UK / Europe & Central Asia

  

‘Don’t give up’: After fleeing overseas, Hong Kong journalists fight on

When Hong Kong journalist Matthew Leung covered a small protest in the northern English city of Manchester last October, little did he know it would become one of the biggest stories in his career—and unleash a diplomatic storm between China and Britain. His photographs, showing a group of men beating a Hong Kong pro-democracy protester…

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How UK Online Safety Bill threatens encryption, secure communication, and reporting on migration

Does the image above, depicting the rescue of a child who attempted to reach the U.K. by sea, present the act of immigration in “a positive light”?  It’s an absurd question, of course. It’s journalism – an effort to convey in visual terms the stark truth that tens of thousands of migrants and asylum-seekers try to get…

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CPJ asks British authorities to strengthen protection for London-based Iran International staff

Washington, D.C., November 8, 2022—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday asked British authorities to strengthen their protection of threatened staff members of Iran International, a Persian-language news television channel based in London, and demanded that they hold Iranian authorities accountable for transnational crimes. “Time and again Iranian authorities have acted with impunity in attempting…

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Bangladesh authorities arrest siblings of UK-based journalists

New York, September 20, 2022 – Bangladesh authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Nur Alam Chowdhury Pervez and Abdul Muktadir Manu and cease harassing family members of journalists who report from abroad, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On September 13, officers with the detective branch of the Bangladesh police, in the Noakhali town…

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British Home Secretary approves Assange extradition to the United States

New York, June 17, 2022–In response to British Home Secretary Priti Patel’s decision on Friday to approve a U.S. request to extradite Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The extradition of Julian Assange to the United States to face trial on charges under the…

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British journalist Martin Banks detained and questioned by UK border police, equipment confiscated

Berlin, March 28, 2022 — British authorities must immediately explain the reason for their detention and questioning of journalist Martin Banks, and guarantee the protection of his journalistic sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On February 26, U.K. border police at the Eurotunnel train terminal in Calais, France, detained Banks for about six…

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in London on January 13, 2020. Assange is facing extradition to the United States for his work at Wikileaks. (Reuters/Simon Dawson)

UK Supreme Court refuses Julian Assange appeal request in extradition case

New York, March 14, 2022 — In response to the U.K. Supreme Court’s announcement Monday refusing an appeal by Julian Assange to prevent his extradition to the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We are deeply disappointed that the U.K. Supreme Court has denied the latest attempt by WikiLeaks founder…

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CPJ cautiously welcomes UK court decision on Assange, says US must now drop charges

New York, January 24, 2022 – The Committee to Protect Journalists cautiously welcomed a British court’s decision on Monday allowing WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to apply to appeal against a lower court’s ruling that he could be extradited to face criminal charges in the United States. “We are glad that Julian Assange will be allowed…

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How social media regulation could affect the press

The United Kingdom moved a step closer to regulating social media in December when a parliamentary committee recommended major changes to the country’s Online Safety Bill so as to hold internet service providers responsible for material published on their platforms. “We need to call time on the Wild West online,” said committee chair Damian Collins….

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, pictured in a prison van in the U.K. on May 1, 2019. The U.S. has disclosed charges under the Espionage Act against Assange. (AFP/Daniel Leal-Olivas)

UK ruling on extraditing Wikileaks’ Assange ‘seriously damages journalism’

New York, December 10, 2021–The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed deep disappointment at a British court’s decision to uphold the United States Justice Department’s appeal to extradite Julian Assange, which allows the U.S. to continue pursuing the extradition of the WikiLeaks founder, according to news reports.  “On the same day the Nobel Peace Prize…

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