Iraqi editor on trial for alleging corruption
Washington, March 11, 2016 – Iraqi prosecutors should drop all charges against Montadhar Naser, the editor of the independent news site Al-Aalem al-Jadeed, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The editor is scheduled to appear in a Baghdad court on March 14 to answer criminal defamation and insult charges in connection with a report…
Nigerian police detain publisher
Abuja, Nigeria, March 10, 2016 – Nigerian authorities should immediately release magazine publisher Yomi Olomofe on bail, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police detained Olomofe early this evening in Lagos, after men he had accused of severely beating him in June 2015 alleged the publisher had assaulted and attempted to extort money from…
Turkish journalist sentenced to 21 months in prison for insulting Erdoğan
Istanbul, March 9, 2016 — Turkish prosecutors should immediately drop all charges against newspaper editor Barış İnce, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. An Istanbul court on Tuesday sentenced the editor to 21 months in prison for insulting Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in an acrostic presented first as a court document in an…
Attackers beat group of journalists covering human rights abuses in North Caucasus
New York, March 9, 2016–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns today’s attack on a group of six journalists and two human rights activists from Russia, Norway, and Sweden, and urges authorities in the Russian region of Ingushetia to bring those responsible to justice.
Syrian journalist attacked in southeastern Turkey
New York, March 9, 2016 – A Syrian journalist narrowly escaped an assault by two unidentified men in the southeastern Turkish city of Urfa on Tuesday. The incident follows a string of attacks against Syrian journalists believed to have been carried out by Islamic State operatives inside Turkey.
South Sudanese journalist found beaten
Nairobi, March 8, 2016 – South Sudanese authorities should immediately launch an independent, thorough investigation into the abduction and beating of journalist Joseph Afandi and punish those responsible, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Colleagues found Afandi dumped near a graveyard in Juba today, beaten and bearing marks of torture, according to press accounts.
Court sentences man in murders of five Somali journalists
New York, March 4, 2016 — A military court in Mogadishu on Thursday found Hassan Hanafi, a former journalist, guilty of direct or indirect involvement in the killing five journalists on behalf of the armed militant group Al-Shabaab, according to news reports. The court sentenced him to death by execution, which in Somalia is usually…
Egyptian journalist alleges torture, whereabouts unknown
New York, March 3, 2016 – Egyptian authorities should immediately charge or release journalist Sabry Anwar and order an independent and thorough investigation into claims he has been tortured, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Security forces arrested Anwar, a correspondent for the independent newspaper El Badil, from his home in the Mediterranean city…
Indian television news anchor receives thousands of threatening phone calls
New York, March 2, 2016 – Indian authorities should investigate threats made against a television journalist in the state of Kerala and ensure her safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. News anchor Sindhu Sooryakumar has received thousands of threatening phone calls following a broadcast she hosted last week, she told reporters.
Station’s signal dropped by Turkey’s largest satellite provider over claims it promotes terrorism
New York, March 1, 2016–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the action taken against the privately owned channel IMC TV after Turkey’s largest satellite provider dropped its signal permanently on Friday.