2018

  
Supporters of presidential front-runner Andrés Manuel López Obrador (not pictured) at a political rally n Oaxaca, on June 16. (Reuters/Jorge Luis Plata)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering elections in Mexico

On July 1, 2018, Mexico will hold elections for the presidency and congress, as over 3,400 local and state offices in 30 of Mexico’s 32 states are contested. More than 100 candidates and incumbents have been killed during the electoral cycle, according to the privately owned Mexico City-based consultancy company, Etellekt, which is monitoring electoral…

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President Muse Bihi Abdi addresses a press conference in Hargeisa, Somaliland, in November 2017. Muse Bihi's government suspended critical daily newspaper Waaberi, claiming problems with its ownership registration. (AFP)

Somaliland bans operations of privately owned newspaper

New York, June 21, 2018–Authorities in the breakaway state of Somaliland should immediately lift a ban on the operations of Waaberi newspaper, a privately owned daily, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A Hargeisa regional court issued an order suspending the newspaper on June 19 on allegations of improper registration, according to a statement…

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People watch an election rally for President Erdoğan in Mardin, on June 20. An OSCE report released ahead of Turkey's elections highlights the restrictive environment for the press. (Reuters/Goran Tomasevic)

Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of June 17

Ahead of election, OSCE highlights restrictive media environment In a report on Turkey’s elections this month, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said, “The media landscape is dominated by outlets whose owners are considered affiliated with the government or depend on public contracts.” The report added that Turkey’s constitution “Contains a general…

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Ethiopian photojournalist Aziza Mohamed, pictured in Nairobi in 2014 with her colleagues, from left, Endalkachew Tesfaye and Endale Teshi, who both now live in the U.S. and Habtamu Seyoum, who is still waiting for resettlement. (CPJ/Nicole Schilit)

Ethiopian photojournalist shares experiences of going into exile

For World Refugee Day, exiled Ethiopian photojournalist Aziza Mohamed spoke with CPJ Journalist Assistance Program Coordinator Nicole Schilit about her experience of being a refugee and eventually being resettled in the U.S. [This transcript of Aziza’s comments has been edited for length and clarity.]

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Nigerian president Buhari must ensure release of journalist Jones Abiri

The Committee to Protect Journalists and 20 other organizations call for the release of journalist Jones Abiri, who has been held by Nigeria’s Department of State Security (DSS) for nearly two years, and the DSS to be held accountable for its attacks against journalists in Nigeria.

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Election posters for President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, left, and Turkey's main pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, in Istanbul in June. CPJ joins other organizations in calling on presidential candidates to address press freedom issues. (Reuters/Huseyin Aldemir)

CPJ calls on Turkey’s presidential candidates to prioritize press freedom

Ahead of June 24 presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey, the Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 18 other international press freedom and freedom of expression organizations in calling on to the future leader of Turkey to prioritize press freedom and safety of journalists in the country.

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Security personnel walk near the Fisht Olympic Stadium in Sochi on June 12, 2018, two days ahead of the Russia 2018 World Cup football tournament. An imprisoned Russian editor was wounded and hospitalized in Sochi on June 18. (AFP/Jewel Samad)

Imprisoned Russian editor wounded, hospitalized

New York, June 19, 2018–Russian authorities should immediately release jailed journalist Aleksandr Valov and ensure that he receives necessary medical care, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The editor-in-chief and founder of local news website BlogSochi, who has been in detention since January on extortion charges, was hospitalized with abdominal wounds on June 14,…

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Children play outside a closed store in Hebron in March 2018. Israeli forces arrested a Palestinian photojournalist in the city on June 11. (AFP/Hazem Bader)

Israeli forces arrest Palestinian freelance photojournalist in the West Bank

Beirut, June 19, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Israeli authorities to release Palestinian freelance photojournalist Bilal Hamid al-Taweel or disclose charges against him. Israeli security forces arrested al-Taweel at his home in the southern West Bank city of Hebron on June 11, according to news reports and the regional press freedom group…

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Sudan's President Omar Al-Bashir speaks to parliament in the capital, Khartoum, in April. Sudanese authorities are harassing the critical press by censoring news outlets and questioning journalists. (AFP/Ashraf Shazly)

Sudanese authorities prevent papers from distributing, question reporters

Washington D.C., June 18, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Sudanese authorities to stop harassing the press by censoring news outlets, questioning journalists, and revoking reporters’ accreditation.

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Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni displays his inked finger after voting on February 18, 2016. In June 2018, Museveni and government officials verbally attacked and threatened the Ugandan media. (Reuters/James Akena)

Ugandan president, officials verbally attack and threaten media

Nairobi, June 18, 2018–Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni should stop making statements that denigrate and threaten the press, and ensure that his government does not take actions that conflate journalism with terrorism or national security threats, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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