚a Yemen 17 February 2006 Dear Minister, We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries, to express our serious concern at the imprisonment of three journalists and the closure of three newspapers for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that were first published in Denmark and have caused a storm of Muslim protest around the world. According to reports, journalists Mohammad al-Asaadi, editor-in-chief of Yemen Observer, Abd al-Karim Sabra, managing editor of al-Hurriya weekly, and Yehiya al-Abed, reporter for al-Hurriya, have recently been jailed. A warrant has also been issued for the arrest of Kamal al-Aalafi, editor-in-chief of al-Rai al-Aam. The Ministry of Information has revoked the publishing licence of all three newspapers. It is unclear whether the journalists are being held under the Press and Publications Law, which prohibits „publications that harm the Islamic faith and its sublime principles or that degrade the Semitic religions, and humanitarian beliefs‰, or Article 185 of the penal code. The penal code allows for detention for seven days, which can be extended for a further 45 days, while conviction under the press law carries a maximum sentence of up to one year in jail. While appreciating that the cartoons have caused offence to many Muslims in Yemen and elsewhere, we respectfully remind you that the decision as to whether or not to publish such material is an editorial decision and not one with which the state should interfere. We respectfully remind you that the jailing of Mr al-Asaadi, Mr al-Karim Sabra and Mr al-Abed and the closure of the three newspapers is a breach of the right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by numerous international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 of the Declaration states: ’Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.’ We respectfully call on you to do everything possible to ensure that Mr al-Asaadi, Mr al-Karim Sabra and Mr al-Abed are immediately released from prison and that the three banned newspapers are permitted to publish free from state intervention. We urge you and your government to set an example to the Muslim world by demonstrating tolerance and engaging in dialogue, rather than succumbing to censorship and repression. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Yours sincerely, Gavin O‚Reilly President World Association of Newspapers George Brock President World Editors Forum cc : Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General, UNESCO WAN is the global organization for the newspaper industry, with formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. The organization groups 18,000 newspapers in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups. WAN is non-governmental and non-profit. ================== Prime Minister Abdullah bin Ahmad Badawi Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia c/o HE Permanent Representative to UN Email: malaysia@un.int 17 February 2006 Dear Prime Minister, We are writing on behalf of the World Association of Newspapers and the World Editors Forum, which represent 18,000 publications in 102 countries, to express our serious concern at the closure of the Sarawak Tribune newspaper for publishing cartoons of the Prophet Muhammad that were first published in Denmark and have caused a storm of Muslim protest around the world. According to reports, on 9 February the cabinet ordered the indefinite suspension of the regional daily Sarawak Tribune, which had reprinted the cartoons on 4 February. The authorities also declared it an offence for anyone to publish, produce, import, circulate or possess the caricatures. Though protests against the caricatures in Malaysia have been peaceful, officials said that the paper had been insensitive and irresponsible and had contributed to public disorder. The newspaper dismissed the editor responsible for publishing the cartoons. While appreciating that the cartoons have caused offence to many Muslims in Malaysia and elsewhere, we respectfully remind you that the decision as to whether or not to publish such material is an editorial decision and not one with which the state should interfere. We respectfully remind you that the closure of Sarawak Tribune is a breach of the right to freedom of expression, which is guaranteed by numerous international conventions, including the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Article 19 of the Declaration states: ’Everyone has the right to freedom of opinion and expression; this right includes the freedom to hold opinions without interference and to seek, receive and impart information and ideas through any media, regardless of frontiers.’ We respectfully call on you to do everything possible to ensure that the banning order on Sarawak Tribune is immediately lifted and that it is permitted to publish free from state intervention. We urge you and your government to set an example to the Muslim world by demonstrating tolerance and engaging in dialogue, rather than succumbing to censorship and repression. We look forward to hearing from you at your earliest convenience. Yours sincerely, Gavin O‚Reilly President World Association of Newspapers George Brock President World Editors Forum cc : Mr Kofi Annan, Secretary-General, United Nations Mr Koichiro Matsuura, Director-General, UNESCO WAN is the global organization for the newspaper industry, with formal representative status at the United Nations, UNESCO and the Council of Europe. The organization groups 18,000 newspapers in 102 countries, 11 news agencies and nine regional and world-wide press groups. WAN is non-governmental and non-profit.	Print article