Why release of two journalists in Ethiopia does not signal end to press crackdown
On January 10, radio journalists Darsema Sori and Khalid Mohammed were released from prison after serving lengthy sentences related to their work at the Ethiopian faith-based station Radio Bilal. Despite their release and Prime Minister Hailemariam Desalegn’s promise earlier this month to free political prisoners, Ethiopia’s use of imprisonment, harassment, and surveillance means that the…
Two Nigerian journalists assaulted after denied access to Buhari appearance in Kaduna
Nigerian police on January 4, 2018, denied at least 10 journalists access to the public commissioning of a dry port in Nigeria’s northwestern Kaduna state, and then assaulted at least two of the reporters, according to accounts form the two reporters, Enemaku Ojochigbe and Taye Adeni, and the Daily Trust newspaper.
Wife of critical Chinese-American journalist disappears in China
Washington, D.C., January 18, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the disappearance of the wife of a critical American-Chinese journalist and today called on police in China to disclose whether they have her in custody. Chen Xiaoping told CPJ that his wife, Li Huaiping, disappeared on September 18 after he carried out a…
Tanzania slaps fines on 5 TV stations after they report on alleged human rights abuses
Nairobi, January 12, 2018–Tanzanian authorities should immediately annul fines levied against five television stations that the country’s regulatory commission accused of broadcasting seditious and unbalanced content, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Saudi Arabian authorities arrest local journalist following critical commentary
New York, January 5, 2018 — Saudi Arabian authorities must immediately release Saleh al-Shehi from detention and stop arresting journalists who criticize the country’s government, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Saudi security forces arrested al-Shehi, a columnist for the Saudi Arabian daily al-Watan, on January 3, according to Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi…
Broadcaster NRT closed, KNN journalists assaulted amid protests in Iraqi Kurdistan
Beirut, December 20, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the closure of an independent television broadcaster by the Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq, and attacks on journalists covering anti-austerity protests held yesterday in the same region.
Journalist shot dead in India’s Uttar Pradesh state
New Delhi, December 6, 2017–Authorities in India’s Uttar Pradesh state must identify the motive in the shooting death of Naveen Gupta, a stringer for the Hindi-language Hindustan newspaper, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Unknown assailants on November 30 shot Gupta dead in the town of Bilhaur in Uttar Pradesh state.
Russia designates nine U.S.-funded news outlets as foreign agents
New York, December 5, 2017–Russia’s Justice Ministry announced today that it has designated nine U.S. government-funded press outlets as “foreign agents,” under a newly expanded law, according to reports. The ministry named the outlets as the U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and seven of its affiliates, and Voice of America. Under the law, outlets…