Iraqi Kurdish court sentences photojournalist Qaraman Shukri to 7 years in prison in secret trial
New York, June 28, 2021 — In response to the sentencing of Iraqi Kurdish photojournalist Qaraman Shukri to seven years in prison in a secret trial, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq are making an appalling habit of sentencing journalists to prison without any regard for due…
West Africa court orders Nigeria to refrain from sanctioning media for using Twitter
New York, June 23, 2021 — In response to yesterday’s ruling by the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Court of Justice ordering Nigeria to refrain from sanctioning media outlets and Nigerian citizens for using Twitter, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The ECOWAS court order for Nigeria to refrain from…
Hong Kong’s Apple Daily newspaper to cease publication
Washington, D.C., June 23, 2021 — In response to today’s decision by Hong Kong-based media company Next Digital to cease publication of the Apple Daily newspaper, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The Next Digital board’s decision to cease publication of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper is the result of the Chinese…
Iraqi Kurdish court sentences freelance journalist Omed Baroshky to one year in prison
New York, June 22, 2021 — In response to today’s sentencing of Iraqi Kurdish journalist Omed Baroshky to one year in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “With today’s sentencing of freelance journalist Omed Baroshky, Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq have again displayed their unhindered determination to shrink the space in…
EU must highlight press freedom in Turkey during upcoming talks
Brussels, June 22, 2021 – European Union leaders should use the upcoming European Council meeting to call for Turkey to improve its press freedom record, including the release of all jailed journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Officials plan to discuss EU-Turkey relations during the meeting, scheduled for June 24 and 25, according…
Murderer of Mexican journalist Javier Valdez sentenced to 32 years in prison
Mexico City, June 18, 2021 – The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomed yesterday’s sentencing of Juan Francisco Picos Barrueta, known as “El Quillo,” one of the murderers of Mexican journalist Javier Valdez Cárdenas, and called on Mexican federal authorities to redouble their efforts to have the alleged mastermind of the killing extradited to and tried in…
Hong Kong police arrest 5 Apple Daily executives, raid headquarters
Washington, D.C., June 16, 2021 — In response to the Hong Kong police force’s raid on the office of the independent newspaper Apple Daily and the arrests of five executives today, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The arrests of five executives at the pro-democracy Apple Daily today under Hong Kong’s Orwellian…
Former Mexican mayor convicted for role in murder of reporter Miroslava Breach
Mexico City, June 16, 2021 – In response to yesterday’s sentencing of Hugo Amed Schultz Alcaraz to eight years in prison for his role in the 2017 murder of Mexican reporter Miroslava Breach Velducea, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “After several recent sentences in the Javier Valdez Cardenas and Miroslava Breach…
CPJ calls on Indian authorities to release journalist Siddique Kappan, drop all charges
New Delhi, June 16, 2021 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the decision by a court in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh’s Mathura district to drop a breach of peace charge against journalist Siddique Kappan, and urged authorities to drop all other charges against him and release him immediately. “The Mathura court’s…
Slovak Supreme Court cancels acquittal of primary suspects in journalist Ján Kuciak’s murder
New York, June 15, 2021 – In response to the Slovak Supreme Court’s ruling today to cancel the acquittals of two defendants in the 2018 murder of investigative reporter Ján Kuciak, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We welcome the Slovak Supreme Court’s decision to cancel the acquittals of Marián Kočner and…