Alerts Archives - Committee to Protect Journalists

Pakistani journalists protest censorship, holding a banner that reads: "nation wide protest of journalists," in Karachi, Pakistan, Tuesday, July 16, 2019. Pakistani journalists hold nationwide protests to denounce rampant censorship by the country's powerful security services, massive layoffs due to budget cuts and months-long delays in payments of their wages. (AP Photo/Fareed Khan)

Pakistani journalist sentenced to five years in prison under anti-terrorism laws

December 31, 2019 12:15 PM EST

Washington, D.C., December 31, 2019—Pakistani authorities should immediately release and drop all legal proceedings against journalist Nasrullah Chaudhry, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Chaudhry was convicted under anti-terrorism laws and sentenced to five years in prison on December 21 over the alleged possession of banned literature, according to news reports.

Journalists in Sindh province pictured at a protest in 2019. Police on December 24 arrested Daily Jurat reporter Ajeeb Lakho. (Ejaz Korai)

Police in Pakistan’s Sindh province arrest Daily Jurat reporter Ajeeb Lakho

December 26, 2019 4:43 PM EST

Washington, D.C., December 26, 2019—Police in Sukkur, a city in Pakistan’s Sindh province, should immediately release Ajeeb Lakho and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Patrice Talon, the president of Benin, during a conference co-organized by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) on sustainable development and debt in Diamniadio, Senegal, on December 2, 2019. Authorities in Benin on December 20 arrested journalist Ignace Sossou on a defamation complaint filed by a government minister. (AFP/Seyllou)

Benin authorities arrest journalist Ignace Sossou, question him about Facebook posts

December 23, 2019 5:47 PM EST

Vancouver, Canada, December 23, 2019 — Authorities in Benin should immediately release and halt efforts to intimidate journalist Ignace Sossou and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A police officer is seen in Mogadishu, Somalia, on March 23, 2019. Somali authorities recently shut down local broadcaster City FM and briefly detained its staffers. (Reuters/Feisal Omar)

Somali authorities shut down radio station City FM, seek to question owner

December 23, 2019 5:08 PM EST

Nairobi, December 23, 2019 — Somali authorities should immediately allow local broadcaster City FM to reopen and let its staffers work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Road Town, in the British Virgin Islands, is seen on April 3, 2009. The territory's legislature recently passed a bill that imposes harsh penalties for online defamation. (AP/Todd VanSickle)

British Virgin Islands law to impose fines, jail terms for online defamation

December 23, 2019 3:40 PM EST

Miami, December 23, 2019 — British Virgin Islands Governor Augustus Jaspert should reject cybercrime legislation recently approved by the territory’s legislature, or require revisions to the bill to protect press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Brazil's supreme court is seen in Brasilia on April 23, 2019. A judge in Goiás state recently delayed the trial of a journalist's murder because he said he had inadequate facilities. (Reuters/Adriano Machado)

Judge delays trial in 2012 killing of Brazilian radio journalist, citing lack of resources

December 20, 2019 11:30 AM EST

Rio de Janeiro, December 20, 2019 — Brazilian authorities must quickly resume the trial of the alleged killers of radio journalist Valério Luiz de Oliveira and ensure that justice is served without further delays, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

A group of Venezuelan SEBIN security forces are seen in Caracas on May 16, 2018. SEBIN agents recently shut down two news outlets in a money laundering investigation. (AP/Fernando Llano)

Venezuelan intelligence services raid, shutter news outlets Venepress and Telecaribe

December 20, 2019 9:55 AM EST

Bogotá, December 20, 2019 — Venezuelan authorities must immediately allow local news outlets Telecaribe and Venepress to resume their work informing the public and cease their harassment of independent media, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

The Albanian parliament is seen in Tirana on April 28, 2017. The parliament recently passed laws that could restrict online news outlets. (Reuters/Florion Goga)

Albanian media legislation threatens to restrict online news outlets

December 19, 2019 12:59 PM EST

Berlin, December 19, 2019 — Albanian President Ilir Meta should reject proposed legislation that would restrict news websites and stifle the free press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Algerian security forces are seen in Algiers on December 4, 2019. Authorities recently sentenced cartoonist Benabdelhamid Amine to three months in prison. (AP/Toufik Doudou)

Algeria sentences cartoonist Benabdelhamid Amine to 3 months in prison

December 19, 2019 11:30 AM EST

Washington, D.C., December 19, 2019 — A court in Oran, in northwest Algeria, sentenced cartoonist Benabdelhamid Amine to one year in prison on December 11 after finding him guilty of insulting the president, “violating territorial integrity,” and “disseminating publications harmful to national security,” according to news reports. The Djamal City Criminal Court suspended nine months…

A security officer checks journalists' belongings at Macau International Airport on December 18, 2019. At least three journalists were recently denied entry into the territory. (Reuters/Jason Lee)

At least 3 Hong Kong journalists denied entry to Macao to cover Xi visit

December 18, 2019 1:15 PM EST

Taipei, December 18, 2019 — Authorities in Macao should allow all journalists to enter and report freely from the territory, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.