Violence in the Basque Country once again affected journalists there in 2005, especially in the "Spanish" part of the region. They remained targets of the armed separatist group ETA and had to have round-the-clock protection.. Journalists who refused to back the ETA's demands were considered enemies and put on a blacklist. One the organisation's latest targets was the publicly-owned radio station EITB, in Vitoria, which was threatened with reprisals on 26 February 2006.

Reporter Tayssir Alluni of the pan-Arab satellite TV station Al-Jazeera was sentenced to seven years in prison in September 2005 for allegedly helping the terrorist group Al-Qaeda. He was tried along with 23 other people accused of links with the group. He is appealing against the verdict.

Disclaimer:

This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States.