Demonstrators protest in front of the Justice Ministry in Brasilia calling for the release of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the arrest of Brazil's justice minister on June 10, 2019. The staff of 'The Intercept Brasil' received threats after publishing a report June 9 about the "Operation Car Wash" corruption investigation of Lula and other politicians. (AFP/Evaristo Sa)
Demonstrators protest in front of the Justice Ministry in Brasilia calling for the release of former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva and the arrest of Brazil's justice minister on June 10, 2019. The staff of 'The Intercept Brasil' received threats after publishing a report June 9 about the "Operation Car Wash" corruption investigation of Lula and other politicians. (AFP/Evaristo Sa)
The Torch

‘Credible evidence’ to probe Saudi crown prince for Khashoggi’s murder, UN report finds

The Torch is a weekly newsletter from the Committee to Protect Journalists that brings you the latest press freedom and journalist safety news from around the world. Subscribe here.

In Brazil, Glenn Greenwald, founder of The Intercept Brasil, and other staff received threats on email and social media following their publication of a series of stories based on anonymously leaked material about “Operation Car Wash,” the investigation into political corruption that has been ongoing since 2014.

CPJ’s North America Researcher Avi Asher-Schapiro spoke with tech journalists about the troubling implications of the Trump administration’s decision to charge Julian Assange with violating the Computer Fraud and Abuse Act. Journalists expressed fears that it sets a precedent that could be used to implicate journalists in the criminal activities of their sources.

Global press freedom updates

  • Ukrainian journalist Vadym Komarov dies six weeks after assault
  • In wake of Christchurch, tech regulation in EU and Australia risks restricting journalism, writes CPJ Advocacy Director Courtney Radsch
  • Brazilian journalist Romário Barros shot and killed in Maricá
  • Cameroonian journalist detained on criminal defamation and false news charges
  • Radio Sans Fin host Pétion Rospide killed in Haiti; another radio journalist, Libardo Montenegro, was killed in Colombia
  • Authorities in Somaliland shut down two TV stations for ‘threatening national security’
  • Pakistani journalist Muhammad Bilal Khan stabbed to death in Islamabad
  • Central African Republic police arrest, assault two AFP journalists covering a protest by a banned opposition group
  • Indian journalist facing incitement charges for reporting on alleged power blackouts; separately in the country, three journalists were assaulted
  • Two journalists jailed in separate cases in Azerbaijan
  • China refuses visa application for critical American journalist
  • CPJ calls on Ukrainian President Zelenskiy to prioritize press freedom
  • French police detain, assault reporter Taha Bouhafs during protest
  • Two news websites inaccessible in Algeria amid protests, social media shutdowns
  • Editor Abdulmumin Gadzhiev detained in Russia on terrorism charges
  • Ugandan editor charged with criminal libel and ‘offensive communication’
  • Turkey charges Bloomberg reporters with undermining the economy. Read the latest Turkey Crackdown Chronicle, CPJ’s weekly round-up of press freedom violations in the country
  • Hong Kong police attack journalists with batons, tear gas amid protests

Spotlight

(Illustration: Gianluca Costantini)
(Illustration: Gianluca Costantini)

Agnes Callamard, the U.N. special rapporteur on extrajudicial, summary or arbitrary executions, published a report on the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. Callamard found his murder “constituted an extrajudicial killing for which the State of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is responsible.”

CPJ welcomed the report, and the road to justice it provides, which includes actions that must be taken by the US and UN, writes CPJ’s advocacy director for CNN. CPJ has continuously advocated on Khashoggi’s case and spoken out on declining press freedoms in Saudi Arabia.

CPJ hosted a summit in Mexico City on Tuesday where journalists, policy makers, and human rights experts gathered to discuss press freedom threats in Mexico and the Americas.

To mark World Refugee Day, CPJ highlighted the stories of six journalists who were forced to flee their countries because of their work.

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