2007
Courts, press law undermine Moroccan press freedoms
Casablanca, Morocco, April 6, 2007—A delegation from the Committee to Protect Journalists voiced concern today about a troubling pattern of punitive judicial sanctions that have threatened Morocco’s independent press. Over the last two years, Moroccan courts have levied stiff criminal penalties and civil damages against independent news publications, effectively banishing two of the country’s most…
CPJ urges Zimbabwe police commissioner to investigate Edward Chikomba’s murder
Dear Commissioner Chihuri: We are writing to request that you oversee a transparent and thorough investigation into the recent murder of Edward Chikomba, a veteran cameraman formerly with the state-run Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC). We are concerned by several reports alleging the killing was linked to his work.
Iraqi journalist found murdered; reporter abducted in Baghdad
New York, April 5, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder of an abducted Iraqi journalist who was found dead by Iraqi police in Baghdad. Radio Free Iraq reporter Khamail Khalaf, who was kidnapped April 3 from Baghdad’s Yarmouk district, was found dead in Baghdad’s Jamia neighborhood today, according to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty…
Deputy director of Iraqi TV channel killed in truck bomb attack
New York, April 5, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns today’s suicide truck bomb attack on the Iraqi satellite channel Baghdad TV that killed the station’s deputy director, injured 12, and caused severe structural damage to the building in Baghdad’s Jamia district. A suicide attacker driving a garbage truck packed with explosives blasted near the…
In the Philippines, journalist jailed for criminal libel
New York, April 4, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the immediate release of former dxMF Bombo Radio commentator Alex Adonis, who is serving four and a half years in prison on criminal libel charges in Davao del Norte province. Local media and press freedom groups were alerted to his arrest and detention on…
U.S.-based journalist charged with sedition in Gambia
New York, April 4, 2007—A court in the capital Banjul today handed down criminal charges to a U.S.-based journalist, detained since last week by state intelligence agents, and released her on bail in connection with critical commentary of President Yahya Jammeh, according to local journalists.
Ministry of Information bans YouTube.
APRIL 4, 2007 Posted April 24, 2007 YouTube CENSORED Thailand’s Ministry of Information and Communications Technology ordered the Communications Authority of Thailand, which controls Thailand’s Internet gateway, to block access to the video-sharing Web site YouTube because of content it deemed offensive to the Thai monarchy. The entire site was blocked rather than the individual…
Journalist gets death threats
April 4, 2007 Posted April 16, 2007 Samaresh Baidya, Bhorer Kagoj THREATENED Baidya has received death threats in a letter, several telephone calls, and text messages. Baidya said the threats could be linked to a three-year old article he wrote about High Court Justice Faisal Mahmud Faijee for the Bengali-language newspaper Bhorer Kagog. The article…
Neo-Nazis threaten to kill independent journalist
New York, April 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by death threats made against Dinko Gruhonjic, head of the Vojvodina branch of the independent news agency BETA and chairman of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina, by a local neo-Nazi group. The threats, which were posted on a neo-Nazi Web site this week,…
BBC correspondent still missing in Gaza after 22 days
New York, April 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists today renewed its call for the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, seized in Gaza more than three weeks ago, amid intensifying pressure by Palestinian journalists on government officials to do more. Despite reports that the Hamas-led Palestinian government had identified Johnston’s abductors and expected him…