Philippine anti-communist task force threatens Rappler with legal action
Bangkok, February 8, 2022 – Philippine authorities must drop their legal threats against the independent news outlet Rappler and allow the press to work without fear of legal harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Saturday, February 5, Lorraine Marie T. Badoy, a spokesperson for the National Task Force to End Local Communist…
Myanmar journalist Thurin Kyaw arrested after covering rally in support of junta
Bangkok, February 8, 2022 – Myanmar military authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Thurin Kyaw and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On February 2, Thurin Kyaw, founder of the independent outlet Media TOP 4, was beaten by unidentified attackers while he covered a rally in support of the ruling military…
Brazilian news crews attacked while covering death in police clash with gang
Rio de Janeiro, February 7, 2022 – Brazilian authorities should promptly and thoroughly investigate the assaults of employees at two broadcasters in Bahia state, and ensure that journalists covering crime and security can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. At about 11 a.m. on February 1, two men fired warning shots at…
Polish journalists’ children targeted with death threats, phone harassment
Berlin, February 7, 2022 — Polish authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate death threats received by family members of journalists Wojciech Czuchnowski and Tomasz Lis, and ensure the journalists’ and their families’ safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On January 20, several police stations in different cities throughout Poland called Czuchnowski’s son Mateusz…
Kashmir journalist Fahad Shah arrested over ‘anti-national content’
New Delhi, February 4, 2022 – Authorities in Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Fahad Shah, drop any investigation into his work, and cease detaining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Friday evening, authorities in Jammu and Kashmir arrested Shah, editor of the privately owned…
Independent Venezuelan news sites blocked by state-controlled and private service providers
Bogotá, February 4, 2022 – Fresh blocks on a handful of Venezuela’s few remaining independent news websites are a troubling sign of escalating press censorship, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Journalists and experts say private internet service providers (ISPs) are censoring the sites for the first time, though they have been unavailable on…
Police investigate journalist Petty Chanda over leaked audio of government officials
Lusaka, February 3, 2022 – Zambian authorities must immediately drop the criminal investigation into television station manager Petty Chanda and stop harassing journalists whose reporting may embarrass top officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On January 18, privately owned Kenmark Broadcasting Network (KBN TV) aired a leaked audio conversation allegedly between Levy Ngoma, political advisor…
Taliban forces beat, interrogate journalist Zahid Samadzai in Kabul
New York, February 3, 2022 — The Taliban must immediately investigate the detention and abuse in custody of journalist Abdul Qayum Zahid Samadzai, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday, February 1, a man who identified himself as a member of the Taliban’s Directorate General of Intelligence…
Attackers shoot at, firebomb offices of Haitian outlet Radio Télé Zenith
Miami, February 3, 2022 — Haitian authorities should conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into an attack on the Radio Télé Zenith offices, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Around 2 a.m. on Monday, January 31, an unknown number of armed individuals riding in two vehicles fired several…
Palestinian Authority sentences journalist Abdulrahman Thahir to 3 months in prison
New York, February 3, 2022 – The Palestinian Authority should not contest journalist Abdulrahman Thahir’s appeal and should stop pursuing vague charges against members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On January 20, a magistrate court in the West Bank city of Nablus sentenced Thahir, a freelance TV producer, to three…