Prominent blogger ‘Mother Mushroom’ detained in Vietnam
Bangkok, October 11, 2016–Vietnamese authorities should immediately release and drop all charges against prominent independent blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Quynh, popularly known by her pen name Me Nam (Mother Mushroom), was arrested yesterday while trying to visit an imprisoned political activist in the central coastal town of…
Blogger’s prison sentence reduced, news site shuttered in Vietnam
Bangkok, October 5, 2016 – A Vietnamese appeals court yesterday reduced from four to three years a prison sentence given earlier this year to independent blogger Nguyen Ngoc Gia on anti-state charges related to his critical journalism, according to news reports.
Soldiers assault Indonesian journalist
Bangkok, October 4, 2016 – Indonesian military officials should take swift disciplinary action against soldiers responsible for assaulting a television journalist, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Soldiers assaulted and threatened Indonesian TV reporter Sony Misdananto while he covered a religious celebration, according to news reports.
Draft regulatory bill threatens media freedom in Thailand
Bangkok, September 15, 2016 – Thailand’s military-appointed National Reform Steering Assembly should scrap proposed legislation that would create a new national media regulator, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The draft bill, the latest in a raft of military-imposed measures that restrict press freedom, is now being considered by a government sub-panel tasked with…
Police raid newspaper after critical documentary airs in Maldives
Bangkok, September 9, 2016 – Authorities in the Maldives should cease harassing the Maldives Independent, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police raided the daily newspaper’s office hours after the Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera aired a documentary produced by the paper’s former editor alleging high-level corruption in the Maldives.
Journalist detained over criminal defamation complaint in Bangladesh
Bangkok, September 6, 2016–Bangladeshi journalist Siddiqur Rahman Khan has been detained since September 1 after a criminal defamation complaint was filed against him under Article 57 of the 2006 Information and Communication Technology Act, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists called today for Khan’s immediate release and an end to the use…
CPJ Newsletter: We fight back against defamation, highlight impunity in India, and host an exhibit on Shawkan’s works
September edition IOC creates mechanism for journalist complaints after CPJ consultation In early August, we welcomed the creation of a press freedom complaints mechanism by the International Olympic Committee. The move followed years of advocacy with the IOC by CPJ and other rights groups to do more to hold governments that host the Olympic Games…
For India’s journalists corruption can be a deadly beat
New York, August 29, 2016–A culture of impunity in India is leaving the country’s press vulnerable to threats and attacks, CPJ found in a report released today. The report finds that regional investigations have failed to secure justice for journalists murdered for their work, and urges the national government to enact legislation that would provide…
Pakistani law could enable sweeping internet censorship
Bangkok, August 26, 2016 – Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain should veto a bill that could allow for sweeping censorship of the internet and the prosecution of journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Pakistan’s National Assembly approved the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Bill 2015 last week and sent it to Hussain to sign into…