2012
Former Ethiopian state radio journalist released
Nairobi, July 11, 2012–A veteran Ethiopian state journalist who was twice imprisoned on vague corruption and copyright charges and recently convicted on the lesser charge was released today on account of a reduced sentence, local journalists said. A panel of judges at the Lideta Federal High Court in the capital, Addis Ababa, sentenced Abdulsemed Mohammed,…
Uribe’s angry tweets do more than antagonize
More than a year after he left office, Álvaro Uribe Vélez confessed that “it was not in him” to live as a former president. And in fact, having dominated Colombian politics for eight years, it has been impossible for Uribe to fade from the public eye since leaving office in August 2010. Instead of retiring…
Gambian journalist detained on contempt of court charges
Abuja, Nigeria, July 11, 2012–A Gambian judge ordered the arrest of a journalist Tuesday on contempt of court charges, the third instance of a journalist being detained on such charges in as many weeks, according to local journalists.Police arrested Sidiq Asemota, the legal affairs correspondent of the pro-government Daily Observer, while he was on assignment at…
Editor responds to verbal attack by Ecuador President
In June, CPJ condemned verbal attacks made by Ecuadoran President Rafael Correa on an editor, Gustavo Cortez, of the country’s daily El Universo. During a visit to CPJ, Cortez spoke about the implications of Correa’s remarks to his safety and to freedom expression in Ecuador. The Huffington Post recounts the visit in the World section of its site. Click here for…
Mexican journalist released after 24 hours in prison
Prominent Mexican journalist Sanjuana Martínez was arrested on July 5, 2012, in the state of Nuevo León under unclear circumstances related to a civil custody dispute, and was released from jail the following day, according to news reports. Martínez was detained by armed police, which is unusual in a civil case, the reports said.
DRC denies entry to independent Belgian journalist
Abuja, Nigeria, July 10, 2012–A Belgian journalist who released a critical documentary on the murder of a human rights activist was denied entry into the Democratic Republic of the Congo on Sunday. The Committee to Protect Journalists denounces the country’s decision to block Thierry Michel entry into the country for what seems to be an…
Libyan journalists kidnapped after covering elections
New York, July 10, 2012–Libyan authorities must establish the whereabouts of two journalists kidnapped on Saturday and do all in their power to secure their safe release, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The journalists were abducted on their way to the city of Misurata after covering the country’s first elections in decades, according…
The Maldives backslides on press freedom
CPJ has been watching the Maldives with concern since its first democratically-elected President Mohamed Nasheed relinquished power in February following what he describes as a military coup. New President Mohamed Waheed Hassan says Nasheed’s resignation was voluntary and refuted criticism that his rule marked a return to the ways of former President Maumoon Abdul Gayoom, a dictator…