Stories from a world in turmoil...
Some stories of deprivation of freedom in today's world, from the threats against Macedonian journalist Lepa Djundeva, to the arrest of Burkinabe journalist Atiana Serge Oulon, Thomas Crook...
Security authorities arrested caricaturist for independent news outlet Al-Manassa and translator Ashraf Omar in the early hours of Monday morning from his home in October Gardens, Giza, and took him to an unknown destination, his wife, Nada Mougheeth, told Mada Masr.
The reasons for his arrest and his current place of detention were unknown at the time of writing. Al-Manassa Editor-in-Chief Nora Younis called on the Journalists Syndicate to advocate on Omar’s behalf on Monday.
Mougheeth, who was not at home at the time of Omar’s arrest, said that she tried to call her husband repeatedly but found that his phone was off and her calls weren’t reaching him. She said she first asked a neighbor to knock on the door of their home before finally seeking help from security in the compound to open the apartment door. Omar was not found in the apartment.
After reviewing security camera footage, she saw that her husband was taken away blindfolded by a security force who arrived at the compound in two cars, Mougheeth said.
The security forces, who stayed in the apartment for 40 minutes between 1:30 am and 2:10 am, also confiscated a large sum of money, she said, as well as Omar’s personal computer from the apartment.
Younis told Mada Masr that she petitioned Journalists Syndicate chair Khaled al-Balshy, asking him to intervene in Omar’s case to “learn his whereabouts, ensure his safety, represent him legally and prevent the authorities from oppressing journalists and acting outside the framework of the law.”
In her letter to Balshy, Younis stressed that “the cartoons of our colleague Ashraf Omar did not violate any law nor attack anyone, and therefore Al-Manassa considers it unacceptable that he was taken away blindfolded at dawn.” She expressed her readiness to answer questions about Omar if summoned by investigators.
In its coverage, Al-Manassa also called on Public Prosecutor Mohamed Shawky to “clarify the journalist’s situation, announce his place of detention and the charges against him, and facilitate a meeting with his lawyer.”
During his career as a cartoonist, Omar has contributed art to numerous outlets, while his translation work has spanned the publishing world, from works on political history to journalistic articles, including work for Mada Masr.
Prominent anti-whaling environmentalist Paul Watson, founder of Sea Shepherd and co-founder of Greenpeace, was arrested in Greenland on Sunday under an international warrant issued by Japan.
Watson arrived in Nuuk aboard the ship John Paul DeJoria and was detained by Greenland police, who will seek his detention pending a decision on his extradition to Japan. Watson’s arrest occurred during a mission to intercept Japan’s new factory whaling ship, Kangei Maru, in the North Pacific.
The Captain Paul Watson Foundation (CPWF) expressed surprise, noting their lawyers believed the red notice related to Watson’s previous anti-whaling actions in the Antarctic had been withdrawn.
Watson, known for his direct-action tactics featured in the TV series Whale Wars, has a history of confrontations with whaling ships. The Kangei Maru, Japan’s first new whaling ship in over 70 years, is suspected of preparing for Southern Ocean whaling, despite official denials.
The first suspects have been identified in the assault on Andrea Joly, a journalist for La Stampa, who was surrounded and beaten by a group of Casa Pound militants last night. The Digos has identified two suspects, members of the far-right organization, who face charges of assault with the aggravating factor of facilitating activities of organizations promoting ethnic, national, racial, or religious hatred.
Last night, Andrea Joly was attacked on Via Cellini outside the Asso di Bastoni, a club known for its far-right sympathizers and militants. A video filmed by Joly, who was passing by, captures the moment activists approached him, asking, “Are you one of us?” and attacking when they realized he was not.
Turin’s mayor, Stefano Lo Russo, commented on the incident: “We express solidarity with the La Stampa journalist who was attacked by Casa Pound affiliates while documenting their event. Such violent and cowardly acts, whose perpetrators must be swiftly brought to justice, have no place in our city. They must be unequivocally condemned by all political forces. Freedom of the press is a fundamental pillar of democracy, and any attack on journalists is an attack on democratic values themselves.”
In the Italian newspaper La Stampa, my portrait of Andrea Joly on the occasion of an in-depth analysis by Joly himself, Giancarlo Caselli, Andrea Palladino, Flavia Amabile, Federico Capurso, Marcello Sorgi, and Francesca Paci.
