China sentences political cartoonist to 6 years and 6 months in prison
Hanoi, July 26, 2018–A Sichuan province court on July 13 sentenced Chinese freelance political cartoonist Jiang Yefei to prison for six years and six months on charges of “inciting subversion of state power,” and “illegally crossing a national border,” during a secret trial, according to the U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Asia and the independent news…
Belarus sentences critical journalist to four years in a low-security prison colony
Kiev, July 17, 2018–A Minsk court today found Belarusian journalist Dzmitry Halko guilty of assaulting a police officer, sentenced him to four years’ labor at a low-security prison colony, and ordered him to pay restitution of 850 Belarusian rubles (US$430) to the officer, according to Halko’s wife, Julia Garkusha, and media reports. Halko was released…
CPJ welcomes district court’s reversal in L.A. Times prior restraint case
New York, July 17, 2018 — U.S. District Judge John F. Walter today vacated a temporary restraining order that he had issued three days earlier prohibiting the Los Angeles Times from publishing details of a sealed plea agreement that had mistakenly been made public. The decision came in the wake of an outcry from media…
Tajik journalist sentenced to 12 years after alleging official corruption
New York, July 11, 2018–A Tajik court today found independent journalist Khayrullo Mirsaidov guilty of embezzling and misusing state fund and false reporting to police and sentenced him to 12 years in a high-security prison, according to media reports and the journalist’s friends with whom CPJ spoke. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the ruling…
Myanmar court charges Reuters reporters under official secrets act
Bangkok, July 9, 2018 – A Myanmar court charged today two Reuters reporters, Wa Lone and Kyaw Soe Oo, under the Official Secrets Act, the news agency reported. The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemned the criminal charges and called on authorities to drop the landmark case, which has major press freedom implications.
Republic of Congo releases Bemba after nearly 18 months without charge
New York, July 3, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the release after nearly 18 months in prison without charge of Ghys Fortuné Dombé Bemba, editor of the privately owned newspaper Talassa, in Brazzaville. CPJ urged authorities in the Republic of Congo not to pursue further legal action against him and to ensure that…
At least five people killed at newsroom shooting in Maryland
New York, June 28, 2018–At least five people were killed in a shooting in the newsroom of the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, this afternoon. Police have a suspect in custody, but his identity and motive are unknown, the newspaper reported on its website.
CPJ condemns attacks on outlets in the Netherlands
New York, June 26, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned an attack on De Telegraaf, one of the Netherlands’ biggest national newspapers, which came five days after an anti-tank rocket was fired at the offices of the publisher of the weeklies Panorama and Nieuwe Revu, according to news reports.
Ethiopia allows access to over 260 blocked websites
New York, June 22, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the Ethiopian government’s decision to allow access to 264 websites, including news outlets and blogs, that were blocked in the country. In a tweet today, Fitsum Arega, Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed’s chief of staff, said that the sites included the diaspora outlets Oromia Media…
Rising Kashmir editor Shujaat Bukhari killed in Srinagar
New York, June 14, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the killing of the editor of the English-language daily newspaper Rising Kashmir, Shujaat Bukhari, in Srinagar, Kashmir. Unknown attackers shot Bukhari today at close range in the city’s Press Colony, according to news reports.