Barred from international travel, writer misses Courage Award ceremony
New York, October 12, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly protests a travel ban imposed on Iranian journalist and human rights activist Emadeddin Baghi, who was due to be honored here today with an award recognizing his courage in fighting injustice. Iranian officials confiscated Baghi’s passport at Tehran’s airport on October 4, and prevented him…
Authorities ban journalists from NajafBan later lifted
New York, August 16, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemns attempts during the weekend by Iraqi authorities to bar media from the Iraqi city of Najaf, where U.S. and Iraqi forces have been fighting Shiite insurgents. According to CPJ sources in Iraq, most journalists were forced to leave the city as a result of…
Government agent acquitted in photographer’s death
New York, July 26, 2004—An intelligence agent charged with killing Canadian-Iranian freelance photographer Zahra Kazemi in July 2003 was acquitted on Saturday, July 24. Citing insufficient evidence, an Iranian court acquitted Agent Mohamed Reza Aqdam Ahmadi of the “semi-intentional murder” of Kazemi, who died while in official custody last year after she was detained for…
TRIAL IN CASE OF MURDERED PHOTOJOURNALIST ENDS AMID CHARGES OF GOVERNMENT COVER-UP
New York, July 19, 2004—The trial of an intelligence agent accused of killing Canadian-Iranian freelance photographer Zahra Kazemi in July 2003 was suddenly brought to a close on Sunday, July 18, amid accusations from Kazemi’s legal team of misconduct. An Iranian court abruptly ended the trial of Agent Mohamed Reza Aqdam just one day after…
CPJ APPOINTS TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS
New York, May 19, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today announced the appointment of two new board members: Andrew Alexander, Washington, D.C., bureau chief for Cox Newspapers, and Norman Pearlstine, editor-in-chief of Time Inc. “I am pleased to welcome Andy and Norman to CPJ’s board. They each bring extensive international experience, impressive management skills,…
CPJ condemns journalist’s murder
Dear Mr. Elorduy Walther: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a New York-based nonprofit organization that works to safeguard press freedom worldwide, condemns the murder of Mexican journalist Francisco Javier Ortiz Franco, who was killed yesterday in the border city of Tijuana, in Baja California state.
Imprisoned journalist freed
New York, June 2, 2004—Sami Yousafzai, a stringer for Newsweek, was released without charge from prison today by local authorities in Miran Shah, the capital of the North Waziristan Agency near the Pakistani-Afghan border, according to local journalists. Mohamed Salim, a driver hired by Yousafzai and arrested with him, was also released. On April 21,…
CPJ APPOINTS TWO NEW BOARD MEMBERS
New York, May 19, 2004—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today announced the appointment of two new board members: Andrew Alexander, Washington, D.C., bureau chief for Cox Newspapers, and Norman Pearlstine, editor-in-chief of Time Inc. “I am pleased to welcome Andy and Norman to CPJ’s board. They each bring extensive international experience, impressive management skills,…