US FBI-led investigation of Shireen Abu Akleh’s killing a welcome first step
New York, November 15, 2022—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday welcomed reports that the FBI plans to investigate the May 11 killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh as an important first step toward potentially achieving justice in her case. The U.S. Department of Justice notified the Israeli Ministry of Justice of the…
CPJ welcomes convictions in 2012 murder of Brazilian sports journalist Valério Luiz de Oliveira
Rio de Janeiro, November 10, 2022 – A Goiás state court jury in Brazil on Wednesday convicted and sentenced four men in connection with the 2012 murder of Brazilian sports journalist Valério Luiz de Oliveira, according to reports and statements by the court and prosecutor’s office. After a three-day jury trial, Maurício Borges Sampaio was…
Turkish president asked Sweden to deport exiled journalist Bülent Keneş
New York, November 9, 2022 – In response to news reports that Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan asked Swedish Prime Minister Ulf Kristersson to deport exiled journalist Bülent Keneş back to Turkey on Tuesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement, warning Sweden to not to set a dangerous precedent by endangering Keneş’ safety: “Under no…
CPJ asks British authorities to strengthen protection for London-based Iran International staff
Washington, D.C., November 8, 2022—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday asked British authorities to strengthen their protection of threatened staff members of Iran International, a Persian-language news television channel based in London, and demanded that they hold Iranian authorities accountable for transnational crimes. “Time and again Iranian authorities have acted with impunity in attempting…
Senegalese journalist Pape Alé Niang detained after reporting on politician’s rape charges
Dakar, November 7, 2022 — In response to news reports that Pape Alé Niang, an investigative journalist for the privately owned website Dakarmatin, was arrested Sunday in the capital Dakar after police accused him of breaching professional secrecy and publishing information likely to harm national defense and public security, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued…
Tajik journalist Zavqibek Saidamini sentenced to 7 years in prison
Stockholm, November 4, 2022 – In response to news reports that a court in Tajikistan on Thursday, November 3, sentenced independent journalist Zavqibek Saidamini to seven years in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Tajik authorities have done their utmost to shroud their prosecution of journalists in secrecy. Yet, available evidence…
CPJ renews call for Iran to release all jailed journalists amid anti-government protests
New York, November 1, 2022 – The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday renewed its call for Iran to release all journalists behind bars in the country, at least 37 of whom were detained over the past six weeks of anti-government protests, and urged the U.N. Security Council to hold Iran accountable by implementing investigation…
CPJ: Kyrgyzstan’s block of RFE/RL website ‘a flagrant act of censorship’
Stockholm, October 27, 2022 – Kyrgyzstan’s Ministry of Culture, Information, Sports, and Youth Policy on Wednesday announced a two-month block of the website of Radio Azattyk, the local service of U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, under the country’s false information law after the outlet refused to remove a video report on recent border…
CPJ welcomes new US Justice Department guidelines protecting journalists’ sources
Washington, D.C., October 26, 2022—In response to U.S. Attorney General Merrick Garland’s decision Wednesday revising Justice Department regulations to restrict federal prosecutors’ ability to obtain journalists’ phone and email records in government leak investigations with narrow exceptions, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “This is an important step to protect press freedom in the…
CPJ condemns guilty verdict in Jimmy Lai’s fraud case in Hong Kong
Taipei, October 25, 2022 – In response to news reports that a court in Hong Kong on Tuesday convicted Jimmy Lai, founder of the Next Digital Limited media company and the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, of fraud, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement condemning the verdict: “Today’s conviction of Jimmy Lai on…