Statements Archives - Page 3 of 9 - Committee to Protect Journalists

The headquarters of the Cumhuriyet newspaper is seen in Istanbul, Turkey, on May 16, 2017. Five imprisoned staffers of the paper were released following an appeals court decision today. (Reuters/Murad Sezer)

Five staffers of Turkey’s Cumhuriyet newspaper released from jail

September 12, 2019 3:34 PM EDT

Istanbul, September 12, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed a decision by the Turkish Supreme Court of Appeals to overturn a verdict by a lower court and release five former staffers of the Cumhuriyet newspaper who have been imprisoned since April.

Investigative journalist Jovo Martinović is appealing an 18-month prison sentence in Montenegro. (Family handout)

Montenegro authorities should not contest journalist Jovo Martinović’s appeal

September 9, 2019 11:22 AM EDT

Berlin, September 9, 2019 — A court in the Montenegrin capital, Podgorica, on September 12 will begin hearing investigative reporter Jovo Martinović’s appeal of his January conviction on charges of drug trafficking and criminal association, for which he was sentenced for 18 months in prison, according to a statement by a group of press freedom…

The Honduran National Congress is seen in Tegucigalpa on January 25, 2018. The congress recently announced that it would remove criminal defamation articles from the country's penal code. (AFP/Orlando Sierra)

Honduras to drop criminal defamation from new penal code

September 3, 2019 3:10 PM EDT

Miami, September 3, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed an announcement by the Honduran National Congress that the country will decriminalize defamation and slander.

Tanzanian investigative journalist Erick Kabendera is seen in Dar es Salaam on August 19, 2019. Kabendera has experienced health problems while in detention, his lawyer said. (Reuters/Emmanuel Herman)

Detained Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera in need of medical attention

August 30, 2019 11:45 AM EDT

Nairobi, August 30, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern about reports that detained Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera’s health is failing and called for Tanzanian authorities to release him immediately.

Kirill Vyshinsky, director of the Ukrainian office of the Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, talks to the media after a court ordered his release on bail, in Kyiv, Ukraine August 28, 2019. (Reuters/Serhii Nuzhnenko)

Ukraine authorities should drop charges against Russian journalist Kirill Vyshynsky

August 28, 2019 12:33 PM EDT

Washington, D.C., August 28, 2019 — A Kyiv court today ruled to release Russian journalist Kirill Vyshynsky on bail while he awaits trial, according to news reports. Vyshynsky, the Kyiv bureau chief for Russian state news agency RIA Novosti, had been detained since May 2018 on treason charges, according to those reports.

Tehran, Iran, is seen on August 19, 2019. Reporter Marzieh Amiri was recently sentenced to 10.5 years in jail by a Tehran court. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Iran sentences journalist Marzieh Amiri to 10.5 years in prison, 148 lashes

August 26, 2019 12:45 PM EDT

Washington D.C., August 26, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Branch 28 Court’s sentencing of Shargh Daily economics reporter Marzieh Amiri to 10 and a half years in prison and 148 lashes.

A visitor walks past company exhibition stands at the Cybertech 2019 conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, on January 29, 2019. Reuters reported on August 22, 2019, that Israel has eased export controls on surveillance technologies. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)

Israel eased export controls on surveillance technologies amid criticism

August 22, 2019 4:53 PM EDT

New York, August 22, 2019–Israeli officials confirmed that, under a rule change by the Defense Ministry, Israeli surveillance companies are able to obtain exemptions on marketing license for the sale of some products to certain countries, Reuters reported today. It is not clear which companies, and which products, were impacted; however, Reuters reported that the…

Cuba sentences journalist Roberto Quiñones to one-year prison term

August 8, 2019 4:38 PM EDT

Miami, August 8, 2019–A municipal court of the Cuban city of Guantánamo yesterday sentenced Roberto Jesús Quiñones, a contributor to the news website CubaNet, to one year in prison on charges of “resistance” and “disobedience,” according to advocacy group Cuban Institute for Freedom of Expression and of the Press and media reports.

Journalists hold placards on January 10, 2016, during a march in Istanbul as they protest against the imprisonment of journalists. On July 16, 2019, a Turkish court ordered service providers to block access to several news sites. (AFP/Ozan Kose)

Turkish court orders service providers to block access to news sites

August 6, 2019 4:05 PM EDT

Istanbul, August 6, 2019–An Ankara court on July 16 ordered Turkish internet service providers to block access in Turkey to 136 web addresses, independent news website Bianet reported today. The blocked addresses include the websites of news outlets Bianet, ETHA news agency, Halkın Sesi TV, Özgür Gelecek, osp.org, geziyisavunuyoruz.org, Gazete Fersude, Yeni Demokratik Gençlik, Umut…

Freelance journalist Erick Kabendera, who is detained in Tanzania. (Jamii Forums)

Tanzania switches track, charges Kabendera with economic crimes

August 5, 2019 1:22 PM EDT

Nairobi, August 05, 2019—Prosecutors in Tanzania today charged freelance journalist Erick Kabendera with money laundering, tax evasion, and assisting an organized crime racket, according to a copy of the charge sheet. When he was detained on July 29, the Dar es Salaam police chief said at a press conference that police were investigating Kabendera’s citizenship…