Press law debate and journalist’s release signal hope for Burundi’s media
Burundi journalists may have more space to report freely ahead of the country’s controversial elections this year after the legislative assembly pushed for amendments to a draconian press law and a radio director was released on bail.
Ethiopia suspected of spying on independent TV network ESAT
New York, March 10, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by research that indicates the Ethiopian government used spyware to monitor journalists at U.S.-based Ethiopian Satellite Television (ESAT) in what appears to be a continuation of surveillance first reported in February 2014.
#FreeThePress
Press Uncuffed #FreeThePress Spotlight Please help spread the word Press Uncuffed is a campaign CPJ ran in partnership with students from the University of Maryland’s Philip Merrill College of Journalism in 2015 and early 2016 to raise awareness of imprisoned journalists and to call for their release. The students, led by Knight chair in public…
#FreeThePress: Ta Phong Tan
Press Uncuffed #FreeThePress Spotlight Medium: Internet Charge: Anti-State Imprisoned: September 5, 2011 Ta Phong Tan Vietnam 1,476 days in prison RELEASED Ta Phong Tan journalist was released on September 19, 2015 after serving three years of a 10-year prison term given to her in September 2012 on anti-state charges in connection with her blog. Tan,…
#FreeThePress: Mahmoud Abou Zeid
Press Uncuffed #FreeThePress Spotlight Medium: Print Charge: No Charge Imprisoned: August 14, 2013 Mahmoud Abou Zeid, “Shawkan” Egypt To learn more about the threats facing journalists in Egypt from the journalists themselves watch CPJ’s Under Threat: Abou Zeid, a freelance photographer, was detained while covering clashes between Egyptian security forces and supporters of ousted President…
#FreeThePress: Yusuf Ruzimuradov
Press Uncuffed #FreeThePress Spotlight Medium: Print Charge: Anti-State Imprisoned: March 15, 1999 Yusuf Ruzimuradov Uzbekistan Ruzimuradov, a reporter for the opposition newspaper Erk,is one of the two longest-imprisoned journalists worldwide, CPJ research shows. He was jailed on politicized anti-state charges after extradition from Ukraine. In a September 2014 report on political prisoners in Uzbekistan, the…
#FreeThePress: Jason Rezaian
Press Uncuffed #FreeThePress Spotlight Medium: Print, Internet Charge: Anti-State Imprisoned: July 22, 2014 Jason Rezaian Iran RELEASED Jason Rezaian was released from prison on January 16, 2016 as part of a prisoner swap deal, according to a report in The Washington Post that said U.S. and Iranian officials had confirmed his release. Rezaian, correspondent for…
#FreeThePress: Reeyot Alemu
Press Uncuffed #FreeThePress Spotlight Medium: Print Charge: Anti-State Imprisoned: June 21, 2011 Reeyot Alemu Ethiopia RELEASED After 4 years in prison on anti-state charges and amid deteriorating health conditions, Reeyot has been released. Thank you all who supported her! Ethiopian security forces arrested Reeyot, a prominent, critical columnist for the leading independent weekly Feteh, at…
#FreeThePress: Bheki Makhubu
Press Uncuffed #FreeThePress Spotlight Medium: Print Charge: Retaliatory Imprisoned: April 9, 2014 Bheki Makhubu Swaziland 447 days in prison RELEASED On June 30, 2015, the Swaziland Supreme Court released Bheki Makhubu from prison after the crown prosecution chose not to oppose his appeal against his conviction. Makhubu, editor of the monthly news magazine The Nation,…
#FreeThePress: Khadija Ismayilova
Press Uncuffed #FreeThePress Spotlight Medium: Broadcast Charge: Retaliatory Imprisoned: December 5, 2014 Khadija Ismayilova Azerbaijan 538 days in prison RELEASED Khadija was released from prison on May 25. She spoke to CPJ a few hours after her release and thanked CPJ for fighting on her behalf. Ismayilova, an award-winning investigative reporter and a program host…