“The management of La Stampa firmly condemns the assault on one of its journalists last night in Turin. Andrea Joly was filming a Casa Pound party that was taking place outdoors, on the street. Some militants prevented him from doing so. Joly was then beaten, kicked, and thrown to the ground. He felt a hand squeezing his throat while someone leaned out of a window and shouted, ‘Let him go, let him go!’.
A serious, very serious episode that not only limits the freedom of the press but also tries to restrict public space, which belongs to everyone, to a place where only the law of violence, oppression, and arbitrariness prevails.
For this reason, the assault on Joly concerns all of us. And what happened the other night prompts us to reiterate once more that the only values we must be inspired by are those of democracy and respect, the same ones for which a city like Turin has always fought, and which guide La Stampa in its difficult daily work.”
Thursday, July 18, a press conference titled “Woman, Life, Freedom. The case of Maysoon Majidi and Marjan Jamali” was held at the Press Room of the Chamber of Deputies to call for the release of the two Iranian women arrested on charges of aiding illegal immigration based on testimonies given immediately after landing in Italy and without the possibility of cross-examination.
Convened by Luigi Manconi, president of A Buon Diritto, and parliamentarians Laura Boldrini, President of the Human Rights Committee of the Chamber, and Marco Grimaldi (Green Left Alliance), the conference – organized to keep attention on the case – also included Riccardo Noury, spokesperson for Amnesty International – Italy; Ferdinando Laghi, regional councilor, and Parisa Nazari, activist of the “Woman Life Freedom” movement.
Maysoon Majidi and Marjan Jamali are two young Iranian women who arrived in Italy in 2023. After landing, they were placed in custody on charges of aiding illegal immigration and, specifically, being “smugglers.” Marjan is currently under house arrest, while Maysoon is detained in a prison in Calabria awaiting a fast-track trial scheduled for July 24. Particularly concerning is Maysoon Majidi, 27, who is in a state of severe depression and debilitation, currently weighing 38-40 kg and has been denied a visit from a psychologist she requested.
“Maysoon Majidi and Marjan Jamali were fleeing their country when they landed in Italy. Instead of finding protection, they were accused of a crime – as stipulated by Article 12 of the Consolidated Immigration Act (TUI) – which often targets individuals who have nothing to do with human trafficking,” stated A Buon Diritto Onlus.
The category of “smuggler” is legally contested and problematic: in most cases, those piloting boats are simply migrants in need but are prosecuted as human traffickers.
The charge of aiding illegal immigration against the two women was based on testimonies from individuals who had traveled the final leg of the journey by boat with them, reporting Maysoon’s involvement in distributing food and water onboard; while the accusations against Marjan came from the same men who, according to her account, had attempted to assault her. These witnesses were questioned during the chaotic moments after the landing, but a cross-examination of their statements was impossible as they disappeared shortly after arriving.
During the press conference, a letter from Maysoon Majidi sent from prison to President Sergio Mattarella was read, requesting that her voice be heard and that her detention be converted to provisional release or an alternative form of detention.
The press conference not only called for the release of Maysoon Majidi and Marjan Jamali but also condemned the further tightening of Italian migration policy, reminded that human trafficking is enabled and fueled by the lack of legal and safe entry channels into Italy and Europe, and called for profound changes to current immigration laws and their application, starting with Article 12 of the Consolidated Immigration Act.
Several associations participated in the July 18 press conference, including: A Buon Diritto Onlus, Ero Straniero, Refugees Welcome Italia, Mediterranea Saving Humans, Lunaria, Ciac Onlus, Casa dei diritti sociali odv, RECOSOL, Fondazione Migrantes, Federation of Evangelical Churches in Italy (FCEI), Scalabrinian Agency for Development Cooperation (ASCS), Acli, Danish Refugee Council (DRC), Amnesty International Italia, Coltivazione Aps, International Rescue Committee Italia, Black and white ETS Association Castel Volturno, Migrants and GPIC Commission, Comboni Missionaries Italian Province, Cnca, Asgi, Europasilo, SIMM – Italian Society of Migration Medicine.
Hassan Sorour and his wife mourn their son Salem, 13, who was killed on Tuesday in an Israeli attack on #Mawasi, a coastal area of #Gaza. Ceasefire Now!
