Eswatini prison officers assault, threaten to shoot reporter covering pro-democracy protest
Lusaka, February 16, 2022 — Authorities in Eswatini must immediately investigate the brutal assault by correctional officers on Nomthandazo Maseko, a reporter for the privately owned news website Swati Newsweek, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. At noon on February 8, about 20 correctional services staff in Matsapha, a…
Ghanaian journalist Eric Nana Gyetuah assaulted after photographing police
Abuja, February 16, 2022 — Ghanaian authorities should swiftly identify and hold to account the police officers who attacked journalist Eric Nana Gyetuah, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. At about 1:30 p.m. on February 3, in the western city of Takoradi, a group of at least five police officers in plain clothes attacked…
ARY News crew beaten, electrocuted, forced to strip while covering alleged corruption at Pakistan intelligence agency
Washington, D.C., February 15, 2022 — Pakistan authorities must investigate the recent abuse of an ARY News crew by intelligence officials and ensure those responsible are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Tuesday, at the Karachi office of the Intelligence Bureau, the country’s civilian domestic intelligence body, IB officers held…
Azerbaijani journalists detained, beaten for covering protest
Stockholm, February 15, 2022 – Azerbaijani authorities should investigate allegations of police brutality against three journalists detained while covering a protest and allow all members of the press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. This morning, police in the capital Baku detained Fatima Mövlamli, a reporter for independent news site Azadliq,…
Unidentified men attack residence of Sri Lankan journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama
New York, February 14, 2022 – Sri Lankan authorities must conduct an immediate and impartial investigation into the attack on the residence of journalist Chamuditha Samarawickrama, release the findings to the public, and hold the perpetrators accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. Around 2 a.m. Monday morning, at least three unidentified armed men…
Somali police raid Sooyal TV and Radio, assault Radio Hiraan Weyne reporter
Nairobi, February 14, 2022 – Authorities in the Somali states of Galmudug and Hirshabelle should investigate and hold to account police officers who assaulted and arrested journalists and ensure that security personnel do not pose a threat to media freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On the evening of January 24, a group…
Mexican journalist Heber López shot and killed in Oaxaca, suspects arrested
Mexico City, February 12, 2022 – Mexican authorities must thoroughly and transparently investigate the killing of journalist Heber López Vásquez, determine whether he was targeted for his work, and ensure those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Saturday. In the afternoon of Thursday, February 10, a group of at least…
Syrian journalist Kenan Waqaf in hiding after security forces seek his arrest
New York, February 11, 2022 – Syrian government authorities should stop pursuing journalist Kenan Waqaf and cease harassing and detaining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the early morning of February 6, Waqaf posted a video to his Facebook account saying that he had gone into hiding after heavily…
Mali expels French reporter Benjamin Roger, suspends media accreditation process
New York, February 11, 2022 — Malian authorities should ensure that bureaucratic obstacles do not prevent international journalists from entering the country and covering it freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Monday, February 7, police officers in the capital, Bamako, arrested French national Benjamin Roger, a reporter at the privately owned news…
Hungarian government bypasses court order allowing journalists to report from public hospitals
Berlin, February 11, 2022 — Hungarian authorities should not grant state media preferential access to public facilities, and should ensure that independent news outlets can cover the COVID-19 pandemic freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On February 4, the Hungarian government’s executive branch issued a decree empowering the Operational Corps, the government pandemic…