At least 7 journalists arrested throughout Turkey within 2 days
Do you have five minutes? Please take this survey to help us improve this newsletter. Thank you! In the span of just two days, at least seven journalists were arrested in Turkey in the cities of Diyarbakır, Mardin, and Istanbul. Turkey has been the world’s worst jailer of journalists for three successive years, with at…
CPJ, partners to hold vigils for slain journalist Christopher Allen
Washington, D.C., August 22, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists will join partner organizations in organizing two parallel vigils in Washington, D.C., and London to mark two years since British-American freelance journalist Christopher Allen was killed on August 26, 2017, while reporting on the civil conflict in South Sudan.
Israel eased export controls on surveillance technologies amid criticism
New York, August 22, 2019–Israeli officials confirmed that, under a rule change by the Defense Ministry, Israeli surveillance companies are able to obtain exemptions on marketing license for the sale of some products to certain countries, Reuters reported today. It is not clear which companies, and which products, were impacted; however, Reuters reported that the…
CPJ joins call for Russian authorities to end harassment of journalists covering Moscow protests
The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined seven other press freedom organizations in calling on the Russian authorities to end their harassment of journalists covering opposition protests in Moscow. Protests have taken place on four consecutive Saturdays in July and August after the local electoral commission’s decision to ban several opposition politicians from participating in…
Indonesia should restore internet access in restive Papua region
Bangkok, August 22, 2019—Indonesian authorities should immediately restore internet access to the provinces of Papua and West Papua and refrain from imposing any restrictions on journalists covering civil unrest in the region, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Pakistani news program cancelled amid defamation suits from prime minister
On August 6, 2019, Pakistani broadcaster Channel 24 HD cancelled the “Najam Sethi Show,” a news and political commentary program, after the broadcaster’s management received a phone call from an unidentified individual demanding the show be dropped, according to Najam Sethi, the show’s host, who spoke with CPJ on the phone.
Iranian photojournalist Forough Alaei detained for 5 days over soccer stadium coverage
On August 12, 2019, intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arrested freelance photojournalist Forough Alaei and five women’s rights activists, accusing them of attempting to illegally enter Tehran’s Azadi Stadium, according to a report by the BBC’s Persian service. The six were released on bail on August 17, according to Iranian press freedom…