2004
Journalist killed
New York, October 28, 2004—An Iraqi journalist working for a local, private, Arabic-language TV station was killed in the capital, Baghdad, by gunmen yesterday, October 27. Local journalists told CPJ that Liqaa Abdul Razzak, a news anchor at Al-Sharqiya TV, was traveling in a taxi with two companions when gunmen in another car opened fire…
Four journalists abducted by former paramilitaries
New York, October 27, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) is outraged by the recent abduction of four Guatemalan journalists. On Sunday, October 26, former paramilitary fighters kidnapped reporters Freddy López and Alberto Ramírez, and photographers Emerson Díaz and Mario Linares, all of the Guatemala Citybased daily Prensa Libre, in the town of La Libertad,…
Persecuted journalist granted asylum in the U.S.
New York, October 26, 2004—Ruslan Sharipov, an independent journalist and human rights activist who was persecuted, tortured and imprisoned by Uzbek authorities, has resettled in California after gaining political refugee status in the United States. In an interview with the Committee to Protect Journalists yesterday, Sharipov said he is excited to “taste freedom again” and…
CPJ board elects Wall Street Journal’s Steiger as vice chairman
New York, October 26, 2004—Paul Steiger, managing editor of The Wall Street Journal and a vice president of Dow Jones & Company, has been elected vice chairman of the Committee to Protect Journalists, the organization announced today. “Paul Steiger is one of America’s most respected editors,” said David Laventhol, chairman of CPJ’s board of directors.…
CPJ condemns politicized conviction of editor
New York, October 25, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the conviction and five-year prison sentence handed down to Yeni Musavat Editor Rauf Arifoglu, who was swept up in a crackdown against the opposition press following last year’s tainted presidential election “The politicized conviction of Rauf Arifoglu is yet another government attack against press…
Junta shakeup leads to closing of several publications
New York, October 22, 2004-The Committee to Protect Journalists is very concerned about the closing of a large group of Burmese publications after the ouster of Prime Minister Khin Nyunt this week. Military authorities banned or suspended more than a dozen publications associated with Military Intelligence Services (MIS), which was previously run by Gen. Nyunt,…
New York Times researcher formally arrested
New York, October 21, 2004—Prosecutors have issued a formal arrest order for New York Times researcher Zhao Yan, who has been detained since September 17 on suspicion of “providing state secrets to foreigners,” his lawyer told reporters today. Neither Zhao’s lawyer nor his family have been in contact with Zhao since his detention, and authorities…
Journalist killed in her apartment
New York, October 21, 2004—Well-known Belarusian journalist Veronika Cherkasova was killed in her apartment in the capital, Minsk, yesterday. Her body, which had multiple stab wounds, was found last night, according to local and international reports. Cherkasova, 44, had reported for the Minsk-based opposition newspaper Solidarnost since May 2003. Previously, she worked for the independent…
Cabinet decides to revoke controversial media law
New York, October 20, 2004—Yesterday, the Gambia’s Council of Ministers decided to revoke the controversial National Media Commission Act, according to a statement broadcast on state radio. The National Assembly must now approve the measure, though it is unclear when that vote will occur. The legislation, enacted in 2002, created a media regulatory body with…