Bangladeshi authorities investigate 5 journalists, detain 2 under Digital Security Act for COVID-19 reporting
New York, June 22, 2020 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on authorities in Bangladesh to immediately and unconditionally release political cartoonist Kabir Kishore and writer and commentator Mushtaq Ahmed and to stop using the Digital Security Act to silence critical reporting on the coronavirus pandemic. On May 6, Kishore, Ahmed, and three…
ABS-CBN head of news describes losses to journalists, Philippine public amid station closure
Regina Reyes says she had a “journalist’s premonition” that something bad would happen the day before Philippine authorities ordered her ABS-CBN news station to cease and desist operations on May 5. That evening, ABS-CBN, the nation’s largest news organization, said goodbye to its viewing audience and signed off the air. “Up to now, that screen…
Journalists in Hong Kong fear for personal safety as China pushes national security law through
A new survey conducted by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and released June 19 showed that an overwhelming majority of journalists in Hong Kong worry about their personal safety if the new national security law is enacted. The legislation, approved by the National People’s Congress in Beijing, would criminalize any act of secession, subversion,…
Indian police launch investigation into Supriya Sharma’s COVID-19 coverage
New Delhi, June 18, 2020 — Authorities in Uttar Pradesh should immediately drop the criminal investigation into journalist Supriya Sharma, and cease legally harassing members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 13, police in Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh state, opened an investigation into Sharma, executive editor…
Sri Lankan authorities seize reporter Dharisha Bastians’ laptop in home raid
New York, June 18, 2020 – Sri Lankan authorities should immediately return journalist Dharisha Bastians’ computer and allow her to report without fear of official harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 9, officials from the Criminal Investigation Department raided Bastians’ home in Colombo, the capital, and seized her laptop in connection…
Police investigate Indian journalist Vinod Dua for alleged sedition
New Delhi, June 16, 2020 – Indian authorities should immediately drop all criminal investigations into journalist Vinod Dua, and officials of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party must stop harassing him over his work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 12, Himachal Pradesh police arrived at Dua’s home in Delhi and issued him…
Journalist Le Huu Minh Tuan arrested on anti-state charge in Vietnam
Bangkok, June 15, 2020 – Vietnamese authorities should immediately release journalist Le Huu Minh Tuan and drop the charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalist said today. On June 12, Ho Chi Minh City authorities arrested Tuan and charged him under Article 117 of the country’s criminal code, a provision that criminalizes “opposing the…
CPJ calls on Philippine authorities not to contest editor Maria Ressa’s cyber libel appeal
Bangkok, June 15, 2020 — Philippine authorities should not contest the appeal of journalists Maria Ressa and Reynaldo Santos, and should reform the country’s libel laws to ensure that members of the press do not face jail time for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This morning, Branch 46 of the Manila…
Rappler editor Maria Ressa convicted of cyber libel by Philippines court
Bangkok, June 15, 2020 — In response to the guilty verdict in the cyber libel case against Rappler editor Maria Ressa in the Philippines, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Today’s conviction and sentencing of Maria Ressa of up to six years in jail is an outrageous crime against press freedom,” said…
Anti-terrorism legislation threatens press freedom in the Philippines
Bangkok, June 10, 2020 – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte should reject pending anti-terrorism legislation or amend the law to ensure that it does not threaten press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was submitted to Duterte’s office yesterday after its approval by the House of Representatives and Senate,…