CPJ welcomes release of freelance journalist Josh Wolf
New York, April 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes today’s news that freelance journalist Josh Wolf, the longest imprisoned journalist in U.S. history, was released from a federal prison in California. “We’re very relieved by news that Josh Wolf was finally released from federal prison, and we are looking forward to speaking with him,”…
BBC correspondent still missing in Gaza after 22 days
New York, April 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists today renewed its call for the release of BBC correspondent Alan Johnston, seized in Gaza more than three weeks ago, amid intensifying pressure by Palestinian journalists on government officials to do more. Despite reports that the Hamas-led Palestinian government had identified Johnston’s abductors and expected him…
Neo-Nazis threaten to kill independent journalist
New York, April 3, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by death threats made against Dinko Gruhonjic, head of the Vojvodina branch of the independent news agency BETA and chairman of the Independent Journalists’ Association of Vojvodina, by a local neo-Nazi group. The threats, which were posted on a neo-Nazi Web site this week,…
Central African Republic: President of private press group sentenced to prison
New York, April 2, 2007— A criminal court in the Central African Republic’s capital, Bangui, today sentenced to prison the president of a private press group, who has been jailed since March 12 in connection with statements critical of the governmental High Communication Council (HCC), according to news reports. Michel Alkhaly Ngady—who heads a group…
Zimbabwean reporter jailed, beaten and paper threatened over coverage
New York, April 2, 2007— A reporter of an independent Zimbabwean weekly was jailed, beaten, and charged by police in the capital Harare in connection with coverage of the recent unrest in Zimbabwe, according to local journalists. Gift Phiri of the London-based The Zimbabwean was charged with practicing journalism without accreditation under Zimbabwe’s draconian Access…
Nearly 300 journalists urge release of abducted Afghan colleague
New York, April 5, 2007—Nearly 300 journalists have signed an open letter urging the release of abducted Afghan journalist Ajmal Nakshbandi, who has been held captive by the Taliban since March 4. Those signing the letter represent an array of local and international news organizations, including CNN, The Associated Press, Reuters, Time, The New York…
US-based Gambian journalist detained
New York, March 30, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about reports that a U.S.-based Gambian journalist and outspoken critic of President Yahyah Jammeh has been detained since Wednesday by security services. Fatou Jaw Manneh, political commentator with the U.S.-based opposition news Web site All-Gambian.net and former senior reporter of the private Daily Observer,…
CPJ alarmed by Taliban threat to kill Afghan journalist Ajmal Nakshbandi
New York, March 30, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports that Taliban leader Mullah Dadullah has threatened to kill kidnapped Afghan journalist and translator Ajmal Nakshbandi unless President Hamid Karzai negotiates his release. Ajmal remains in Taliban custody nearly four weeks after he was abducted in Helmand province on March 4, along…
Media mogul receives two-year jail sentence for defamation
New York, March 30, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the two year prison term on criminal defamation charges handed down to firebrand and Manager Media Group founder Sondhi Limthongkul, who is appealing the sentence and remains free on bail. A Bangkok criminal court on Thursday sentenced Sondhi in relation to comments he…
CPJ calls for release of imprisoned journalist Josh Wolf
New York, March 29, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called for the release of video blogger Josh Wolf, who has been jailed longer than any reporter in U.S. history after refusing to provide raw video footage of July 2005 San Francisco street protests to a federal grand jury. “No more purpose is served by…