Azerbaijan courts extend pre-trial detention of 6 Abzas Media journalists
Stockholm, March 15, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday condemned a series of court decisions in Azerbaijan extending the pre-trial detention of six journalists with the anti-corruption investigative news outlet Abzas Media. “As Azerbaijan sweeps up and detains critical journalists across the country, this latest decision to extend the incarceration of Abzas Media staff…
Pakistan court remands journalist Asad Ali Toor in cybercrime case
New York, March 15, 2024—Pakistan authorities must immediately and unconditionally release independent journalist Asad Ali Toor, return his devices, and cease harassing him in retaliation for his journalistic work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On March 8, a court in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, ordered Toor be sent to jail on a 14-day judicial…
Indian journalist Ashutosh Negi arrested for reporting on murder investigation
New Delhi, March 14, 2024—Indian authorities must drop the charges against journalist Ashutosh Negi, who was arrested in connection with his reporting on a murder investigation in the northern state of Uttarakhand, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Negi, editor of the weekly Hindi newspaper Jago Uttarakhand, was arrested on March 5 from his…
Armed men harass, threaten to shoot two reporters covering land dispute in Philippines
Bangkok, March 13, 2024—Philippine authorities must swiftly identify and prosecute those behind the shooting threats and harassment against Rappler reporter Joann Manabat and K5 News FM Olongapo reporter Rowena Quejada, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On March 12, armed men dressed in red and white shirts with Clarkhills Properties Corporation verbally barred Manabat…
Kyrgyzstan court extends pre-trial detention of 8 anti-corruption journalists
Stockholm, March 13, 2024—Kyrgyzstan authorities should immediately drop charges against current and former Temirov Live staff, release all eight detained journalists, and reverse its crackdown on the independent press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Tuesday, the Pervomaisky District Court in the capital, Bishkek, extended by two months the pre-trial detention of Temirov…
Ethiopian journalist Muhiyadin Mohamed Abdullahi faces up to 5 years in prison on false news charges
Nairobi, March 12, 2024—Authorities in Ethiopia should unconditionally release journalist Muhiyadin Mohamed Abdullahi, who was arrested almost a month ago on February 13, and desist from arbitrarily detaining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Muhiyadin, who publishes reporting and commentary on his Muxiyediin show Facebook page, was arrested by security…
Azerbaijani police raid Toplum TV, detain journalists over alleged currency smuggling
Stockholm, March 11, 2024—Azerbaijani authorities should release Toplum TV’s founder Alasgar Mammadli and journalist Mushfig Jabbar, drop all charges against the independent news outlet’s staff, and allow the media to work freely and without reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On March 6, dozens of plainclothes police officers in the capital, Baku, raided…
Russia holding Crimean journalists Rustem Osmanov and Aziz Azizov for 2 months on terror charges
New York, March 8, 2024—Russian authorities in Ukraine’s Crimea must drop all charges against journalists Rustem Osmanov and Aziz Azizov, release them immediately, and stop prosecuting the press in retaliation for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. At around 4 a.m. on Tuesday, in the southern Crimea town of Bakhchysarai, officers with…
Court documents allege Cameroon counterintelligence spied on murdered journalist Martinez Zogo
Dakar, March 8, 2024—Cameroonian authorities must disclose which journalists, in addition to murdered journalist Martinez Zogo, have been targeted for surveillance by the country’s counterintelligence service and ensure that spying on members of the media is immediately discontinued, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. The existence of a surveillance operation that allegedly spied on…
Mozambican authorities accuse journalists of colluding with ‘terrorists’
New York, March 7, 2024—Senior officials in Mozambique’s northern Cabo Delgado province must withdraw comments accusing journalists of colluding with terrorists and publishing false news and the authorities must allow the media to report on the conflict without intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Thursday. In a public address on February 17 in the…