Journalist April Ehrlich facing criminal charges over reporting on homelessness in Oregon
Washington, D.C., September 25, 2020 —The Medford Police Department in southwest Oregon should drop all charges against journalist April Ehrlich, and refrain from filing criminal charges against members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the morning of September 22, Medford police arrested Ehrlich, a reporter for National Public Radio affiliate…
Nicaraguan ruling party legislators propose law requiring some media outlets, journalists to register as “foreign agents”
Managua, Nicaragua September 24, 2020 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Nicaraguan congress to reject a proposed law that would force media outlets and journalists to register as “foreign agents” if they receive funding or payments from abroad. The law, proposed on September 22, would require individuals and organizations that receive…
Iraqi Kurdish police arrest journalist Bahroz Jaafer over criminal defamation suit filed by Iraq’s president
New York, September 23, 2020 – Kurdish authorities in Iraq should immediately release journalist Bahroz Jaafer, drop all charges against him, and allow the press to cover and write critically about politicians without fear of detention or legal action, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, police arrested Jaafer, a columnist for the independent…
Ukrainian journalists threatened with gun, police in Kyiv refuse to intervene
New York, September 23, 2020 – Kyiv police should thoroughly investigate a gun threat against cameraman Yegor Serdiuk and reporter Anastasiya Bereziy and determine why police officers at the scene failed to protect the reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the early hours of September 21, a man pointed a gun at…
Journalists attacked while covering alleged vote fraud in Nigeria’s Edo state
Abuja, September 23, 2020 –Nigerian authorities should investigate the recent attacks on journalists Samson Adenekan and Offem Nathaniel Ubanga, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 19, a group of at least 50 unidentified men attacked Adenekan, a journalist with the privately owned Premium Times online newspaper,…
Investigative journalist Paola Ugaz faces criminal defamation suit in Peru
New York, September 22, 2020 — Peruvian authorities must stop the campaign of legal harassment against journalist Paola Ugaz and take steps to reform the country’s criminal defamation laws, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Ninth Criminal Court of Lima held the first hearing in a criminal defamation trial for Ugaz, an…
Bulgarian reporter Martin Georgiev summoned for questioning over request for comment on police brutality
Berlin, September 22, 2020 – Bulgarian authorities must make good faith efforts to work with the press, and should refrain from taking actions that could intimidate reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 14, police in Sofia, the capital, summoned Martin Georgiev, a crime reporter at the local daily Sega, for questioning…
Belarus authorities continue to arrest, detain journalists amid protests
Vilnius, Lithuania, September 21, 2020 — Belarusian authorities should release all reporters detained covering recent protests, and allow them to work freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 16, the Frunze District Court in Minsk, the capital, tried and convicted two journalists who had covered the protests in the country calling…
Argentinian radio journalist Luis Alberto Mancini assaulted after reporting on local corruption
Miami, September 21, 2020 — Argentinian authorities must investigate the assault on journalist Luis Alberto Mancini, find out whether it was related to his journalistic work, and prosecute his assailants, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 16 around 11 a.m., Mancini was violently attacked by two men while hosting his radio program, “Mano…
Verdict due in Montenegro retrial of journalist Jovo Martinović
Berlin, September 21, 2020 — Montenegro authorities should drop all criminal charges against journalist Jovo Martinović, and ensure that the press can work freely without fear of retaliation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 15, the High Court of Podgorica concluded the retrial of Martinović, an investigative freelance journalist who covers organized…