2021
Journalist Nidal Ikhbaria survives shooting attempt at home in Arab Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm
New York, June 15, 2021 – Israeli authorities should conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the shooting attack on journalist Nidal Ikhbaria’s home, and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 9, unidentified people in the Arab-majority Israeli city of Umm al-Fahm fired more than 50 bullets…
European soccer association UEFA denies accreditations to at least 6 journalists, citing failed background checks by Russia and Azerbaijan
New York, June 15, 2021 – The Union of European Football Associations should ensure that all journalists can report from its events freely and without political interference from host countries, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since late May, UEFA, an umbrella organization comprised of 55 national soccer associations across Europe, has denied or…
Police detain 2 journalists who covered art performance in Moscow’s Red Square
Vilnius, Lithuania, June 15, 2021 — Russian authorities should stop detaining and harassing journalists for their work, and should drop any investigation into reporters Veronika Samusik and Vasiliy Krestyaninov, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 11, Moscow police detained Samusik, a correspondent with the independent news website Sota.Vision, while she was covering a performance…
Why authoritarian governments force journalists like Belarus’s Raman Pratasevich into public confessions
Forced confessions—sometimes tied to public humiliation—have a long and inglorious history, and were a fundamental component of ancient judicial systems in the East and West. Obtaining a confession, by any means, for centuries was often a key part of achieving a conviction and meting out punishment. At the Salem witch trials, the accused could escape…
Brazilian Supreme Court rules in favor of photojournalist Alex Silveira, injured by police while covering protest in 2000
Rio de Janeiro, June 15, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed a Brazilian Supreme Court ruling requiring São Paulo state to compensate photojournalist Alex Silveira for an injury inflicted by police officers. On May 18, 2000, Military Police officers shot Silveira, then a photojournalist at the São Paulo daily newspaper Agora, in…
Slovak Supreme Court cancels acquittal of primary suspects in journalist Ján Kuciak’s murder
New York, June 15, 2021 – In response to the Slovak Supreme Court’s ruling today to cancel the acquittals of two defendants in the 2018 murder of investigative reporter Ján Kuciak, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We welcome the Slovak Supreme Court’s decision to cancel the acquittals of Marián Kočner and…
Algerian authorities revoke accreditation of France 24
New York, June 15, 2021 – In response to Algerian authorities’ recent decision to revoke the accreditation of French public broadcaster France 24, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Instead of responding to Algerian citizens’ demands, authorities are instead resorting to petty retaliation against the messengers,” said CPJ Senior Middle East and…
CPJ announces 2021 International Press Freedom awardees
New York, June 15, 2021–The Committee to Protect Journalists will honor four courageous journalists from Belarus, Guatemala, Mozambique, and Myanmar with the 2021 International Press Freedom Awards. All four have reported during a historically turbulent time, covering protests and political upheaval in their countries. “In the midst of a battle over the control of information,…
CPJ welcomes release of American editor Nathan Maung in Myanmar
Bangkok, June 15, 2021 – In response to Myanmar authorities’ decision today to release editor Nathan Maung from custody and deport him to the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “While we welcome Nathan Maung’s release from prison in Myanmar, he never should have been detained in the first place,”…
Indian journalist Sulabh Srivastava dies 1 day after filing complaint over threats
New Delhi, June 15, 2021 — Authorities in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh must conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the death of journalist Sulabh Srivastava, and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the evening of June 13, Srivastava, a reporter with the…