Alerts

2020

  
People have their temperatures checked at the Zewditu Memorial Hospital in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, on March 18, 2020. Journalist Yayesew Shimelis was recently detained over a report about the pandemic. (AP/Mulugeta Ayene)

Ethiopian journalist Yayesew Shimelis detained following COVID-19 report

Nairobi, April 1, 2020 — Authorities in Ethiopia should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Yayesew Shimelis and cease detaining journalists without charge, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police officers wield batons against a man for breaking lockdown rules after India ordered a 21-day nationwide lockdown to limit the spreading of coronavirus in New Delhi, India, on March 25, 2020. On March 31, the Indian Supreme Court denied a government request for prior censorship of coronavirus news. (Reuters/Adnan Abidi)

Indian Supreme Court denies government request for prior censorship of COVID-19 news

New Delhi, March 31, 2020 – The Indian government should stop trying to censor news coverage of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A man reads newspapers in Tehran, Iran, on January 4, 2020. The country recently banned all newspaper printing and distribution, citing fears of spreading COVID-19. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Iran bans printing of all newspapers, citing spread of coronavirus

Washington, D.C., March 31, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern over Iranian authorities’ decision to suspend all newspaper printing and distribution in the country, where newsgathering and distribution is already tightly restricted.

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A police officer is seen at a roadblock in Lagos, Nigeria, on March 31, 2020. The Nigerian government recently imposed restrictions on journalists' movement and access to stem the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP/Sunday Alamba)

Nigeria restricts journalist movement and access, citing coronavirus

Abuja, March 31, 2020 — Authorities in Nigeria must ensure that measures taken to respond to the COVID-19 pandemic do not prevent journalists from covering the news freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A medical worker is seen in Minsk, Belarus, on March 13, 2020. Journalist Siarhei Satsuk was recently detained on bribery charges after publishing reporting on COVID-19. (AP/Sergei Grits)

Belarusian journalist Siarhei Satsuk detained on bribery charges after publishing COVID-19 report

Vilnius, Lithuania, March 31, 2020 – Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Siarhei Satsuk and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Voice of Myanmar editor-in-chief Ko Nay Lin is escorted by police to court in Mandalay, Myanmar, on March 31, 2020. He is facing life in prison on terrorism charges for his reporting. (AFP/Zaw Zaw)

Myanmar editor faces life in prison for publishing interview with insurgent group

Bangkok, March 31, 2020 — Myanmar authorities should immediately release journalist Ko Nay Lin and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Florida Governor Ron DeSantis is seen in The Villages, Florida, on March 23, 2020. Authorities at the Florida State Capitol recently barred journalist Mary Ellen Klas from attending a news briefing by DeSantis. (AP/John Raoux)

Reporter denied access to Florida governor’s briefing on COVID-19

Washington, D.C., March 30, 2020 — Florida Governor Ron DeSantis should allow reporters to safely cover his news briefings, and not penalize journalists who seek to follow public health guidance on social distancing, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police are seen outside Stockholm, Sweden, on October 5, 2019. Exiled Pakistani journalist Sajid Hussain Baloch recently went missing in Sweden. (Reuters/Anna Ringstrom)

Exiled Pakistani journalist Sajid Hussain Baloch goes missing in Sweden

Washington, D.C., March 30, 2020 — Swedish authorities should make every effort to locate missing journalist Sajid Hussain Baloch and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A police officer is seen in Algiers, Algeria, on March 19, 2020. Algerian authorities recently imprisoned journalist and RSF correspondent Khaled Drareni. (AP/Toufik Doudou)

Journalist and RSF correspondent Khaled Drareni imprisoned in Algeria

New York, March 27, 2020 — Algerian authorities should drop all charges against journalist Khaled Drareni and release him from prison immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Soldiers are seen in Manila, the Philippines, on March 15, 2020. The country's state of emergency includes a regulation imposing criminal penalties for spreading ‘false news’ about the coronavirus pandemic. (AP/Aaron Favila)

Philippines COVID-19 state of emergency includes prison time for spreading ‘false news’

Bangkok, March 27, 2020 — The Philippine Congress should repeal a recently enacted regulation that imposes criminal penalties for spreading ‘false news’ about the coronavirus pandemic, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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2020