Burkina Faso’s media regulator suspends BBC Africa and Voice of America
Dakar, 26 April 2024– The Burkinabe authorities should immediately lift the suspension of BBC Africa and Voice of America, and reverse the directive seeking to control local outlets’ coverage, said the Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday. On Thursday, the Superior Council of Communication (CSC), Burkina Faso’s media regulator, suspended Britain’s publicly-funded BBC Afrique and…
Brazilian court upholds conviction of killers of journalist Valério Luiz de Oliveira
UPDATE: On May 21, the Brazilian Superior Court of Justice (STJ) denied a habeas corpus request made by the defense of Maurício Borges Sampaio, one of the defendants, and upheld the conviction of four of the men accused of murdering journalist Valério Luiz de Oliveira. Figuerêdo and Sampaio began serving their sentences on June 14 and June…
Chilean journalists Daniel Labbé and Josefa Barraza face criminal charges
México City, April 25, 2024—Chilean authorities must drop criminal charges against journalists Daniel Labbé and Josefa Barraza and ensure journalists can work without restrictions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday, Labbé, an independent journalist, was sentenced to a suspended prison term of 61 days on charges of public disorder, the journalist told…
CPJ recognizes vital role of free press on democracy ahead of White House Correspondents’ Association’s annual dinner
New York, April 24, 2024 — Ahead of the White House Correspondents’ Association’s (WHCA) annual dinner on Saturday, April 27, the Committee to Protect Journalists reaffirms the importance of press freedom for democracy. This year’s WHCA dinner takes place at a time when journalists face grave threats globally and in a year when much of…
‘I couldn’t remain silent’: Son fights for Uyghur journalist’s release from Chinese prison
The last time Bahram Sintash saw his journalist father was in 2017. Qurban Mamut, an influential Uyghur editor had come to the United States for a visit but upon his return to Xinjiang in northwest China, he disappeared. Sintash later learned that his father had been swept up in China’s 2017 crackdown on Uyghurs and…
Australian journalist Avani Dias leaves India over visa delay, censorship
New Delhi, April 23, 2024—Indian authorities should safeguard press freedom and stop using visa regulations to prevent foreign journalists covering sensitive subjects, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Avani Dias, South Asia bureau chief for the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC), left India on April 19, the first day of India’s election, after being told…
CPJ welcomes call by EU’s Borrell on protecting journalists in Israel-Gaza war; urges further action by EU states
Brussels, April 23, 2024— The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Tuesday’s remarks by the European Union’s Josep Borrell about the need to protect journalists in the Israel-Gaza war and calls on all EU member states also to make or renew calls that both sides should respect international law during the conflict, take all measures to…
Russian authorities raid journalist Ksenia Klochkova´s apartment
Berlin, April 22, 2024— The raid on Fontanka journalist Ksenia Klochkova’s home underscores the ongoing erosion of Russia’s press freedoms, and authorities should immediately end all harassment and punitive actions against journalists in connection with their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On April 18, officers with the Investigative Committee of the Russian Federation (SKR)…
Azerbaijan arrests 13th journalist over alleged international donor funding
Stockholm, April 22, 2024—Azerbaijani authorities should release journalist Imran Aliyev and stop arresting journalists on allegations of illegally receiving funding from international donors, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On April 18, officers from the State Border Service, a law enforcement agency, detained Aliyev, founder and chief executive of the independent news outlet Meclis.info,…
Georgian police assault at least 4 journalists covering ‘foreign agents’ bill protests
Stockholm, April 19, 2024—The Georgian Parliament should reject a draft law that would designate media outlets as “foreign agents,” and the authorities should investigate allegations of police brutality against journalists, hold those responsible accountable, and protect media members reporting on the ongoing protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Friday. On April 17, the…