Iranian authorities jail journalist Amir Dehbashi in defamation case
Washington, D.C., March 23, 2021 — Iranian authorities must release journalist Amir Dehbashi immediately and cease arresting members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 17, security forces in the southwestern province of Bushehr arrested Dehbashi, a freelance reporter, and took him to a regional prison in the provincial capital, also…
Nigerian journalist Haruna Mohammed Salisu threatened over report on alleged fraud
Abuja, March 23, 2021 – Nigerian authorities should thoroughly investigate the threatening message received by journalist Haruna Mohammed Salisu and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 13, at about 9 a.m., Salisu, owner and reporter at the privately owned WikkiTimes news website, found a note slipped under his office…
Mexican journalist Jorge Molontzín missing in Sonora since March 10
Mexico City, March 22, 2021 – Mexican authorities must thoroughly investigate the disappearance of journalist Jorge Molontzín Centlal, determine if his disappearance is related to his work, and do everything in their power to return him to safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Molontzín, a reporter with the magazine Confidencial, went missing on…
Pakistani journalist Ajay Lalwani dies after suffering three gunshot wounds
Washington, D.C., March 19, 2021—Authorities in Sindh province, Pakistan, must immediately launch a credible investigation and apprehend those responsible for the killing of journalist Ajay Lalwani, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Lalwani, a local general news correspondent for the privately owned Urdu language Daily Puchano, died yesterday after suffering three gunshot wounds on Wednesday…
Myanmar military files criminal mutiny charges against The Irrawaddy, detains 2 journalists
Bangkok, March 19, 2021 – Myanmar’s military junta should drop all charges against The Irrawaddy news group, stop using legal threats to intimidate journalists covering ongoing anti-coup protests, and release all journalists in its custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 12, the military government charged The Irrawaddy, a privately owned newspaper, under Article…
Peruvian presidential candidate files trademark complaint against journalist and Penguin Random House
Bogotá, March 18, 2021 – Peruvian authorities should dismiss the trademark complaint filed by César Acuña Peralta against journalist Christopher Acosta and Penguin Random House, and should not interfere with the distribution of Acosta’s book, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 11, Acuña, a former mayor, governor, and congressman who is running…
Cuban police raid newspaper Páginas Villareñas, confiscate equipment and harass staff
Miami, March 18, 2020 — Cuban authorities should return all equipment confiscated from the Páginas Villareñas newspaper, allow it to publish freely, and cease harassing its staffers, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the evening of March 14, agents from the National Revolutionary Police and the Political Police detained reporters Yoandy Cuellar and…
RFE/RL contributor Vladyslav Yesypenko arrested, accused of espionage in Crimea
New York, March 18, 2021 – Russian authorities should immediately release journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 10, Federal Security Service officers in Russian-occupied Crimea detained Yesypenko, a freelance journalist, according to news reports and a lawyer hired by his family, Emil Kurbedinov,…
Belarusian authorities detain reporter Dzianis Ivashyn; prosecute journalists for protest coverage
Vilnius, Lithuania, March 17, 2021 — Belarusian authorities must stop prosecuting and harassing members of the press, and should allow reporters to cover issues of national significance without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 12, officers of the KGB, the Belarusian security service, in the western city of Hrodna…
Iran convicts 5 newspaper and news agency employees on false news charges
Washington, D.C., March 17, 2021 – Iranian authorities should cease prosecuting journalists on false news charges, and allow the press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 14, Judge Mohammad Reza Mohammadi Kashkooli of Branch 9 of Tehran’s Media Court convicted the managing director of the state-run Fars News Agency…