Statements
2019
CPJ welcomes release of Saudi blogger after 10 months, calls for charges to be dropped
New York, March 28, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the release of Saudiwoman’s Weblog founder Eman Al Nafjan, and called on Saudi authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all other journalists in custody.
Myanmar Supreme Court to hear appeal of jailed Reuters reporters
Bangkok, March 25, 2019 — The Supreme Court of Myanmar will hear an appeal by the lawyers of jailed Reuters news agency reporters Kyaw Soe Oo and Wa Lone on March 26, according to a statement from Reuters seen by the Committee to Protect Journalists.
US border agency cancels meeting with press freedom groups
Washington, D.C., March 8, 2019 — U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) today canceled a meeting with a coalition of press freedom groups–including the Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders, the Reporters Committee for Freedom of the Press, and the ACOS Alliance–one day after it postponed the long-scheduled meeting and two days after NBC…
Egyptian photojournalist Shawkan finally free after over 5 years in jail
Washington, D.C., March 4, 2019–Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, also known as Shawkan, was today released from prison after spending over five years in detention on anti-state charges, according to a post from his Twitter account. According to news reports, Shawkan said he was officially approved for release on Sunday night but held by police…
UN commission: Israeli snipers ‘intentionally shot’ Palestinian journalists in 2018, killing 2
New York, February 28, 2019 — The Israeli government must hold to account everyone responsible for killing Palestinian journalists Yaser Murtaja and Ahmed Abu Hussein in April 2018, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 25, 2019, a U.N. independent commission of inquiry said it “found reasonable grounds to believe that Israeli snipers…
White House setting wrong example at Trump-Kim summit in Hanoi
Washington, D.C., February 27, 2019–The White House today barred four journalists from covering a dinner in Hanoi between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, citing “sensitivities over shouted questions,” according to news reports. The unusual move came a day after Vietnamese officials relocated the White House press corps filing center from…
CPJ and IPI urge Slovak officials to expedite Kuciak case
Bratislava, February 19, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists and the International Press Institute (IPI) called on Slovak authorities to expedite charges against all parties allegedly involved in the murder of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak. A delegation from the two groups today met with Ministry of Interior officials and representatives of the special prosecutor’s office tasked…
CPJ welcomes Mexican Supreme Court ruling in Carmen Aristegui case
Mexico City, February 14, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes a ruling yesterday by the Mexican Supreme Court declaring that the firing of journalist Carmen Aristegui from her morning radio show on broadcaster MVS Noticias in 2015 was illegal. The verdict was first reported on Aristegui’s news website, AristeguiNoticias.
CPJ concerned about journalists’ safety at Trump’s rallies
New York, February 12, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern about the safety of journalists covering President Donald Trump’s political rallies after a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) camera operator, Ron Skeans, was assaulted during a rally in El Paso, Texas, last night.