Azerbaijani newspapers evicted, editor threatened
New York, May 21, 2007—Local authorities evicted the independent Russian-language weekly Realny Azerbaijan and the Azeri-language daily Gündalik Azarbaycan from their Baku offices on Sunday night, saying that the publications’ building violates safety regulations. The action comes amid a series of threats, attacks, and cases of harassment targeting the muckraking newspapers—including, most recently, an anonymous…
Russian investigators eye ’private life’ motive in Safronov probe
New York, May 21, 2007—Russian authorities are believed to be focusing on Kommersant reporter Ivan Safronov’s private life as the likely motive in his mysterious death in March, several Russian news outlets reported over the weekend. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on authorities today to give thorough consideration to Safronov’s sensitive professional work as…
Haitian radio journalist shot to death
New York, May 18, 2007—Haitian authorities must conduct a prompt and thorough investigation into the murder of radio journalist Alix Joseph, who was gunned down on Wednesday night in the northern city of Gonaïves, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. CPJ is investigating possible links between Joseph’s murder and his professional work. At 9:30…
Two ABC News journalists killed in Baghdad
New York, May 18, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Thursday’s murder of two ABC News journalists by unidentified gunmen in Baghdad. Gunmen in two cars ambushed and killed cameraman Alaa Uldeen Aziz, 33, and soundman Saif Laith Yousuf, 26, on their way home from the network’s Baghdad bureau, ABC News reported.
CPJ condemns assault on Pakistani journalist
New York, May 18, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the continuing escalation of attacks on journalists amid Pakistan’s deteriorating security situation. The latest incident is an assault on Shakil Ahmad Turabi, editor-in-chief of the South Asian News Agency (SANA), in Islamabad. Turabi was pulled from his car and beaten in a commercial…
Police detain foreign journalists on the way to opposition rally
May 18, 2007 Adrian Bloomfield, The Daily TelegraphAlan Cullison, Wall Street JournalAllard Detiger, Dutch Broadcasting Foundation Boris Raitshuster, Focus HARASSED Russian police detained three foreign journalists in a Moscow airport as they prepared to fly to the southern city of Samara to cover a rally led by former chess world champion and Kremlin critic Garry…
In Mexico, second grenade attack against northern newspaper
New York, May 17, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns Wednesday’s grenade assault outside the offices of Cambio de Sonora, the second explosive attack in the last month against the Hermosillo-based daily. At 3:35 p.m., a grenade exploded in Cambio de Sonora’s parking lot in Hermosillo, about 1,000 miles (1,600 kilometers) northwest of Mexico City,…
In Somalia, two journalists killed in ambush of official’s motorcade
New York, May 17, 2007—Two radio reporters covering a provincial governor in south-central Somalia were gunned down on Wednesday after the official’s motorcade was ambushed by clan militia. News editor Abshir Ali Gabre and reporter Ahmed Hassan Mahad of Radio Jowhar were killed when the motorcade of Mohammed Omar Deele, governor of the Middle Shabelle…
CPJ alarmed by gunfire outside Gaza news buildings; urges factions to halt
New York, May 16, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned that the safety of dozens of journalists was endangered by heavy factional fighting today around two Gaza City buildings housing several news organizations. According to CPJ sources and international news reports, Fatah gunmen took over the roofs of the Shawa and Hosari Tower—which…
In Azerbaijan, two journalists jailed for defaming president’s uncle
New York, May 16, 2007—A court in the Azerbaijani capital, Baku, sentenced two journalists to 30 months in prison apiece today on charges of defaming President Ilham Aliyev’s uncle. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the verdict to be overturned on appeal, for the journalists to be freed in the meantime, and for the…