Kyrgyzstan drafts law to bring state-funded broadcaster under closer presidential control
New York, November 9, 2021 – Kyrgyz authorities should retract a recently devised bill increasing state control over the country’s public broadcaster and instead enact changes to safeguard the corporation’s editorial independence, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 29, 15 prominent media representatives and advocacy groups issued a statement calling on Kyrgyzstan’s…
Polish journalist Agnieszka Pikulicka denied entry to Uzbekistan
New York, November 8, 2021 – Uzbek authorities should allow journalist Agnieszka Pikulicka to enter the country and work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday afternoon, Uzbek officials at the Zhibek Zholy-Gisht Kuprik (Chernyaevka) border crossing with Kazakhstan denied entry to Pikulicka, a Polish citizen and freelance correspondent for Al-Jazeera and The…
Iran shutters newspaper that implied supreme leader was responsible for poverty
Washington, D.C., November 8, 2021 — Iranian authorities must immediately reverse their decision to shut down the Tehran-based state-run daily newspaper Kelid, and should allow media outlets to report the news freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Earlier today, the Press Supervisory Board of Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance indefinitely revoked…
Mexican journalist Alfredo Cardoso Echevarría abducted and killed in Acapulco
Mexico City, November 5, 2021 – Mexican authorities must immediately investigate the killing of journalist Alfredo Cardoso Echevarría and determine whether he was targeted because of his work as a journalist, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Cardoso, founder and editor of online news magazine Las Dos Costas, was abducted on October 28 from…
Palestinian security forces arrest freelance journalist Naseem Mualla
New York, November 5, 2021 — Palestinian authorities in the West Bank should immediately and unconditionally release freelance journalist Naseem Mualla and allow journalists to work without fear of detention, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Early yesterday morning, Palestinian police and intelligence officers raided Mualla’s home in the town of Beita, south of…
Bolivian journalists abducted, assaulted by armed men while covering land dispute
Bogotá, November 4, 2021 – Bolivian authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the abduction and assault of six journalists by a group of armed men and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 28, seven reporters, photographers, and camera operators for several Bolivian media outlets…
Russia expels Dutch newspaper correspondent Tom Vennink
Berlin, November 4, 2021–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Russian authorities today to reverse their decision to revoke Dutch journalist Tom Vennink’s visa and residence permit and allow him to continue his work in Russia. On November 1, the Russian Ministry of Internal Affairs gave Vennink, Moscow correspondent for Dutch daily newspaper de Volkskrant,…
Syrian journalist Majed Shamaa facing deportation from Turkey over satirical video
New York, November 4, 2021 — Turkish authorities should immediately release Syrian journalist Majed Shamaa, end deportation proceedings against him, and allow him to do his job freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At 1:30 a.m. on October 30, police arrested Shamaa, a reporter for the Dubai-based broadcaster Orient TV, at…
Belarus journalists charged, detained over alleged Facebook interactions with banned outlets
Vilnius, Lithuania, November 4, 2021 — Belarusian authorities should cease their practice of banning news outlets, and should not punish journalists for allegedly interacting with such banned outlets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 1, Belarusian courts convicted two journalists, Iryna Slaunikava and Syarhei Niarouny, on charges of spreading extremism over their alleged…
Rwandan journalist Théoneste Nsengimana detained since October 13
Nairobi, November 3, 2021 — Rwandan authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Théoneste Nsengimana and cease harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 13, security personnel arrested Nsengimana, who runs the YouTube channel Umubavu TV Online, according to tweets by the Rwanda Investigation Bureau (RIB), a law-enforcement…