2012

  

Syria must release U.S. journalist believed in state custody

New York, August 30, 2012–Syrian authorities must immediately release U.S. freelance journalist Austin Tice believed to be in government custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. 

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An analyst looks at malware code in a lab. (Reuters/Jim Urquhart)

Dear CPJ: Some malware from your ‘friend’

We talk a lot about hacking attacks against individual journalists here, but what typifies an attempt to access a reporter’s computer? Joel Simon, CPJ’s executive director, received an email last week that reflects some characteristics of a malware attack against a journalist or activist. There was nothing particularly notable about the targeting. (Like many reporters,…

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Police block journalists protesting the government's plans to sue three news outlets. (Reuters/Gaston Brito)

Bolivia charges news outlets with inciting racism

Bogotá, August 30, 2012–Bolivian authorities must immediately drop a criminal complaint filed against three media outlets in connection with their coverage of a speech by President Evo Morales, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The news outlets are being accused of inciting racism and discrimination, according to news reports.

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A radio station station was closed down to prevent coverage of Monday's protests, shown here. (AFP/Cellou Binani)

Guinean government censors private radio station

Lagos, Nigeria, August 30, 2012–Authorities in Guinea closed a private radio station on Sunday, preventing the outlet from reporting on the next day’s protests, according to news reports. Liberté FM has been targeted in the past, the reports said.

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Colombian Supreme Court drops suit against columnist

The Colombian Supreme Court announced on August 27, 2012, that it would drop a defamation complaint against prominent journalist Cecilia Orozco Tascón, according to news reports. Five days earlier, the court released a statement saying it would file charges against Orozco, who writes a widely read column in the Bogotá daily El Espectador. The court…

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Tunisian authorities have issued an arrest warrant for Sami Fehri. (AFP)

Arrest warrant issued for Tunisian TV director

New York, August 29, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about an arrest warrant issued against the head of a Tunisian television station, whose news and programming are often seen as critical of the current government.

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The health of Temesghen Desalegn has deteriorated in prison, but he has been denied medical care. (Awramba Times)

Ethiopia frees prominent journalist, drops all charges

New York, August 28, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes today’s decision by the Ethiopian Ministry of Justice to release the editor of a leading independent weekly from jail and drop all criminal charges against him. CPJ also calls for the release of eight other journalists now imprisoned in Ethiopia for their work. Temesghen Desalegn,…

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In Senegal, police question radio journalist

Police in Dakar, the capital, summoned Alassane Samba Diop, director of Radio Futurs Médias (RFM), for four hours of questioning on August 25, 2012, over an interview he broadcast the night before with the leader of a hardline Islamist group, according to news reports.

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Indian police detain a Kashmiri protester in Srinagar. (AP/Mukhtar Khan)

News media expand, but freedom lags in Kashmir

Early this month, newspaper offices in Indian-controlled Kashmir received a note warning journalists to be more supportive of the Kashmir independence movement, according to the leading national daily, The Times of India, citing a news agency in the state’s summer capital, Srinagar. No militants took responsibility this time, but in mid-March insurgent groups issued a joint…

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Independent journalist jailed in Azerbaijan

New York, August 27, 2012–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a prison sentence imposed Thursday against Faramaz Novruzoglu, a freelance journalist who has faced years of persecution in reprisal for his coverage of alleged government corruption. CPJ also calls for an appeals court to reverse last week’s unjust ruling and release Novruzoglu on appeal.

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2012