Croatian government minister Ivan Šipić targets journalist Ante Tomić in online attacks
New York, October 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Croatian authorities to condemn the October 5 online attacks against columnist Ante Tomić made by Ivan Šipić, Minister of Demography and Immigration, and ensure journalists can safely do their jobs without fear of reprisal in the country. “We are concerned by Minister Ivan Šipić’s rhetoric targeting columnist…
DRC journalists Patrick Lokala, Érasme Kasongo arrested, questioned over reporting
Kinshasa, October 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to release journalist Patrick Lokala, and drop all legal proceedings against him and another reporter, Érasme Kasongo Kalenga, following their separate arrests on Monday, October 7. “Authorities in the DRC should swiftly and unconditionally release Patrick Lokala…
Authorities suspend Voice of America, extending censorship trend in Burkina Faso
Dakar, October 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Burkinabe authorities to lift the suspension of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Voice of America (VOA), which is the latest outlet to be censored for discussing insecurity in the Sahel region. “Instead of seeking to constrain the media available to people in their country, Burkinabe…
Italian court upholds police search of journalist Simone Innocenti’s home
New York, October 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Italian authorities to end all legal proceedings against investigative journalist Simone Innocenti, charged with leaking “official secrets” in connection with his reporting, following an October 4 appeals court decision to uphold the legality of the search of his home and seizure of his devices. “The Italian appeals court’s…
Italian journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini arrested in absentia over Russia war report
Berlin, October 8, 2024—Russian authorities should immediately cancel the arrest warrants issued in absentia for Italian journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini, charged with illegal border crossing following their August 14 report on the Ukrainian incursion into Russia’s Kursk region, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. “The arrest warrants for Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini are a clear attempt to intimidate and…
At least 3 Ukrainian journalists assaulted over their work
New York, October 8, 2024—Ukrainian authorities should swiftly investigate the recent attacks on journalists Yuriy Leskiv, Elmira Shagabuddinova, and Olena Hnitetska, and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. “CPJ condemns the intimidation of journalists Yuriy Leskiv, Elmira Shagabuddinova, and Olena Hnitetska, and calls on Ukrainian authorities to ensure timely…
Kashmiri journalist Sajad Gul released on bail after more than 2-year detention
New Delhi, October 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of Kashmiri journalist Sajad Gul on bail — after more than two years of arbitrary detention on multiple charges — and calls on authorities in the Indian-administered Jammu and Kashmir to immediately end all prosecution against him. “The release of Kashmiri journalist Sajad Gul on bail…
Algerian journalist fined, sentenced to 1 year on insult charges
New York, October 8, 2024—Algerian authorities must release the Djelfa Tribune editor-in-chief, Badreddine Guermat, and should not contest if he chooses to appeal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. The journalist was sentenced to one year in prison and fined 100,000 dinars (US$752) on Sunday, October 6, on charges of insulting a state institution…
Taliban intelligence agents detain journalists Hekmat Aryan and Mahdi Ansary
New York, October 8, 2024—Taliban authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalists Hekmat Aryan and Mahdi Ansary, who were detained by General Directorate of Intelligence agents in Afghanistan’s southern Ghazni province and the capital Kabul, respectively, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. “Taliban intelligence must release journalists Mahdi Ansary and Hekmat Aryan immediately and…
Chad’s Le Visionnaire newspaper and leadership suspended over fraud report
Dakar, October 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Chadian authorities to permit the privately owned Le Visionnaire newspaper to resume operations after it was suspended from publishing for three months over a report into government mismanagement. Two senior staff were also banned from practicing journalism because they did not have press identity cards….