As police seize Newsnight laptop, concerns grow at reach of UK counter-terrorism measures
For journalists investigating jihadist networks, the UK is proving to be no safe haven. British police used special powers under the Terrorism Act 2000 in August to seize the laptop of Secunder Kermani, a reporter for BBC Two’s flagship news show “Newsnight,” according to reports. “They required the BBC to hand over communication between the…
CPJ condemns Turkish raids, takeover of critical Koza İpek news outlets
Istanbul, October 28, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns this week’s raids on several pro-opposition media outlets belonging to the Koza İpek Group. Police broke into the company’s building in Istanbul today and shut down live television broadcasts, two days after a Turkish court ordered the trustees of the privately owned company to be replaced,…
Open Government Partnership Global Summit
On October 28, join Carlos Lauría and Joel Simon at a panel on press freedom and open government at the Open Government Partnership Global Summit. The panel will feature a debate about press freedom in Mexico and will be moderated by CPJ’s executive director Joel Simon. The discussion will take place in a “fishbowl” format…
CPJ urges Kerry to call for release of imprisoned journalists in Central Asia
Dear U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry: The Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to bring to your attention the deteriorating climate for press freedom in Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. As you prepare to head to these countries later this week, we ask that you put press freedom on the agenda of your meetings with high-level government officials.
We need a free press to succeed, Tunisia’s leaders tell CPJ
Prime Minister vows to protect journalists Tunis, October 28, 2015–Tunisia’s senior leadership vowed in meetings with the Committee to Protect Journalists in Tunis on Wednesday to uphold press freedom as the country transitions to democracy, and to protect journalists assaulted by security forces or threatened by extremists.
Journalist arrested in restive Chhattisgarh state in India
On September 29, 2015, police in the central Indian state of Chhattisgarh arrested a journalist on what his colleagues said were fabricated charges in connection with his reporting on human rights abuses by local authorities, according to news reports.
In Tunisia, press freedom erodes amid security fears
Hard-earned press freedom in Tunisia is under threat as journalists are squeezed between violent extremists and security services sensitive to criticism in the wake of deadly terror attacks. While Islamist militants threaten the media, the government introduces restrictive legislation and security forces legally harass and even assault journalists. In this climate, which is further restricted…
Security fears lead to press freedom decline in Tunisia
Threats of violence and government restrictions lead to self-censorship, CPJ report finds New York, October 27, 2015–Tunisian press freedom is under threat as journalists are squeezed between violent extremists and security services sensitive to criticism, CPJ finds in a report released today, “In Tunisia, press freedom erodes amid security fears.” The report finds that while…
Egypt arrests three journalists in five days, whereabouts of two unknown
New York, October 26, 2015–At least three journalists have been arrested in the past five days in Egypt, and the whereabouts of two of them are unknown, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egyptian authorities to disclose the reasons for the journalists’ arrests and release them immediately.
All that glitters is not gold – The state of media freedom in the EU
In Germany, the editors of the political blog netzpolitik.org were recently accused of treason; in Hungary internal censorship is becoming increasingly common as pro-government media enjoy preferential treatment; in Spain, a highly controversial security law, known as the “Gag Law,” evokes fears that journalists can no longer freely report from demonstrations. What is the state…