2015
Azerbaijani prosecutor requests nine-year jail term for Khadija Ismayilova
New York, August 21, 2015–A state prosecutor today called for Azerbaijani investigative reporter Khadija Ismayilova to be sentenced to nine years in prison, according to pro-government news agency Trend. The request was made during a hearing in the Baku Court of Serious Crimes that was closed to independent journalists and rights activists, the regional press…
Ivory Coast authorities suspend a critical daily for one month
The government-run National Press Council on August 10, 2015, suspended for one month the privately owned daily Aujourd’hui, according to news reports. The council said the suspension was in connection with a series of articles the paper published between July 16 and July 31, 2015.
Pakistani government mandates guidelines for broadcasters
New York, August 21, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the sweeping nature of guidelines from Pakistan’s Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) for on-air news coverage and commentary on the nation’s television and radio channels. The Electronic Media (Programs and Advertisements) Code of Conduct, 2015 was made public Thursday in Pakistan and is…
CPJ condemns killing of South Sudanese journalist
Nairobi, August 20, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing of Peter Julius Moi, a reporter for business weekly The Corporate and independent bi-monthly New Nation, who was shot in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, Wednesday, according to reports.
CPJ welcomes conviction in 2013 murder of Brazilian photographer
São Paulo, August 20, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the conviction and sentencing Wednesday of Alessandro Neves Augusto for the murder of Walgney Assis de Carvalho, a freelance photographer shot dead in Minas Gerais state in 2013, and urges authorities to continue investigating to find the mastermind.
Hasina government must do more to protect Bangladesh’s bloggers
Asif Mohiuddin’s stab wounds are still visible two years on. In January 2013, the outspoken Bangladeshi blogger narrowly escaped death after he was attacked near his office by knife-wielding assailants. His attackers stabbed him nine times on his neck, head, and back, narrowly missing his spine.
The murder of Mexican photographer Espinosa has touched a nerve
The July 31 murder of Mexican photographer Rubén Espinosa hit the press freedom community really hard. Espinosa, who was found in an apartment with four female victims–all of them shot in the head–had fled the state of Veracruz in June and sought refuge in Mexico City, where he thought he would be safe from threats…
Audio: James Foley on being a freelance war correspondent
In April 2012, Nicole Schilit, research associate in CPJ’s Journalist Assistance program, interviewed James Foley about his experience working as a freelance journalist in conflict zones. The interview took place in New York between reporting trips to Libya and Syria. Foley was murdered in Syria in August 2014.
Egypt’s new anti-terrorism law deepens crackdown on the press
New York, August 17, 2015–An anti-terrorism law approved by Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi criminalizes basic reporting and gives a broad definition of terrorist crimes that can be used to threaten and imprison journalists. El-Sisi signed the measure into law on Sunday night, according to news reports.