Turkey sentences 4 Özgür Gündem journalists to jail on terror charges
Istanbul, February 16, 2020 – Turkish authorities should cease prosecuting former staffers of the shuttered Özgür Gündem newspaper and not contest their appeals, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the 23rd Istanbul Court of Serious Crimes convicted three former editors and the former publisher of pro-Kurdish daily Özgür Gündem on terrorism charges, and…
DRC journalist Pius Romain Rolland Ngoie detained since December over criminal defamation complaint
New York, February 11, 2021 — Congolese authorities should immediately release journalist Pius Romain Rolland Ngoie and reform their country’s laws to decriminalize defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 22, 2020, judicial police arrested Ngoie, a reporter who covers the country’s parliament for the privately owned Depeche.CD news website, while he…
Russian blogger jailed for 25 days over coverage of Navalny protests, hospitalized after hunger strike
New York, February 10, 2021 – Russian authorities should immediately release journalist Dmitry Bairov, drop all charges against him, and allow him to work freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 28, plain-clothed law enforcement officers detained Bairov near his home in Ulan-Ude, a city in the eastern Russian Republic…
Indian finance authorities raid Newsclick office, homes of editors and managers
New Delhi, February 10, 2021 — Indian authorities must immediately stop occupying the offices of the news website Newsclick and cease harassing its editors and managers, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since yesterday morning, officers with the Indian Finance Ministry’s Enforcement Directorate have raided Newsclick’s New Delhi office, as well as the homes…
Former Ecuadorian president threatens, files suit against journalist Dayanna Monroy
Bogotá, February 9, 2021 – Ecuadorian authorities must swiftly and thoroughly investigate threats made to journalist Dayanna Monroy, ensure she has adequate protection, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 27, former Ecuadorian President Abdalá Bucaram Ortiz posted a video to his personal Facebook account in which…
Journalists Alvarez Destiné and Méus Jeanril shot as police and armed forces disperse protest in Haiti
Miami, February 9, 2021 — Haitian authorities should thoroughly investigate the shootings of journalists Alvarez Destiné and Méus Jeanril, identify those responsible, and hold them to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday afternoon, in the Champs-des-Mars area of Port-au-Prince, the capital, unidentified attackers shot Destiné and Jeanril while they were covering protests calling for…
Uzbek blogger Otabek Sattoriy detained, charged with extortion
New York, February 8, 2021 – Uzbek authorities should immediately release journalist Otabek Sattoriy, drop all charges against him, and allow him to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 30, in the southern city of Termez, a group of plain-clothed police officers detained Sattoriy, a blogger who covers alleged local…
Journalist Adel al-Hasani held by Yemen’s Southern Transitional Council since September
New York, February 8, 2021 – Yemen’s breakaway Southern Transitional Council should release journalist Adel al-Hasani immediately and stop arbitrarily detaining and harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 17, 2020, at a checkpoint between the southern cities of Aden and Abyan, security forces with the Southern Transitional…
Hong Kong police arrest internet radio host Wan Yiu-sing on sedition charges
Taipei, February 8, 2021 — Hong Kong authorities should release journalist Wan Yiu-sing immediately, drop all charges against him, and allow members of the press to work freely and without fear of retaliatory legal actions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, national security officers of the Hong Kong Police Force arrested Wan on…
Nigerian news website Peoples Gazette blocked, threatened with legal action
New York, February 5, 2021–Nigerian authorities should ensure access to the Peoples Gazette new site is not disrupted and its reporters can work without fear of harassment or intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 26, four mobile internet service providers operating in Nigeria – India-based Airtel, South Africa-based MTN, Nigeria-based 9mobile, and Glo, which…