Journalists harassed, detained, and sentenced to jail in South Sudan
New York, November 5, 2020 — South Sudanese authorities should immediately release journalists Zechariah Makuach Maror and Jackson Ochaya and halt all acts of intimidation against the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 1, Ochaya, a reporter with the privately owned No. 1 Citizen newspaper, went missing and was later confirmed…
Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadygov sentenced to seven years in prison
New York, November 4, 2020 – Azerbaijani authorities should release journalist Afgan Sadygov and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Baku Grave Crimes Court sentenced Sadygov, chief editor of the independent news website Azel.tv, to seven years in prison, according to news reports, his wife Sevinch Sadygova, and his lawyer Elchin Sadygov, both…
Nigeria journalist Oga Tom Uhia detained for weeks on defamation complaint
Abuja, November 4, 2020–Authorities in Nigeria should immediately release Oga Tom Uhia, the publisher of local monthly magazine Power Steering, which covers the electrical power sector, and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 13, police arrested Uhia at his residence in Gwarimpa, a suburb of Nigeria’s capital, Abuja,…
Moldovan airline employee prevents Russian journalist Irek Murtazin from boarding flight to Moldova
New York, November 4, 2020 – Moldovan authorities should immediately investigate an incident in which Russian journalist Irek Murtazin was prevented from boarding an Air Moldova flight to Moldova, and ensure that journalists can freely report on the country’s presidential elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 31, at Moscow’s Domodedovo Airport,…
Brazilian journalists threatened, assaulted while covering pandemic lockdown
Rio de Janeiro, November 4, 2020 — Brazilian authorities must promptly investigate the harassment of journalist Bárbara Barbosa and camera operator Renato Soder and ensure the press can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the morning of November 2, in the southern city of Florianópolis, a group of about nine unidentified…
Hong Kong police arrest, charge producer Choy Yuk Ling for research on mob attack documentary
Taipei, November 3, 2020 — Police in Hong Kong must immediately drop all charges against Choy Yuk Ling, a producer with the city’s public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), and allow journalists to report freely on matters of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Hong Kong police searched the home of…
Peruvian police raid offices of television and radio outlets in Ica, confiscate equipment
Bogotá, November 3, 2020 – Peruvian authorities must immediately allow local news outlets Cadena Sur and Radio La Mega to resume broadcasting, and return any materials confiscated during the raid of the outlets and of Radio Sistema, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 27, police officers in the southern Peruvian city of Ica raided the Cadena Sur TV…
Mexican journalist Arturo Alba shot and killed in Ciudad Juárez
Mexico City, November 2, 2020 – Mexican authorities must immediately undertake an exhaustive and credible investigation into the killing of journalist Arturo Alba Medina, and determine if he was killed in retaliation for his work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the evening of October 29, unidentified assailants shot and killed Alba, host…
Journalist Romano dos Anjos kidnapped and assaulted in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, October 29, 2020 — Brazilian authorities must promptly and thoroughly investigate the kidnapping of journalist Romano dos Anjos, bring those responsible to justice, and ensure he can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 26, at about 8:30 p.m., three unidentified men broke into dos Anjos’ home in…
Russian police detain, interrogate journalist Yana Toporkova, raid her home
New York, October 29, 2020 – Russian authorities should immediately return equipment confiscated from journalist Yana Toporkova and ensure that members of the press are not harassed by law enforcement, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 2, three men in plainclothes who identified themselves as police officers raided Toporkova’s apartment in the…