Kazakhstan government-backed security certificate raises censorship, surveillance concerns
New York, July 22, 2019 — Telecommunications providers in Kazakhstan’s capital, Nur-Sultan, have requested internet users to install a security certificate issued by government authorities onto their personal devices, which could compromise their digital security, according to a report by the BBC and Adil Nurmakov, a political scientist and digital media expert based in Nur-Sultan,…
Killing of radio journalist highlights dangers for local reporters in Colombia’s border region
The otherwise Spartan studio of Samaniego Stereo is adorned by a white banner emblazoned with the image of Libardo Montenegro, a veteran reporter for the community radio station in southern Colombia who was shot dead on June 11. Under his photo are the words: “You will live in our hearts forever.”
Syrian journalist Alaa Nayef al-Khader al-Khalidi died under state torture, official tells family
Beirut, July 22, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Syrian authorities to immediately account for all journalists who they have arrested during the years-long civil war, including those who have died in state custody. Most recently, the family of Alaa Nayef al-Khader al-Khalidi say they learned that the freelance photojournalist allegedly…
Ingushetia court orders journalist Rashid Maysigov to remain in pre-trial detention for two months
Washington, D.C., July 22, 2019 — Authorities in the Republic of Ingushetia must release journalist Rashid Maysigov unconditionally and investigate allegations that he was tortured in custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Journalists attacked by counterprotesters in Hong Kong
Taipei, July 22, 2019 — A group of masked individuals beat journalists, demonstrators, and passersby with sticks and metal rods at Hong Kong’s Yuen Long metro station after an anti-extradition bill protest concluded last night, according to news reports. At least 45 people were injured in the attacks, according to those reports.
CPJ leads call for new European Commission President to prioritize press freedom
CPJ and 19 other organizations write to new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and urge her to ensure that media freedom, the protection of journalists, and EU citizens’ access to information are top political priorities during her term.
Pakistani broadcaster Geo News blocked amid prime minister’s visit to Washington
New York, July 21, 2019 — Pakistan’s most popular news channel, the privately owned Geo News broadcaster, has been forced off the air or had its channel number abruptly changed in many parts of the country, according to reports on social media and the broadcaster’s managing director, Azhar Abbas, who spoke to CPJ via messaging…
Turkish court sentences documentary filmmakers to 4 and a half years
Istanbul, July 19, 2019–Documentary filmmakers Ertuğrul Mavioğlu and Çayan Demirel, directors of the 2015 documentary movie “Bakur” (“North”), about the outlawed Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), were sentenced to four years and six months in prison yesterday for “making propaganda for a [terrorist] organization” by a court in the southeastern city of Batman, according to news…
Honoring brave journalists
Do you have five minutes? Please take this survey to help us improve this newsletter. Thank you! On July 12 in Hyderabad, India, police detained Mojo TV’s Revathi Pogadadanda. In a series of tweets, Pogadadanda said police arrived without a warrant to arrest her and tried to seize her phone. The case stemmed from a…
For Turkish journalists in Berlin exile, threats remain, but in different forms
For Can Dündar, sitting in the audience of a theater performance near Dortmund in Germany in May was an emotional moment. In an interview with CPJ, he recalled how during the premiere night, he watched the main actor on stage playing a journalist as he was imprisoned in Turkey, had his house searched, his books…