Mexican columnist, abducted, found dead
Mexico City, June 5, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder of Mexican columnist and government spokesman Jorge Torres Palacios and calls on authorities to fully investigate the crime and bring those responsible to justice. Torres’ body was found in a bag in an orchard in Guerrero state on Monday, three days after he…
Reporter disparaged in Turkish parliament, journalists harassed
New York, June 3, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by today’s reports that Turkish Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in Parliament called CNN journalist Ivan Watson a “flunky” and said the foreign press was “literally executing their duties as agents” in connection with the coverage of protests in Istanbul. The move follows the…
US government should withdraw Risen subpoena
New York, June 2, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the United States Department of Justice to withdraw a subpoena seeking to force journalist James Risen to give testimony that would reveal a confidential source. The Supreme Court said today it would not consider Risen’s appeal of a lower court ruling that he must…
Journalists, editors detained in Crimea, eastern Ukraine
New York, June 2, 2014–At least five journalists in Crimea and mainland Ukraine were detained today, two of whom were still being held, by Russian authorities and pro-Russia separatists, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the detentions and urges all sides of the crisis in Ukraine to allow journalists to do…
Prominent show canceled as Egypt moves to monitor Internet use
New York, June 2, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by reports that a popular Egyptian TV host has taken his show off the air, citing harassment. CPJ is also disturbed by reports that Egyptian authorities are moving to monitor social media.
China detains journalist amid widening crackdown
Hong Kong, May 29, 2014–Another journalist has been detained in China ahead of the 25th anniversary of the Tiananmen Square crackdown, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the detention of Xin Jian, who was arrested on May 13 and accused of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.”
Ethiopia holds editor-in-chief without charge
New York, May 28, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the detention of a journalist without charge since Monday and calls on Ethiopian authorities to release him immediately. An Ethiopian court on Tuesday extended by 14 days the pre-trial detention of Elias Gebru, according to news reports.Ethiopia’s federal police in the capital, Addis Ababa, summoned…
Prominent journalist killed in Libya
New York, May 27, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder in Benghazi of a prominent Libyan journalist on Monday and calls on authorities to hold the killers to account. Muftah Bu Zeid, the editor-in-chief of Brnieq, a privately owned weekly, was well-known for his criticism of Islamist militias in the country, according to…