News Africa Extended

News Africa Extended

Sanef asks Zuma to intervene in journos’ death sentence

Posted: 22 Jun 2016 12:57 PM PDT

The South African National Editors’ Forum has called on President Zuma to request the Egyptian government’s intervention in six Al Jazeera journalists’ trial, and to repeal the death sentence for three of them

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Johannesburg - The South African National Editors’ Forum (Sanef) has called on President Jacob Zuma to urgently request the Egyptian government’s intervention in six Al Jazeera journalists’ trial, and to repeal the death sentence for three of them who were tried in absentia.

Sanef Chairman Adriaan Basson said on Wednesday that the organisation appealed to Zuma to take up this call to action in support of the ideals of a free press enshrined in the South African Constitution and in the African Union Charter on Human and People’s Rights.

The journalists who were tried in absentia and sentenced to death are former director of news at Al Jazeera’s Arabic channel, Ibrahim Mohammed Helal, former Al Jazeera producer Alaa Omar Mohammed Sablan, and Asmaa Mohammed al-Khatib, a reporter for Rasd media channel.

Al Jazeera said the sentences were “unjust” and “politicised” and said it was “part of a ruthless campaign against freedom of speech and expression, aimed at muzzling the voice of a free media in Egypt”.

The sentences, Al Jazeera said, were “incriminating to the profession of journalism which all international laws and legislation seek to protect, and to all journalists who should be enabled to report with objectivity, professionalism, and integrity”.

Basson said “Sanef believes that intervention by President Zuma would be in line with the African Peer Review system and in finding African solutions to African problems”.

Basson noted that about two years ago Sanef handed a protest note to the Egyptian Ambassador in Tshwane, protesting at the sentencing of three other Al Jazeera journalists. They were later pardoned.

In 2015, Egypt cracked down on media reports of terrorist attacks in their country and passed a law that required members of the media to publish the government’s “official” version of such attacks.

African News Agency

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Zambian paper closed down over unpaid taxes

Posted: 22 Jun 2016 12:53 PM PDT

Zambia's biggest independent newspaper has been shut down by the authorities over unpaid taxes, the editor said, calling the move an attempt to silence it ahead of August elections.

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Lusaka - Zambia's biggest independent newspaper has been shut down by the authorities over unpaid taxes, the editor said Wednesday, calling the move an attempt to silence it ahead of August elections.

Police and tax officials physically closed the Post newspaper's offices in Lusaka late on Tuesday, managing editor Joseph Mwenda told AFP, leaving staff gathered outside the locked building on Wednesday.

Mwenda said staff had managed to produce the daily paper overnight with the help of a private printing company.

The Post admits owing about 53 million kwacha ($4.8 million) in unpaid taxes, but Mwenda said the closure of the paper was illegal.

“This is a clear abuse of power because we have paid some money and we even have a court order stopping them from going ahead but they have disobeyed the courts,” he said.

“It's clear that they want us shut down ahead of the elections.”

General elections are due on August 11.

The Post, which was established in 1991, has been critical of President Edgar Lungu, who is seeking re-election.

AFP

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