On June 24, Rico Krieger, a 29-year-old German Red Cross employee, was sentenced in the Minsk Regional Court. He faced charges under six serious articles of the Belarusian Criminal Code, including “mercenary activity,” “agent activity,” “act of terrorism,” “creation of an extremist formation,” “intentional disrepair of a vehicle or communication lines,” and “illegal actions related to firearms, ammunition, and explosives.” According to the Telegram channel MotolkoPomogi, Krieger was sentenced to execution by firing squad, a fact confirmed by human rights defenders. Viasna reports the details.
WHAT WAS THE GERMAN CITIZEN ACCUSED OF?
Viasna states that Krieger was found guilty of “arranging an explosion to influence decision-making by authorities, intimidate the population, and destabilize public order (an act of terrorism), committed by a person with a prior crime under Part 4 of Article 295, as an organized group under Part 3 Article 289.” Based on this, Krieger received the death penalty. The specifics of the explosion remain unclear. Human rights activists also noted that his case involves the Kalinoŭski Regiment, particularly its foreign mechanized Western Unit.
HOW DID THE TRIAL UNFOLD?
Krieger had been in custody since November 6, 2023. Official agencies did not disclose his detention or trial outcomes. Aleh Lapeka handled the case, with state prosecution by Tatsiana Hrakun from the Prosecutor General’s Office. A translator was involved, and the verdict was given on June 24. The trial was partially closed to the public. This was the first trial in Belarus for “mercenary activity.”
It is unknown if the verdict has been appealed or if it is final.
WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE CONVICT?
Rico Krieger, born in Berlin, worked as a rescue medic for the German Red Cross. He has a young child and previously served as a special security officer at the State Department in Berlin, gaining experience in Armed Security Operations. He later transitioned to healthcare, working as a nurse and eventually specializing as an emergency medical technician. Deepen
In November, Thomas Matthew Crooks was set to reach a political milestone: the first presidential election he could vote in.
At 20, Crooks lived in a crucial swing state and showed early signs of political interest, making a small donation as a teenager and registering to vote a week after turning 18.
However, instead of voting this year, law enforcement reports that Crooks traveled an hour from home, climbed a building, and opened fire on former President Donald Trump during a campaign rally, injuring Trump and killing one spectator, while critically wounding two others.
The attack shook American politics, with leaders condemning the violence and warning of the dangers of deep political polarization. Investigators have found no evidence on social media or other writings to identify Crooks’ motive.
Former classmates and neighbors described Crooks as quiet, a good student, and something of a misfit in high school. Public records suggest he had divergent political leanings, registering as a Republican but donating to a Democratic group.
Crooks lived in Bethel Park, a Pittsburgh suburb, and graduated from Bethel Park High School in 2022. Classmates recalled him being bullied and a loner, but also smart and shy.
Despite his quiet demeanor, Crooks attempted to assassinate Trump from a rooftop outside the rally’s security perimeter and was killed by Secret Service agents.
Law enforcement continues to investigate Crooks’ motives. They confirmed he used a legally purchased AR-style weapon traced to his father. Explosive materials were found in his home and car.
Crooks worked as a dietary aide at a local nursing home, where colleagues described him as caring and helpful. Despite his actions, those who knew him struggle to reconcile the person they knew with the violent act he committed.
Bethel Park, a politically mixed and predominantly white suburb, is trying to come to terms with the event. Local officials fear the incident will exacerbate political polarization and lead to future violence.
The Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) expresses deep outrage over the abduction of journalist Atiana Serge Oulon on June 24, 2024, in Ouagadougou. Mr. Oulon, the editor-in-chief of L’Évènement, was taken from his home at dawn by unidentified assailants. Later, individuals claiming affiliation with the National Intelligence Agency compelled his wife to produce his mobile phones and computer. As of now, Mr. Oulon’s whereabouts remain unknown.
Just days before his kidnapping, on June 19, the Superior Council for Communication (CSC) in Burkina Faso had imposed a one-month suspension on L’Évènement following an article published on June 10, 2024. The article accused a certain Captain Prospère BOENA, whom the paper claimed to be a close associate of Burkina Faso’s military leader Captain Ibrahim Traoré, of embezzling 400 million FCFA (about $651,436).
In a statement issued on the evening of June 24, the Norbert Zongo National Press Center and Burkina Faso’s media professional organisations strongly condemned Mr. Oulon’s abduction and demanded his immediate release.
