January 2020 - Page 2 of 7 - Committee to Protect Journalists

CPJ calls on US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to support press freedom

January 29, 2020 4:00 PM EST

CPJ writes to US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to express our concern regarding his treatment of two National Public Radio reporters, and his characterization of the media as “unhinged.”

U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo is seen in Washington, D.C., on January 7, 2020. Pompeo recently berated an NPR reporter, and the State Department barred another reporter from traveling with the secretary. (Reuters/Tom Brenner)

US state department bars NPR reporter from flight, calls media ‘unhinged’

January 28, 2020 3:00 PM EST

Washington, D.C., January 28, 2020 — The U.S. State Department should allow reporters from National Public Radio to cover the department freely and without harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A prison is seen in Hargeisa, Somaliland, on March 29, 2011. Somaliland authorities recently sentenced journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Hiddig to 21 months in prison. (AP/Katharine Houreld)

Somaliland court sentences journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Hiddig to 21 months in prison

January 28, 2020 2:10 PM EST

Nairobi, January 28, 2020 — Authorities in Somaliland should immediately release journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Hiddig from prison and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Kashmiri students use the internet at a Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar on December 3, 2019, amid an internet suspension across the region as part of a partial communication blockade by the Indian government. Despite a Supreme Court ruling in January 2020, internet access has only been partially restored, and many news outlets remain offline. (AFP/Tauseef Mustafa)

Kashmiri journalists, news outlets still offline after India partially restores internet

January 28, 2020 1:59 PM EST

New York, January 28, 2020—Internet access was partially restored in most of Jammu and Kashmir on January 25, but service remained slow and social media platforms and many local news websites remain blocked, The New York Times and other outlets reported. In a statement circulated to CPJ and news outlets, the Kashmir Press Club said…

A Jordanian police vehicle is seen near the Israeli border on November 13, 2019. Jordanian authorities recently suspended broadcaster Dijlah TV, and the station's offices in Iraq were raided by local authorities. (Reuters/Muhammad Hamed)

Dijlah TV broadcaster suspended for 1 month in Jordan, offices raided in Iraq

January 28, 2020 1:15 PM EST

Beirut, January 28, 2020 — Jordanian authorities should immediately lift the suspension of Dijlah TV and allow the station to broadcast freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Cuban reporter Iliana Hernández faces charges of illegally possessing reporting equipment. (Photo via Iliana Hernández)

Cuban reporter Iliana Hernández charged with illegally possessing journalistic equipment

January 28, 2020 12:45 PM EST

Miami, January 28, 2020 — Cuban authorities should immediately drop all criminal charges against journalist Iliana Hernández, return her equipment, and allow her to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Former Radio Free Asia journalists Yeang Sothearin (L) and Uon Chhin (R) arrive at the court of appeal in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, on January 20, 2020, for a hearing. On January 28, the appeals court upheld espionage investigations against the two journalists. (AFP/Tang Chhin Sothy)

Cambodia upholds espionage investigations into ex-Radio Free Asia reporters

January 28, 2020 8:42 AM EST

Bangkok, January 28, 2020–A Cambodian appeals court today rejected a request made by two former Radio Free Asia reporters for state prosecutors to drop a reinvestigation of espionage charges pending against them, according to a report by their former employer.

Journalist Robert Tapfumaneyi is seen being shoved by party security personnel at a political event in Harare, Zimbabwe, on January 21, 2020. (Image credit withheld)

Political party security officials assault Zimbabwean journalist

January 27, 2020 2:25 PM EST

On January 21, 2020, security officers affiliated with the Movement for Democratic Change Alliance, a Zimbabwean opposition group, barred journalist Robert Tapfumaneyi from covering a meeting in the capital, Harare, assaulted him, and broke his camera lens, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, news reports, and a statement by the…

Police vehicles are seen in Quito, Ecuador, on October 13, 2019. Ecuador's broadcast regulator recently revoked radio station Pichincha Universal’s broadcast license. (AP/Fernando Vergara)

Ecuadorean broadcast regulator revokes Pichincha Universal’s radio license

January 24, 2020 3:45 PM EST

Miami, January 24, 2020 — Ecuadorean authorities should restore radio station Pichincha Universal’s broadcast license and should not penalize news outlets for their political coverage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan gives a televised interview in Istanbul on January 5, 2020. The Turkish government recently cancelled hundreds of journalists' press passes. (Presidential Press Service via AP)

Turkish authorities cancel press passes for hundreds of journalists

January 24, 2020 12:30 PM EST

Istanbul, January 24, 2020 — Turkish authorities should restore the recently cancelled press cards of hundreds of reporters, and establish a transparent and impartial process for obtaining press passes, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.