Statements

  
Colombian soldiers wearing masks as a preventive measure against the spread of COVID-19 are deployed on Simon Boliviar square in Bogota on April 21, 2020. A report by Colombian newsweekly Semana released May 1 found that Colombian military intelligence had surveilled local and international journalists. (AFP/Juan Barreto)

Colombian military monitored local, international journalists, Semana reports

New York, May 1, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed alarm at a new report alleging that Colombian military intelligence officials carried out an extensive monitoring operation targeting more than 130 individuals including more than 30 national and international journalists, and called on authorities to immediately undertake a transparent investigation into the…

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A vendor wears a mask as a preventive measure against the spread of the COVID-19 coronavirus in Cotonou on April 8, 2020. CPJ and partner organizations called for the release of Beninese journalist Ignace Sossou on appeal. (Yanick Folly/AFP)

CPJ, partners call for release of Beninese journalist Ignace Sossou on appeal

New York, April 27, 2020—Today the group of undersigned organizations called on authorities in Benin to immediately release imprisoned journalist Ignace Sossou on appeal and ensure that he does not continue to face undue risk of coronavirus exposure in ongoing detention.

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Hong Kong media tycoon Jimmy Lai, center, who founded local newspaper Apple Daily, is arrested by police officers at his home in Hong Kong, Saturday, April 18, 2020. Hong Kong police arrested at least 14 pro-democracy lawmakers and activists on Saturday on charges of joining unlawful protests last year calling for reforms. (AP/Vincent Yu)

Hong Kong police arrest Next Digital founder Jimmy Lai

Taipei, April 18, 2020–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Hong Kong authorities to drop all charges against Jimmy Lai, founder and chair of Next Digital, following his arrest this afternoon alongside other pro-democracy advocates on suspicion of participating in an illegal assembly. Lai’s media properties, including the Apple Daily, have actively and sympathetically covered…

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A worker of the Ethiopian Public Health Institute measures a man's temperature in Addis Ababa, on March 17, 2020. Ethiopian police are holding journalist Yayesew Shimelis pending a terrorism investigation. (AFP/Eduardo Soteras)

Ethiopian police hold journalist Yayesew Shimelis pending terrorism investigation

Nairobi, April 16, 2020 — In response to Ethiopian authorities’ new terrorism allegations against broadcast journalist Yayesew Shimelis today, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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President Donald Trump is seen in the James Brady Press Briefing Room of the White House on April 8, 2020, in Washington. The White House recently accused the Voice of America broadcaster of promoting "foreign propaganda." (AP/Alex Brandon)

Trump’s White House blasts VOA for ‘promoting propaganda’

Washington D.C., April 10, 2020—The Committee to Protect Journalists today said it is appalled by an official White House statement yesterday accusing Voice of America (VOA), the U.S. Congress-funded international broadcaster, of “speak[ing] for America’s adversaries” and promoting Chinese propaganda on the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Jordanian soldiers are seen in Amman on March 18, 2020. The Jordanian military recently arrested two journalists over their COVID-19 coverage. (AFP/Khalil Mazraawi)

Jordan arrests 2 Roya TV journalists over COVID-19 coverage

New York, April 10, 2020 — In response to Jordanian authorities’ arrest of Fares Sayegh, general manager of the privately owned satellite station Roya TV, and Mohammad Alkhalidi, the channel’s news director, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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Maxence Melo leaves court in Dar es Salaam yesterday after being convicted of obstructing police investgiations. (Jamii Forums)

Tanzanian court convicts Maxence Melo of obstructing investigation, levies fine

Nairobi, April 9, 2020— In response to a Tanzanian court’s conviction yesterday of Maxence Melo, founder of the online discussion and whistleblowing platform Jamii Forums, on charges of obstructing police investigations, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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Turkey's Deputy Parliament Speaker Levent Gok (center) is seen in the Parliament in Ankara on April 7, 2020. The Turkish parliament is considering an amnesty bill that would release 90,000 prisoners, but not include journalists. (AFP/Adem Altan)

Turkey amnesty bill would release 90,000 prisoners, but no journalists

New York, April 7, 2020 — In response to the Turkish Parliament’s proposed bill that would release 90,000 prisoners to limit the spread of the COVID-19 virus, but which would not free journalists held as political prisoners, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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Police are seen in Bogota, Colombia, on March 25, 2020. Authorities recently suspended meetings of the country's journalist protection program amid fears of the COVID-19 pandemic. (AP/Fernando Vergara)

Colombian protection unit suspends risk assessments ‘indefinitely’ due to coronavirus

New York, April 2, 2020 — In response to the Colombian National Protection Unit’s announcement that it would be suspending the country’s Risk Assessment and Protection Measures Recommendation Committee, which grants protective measures to journalists, in light of the COVID-19 pandemic, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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A portrait of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl stands at the altar of St. Bride's Church prior to a memorial service in London on March 5, 2002. A Pakistani court overturned the convictions of four men in Pearl's murder on April 2, 2020. (Reuters/Ian Waldie)

Pakistan court overturns murder convictions in Daniel Pearl case

Washington, D.C., April 2, 2020–In response to the decision of the Sindh High Court in Pakistan to overturn the murder convictions of four men accused in the 2002 killing of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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