Media rights group slams Eritrea

5 May 2010

An international press freedom organisation has described Eritrea as Africa's "biggest prison for the media". Paris-based Reporters Without Borders (RSF) also ranked the country as the worst abuser of press freedom in the world in a statement released on World Press Freedom Day on Monday (3 May 2010).

Independent media is forbidden in Eritrea, while the state-run press is reportedly not allowed to challenge the government. Around 30 journalists are being held in 314 prison camps across the country and at least four have died in detention, RSF claimed. The Eritrean government denies the existence of such detention centres.

RSF also marked World Press Freedom Day with a report accusing the leaders of China, Russia and Rwanda of being some of the world's worst offenders against press freedom.

Source: Panos London

Panos London promotes the participation of poor and marginalised people in national and international development debates through media and communication projects. It is part of the worldwide Panos Network of independent institutes working to ensure that information is used more effectively to foster debate, pluralism and democracy.

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