Sri Lanka army soldiers attack Tamil journalist covering commemoration for civil war dead
Washington, D.C., December 2, 2021 — Sri Lanka authorities must immediately open a new, impartial investigation into the attack on freelance journalist Vishwalingam Vishwachandran and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 27, a group of soldiers with the Sri Lanka army allegedly beat Vishwachandran, who contributes to…
Journalist Ahmad Baseer Ahmadi severely beaten in Afghanistan
Washington, D.C., November 24, 2021 — The Taliban must thoroughly investigate the recent attack on journalist Ahmad Baseer Ahmadi and do everything in their power to protect the safety of members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 5:30 p.m. on November 18, in Kabul, the capital, two unidentified men…
At least 5 journalists injured amid clashes over local elections in Tripura, India
New Delhi, November 24, 2021 — Indian authorities must conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the recent attacks on journalists in the eastern state of Tripura, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 21, in the run-up to municipal elections scheduled to begin tomorrow, groups of people allegedly working for the ruling…
CPJ calls on Facebook to restore press freedom awards video following takedown
New York, November 24, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Facebook to restore a video honoring the winners of the International Press Freedom Awards (IPFA) at CPJ’s annual awards ceremony held on November 18 and streamed on social media during the event. Less than an hour after the stream ended, Facebook notified…
How China’s Huawei technology is being used to censor news halfway across the world
When a staffer at the independent media website Iwacu in the central African state of Burundi tried to visit the outlet online in late October, they received an error message instead. “Hum. Nous ne parvenons pas à trouver ce site;” the site could not be found – even though the local media regulator had promised…
CPJ honors journalists who risk their lives for press freedom
November 19, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) paid tribute Thursday to brave journalists from Guatemala, Mozambique, and Myanmar by presenting them with CPJ’s 2021 International Press Freedom Awards (IPFA) in New York. CPJ also honored Hong Kong media entrepreneur Jimmy Lai with its 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. “The journalists we are honoring…
Journalist and activist Muhammad Zada Agra fatally shot in Pakistan
Washington, D.C., November 16, 2021– Pakistan authorities must thoroughly and impartially investigate the killing of Muhammad Zada Agra and hold the perpetrators accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 8, two unidentified men fatally shot Agra, who covered politics, corruption, and the activities of local drug cartels and criminal groups on his…
Indian journalist Avinash Jha’s body found in Bihar
New Delhi, November 16, 2021 – Indian authorities must conduct a swift and transparent investigation into the death of journalist Avinash Jha, determine whether he was killed for his journalism, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Jha, a reporter with the local news website BNN News based in…
Hong Kong refuses visa renewal for Economist correspondent Sue-Lin Wong
Taipei, November 15, 2021 – Hong Kong authorities should renew the visa of The Economist’s China correspondent, Sue-Lin Wong, and allow foreign correspondents to work freely in the city, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Hong Kong authorities refused to renew Wong’s employment visa, according to a November 12 statement by The Economist’s editor-in-chief,…
American journalist Danny Fenster released from prison in Myanmar
Washington, D.C., November 15, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the news that U.S. journalist Danny Fenster was released from prison in Myanmar today and has left the country. “The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of American journalist Danny Fenster from prison in Myanmar, where he has been unjustly held for nearly six…