Thirty press freedom groups from five continents, all members of IFEX, have signed a petition to Singapore’s Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong about the case of Malaysia-based British writer and journalist Alan Shadrake, who could be sent to prison in Singapore for his book, “Once a Jolly Hangman: Singapore Justice in the Dock” about the death penalty in Singapore.
The petition has already been signed online by hundreds of people.
A court is due to announce Shadrake’s sentence tomorrow (8 November). Found guilty of contempt on 3 November, he is facing imprisonment, a fine, or both.
Dear Prime Minister Lee,
We would like to draw your attention to the case of British writer and journalist Alan Shadrake, who is currently being tried in your country for writing a book about the death penalty. To our knowledge, there are no grounds for the contempt of court charge that the attorney-general’s office has brought against him.
We therefore urge you to intercede with the appropriate authorities to get this charge withdrawn and to allow Mr. Shadrake to leave your country, as his health requires.
Sincerely,
ARTICLE 19: Global Campaign for Free Expression
Association of Independent Electronic Media
Bahrain Center for Human Rights
Canadian Journalists for Free Expression
Cartoonists Rights Network International
Center for Media Freedom and Responsibility
Centre for Independent Journalism
Ethiopian Freepress Journalists’ Association
Freedom House
Free Media Movement
Human Rights Network for Journalists
Independent Journalism Center
Index on Censorship
Institute for the Studies on Free Flow of Information
Institute of Mass Information
Instituto Prensa y Sociedad de Venezuela
International Federation of Journalists
International PEN Writers in Prison Committee
Maharat Foundation (Skills Foundation)
Media Entertainment and Arts Alliance (Australia)
Media Watch
National Press Association
National Union of Somali Journalists
Observatoire pour la liberté de presse, d’édition et de création
Pacific Islands News Association
Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms
Public Association “Journalists”
Reporters Without Borders
World Association of Community Radio Broadcasters
World Press Freedom Committee
Sign the petition here: http://en.rsf.org/petition-alan-shadrake,38642.html