2018
Warrantless searches of journalists at U.S. borders pose press freedom threat
New York, October 22, 2018–The Custom and Border Protection (CBP) agency’s powers to carry out warrantless searches of electronic devices has serious press freedom implications, including weakening the ability of the media to protect source privacy, the Committee to Protect Journalists found in its report, “Nothing to declare: Why U.S. border agency’s vast stop and…
Saudi attorney general says Khashoggi was killed during fight in consulate
New York, October 19, 2018–Saudi state media today reported that the country’s attorney general has confirmed prominent journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi died in the country’s Turkey consulate, The Associated Press reported. A statement by the attorney general said that Khashoggi was killed after a fight inside the consulate on October 2, and…
Reliance Group sues India’s NDTV for US$1 billion over its reporting on Rafale jet deal
New Delhi, October 19, 201– The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Indian conglomerate Reliance Group, owned by businessman Anil Ambani, to end its use of excessive civil defamation cases filed against critical news outlets. Reliance Group yesterday filed a civil defamation case seeking Rs10,000 crore (US$1.35 billion) against the privately owned NDTV…
Efforts to find mastermind in murder of Malta journalist Caruana Galizia stalled
Journalists don’t typically get murdered in Western European democracies that are members of the European Union. Which is why the murder of Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta last year was so shocking, and the lack of progress on finding the mastermind so disturbing.
Russia’s Novaya Gazeta is sent funeral wreath and goat’s head in latest threats
Kiev, October 18, 2018–Russian authorities should thoroughly investigate threats made against Russia’s independent newspaper, Novaya Gazeta, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A funeral wreath, a severed goat’s head, and threatening notes were sent to the newspaper’s Moscow office this week in what the paper said in an…
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of October 11
Journalists in court An Istanbul court on October 16 asked Interpol to issue a “red notice” warrant for the exiled journalists Can Dündar and İlhan Tanır, according to reports. Dündar and Tanır were defendants in the trial against the opposition daily Cumhuriyet, until their cases were separated from the main trial on April 25, when…
Turkey must seek UN inquiry on Khashoggi
Saudi, Turkish cooperation essential to credibility New York, October 18, 2018 – Turkey should urgently ask UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to establish a United Nations investigation into the possible extrajudicial execution of the prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International, and Reporters Without Borders said today.
Gunmen in Pakistan kill K2 Times reporter
New York, October 17, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Pakistani authorities to investigate and promptly bring to justice the killers of journalist Sohail Khan. Khan, a reporter for the Urdu daily K2 Times, was shot dead while driving in Haripur, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, yesterday, according to multiple news reports.
DRC authorities close two opposition radio stations
Goma, October 17, 2018–Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should immediately reopen two opposition-owned radio stations–Radio Liberté Lisala and Radio Mwana Mboka (Rammbo)–and halt the intimidation of journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Vietnam releases from prison CPJ awardee ‘Mother Mushroom’
Bangkok, October 17, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed news that Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, known by her pen name “Mother Mushroom,” has been freed from prison and allowed to depart with her family on a flight to the United States.