2023
CPJ calls for Kenyan authorities to ensure journalists can cover protests safely
Nairobi, March 31, 2023 – In response to journalists being harassed, attacked, and arrested while covering mass anti-government protests in Kenya since March 20, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for authorities to take action to protect members of the press: “Journalists covering the ongoing protests in Kenya are carrying out…
CPJ calls for French authorities to probe suspected sabotage of French journalist Morgan Large’s car
Berlin, March 31, 2023 – French authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the suspected sabotage of investigative journalist Morgan Large’s car and ensure her safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On March 24, Large, a host for the privately owned Radio Kreiz Breizh and co-founder of local investigative website Splann!,…
Taliban shut down women-run broadcaster Radio Sada e Banowan, seal office
New York, March 31, 2023—Taliban authorities must stop their crackdown on local media in Afghanistan and allow the independent women-run Radio Sada e Banowan broadcaster to continue its work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Thursday, March 30, authorities in the city of Faizabad, in Badakhshan province, shuttered the broadcaster’s operations and sealed…
CPJ, media organizations, and partners call for release of Evan Gershkovich
New York, March 31, 2023—More than 30 global media organizations and press freedom groups recently sent a letter to Anatoly Antonov, the Russian ambassador to the United States, calling for the immediate release of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. The signatories, including the Associated Press, BBC, New York Times, and Wall Street Journal, said…
CPJ calls on Bangladesh authorities to cease harassing staff of Prothom Alo newspaper
New York, March 30, 2023—Bangladesh authorities must immediately drop all investigations into the staff of the Prothom Alo newspaper in retaliation for its work and allow its employees to do their jobs freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. In the early morning of Wednesday, March 29, authorities arrested Prothom Alo correspondent Shamsuzzaman Shams…
Chinese blogger Ruan Xiaohuan sentenced to 7 years in prison
Taipei, March 30, 2023—Chinese authorities must immediately and unconditionally release blogger Ruan Xiaohuan and cease jailing journalists on trumped-up anti-state charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On February 10, a court in Shanghai sentenced Ruan to seven years in prison for allegedly inciting the subversion of state power, according to multiple news reports…
Russia detains Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich on espionage charges
Paris, March 30, 2023—Russian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Wall Street Journal reporter and U.S. citizen Evan Gershkovich, drop all charges against him, and allow the media to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Thursday, March 30, the Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) stated that it had detained Gershkovich, a…
Police assault at least 9 Bangladeshi journalists covering Supreme Court Bar Association elections
New York, March 29, 2023 – Bangladeshi authorities must conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the police attacks on at least nine journalists covering recent elections held by the Supreme Court Bar Association and hold the perpetrators accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On March 15, police assaulted at least nine journalists…
Bangladeshi journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams arrested under Digital Security Act
New York, March 29, 2023—Bangladesh authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Shamsuzzaman Shams, drop any investigation into his work, and ensure the staff of the Prothom Alo newspaper can report without interference or fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. At around 4 a.m. on Wednesday, March 29, a group of…