Journalist Malalai Maiwand shot dead in Afghanistan
New York, December 10, 2020—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing of journalist Malalai Maiwand in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province this morning. Maiwand, a reporter at Enikass Radio and TV in Nangarhar, was on her way to work in Jalalabad, the provincial capital, around 7 a.m. when unidentified gunmen opened fire on her vehicle,…
Indian government gives go ahead for contempt proceedings against cartoonist
New Delhi, December 8, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed alarm over a petition to the Indian Supreme Court calling for it to initiate criminal contempt proceedings against political cartoonist Rachita Taneja for her comics about the judiciary. On December 5, Aditya Kashyap, a law student and member of the student union associated…
Iranian journalist Kayvan Samimi begins 3-year prison sentence over protest coverage
Washington, D.C., December 8, 2020 — Iranian authorities must release journalist Kayvan Samimi from prison and cease jailing members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, authorities arrested Samimi at the Evin Prison Sentence Enforcement Office, in Tehran, and took him to serve a three-year sentence at Evin…
Iraqi Kurdish security forces raid NRT headquarters, suspend broadcasts
New York, December 8, 2020 – Kurdish Iraqi authorities must reverse their suspension of local broadcaster NRT and allow the outlet to reopen its office and work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Early yesterday morning, security forces affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan political party raided NRT’s headquarters in the northeastern…
Two journalists detained in Mali for weeks over criticism of judiciary
New York, December 8, 2020 — Malian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalists Adama Diarra and Seydou Oumar Traoré from custody and allow them to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 20, Diarra, also known as Vieux Blen, received a summons from Mali’s Judicial Investigations Brigade, a local law…
Two men threaten to kill journalists at Croatian outlet over coverage of wedding amid coronavirus
Berlin, December 8, 2020 — Croatian authorities must quickly and thoroughly investigate the threats made to journalists at the Zadarski.hr website and Slobodna Dalmacija newspaper, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about noon on December 1, in the coastal city of Zadar, two men wearing surgical masks…
Turkish journalist Ayşegül Doğan sentenced to 6 years, 3 months in prison
Istanbul, December 7, 2020 – Turkish authorities should not contest journalist Ayşegül Doğan’s appeal, and should cease filing terrorism charges against members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Today, the Ninth Court of Serious Crimes, in the southeastern city of Diyarbakır, convicted Doğan of membership in a terrorist organization, and sentenced…
Colombian TV station employees flee country amid threats from FARC militants
Bogotá, Colombia, December 7, 2020 – Colombian authorities should thoroughly investigate death threats received by Caracol TV employees and ensure they can work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 16, Arlex Piedrahita, a camera operator with the news broadcaster Caracol TV, fled to the United States with his family after he…
Uttar Pradesh journalist dies after alleged arson attack
New Delhi, December 4, 2020 — Police in India’s Uttar Pradesh state must thoroughly investigate the death of journalist Rakesh Singh and ensure that those responsible are swiftly prosecuted, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 28, Singh, a journalist with a local Hindi newspaper Rashtriya Swaroop, died from burn injuries after his house…
Guatemalan journalist Jovanna García attacked while covering anti-government protest
Los Angeles, December 4, 2020 – Guatemalan authorities should ensure journalists’ safety while covering protests and investigate attacks on the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 28, a man participating in an anti-government demonstration in Guatemala City hit Jovanna García, a journalist with the online outlet Ruda, with an iron pole in…