Statements
2018
Turkish court upholds life sentences without parole for four journalists
Istanbul, October 3, 2018–An Istanbul court of appeals yesterday upheld the sentences of life in prison without parole handed to four prominent Turkish journalists in February, media reported. Mehmet Altan, his brother Ahmet Altan, Nazlı Ilıcak, and Fevzi Yazıcı were convicted of having links to the U.S.-based cleric Fethullah Gülen, whom Turkey accuses of being…
CPJ expresses concern for Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi
Beirut, October 3, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who has been living in self-imposed exile in the U.S. since 2017, and urges Saudi authorities to immediately disclose his whereabouts. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post and a former editor-in-chief of the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan who…
Slovakia charges three people with murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak
Berlin, September 28, 2018–Slovak police today charged three people with the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée, Martina Kušnírová, according to news reports. The unnamed suspects were among eight people arrested in a raid yesterday, according to reports. The other five were released today, according to a prosecutor cited in news reports.
Ugandan police arrest at least 8 journalists covering opposition MP Bobi Wine
Nairobi, September 20, 2018–Police in Uganda detained at least eight journalists covering the return of opposition MP Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, from the U.S, according to media reports and local journalists. The arrests are the latest incident of Ugandan security personnel assaulting, harassing, or arresting journalists covering political tension in the past…
Abuja court dismisses case against Nigerian journalist Jones Abiri
New York, September 17, 2018–An Abuja magistrate’s court today struck out a case against Jones Abiri, publisher and editor-in-chief of the newspaper, Weekly Source, Samuel Ogala, a lawyer who represents Abiri, told CPJ. The court ruled that it did not have jurisdiction over the state where the alleged wrongdoing took place, Ogala said. Abiri, who…
CPJ calls on EU to keep up pressure on Hungary amid press freedom concerns
Brussels, September 12, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the vote by members of the European Parliament in favor of a resolution against Hungary for breaching EU values, and called on the bloc to keep up pressure on Prime Minister Viktor Orbán’s government.
Egypt sentences photojournalist Shawkan to five years
Washington, D.C., September 8, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned an Egyptian court’s sentencing of photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, also known as “Shawkan,” to five years in prison, and called on authorities to release him immediately and remove any restriction on his release on appeal.
Two TOLO News journalists killed in Afghanistan double bombing
Washington, D.C., September 5, 2018–At least two journalists were killed today in a double bombing in the Afghan capital, Kabul, according to news reports. TOLO News published that its reporter Samim Faramarz and cameraman Ramiz Ahmadi were killed by the second blast while covering the first, which occurred at a wrestling club in a Shi’ite…
CPJ demands release of journalists arrested over documents in Northern Ireland
New York, August 31, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on police in the United Kingdom to immediately release producer Trevor Birney and journalist Barry McCaffrey, who were arrested on suspicion of stealing confidential documents today, according to the Belfast Telegraph and other news reports.