2014
CPJ calls on Turkey to address press freedom challenges
New York, April 30, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is disturbed by reports in Turkey’s pro-government media that made false claims about CPJ. The reports said CPJ made a statement on April 18 saying Turkey holds only 15 journalists behind bars. CPJ did not issue a statement.
Attack on home of critical Indian journalist
New York, April 30, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the attack on the home of an Indian journalist and calls on authorities to take immediate steps to identify and prosecute the perpetrators. Devinder Pal is a critical investigative journalist for the Punjabi-language daily The Punjabi Tribune.
Egypt jails two journalists, renews detention of another
Saaid Shihata, reporter for Yaqeen, an online news network that is supportive of former President Mohamed Morsi, was arrested on December 30, 2013, while another Yaqeen reporter, Ahmed Gamal, was arrested two days prior, according to Yahya Khalaf, Yaqeen’s executive director, who spoke to CPJ. Both journalists were held after covering clashes between students and…
CPJ welcomes renewed probe into Askarov’s case
New York, April 30, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists commends today’s decision by Oktyabrsky District Court in Kyrgyzstan’s capital, Bishkek, to renew the investigation into the case of imprisoned journalist and rights defender Azimjon Askarov, who was imprisoned in 2010 in retaliation for his work exposing official wrongdoing.
News from the Committee to Protect Journalists, April 2014
World Press Freedom Day campaign In the lead-up to World Press Freedom Day, CPJ has started a campaign highlighting 10 emblematic cases of journalists in prison and calling on authorities to release them and all other reporters being held in relation to their work. CPJ believes that no journalist should be imprisoned for doing their…
Journalists missing, attacked covering crisis in Ukraine
New York, April 29, 2014–At least two journalists who traveled to eastern Ukraine have been reported missing in the past week, while at least four journalists have been attacked, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the targeting of journalists and media outlets in Ukraine and calls on all parties…
World Press Freedom Day: 10 Journalists to Free from Prison
Anti-state activity is the most used charge against journalists New York, April 29, 2014–As World Press Freedom Day approaches, journalists are languishing in prisons across the globe. Uzbek editor Muhammad Bekjanov has been in jail for 15 years–one of the longest imprisonments of journalists worldwide. Prominent Iranian journalist Siamak Ghaderi has been beaten and whipped…
A message from son of Vietnam blogger Nguyen Van Hai
In preparation for today’s Congressional Briefing on Media Freedom in Vietnam, organized by members of the U.S. House of Representatives and featuring a panel of Vietnamese bloggers and others, CPJ has been in close contact with the family of Nguyen Van Hai, a blogger who has been in jail since 2008. We have also met…
Chinese journalist Gao Yu is missing
On April 15, 1989, Hu Yaobang died. Hu had been general secretary of the Communist Party from 1982 to 1987, and recognized for his leanings toward economic reform in China. His death led to demonstrations around China, some of them in Tiananmen Square. On June 4, 1989, Tiananmen became the focus of the government’s wrath, and…