Freedom

RAMALLAH, Occupied West Bank

Media Face a Palestinian Kick

By Mel Frykberg
In an extraordinary move, a civilian has been sentenced to a year’s imprisonment for posting a picture on Facebook of Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas dressed in a Real Madrid soccer outfit and kicking a ball. The sentencing is among several instances of a targeting of media in Palestinian areas.

Turkey’s EU Hopes Could Free Media

By Jillian Kestler-D'Amours
As negotiations in Turkey’s efforts to join the European Union remain stalled, many worry that the Turkish government has little incentive to curb its ongoing crackdown on media freedoms and freedom of expression.

Israel Throttles Palestinian Television

By Jillian Kestler-D'Amours
George Sahhar opens the door to a closet-sized control room, where a cacophony of wires, routers, papers, and computer screens are messily strewn across a desk.

Israeli Academics Fight for Freedom

By Jillian Kestler-D'Amours
As the political science department at a major Israeli university has been threatened with closure in the 2013 school year, professors and students say the move reflects the politicisation of Israeli academia, and threatens basic freedoms.