Harsh sentence for Iranian journalist Amouee
We issued the following statement today after Iranian authorities sentenced journalist and economist Bahman Ahmadi Amouee to seven years and four months’ imprisonment and 34 lashes for anti-state activities. Amouee was detained on June 19, 2009, with his wife, Zhila Bani-Yaghoub, editor-in-chief of the Iranian Women’s Club…
Iran continues crackdown: Anchor pressured, writers jailed
New York, January 4, 2010—The Iranian government continued an assault on the press as authorities have arrested at least six more journalists, upheld a long prison sentence against another, and barred a television anchor from returning to work. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns these repressive actions and calls for the immediate release of all…
Reaching out to CPJ’s award winner, imprisoned in Iran
The relentless crackdown on the press in Iran is, well, relentless. In the last few days we have received word that 11 more journalists have been arrested, including former CPJ International Press Freedom Award winner Mashallah Shamsolvaezin, at left. There are 23 other journalists already in prison in Iran, according to the global census CPJ…
Top Iranian journalists jailed in wake of Ashura protests
New York, December 29, 2009—The Iranian government, struggling to silence the many critical voices in the country, has arrested at least 11 journalists since Sunday, including former International Press Freedom Award recipient Mashallah Shamsolvaezin and the prominent writer Emadeddin Baghi. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the arrests and called for the release of all…
Video Report: Imprisoned in Iran
In this video report, Greek freelance journalist Iason Athanasiadis recounts his 2009 imprisonment in Iran. Athanasiadis, who spent 20 days in custody, most of it in Tehran’s Evin Prison, describes his arrest during the government’s post-election crackdown and explains how international advocacy made a difference in gaining his freedom. (4:15) Read more about Iran and…
Reporter who covered Yemeni unrest is held without charge
New York, December 28, 2009—A Yemeni reporter is being held without charge after being arrested on Sunday while covering clashes between security forces and separatists in Yemen’s southern province of Dhala, according to local news reports. The arrest is the latest attempt by the government to silence media outlets and journalists covering civil unrest in…
In Iran, restrictive media landscape further deteriorates
New York, December 23, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned that Iranian authorities censored coverage of the death of a leading reformist cleric, shut down yet another reformist newspaper this week, and continue to arrest journalists.
Editor killed by unknown gunmen in Turkey
New York, December 21, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Turkish authorities today to locate the killers of journalist Cihan Hayırsevener and bring them to justice. Hayırsevener, at left, editor of the local daily newspaper Güney Marmara’da Yaşam, was shot three times in the leg on December 19 while walking to his office in…
Rebecca MacKinnon, Ahmed Rashid, and María Teresa Ronderos join CPJ board
New York, December 21, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists announced the addition of three leading journalists to its board of directors today: Rebecca MacKinnon of Global Voices, Ahmed Rashid, journalist and scholar, and María Teresa Ronderos of Semana.com.