Canadian citizen Naser Al-Raas is facing imprisonment in Bahrain for exercising his rights to freedom of expression, association and assembly. He is currently facing a five-year prison term, of even graver concern as Mr. Al-Raas is suffering from medical problems that would very likely be aggravated in detention.
The International Day to End Impunity is a call to action to demand justice for those who have been killed for exercising their right to freedom of expression and shed light on the issue of impunity. Tara Singh Hayer was a publisher for the Indo-Canadian Times, who was shot and killed on November 18, 1998, in Surrey, British Columbia.
The Vox Libera Award is granted to a Canadian who has demonstrated an outstanding commitment to the principles of free expression and who has had made an important and sustained contribution – at home or abroad – to those same principles.
Abdelfattah, who had completed citizen journalism training with the International Centre for Journalists and had been blogging about human rights violations since early 2010, blogged about Said’s “torture-to-death,” as he calls it. By finding and showing eyewitness accounts, Abdelfattah blew away the government narrative regarding Said’s death.
When a story breaks in Yemen, you’ll usually find Khaled al-Hammadi somewhere in the middle of it. At a time when newsrooms can only afford to parachute reporters in and out of countries, al-Hammadi provides much-needed context to a complex and evolving story.
Chopra, Haydon and Lambert exemplify why whistleblowers should be lauded and protected. By sacrificing career and reputation to keep Canadian food safe, they’ve led the way in protecting the public good.
Show your support for free expression and the work of CJFE.
Join us on Thursday, November 24, at the Fairmont Royal York in Toronto, as we honour the work of individuals dedicated to free expression in Canada, and around the world.
The ongoing protests in Yemen have continued to create a deadly environment for journalists and media workers. Many have been caught in the crossfire between anti-government protesters and Saleh supporters, and there are widespread reports of death threats, arson and assaults targeting journalists.
The days immediately following Mubarak’s resignation were filled with hope and optimism for a renewed and democratic Egypt. The new constitution of the Arab Republic of Egypt was to include protections for free speech and press freedoms, allowing Egyptian civilians to finally speak freely after decades of being silenced. However, the celebrations following Mubarak’s ouster quickly ended.
Canada's legal framework for access to information fails to provide citizens with the information necessary for ensuring a transparent and accountable government. In a global study assessing countries' legal framework for right to information, Canada scores only marginally above average.
The Honourable John Reid, P.C., former Information Commissioner of Canada, shares his thoughts on access to information issues examining the Supreme Court case of Information Commissioner of Canada v. The Prime Minister of Canada.
