Statements

  
The Kyrgyzstan Supreme Court today upheld journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov’s life sentence in prison. (Photo: Askarov family)

CPJ condemns Kyrgyz supreme court decision upholding Azimjon Askarov’s life sentence

New York, May 13, 2020 – In response to today’s decision by Kyrgyzstan’s Supreme Court to uphold journalist and human rights defender Azimjon Askarov’s life sentence and deny his final appeal, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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A U.S. Department of Homeland Security officer checks passports in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, on March 15, 2020. The department recently imposed new restrictions on Chinese nationals working as journalists in the United States. (Reuters/Teresa Barbieri)

U.S. imposes new visa restrictions on Chinese journalists in retaliatory measure

Washington, D.C., May 11, 2020 — In response to new visa restrictions imposed by the U.S. Department of Homeland Security against Chinese nationals working as journalists in the United States, the Committee to Protect Journalists 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 journalists plan to appeal their sentence. (AFP/Tchandrou Nitanga)

CPJ calls on Burundi to release 4 Iwacu journalists on appeal

Nairobi, May 4, 2020 — In advance of an upcoming appeal hearing for four journalists at Burundian news website Iwacu, who were sentenced to 2.5 years in prison in January, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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A portrait of slain Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl is seen in London on March 5, 2002. Pearl's family recently filed to uphold the convictions in the journalist's 2002 murder. (Reuters/Ian Waldie)

Family of Wall Street Journal reporter Daniel Pearl files to uphold convictions in 2002 murder

Washington, D.C., May 2, 2020 — The parents of murdered Wall Street Journal correspondent Daniel Pearl today filed an appeal to the Pakistani Supreme Court to reverse the April 2 decision of the Sindh High Court that overturned convictions of four men in Pearl’s 2002 kidnapping and murder case, according to copies of court documents…

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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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