Burundi prosecutors seek 12-year prison term for journalist Sandra Muhoza
Kampala, December 2, 2024—Burundi prosecutors requested a 12-year prison sentence for journalist Sandra Muhoza, who has been detained for seven months on charges of undermining the integrity of Burundi’s national territory and inciting ethnic hatred. The charges against Muhoza, a reporter for the privately owned online newspaper La Nova Burundi, are connected to messages she…
Haitian telecom authority suspends radio show, citing alleged ‘dissemination of propaganda’
Miami, November 26, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on CONATEL, Haiti’s telecommunications authority, to end its suspension of a popular evening show on Radio Mega, one of the country’s largest broadcast outlets, amid concerns the penalty was imposed without due process. “Haitian authorities should reverse their suspension of the Radio Mega show ‘Boukante Lapawòl’ (Exchange of Words)…
CPJ, partners document Venezuela’s intensified repression of journalists in new report
Venezuela has seen a sharp rise in journalist repression following the disputed July 28 reelection of President Nicolás Maduro amid fraud allegations, according to a new report published by the Committee to Protect Journalists with seven other press freedom groups. The report details a heightened environment of fear, stigmatization, and criminalization of independent voices, creating “news deserts” where millions…
‘Catastrophic’: Journalists say ethnic cleansing taking place in a news void in northern Gaza
On November 6, an Israeli strike killed at least 15 people in a house in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. But communications difficulties meant that the Gaza health ministry struggled to determine the death toll. This is just one example among countless others where local reporters were able to help verify information about potential atrocities during…
Bolivian protesters threaten to hang journalist Jurgen Guzmán
Bogotá, November 7, 2024—Bolivian authorities must thoroughly investigate violent attacks on journalists covering a wave of anti-government protests, including against reporter Jurgen Guzmán of private broadcaster Unitel TV, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On October 26, protesters blocking a highway nearthe central Bolivian town of Melga threatened…
Togolese regulator suspends Tampa Express for 3 months for criticizing minister
Dakar, November 7, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Togolese authorities to reverse their three-month suspension of Tampa Express after the bi-monthly newspaper criticized a government minister. “Togolese authorities must allow Tampa Express to resume publication without delay,” said Angela Quintal, head of CPJ’s Africa program, in Durban. “Media regulations should be used to…
Mexican journalist Paty Bunbury shot dead in Colima, 2nd killed in less than 24 hours
Mexico City, October 31, 2024—Mexican authorities must immediately and transparently investigate Wednesday’s killing of journalist Patricia Ramírez González, also known as Paty Bunbury, in the city of Colima, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Ramírez, an entertainment reporter for the privately owned Hechos newspaper, was the second Mexican journalist killed in less than 24…
Assailants shoot at El Debate newspaper office in Mexico
Mexico City, October 18, 2024—CPJ is highly concerned after unidentified attackers fired at the offices of the El Debate newspaper at 11 p.m. on October 17, in Culiacán, the capital of the northern Mexican state of Sinaloa. No one was hurt; the building’s facade, two outlet cars, and two staff members’ personal vehicles were damaged…
A ‘culture of silence’ threatens press freedom under El Salvador President Bukele
Nearly 80,000 people have been detained, and up to 200 may have died in state custody, since El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s declared a state of emergency in March 2022, temporarily suspending constitutional rights and civil liberties in the country in the name of fighting gang violence. Local journalists and human rights organizations have raised concerns that Bukele, who…
Taliban intelligence agents detain journalists Hekmat Aryan and Mahdi Ansary
New York, October 8, 2024—Taliban authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalists Hekmat Aryan and Mahdi Ansary, who were detained by General Directorate of Intelligence agents in Afghanistan’s southern Ghazni province and the capital Kabul, respectively, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. “Taliban intelligence must release journalists Mahdi Ansary and Hekmat Aryan immediately and…