In China, one journalist freed, another expected to be released soon
New York, September 14, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes reports than Zhao Yan, a Chinese research assistant for The New York Times, is expected to be freed on Saturday morning, according to the Times. If released, Zhao will have served his combined three-year sentence in prison and pretrial detention on a fraud conviction,…
Outrage as 14-year-old son of Pakistani journalist beaten for his father’s reporting
New York, September 14, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists is outraged by the assault on Hassan Sharjil, the 14-year-old son of prominent journalist Shakil Ahmad Turabi, editor-in-chief of the South Asian News Agency. Hassan was beaten by a man outside his school today in Islamabad as he was dropped off for classes at around…
Radio reporter wounded while covering social protest
New York, September 13, 2007—Argentine radio reporter Adela Gómez was injured Wednesday after national border guards fired rubber bullets into a crowd of protesters blocking a road in the southern province of Santa Cruz. Gómez, a reporter with radio station FM XXI in the city of Caleta Olivia, about 1,400 miles (2,300 kilometers) south of…
Four editors sentenced to jail
New York, September 13, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Cairo court’s ruling today that sentences four independent editors to one-year jail terms for publishing “false information.” Editors Ibrahim Eissa of the daily Al-Dustour, Wael al-Abrashy of the weekly Sawt al-Umm, Adel Hammouda of the weekly Al-Fajr, and Abdel Halim Kandil, former editor of…
Gambian journalist still held despite receiving bail
New York, September 13, 2007—A prominent radio producer at the Gambia Radio and Television Services is still being held in jail despite being granted bail yesterday. Producer Malick Jones was charged with communicating to an unnamed foreign journalist sensitive information in violation of state security, a charge made under the Official Secret Act. Jones, along…
In Russia, skepticism greets prosecutors’ ruling in Safronov death
New York, September 12, 2007—Moscow prosecutors closed the criminal investigation into the March death of Kommersant defense correspondent Ivan Safronov because of “an absence of foul play,” the business daily reported today. The Central Administrative District prosecutor concluded that Safronov took his own life “for subjective, private reasons,” Kommersant said. The prosecutor’s office disclosed few…
Rwandan officials threaten to force press to reveal sources
New York, September 11, 2007— Top officials accused Rwanda’s independent press on Sunday of undermining the government and threatened to force journalists to reveal their sources, according to local journalists. During a four-hour state television broadcast in the capital, Kigali, featuring a panel of government ministers and representatives from the security forces, Interior Minister Sheikh…
In Mexico, three reporters die covering truck explosion
New York, September 10, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists mourns the death of three Mexican reporters killed during a blast on Sunday night while covering a collision between a truck carrying dynamite and a vehicle in the northern Coahuila state. At least 34 people were killed and 150 injured in the explosion, The Associated Press…
Azerbaijani reporter given one-year sentence
New York, December 10, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about a one-year suspended sentence given today to Ilgar Nasibov, Nakhchivan correspondent for the U.S. government-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. Nasibov was released today after being held on a separate defamation charge since last week.
Supreme Court ruling limits manipulation of state ads
New York, September 7, 2007—An Argentine Supreme Court ruling condemning the province of Neuquén for the withdrawal of state advertising from a critical daily will help protect the media from government manipulation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On Wednesday, Argentina’s highest tribunal ruled the government cannot suppress or substantially reduce official advertising to…