Statements

  
Journalist Azimjon Askarov is seen at a court in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan, on October 11, 2016. The country’s Supreme Court is set to hear Askarov’s appeal tomorrow. (AP/Vladimir Voronin)

Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court to hear appeal of journalist Azimjon Askarov

New York, February 24, 2020 — Kyrgyzstan authorities should not contest the appeal of journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov and should release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Investigative journalist Erick Kabendera is seen in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, August 19, 2019. Kabendera was released today from detention but faces large fines. (Reuters/Emmanuel Herman)

Tanzanian journalist Erick Kabendera freed, but faces hefty fines

Nairobi, February 24, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the release of Tanzanian freelance journalist Erick Kabendera but expressed concern about the hefty fines levied against him.

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange is seen in London on January 13, 2020. Assange is facing extradition to the United States for his work at Wikileaks. (Reuters/Simon Dawson)

WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face extradition hearing in U.K.

Washington, D.C., February 21, 2020 — The United Kingdom should not extradite WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange to face espionage charges in the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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CrossRiverWatch journalist Agba Jalingo (right) is seen in a federal high court in Calabar, Nigeria. Jalingo is due in court tomorrow on amended charges of cybercrime and terrorism. (Oto-Obongo Clement/CrossRiverWatch)

Jailed Nigerian journalist Agba Jalingo to face cybercrime charge in court

New York, February 12, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Agba Jalingo, the publisher of the privately owned news website CrossRiverWatch, and set him free. Jalingo is set to appear at a federal high court in Calabar city tomorrow on amended charges, including cybercrime…

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Supporters of the Wet’suwet’en Nation indigenous group, who oppose the construction of the Coastal GasLink pipeline, protest outside the provincial headquarters of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) in Surrey, British Columbia, Canada, on January 16, 2020. In early February, the RCMP prevented journalists from covering the takeover of an indigenous protest camp. (Reuters/Jesse Winter)

CPJ calls on Canadian police to let journalists work freely at indigenous protest sites

New York, February 7, 2020—In response to news reports that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) yesterday obstructed journalists trying to cover police operations at indigenous protest camps in British Columbia, the Committee to Protect Journalists today issued the following statement:

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Four Iwacu journalists, (L to R) Agnes Ndirubusa, Christine Kamikazi, Egide Harerimana, Terence Mpozenzi, and the driver Adolphe Masabarakiza, appear at the High Court in Bubanza, western Burundi, on December 30, 2019. The court today convicted the journalists on state security charges. (AFP/Tchandrou Nitanga)

Burundi court sentences Iwacu journalists to 2.5 years in prison

Nairobi, January 30, 2020 — Burundi authorities should not contest the appeal of four journalists from Iwacu convicted today and should stop filing state security charges against reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Journalist Sergio Aguayo Quezada is seen in Mexico City on April 5, 2013. Aguayo was recently fined 10 million pesos in a moral damages suit. (AP/Alexandre Meneghini)

Mexican journalist Sergio Aguayo Quezada fined 10 million pesos over corruption report

Mexico City, January 29, 2020 — Mexican authorities should drop the charges against journalist Sergio Aguayo Quezada and reform the country’s outdated libel laws, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Kashmiri students use the internet at a Tourist Reception Centre in Srinagar on December 3, 2019, amid an internet suspension across the region as part of a partial communication blockade by the Indian government. Despite a Supreme Court ruling in January 2020, internet access has only been partially restored, and many news outlets remain offline. (AFP/Tauseef Mustafa)

Kashmiri journalists, news outlets still offline after India partially restores internet

New York, January 28, 2020—Internet access was partially restored in most of Jammu and Kashmir on January 25, but service remained slow and social media platforms and many local news websites remain blocked, The New York Times and other outlets reported. In a statement circulated to CPJ and news outlets, the Kashmir Press Club said…

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Saudi crown prince’s alleged hacking of Bezos raises press freedom concerns

Washington, January 22, 2020—The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined U.N. human rights experts in calling for an investigation into the alleged hacking of The Washington Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The U.N. experts called the alleged hacking “an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post’s reporting on Saudi Arabia.”

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The Doha skyline, pictured in May 2019. The Qatari Emir this month approved a law on 'false news' that carries a potential five-year prison sentence. (AP/Kamran Jebreili)

Qatar changes penal code to include ‘false news’ law

New York, January 21, 2020—Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani amended Article 136 of the country’s penal code to make the publication or sharing of “false news” punishable by up to five years in prison or a 100,000 Qatari riyal fine (US$27,473), according to the Beirut-based Gulf Center for Human Rights. Details of the law,…

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