February 2020 - Page 3 of 8 - Committee to Protect Journalists

Ecuadorian President Rafael Correa holds up a copy of El Universo in Quito on November 22, 2011. The newspaper's case against Ecuadorian authorities was recently accepted by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights. (AP/Dolores Ochoa)

Inter-American Court to hear El Universo’s case against defamation suit filed by former Ecuadorian president

February 24, 2020 3:30 PM EST

Miami, February 24, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to hear the case of Ecuadorian newspaper El Universo against a criminal defamation suit filed by former President Rafael Correa.

A police officer is seen at the office of India's ruling Bharatiya Janata Party in Chennai on November 9, 2019. BJP officials recently incited a harassment campaign against journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani. (Reuters/P. Ravikumar)

Indian journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani receives death threats after BJP officials share edited video

February 24, 2020 3:25 PM EST

New York, February 24, 2020 — Bharatiya Janata Party officials must cease inciting online harassment against journalist Arfa Khanum Sherwani, and Indian authorities should ensure that threats against journalists are taken seriously, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Soldiers are seen in Quito, Ecuador, on October 17, 2019. Ecuadorian journalist Andrés Mendoza recently received a death threat. (AP/Dolores Ochoa)

Ecuadorian journalist Andrés Mendoza receives death threat

February 24, 2020 2:38 PM EST

Bogotá, February 24, 2020 — Ecuadorian authorities should conduct a quick and transparent investigation into a death threat received by journalist Andrés Mendoza, determine whether it was connected to his work, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Journalist Azimjon Askarov is seen at a court in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on October 11, 2016. The country’s Supreme Court is set to hear Askarov’s appeal tomorrow. (AP/Vladimir Voronin)

Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court to hear appeal of journalist Azimjon Askarov

February 24, 2020 1:20 PM EST

New York, February 24, 2020 — Kyrgyzstan authorities should not contest the appeal of journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov and should release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Graffiti shows the likeness of murdered photojournalist Rubén Espinosa and the eyes and names of the other four victims, on the wall of Mexico City attorney general's headquarters in Mexico City, in July 2016. Deadly violence against journalists is rare in the capital, but reporters covering organized crime in the city say threats are on the rise. (AP/Marco Ugarte)

Threats draw near, damaging Mexico City’s reputation as safe haven for reporters

February 24, 2020 12:13 PM EST

Emir Olivares was almost too stunned to speak when, on December 6, he found two men in the bedroom of his apartment in Mexico City.

Vietnamese blogger Tran Thi Nga is adjusting to life in the U.S. after authorities ordered her into forced exile as a condition of her early release from prison. Nga served three years of a nine-year sentence over her reporting. (Family photo)

Freedom at a high cost for Vietnamese blogger Tran Thi Nga

February 24, 2020 11:54 AM EST

When Vietnamese blogger Tran Thi Nga was arrested by authorities on January 21, 2017, she did not know at the time it would likely be the last time she would ever be in her home in northern Ha Nam province.

Investigative journalist Erick Kabendera is seen in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, August 19, 2019. Kabendera was released today from detention but faces large fines. (Reuters/Emmanuel Herman)

Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera freed, but faces hefty fines

February 24, 2020 11:25 AM EST

Nairobi, February 24, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the release of Tanzanian freelance journalist Erick Kabendera but expressed concern about the hefty fines levied against him.

A man reads at a stand of the Israeli technology firm NSO Group at the annual European Police Congress in Berlin, Germany, February 4, 2020. WhatsApp has alleged the group's technology enabled the remote surveillance of members of civil society via their phones, with several Indian journalists among the targets. (Reuters/Hannibal Hanschke)

After WhatsApp spyware allegations, Indian journalists demand government transparency

February 24, 2020 9:06 AM EST

In the summer of 2019, Saroj Giri was preparing a lecture on the panopticon—an 18th century system to surveil an entire prison from a single viewpoint—when a message lit up his phone. It was from WhatsApp, warning Giri that someone had tried to hack the popular messaging app to spy on his cell phone remotely.

A billboard of President Faure Gnassingbe is seen in Lome, Togo, on February 19, 2020. CPJ recently joined a letter calling for the Togolese government to maintain internet access throughout the upcoming election. (Reuters/Luc Gnago)

CPJ joins letter calling on Togo government not to shut down internet

February 21, 2020 2:30 PM EST

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 27 other press freedom and human rights organizations in a letter dated February 19 calling for authorities in Togo to maintain the stability and openness of the internet and social media platforms.

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in London on January 13, 2020. Assange is facing extradition to the United States for his work at Wikileaks. (Reuters/Simon Dawson)

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face extradition hearing in U.K.

February 21, 2020 12:15 PM EST

Washington, D.C., February 21, 2020 — The United Kingdom should not extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges in the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.