Journalists barred from covering Zimbabwe’s first lady
Lusaka, May 2, 2023—Zimbabwe’s office of the presidency must ensure that all journalists can freely report on First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa’s public engagements, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On April 24, Mnangagwa’s security aides barred five journalists from covering her visit to the Museum of African Liberation in Harare, according to media reports, a statement by the Zimbabwean chapter of the regional press freedom group Media…
Pakistani journalist Gohar Wazir abducted, allegedly electrocuted
New York, May 2, 2023—Pakistan authorities must conduct an immediate and impartial investigation into the abduction and alleged electrocution of journalist Gohar Wazir and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. At around 4 p.m. on April 19, five unidentified men abducted Wazir, a reporter for the privately owned Pashto-language…
Nigerian justice minister misrepresents CPJ research on attacks on journalists
New York, April 28, 2023—Nigerian authorities should revise recent statements falsely characterizing CPJ’s research on the press freedom situation in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Thursday, April 27, the state-run News Agency of Nigeria reported that Attorney General and Minister of Justice Abubakar Malami described CPJ’s research in a meeting…
At least 4 journalists formally arrested, 1 more detained ahead of Turkey elections
Istanbul, April 28, 2023 — Turkish authorities should immediately release all journalists and media workers imprisoned for their work and stop interfering with the press ahead of the country’s May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Tuesday, April 25, authorities in the southeastern province of Diyarbakır detained at…
Guinea-Bissau’s Radio Capital FM silenced by authorities over licensing dispute
New York, April 27, 2023–Authorities in Guinea-Bissau should immediately allow the privately owned Radio Capital FM back on air and not use the late payment of license fees as a pretext to silence a critical media outlet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. In a January 9 letter, the Ministry of Media ordered Radio…
Russia orders arrest of Bellingcat journalist Christo Grozev
Paris, April 27, 2023—Russian authorities should immediately drop all charges against journalist Christo Grozev and stop seeking to arrest independent journalists in retaliation for their reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On April 21, during a closed-door hearing, a court in Moscow ordered Grozev’s arrest for allegedly crossing the Russian border illegally, according…
Producer Bohdan Bitik killed, reporter Corrado Zunino injured by sniper fire covering Ukraine war
Paris, April 27, 2023—Russian and Ukrainian authorities should swiftly investigate the recent attack that killed Ukrainian producer Bohdan Bitik and injured Italian correspondent Corrado Zunino, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, April 26, snipers opened fire on Bitik, a Ukrainian producer with the Italian daily La…
Radio journalist Dumesky Kersaint shot and killed in Haiti
New York, April 27, 2023—Haitian authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Dumesky Kersaint, determine if he was killed in connection with his work, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Between the evening of April 15 and the morning of April 16, Kersaint was shot and killed…
Chinese authorities detain Taiwan-based publisher and radio host Li Yanhe on national security charge
Taipei, April 26, 2023—Chinese authorities must immediately release radio host Li Yanhe and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. In March, state security officers in Shanghai detained Li, a book publisher and radio host for Taiwanese public broadcaster Radio Taiwan International, who goes by the name Fucha, while he…
Turkish police detain at least 9 journalists in Diyarbakır crackdown
Istanbul, April 25, 2023—Turkish authorities should release all recently detained journalists held in retaliation for their work and ensure that the country’s anti-terror laws are not weaponized against the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. In the early hours of Tuesday, April 25, authorities in 21 cities throughout the southeastern province of Diyarbakır…