What happened next: Gunta Sloga, Latvia
“In the end, the politician who sued me was very unhappy because not only had he lost the case but the story had been retold over and over again in the press. My main victory – if you could call it that – is that he wasn’t re-elected to the European Parliament. I don’t think that’s 100 per cent down to my story but I do feel there’s at least one brick in the wall put there by me.”
Reporting on Issues of Corruption in Nigeria
Omoyele Sowore set up Sahara Reporters in 2006 to report on issues of corruption. He has been subjected to numerous verbal and written attacks and three different legal cases. MLDI has supported him in each of these cases by providing him with pro bono legal support. In the most recent a Nigerian lawyer, who had been instructed by the Nigerian Government to pursue Sowore, has himself been exposed as corrupt and in May was sentenced to six years in prison.
Reporting Corruption in Sri Lanka
In June 1994, brothers Lasantha and Lal Wickrematunge set up the Sunday Leader, with a focus on reporting about corruption and governance issues within the government. From the very earliest days the government was attacking their efforts and in 2009 Lasantha was brutally killed. Lal tells us more about the brothers’ vision and what is happening today in Sri Lanka.
My Story: Nazeeha Saeed
Nazeeha Saeed, a Bahraini correspondent for France 24 and Radio Monte Carlo, was severely beaten and tortured in police custody two years ago. Here, she describes her attempts to have those responsible prosecuted.
What Happened Next: Joel Eshikumo
In 2009, Joel Eshikumo, a journalist in Western Kenya, was jailed after a court ruled that an article of his libelled the principal of a top boarding school. But Joel, who reports for the Weekly Citizen, says the article wasn’t his and that he had no idea there was a case against him, only hearing about it when ordered to pay damages. Three years on, he says he is campaigning for justice.
My story: Shahzad Ahmad, Bytes for All
Shahzad Ahmad is Director of Bytes for All, a human rights organisation that campaigns against internet censorship in Pakistan. MLDI is supporting Bytes for All on a case it has brought to the courts claiming that the banning of You Tube is against the Pakistan constitution. Here Shahzad gives us more background on the case. We will feature further updates as the case progresses.
What happened next: Victor Ndoki – Cameroon
Victor Ndoki is the editor of Cameroon newspaper “Les Nouvelles du Pays”. In April 2009 he published an article reporting that the Minister of Communication had deposited funds intended for the visit of Pope Benedict the XVI into his personal account. Two years later defamation charges were brought against him. He sought MLDI’s assistance and in January 2013 the case was abandoned. We catch up with him to find out what the impact of the case has been.
Protecting freedom of speech in Thailand
An increasing number of journalists and activists are being imprisoned under the strict lese-majeste law, which makes criticising the monarchy a criminal offence. MLDI is supporting the case of Somyot Preuksakasemsuk who has been denied bail 15 times.