A year after the start of democratic uprisings in the Arab world, Reporters Without Borders takes stock of censorship and violations of free speech during the “Arab Spring”. Journalists, especially photographers, have paid a heavy price.
Eleven media workers have been killed in the performance of their duty, among them several internationally known photojournalists. However, most of the victims were local journalists.
Reporters Without Borders takes a look at the methods used by the authorities to strangle the flow of information during the popular uprisings in six countries (Tunisia, Egypt, Libya, Bahrain, Syria and Yemen) up to mid-November 2011.
It all began in Tunisia on 17 December last year when Mohamed Bouazizi set himself on fire in front of the offices of the Sidi Bouzid governorate. His death set off a wave of demonstrations calling for democratic change which forced President Zine al-Abidine Ben Ali out of office on 14 January and quickly spread to other countries in the region.

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