A Baku court today sentenced investigative journalist and RFE/RL contributor Khadija Ismayilova to seven and a half years in prison on charges widely believed to be retribution for her reporting on corruption linked to Azeri President Ilham Aliyev and members of his family.
Ismayilova was convicted on charges of criminal libel, tax evasion, illegal business activity, and abuse of power. She was barred from holding public office for three years and fined the equivalent of 300USD for court-related expenses. She was acquitted of the charge of incitement to suicide.
“Khadija’s case is an example of politics, not law. There was no merit, ever, to any of the charges against her and there was no due process during her trial.” said Nenad Pejic, RFE/RL’s editor in chief. “The authorities simply decided to silence her at any price.”
In her final testimony in court on August 31, a defiant Ismayilova delivered her own blistering indictment of Azerbaijan’s justice system, mocking the prosecution for failing to put together a convincing case and schooling the judge on the charges against her. She called the trial a “poor quality scam” and said, “I am more successful in this business of finding proof than is the notorious prosecutor’s staff.”
During the trial, not a single witness testified against Ismayilova in court.
In a public statement condemning the sentence, the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Dunja Mijatovic, called on the Azeri government “to stop targeting journalists.” The U.S.-based Committee to Protect Journalists stated that the sentence would have “gravely serious” consequences for Azeri journalists. Speaking as a member of the Sport for Rights Coalition of media advocacy and human rights groups, the PEN American Center’s Karin Deutsch Karlekar called on the Azeri government to stop “this unprecedented witch-hunt against journalists.”
Ismayilova was arrested on December 5, 2014 for inciting an individual to attempt suicide Her accuser sought to withdraw the allegation, testifying in a pre-trial hearing in July that he had “defamed” her under pressure from law enforcement agencies, but the court rejected a defense motion to drop the charge.
Additional charges of money laundering, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and abuse of authority, all purportedly related to her work for RFE/RL, were brought against her in February, 2015. Ismayilova ridiculed the charges in her closing statement for their arbitrariness and lack of proof. They were previously refuted by RFE/RL in a point-by-point statement sent to Azerbaijan’s general prosecutor and the judge presiding in the trial.
One day before Ismayilova’s arrest, Rahmiz Mehtiyev, senior adviser to President Aliyev, published a 60-page tirade accusing RFE/RL journalists of treason. Three weeks later, on December 26, Azeri state agents raided and sealed RFE/RL’s Baku bureau, seizing documents, corporate stamps, and equipment. They then interrogated more than 20 members of its staff. The bureau is closed and, according to the prosecutor’s office, remains under investigation in connection with RFE/RL’s status as a “foreign agent.”
RFE/RL continues to gather news and report inside Azerbaijan for its website, www.azadliq.org. Several of its employees have fled the country in fear and others work under duress, subject to interrogations, frozen bank accounts, and threats.
(Source: RFE/RL press release)
The international news channel raises its reach in Taiwan to 2,3 million households
Euronews has announced the signature of three new contracts in Taiwan. Already present since 2010 on the major IPTV operator, MOD Chua Hua Telecom, the English language version of Euronews has now been integrated by the digital operator Dafeng Cable in its basic offer, reaching an additional 200,000 subscribers in the country.
In addition, Euronews English has been selected to be part of the launch package of the new IPTV offer Spider.net, projecting a rapid growth amongst young influential Taiwanese consumers.
And for the first time, Euronews is also available on mobile devices in Taiwan. Fain TV, the most important mobile video platform in the country provides high definition video streaming services (live or VOD) to 640,000 mobile viewers in Taiwan.
Arnaud Verlhac, Worldwide Distribution Director of Euronews said: “Taiwan is a leading place for new technologies and a great opportunity to develop our services to this demanding audience. We are proud to have grown our reach in only 5 years to 2,3 million users in this highly connected country. This not only proves that our strategy responds to the markets needs but also demonstrates the appreciation Taiwanese people have for the European angle and the independent editorial view on international news that Euronews offers.”
Sabrina Mimouni, Euronews Regional Distribution Manager / Asia-Pacific added: “Taiwan is the perfect market to explore Euronews’ capability to tailor its content to different distribution supports. From cable at the beginning to mobile today, live or VOD, almost 1 out 3 Taiwanese can chose how and when to be informed thanks to Euronews.”
Read an interview with Arnaud Verlhac and Celine Rodrigues of Euronews in the latest edition of The Channel, the AIB’s international media magazine.
The Association for International Broadcasting has expressed its outrage at sentences imposed by a court in Cairo on three Al Jazeera journalists on 29 August. Baher Mohamed, Mohamed Fadel Fahmy and Peter Greste were sentenced to three years imprisonment following convictions of disseminating false information and working without a licence.
“The AIB condemns the sentences imposed on the three Al Jazeera journalists, which we see as a political statement by the Egyptian government,” said Simon Spanswick, chief executive of the AIB. “It is clear that the three journalists did not commit any crime and that the verdict demonstrates the failure of integrity of the judicial system in Egypt. Furthermore, it casts severe doubt on press freedom in Egypt where it is estimated more than 20 journalists are currently imprisoned.”
This high profile case has dragged on for months with conflicting messages being issued by the judiciary and by the executive throughout.
