Turkish court sentences 5 journalists to prison over alleged role in 2016 coup
Istanbul, September 22, 2021 – Turkish authorities should not contest the appeals of five journalists recently sentenced to prison for their alleged involvement with a banned group, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Second Antalya Court of Serious Crimes convicted Cihat Ünal, Ömer Özdemir, Serhat Şeftali, Olgun Matur, and Osman Yakut on…
German journalist Michael Trammer detained, charged with trespassing while covering environmental protesters
Berlin, September 22, 2021 — German authorities should immediately drop all charges against photojournalist Michael Trammer and ensure that members of the press can cover public events without fear of detention, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 10 at about 1:45 p.m., police in Munich detained Trammer, a freelance photojournalist on assignment…
CPJ joins call for European Commission to strengthen Rule of Law report
The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 61 organizations in a joint statement urging the European Commission to strengthen its annual Rule of Law report. The Rule of Law report, published in July, which provides a basis for the annual rule of law dialogue among European Union officials and member states, includes summaries of areas…
Polish authorities charge 2 journalists with violating state of emergency in coverage of Belarus border area
Berlin, September 17, 2021 – Polish authorities should drop all criminal charges filed against a reporting team from the local news website Onet, and ensure that members of the press can cover refugees and other sensitive issues without fear of prosecution, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 3, police in Hajnówka, a…
CPJ welcomes European Commission recommendation on journalist safety
Brussels, September 16, 2021 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed new journalist safety guidelines published by the European Commission, and called on EU member states to implement them as soon as possible. The nonbinding recommendation lists dozens of steps that states can take to ensure that journalists can work safely, including to prosecute…
Polish parliament to vote on media bill targeting broadcaster TVN24
Berlin, September 15, 2021 — Polish lawmakers should reject an amendment to the country’s broadcast media law that threatens the independence of commercial television broadcaster TVN24, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The draft amendment, which CPJ reviewed, would change Article 35 of the Broadcasting Act to restrict broadcast licenses solely to companies that…
BBC news crew threatened by COVID-19 protesters in UK
Berlin, September 14, 2021 — United Kingdom authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the threats against journalist Phillip Norton and his crew and ensure their safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 28, demonstrators protesting the government’s measures to curb COVID-19 in Scarborough, a resort town on England’s North…
Belarus authorities continue to charge and detain journalists, raid homes
Stockholm, September 9, 2021 – Belarus authorities must cease their persecution of independent journalists and outlets who have covered the protest movement against President Aleksandr Lukashenko’s contested reelection or are otherwise critical of the government, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Last week, authorities in Belarus charged Iryna Leushyna, the director of the country’s…
N1 TV crew attacked and harassed at Montenegro protest
Berlin, September 9, 2021 – Montenegro authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate the recent attack on a crew for the privately owned broadcaster N1 TV, and ensure that journalists can cover protests safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 5, a group of protesters in Cetinje, west of Podgorica, the capital, harassed…
Protesters against Slovenian COVID-19 response and vaccination storm headquarters of RTVS broadcaster
Berlin, September 9, 2021 — Slovenian authorities must thoroughly investigate demonstrators’ storming of the public broadcaster RTV Slovenija (RTVS) and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Starting around 8:30 p.m. on September 3, about 20 people demonstrating against the country’s COVID-19 response and vaccination program broke into the broadcaster’s…