On June 24, 2024, media professional organisations expressed shock at the early morning abduction of Mr. Oulon from his residence. They decried this act of harassment and intimidation amidst a broader crackdown on press freedom, exemplified by actions such as the formal warning to Lefaso.net and the suspension of BF1’s “7Infos” programme. These organisations concluded by demanding Mr. Oulon’s immediate release and the protection of freedom of expression and the press in Burkina Faso.
The MFWA stands in solidarity with Burkinabe journalists in these challenging times and expresses full support to Mr. Oulon’s family and colleagues at L’Évènement. We join our voice with Burkina Faso’s media bodies in urging the immediate release of Mr. Oulon and calling on authorities to resolve disputes amicably.
The MFWA strongly condemns the abduction of Atiana Serge Oulon, editor-in-chief of L’Évènement, and calls on the authorities to unravel the disappearance of the journalist as soon as possible. While advocating for adherence to judicial processes, we urge political, judicial, and security authorities to address this egregious violation promptly and uphold the rule of law. Continue
Lepa Djundeva, a reporter for privately owned channel TV 24, has received dozens of social media messages with nationalistic slurs, sexist and misogynistic comments, and threats of sexual and physical violence since June 3, 2024, according to a statement by the independent trade group Association of Journalists of Macedonia and the journalist, who spoke with CPJ.
The threats began after Bogdan Ilievski, a columnist for news website Off.net, published an eight-second video excerpt of Djundeva’s June 3 interview with a Greek member of parliament on his Facebook page and his outlet posted the same excerpt on its website critical of Djundeva for using the country’s internationally acknowledged name—North Macedonia. CPJ’s social media messages to Ilievski did not receive a reply.
“North Macedonia authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate the threats received by journalist Lepa Djundeva and bring the perpetrators to justice,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative. “Threatening a journalist because of her coverage is completely unacceptable, and police must show they take Djundeva’s situation seriously and ensure her safety.”
The Association of Journalists of Macedonia filed a criminal complaint with the police on behalf of Dzhundeva but has not received an update as of June 28, 2024, the association’s senior researcher Milan Spirovski told CPJ.
The North Macedonia name dispute was a long-standing disagreement between Greece and its northern neighbor after the collapse of Yugoslavia in the 1990s, when the newly independent Balkan state called itself the Republic of Macedonia—the name Greece also claimed for its own northern region. After years of talks and many protests, Greece and Macedonia settled on the formal name of the Republic of North Macedonia in 2018; however, the name continues to be controversial.
The Association of Journalists of Macedonia and the trade group Independent Union of Journalists and Media Workers condemned the threats against Djundeva’s safety in a June 12 statement and called on Ilievski to publicly apologize for framing Djundeva with “a very clear intention to expose her in a negative context.”
Six regional press freedom groups operating in the Western Balkans asked the North Macedonia Ministry of Internal Affairs, which oversees the police, to “take immediate and decisive action against those responsible for the threats” in a June 7 statement. Continue
As the closed-door trial of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich opened in a Russian court on Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists @pressfreedom denounced it as a travesty of justice and renewed its call for the journalist’s immediate release. “U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich goes on trial today after nearly 15 months of unjust detention. Given the spurious and unsubstantiated charges brought against him, this trial is nothing more than a masquerade,” said @gulnozas, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia @CPJ_Eurasia program coordinator. “Russian authorities must put an end to this travesty of justice, release Gershkovich, drop all charges against him, and stop prosecuting members of the press for their work.” Gershkovich’s trial started Wednesday, June 26, reports said. It is not known how long the trial will last. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) accused Gershkovich, a reporter with The Wall Street Journal @WSJ, of collecting “secret information” for the @CIA on a Russian tank factory in the #Sverdlovsk region and arrested him on espionage charges on March 29, 2023. Continue
Iran’s imprisoned Nobel Peace Prize laureate, Narges Mohammadi, has been sentenced to another year in prison over her activism, her lawyer said Wednesday.
Mostafa Nili, Mohammadi’s lawyer, told The Associated Press that his client was convicted on a charge of making propaganda against the system. Nili said the sentence came after Mohammadi urged voters to boycott Iran’s recent parliamentary election, sent letters to lawmakers in Europe and made comments regarding torture and sexual assault suffered by another Iranian journalist and political activist.
Mohammadi is being held at Iran’s notorious Evin Prison, which houses political prisoners and those with Western ties. She already had been serving a 30-month sentence, to which 15 more months were added in January. Iran’s government has not acknowledged her additional sentencing. Continue