The three journalists were released in February 2015 after being detained for more than a year in jail. Peter Greste was tried in absentia following his deportation to Australia in February. Baher Mohamed was given a further six month sentence for possessing a bullet.
AIB believes that the sentences – together with the continued detention of other journalists in Egypt – are blows against freedom of expression in Egypt. Furthermore, the actions of the Egyptian authorities work against the interests of the country’s citizens whose access to news and information is being curtailed by the government.
AIB will be taking up the issue with the Egyptian authorities.
Download the PDF version of the AIB press release here.
Arqiva has announced the launch of a new hybrid IP-TV channel on the UK’s Freeview platform. The TV network ABN TV, which specialises in Black Television will provide content 24 hours a day to audiences with internet-enabled Freeview devices. ABN TV launched on Freeview channel 252 on 16 July 2015.
Tom Cape, Director of Connected Solutions at Arqiva said, “Audiences have for some time now embraced the seamless cross-over of linear and IP-TV content; thinking nothing of how their content is delivered. We’re now seeing a growing appetite to explore new models of distribution and ABN TV is leading the way to deliver a hybrid ecosystem. Using Arqiva’s Connected Broadcaster service, this delivery is now easier than ever.”
ABN TV was created to bridge the gap between ethnic and mainstream broadcasting and in doing so, reflects the interest and aspirations of the African-Caribbean, British and European communities. ABN TV puts emphasis on quality through the style and content of its programming to reflect strong family values. ABN TV aims to demonstrate empathy towards the ethnic audience group through its choice of programmes and programme makers.
Cynthia Appiagyei, Managing Director of ABN TV, said, “We have successfully provided content over satellite over the last couple of years, and we’re extremely excited to also bring our channel to Freeview audiences, via IP. As the leading Black channel in the UK, it was important that we broadened our viewership base, via airing on a number of platforms. With the future being in IP-delivered broadcasting, it made perfect sense to launch on Freeview’s hybrid ecosystem. By working with Arqiva, ABN TV has made a step in the right direction to provide a more seamless experience for our viewers.”
RTI is now offered across the Middle East, North Africa & Europe via ARABSAT BADR-4. The agreement between RTI and Arabsat gives African and Middle Eastern audiences the opportunity to watch RTI via the minimum dish size.
Nabil Shanit, Vice President & CCO of ARABSAT said “Africa is a large continent and Cote D’ivoire is one of the most fast growing states in Africa. We are thrilled to bring RTI to our viewers to enjoy a very original and native attractive African content. ARABSAT viewers across the Middle East & North Africa will receive RTI combined with an extensive offering & wide varieties of the prime Free-To-Air international and regional news channel on ARABSAT hotspot at 26⁰ E .”
Award-winning journalist Mehdi Hasan to host weekly current affairs show on Al Jazeera English
In-depth interview and talk show UpFront will run from September 4th at 19.30GMT
Broadcast from Al Jazeera’s brand new state-of-the-art studios in Washington DC
Award-winning British journalist Mehdi Hasan will be hosting a new weekly current affairs show on Al Jazeera English from September 4th.
UpFront will be broadcast from Al Jazeera’s brand new studios inWashington DC Fridays at 19.30 GMT. Taking on Hasan’s successful and rigorous style of interviewing, showcased on Al Jazeera’s flagship one-on-one interview series Head to Head,
UpFront will ask the questions that often get left behind. The programme will give a refreshing perspective on the week’s news through sharp interviews, vigorous debates, and political satire.
UpFront will set its own agenda and develop in-depth global topics over 25 minutes of high quality news and current affairs, setting itself apart from weekly review shows. Strongly anchored by Al Jazeera’s global perspective, UpFront will have exclusive high-profile guests and give space to a provocative, inquisitive and robust Mehdi Hasan.
On the upcoming launch of his new show Hasan said: “I’m incredibly excited to be launching UpFront in September, asking the questions that our viewers across the globe want to hear asked – and answered. Interviews, debates, explainers, and more – we’ll aim to deliver them all. It’ll be a challenge. And, I hope, a weekly adventure.”
Giles Trendle, Acting Managing Director of Al Jazeera English said: “These highly challenging, dynamic and provocative weekly review shows will surprise and inspire viewers, as Mehdi challenges guest after guest to reveal the stories behind the story. The shows will be rigorously intellectual and unashamedly forensic.”
Unveiling Al Jazeera English’s sophisticated and vast new studios in Washington DC, UpFront will feature a variety of hard-hitting segments to deliver key ideas and house high-level debates. Key amongst these will be:
The Headliner: A one-on-one interview with some of the biggest global political and cultural figures of our time. Hasan will challenge the guest, seek answers to key questions, and highlight vital issues.
Reality Check: A powerful two minute segment illustrated with innovative graphics, busting the myths that constantly permeate mainstream media, cutting through the spin to reveal what really matters.
The Arena: Voices from across the world confront, debate and share their ideas in this global forum moderated by Hasan. Unashamedly adversarial, the arena features two high-profile guests tackling the crucial topic of the week.
UpFront will air weekly on Al Jazeera English on Fridays at 19:30 GMT, and will be repeated Saturdays at 14:30 GMT, Sundays at 04:30 GMT and Mondays at 08:30 GMT, from September 4th to November 20th 2015.
UpFront episodes will also be freely available online after they first air. Go to aljazeera.com/programmes/upfront for more information.
