Journalist Truong Chau Huu Danh arrested in Vietnam
Bangkok, December 21, 2020 – Vietnamese authorities should immediately release journalist Truong Chau Huu Danh and drop any pending charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 17, police in the southern city of Can Tho arrested Danh, a former state media reporter who co-founded and contributes to Bao Sach (Clean Newspaper),…
Ethiopian journalist Dawit Kebede detained without charge since November 30
Nairobi, December 18, 2020 – Ethiopian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Dawit Kebede and stop harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 30, federal police arrested Dawit, managing editor of the online news outlet Awramba Times, while he was dining with friends at a restaurant in…
Chinese filmmaker and photographer Du Bin detained by police
Taipei, December 18, 2020 — Chinese authorities should immediately release journalist Du Bin and refrain from harassing and detaining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the morning of December 16, police in Beijing arrested Du for allegedly “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a criminal offense, according to news reports….
CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering Uganda’s elections
On January 14, 2021, incumbent Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni will seek a sixth term, amid challenges from opposition candidates Robert Kyagulanyi, also known as Bobi Wine, and Patrick Oboi Amuriat, according to multiple news reports. During the general election campaign, security personnel have arrested both candidates and violently dispersed political rallies and protests, according to…
Brazilian journalist Arimatéia Azevedo held for 5 months under house arrest, gag order
From June to November 2020, Brazilian authorities held journalist Arimatéia Azevedo under house arrest, placed his news outlet under a gag order, and detained him multiple times, according to news reports, the journalist, and his two daughters, Haidyne and Ana Azevedo, all of whom spoke to CPJ in phone interviews. Azevedo is based in Piauí…
Hong Kong police charge 2 reporters with obstruction over coverage of May protests
In November 2020, Hong Kong police criminally charged two journalists over their coverage of protests the previous May, according to news reports. On November 3, police charged student journalist Nelson Tang with “obstructing police” and “resisting arrest,” according to news reports and a statement from the Hong Kong Baptist University Students’ Union Editorial Board, a…
Philippine police arrest journalist Lady Ann Salem for alleged weapons possession
Bangkok, December 14, 2020 – Philippine authorities should immediately release journalist Lady Ann Salem without charge, and open an investigation into police officers’ alleged planting of weapons during her arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 9 a.m. on December 10, police arrested Salem, an editor at the Manila Today English-language news website and…
Kurdish Iraqi forces arrest NRT reporter Karzan Tariq while covering protests in Sulaymaniyah
New York, December 11, 2020 — Today, security forces affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party arrested Karzan Tariq, a reporter with the local NRT broadcaster, while he was covering protests over economic issues in the northeastern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah, according to his employer and NRT General Director Awat Ali, who spoke to CPJ…
Greek police detain, question journalist Antonis Rigopoulos for allegedly wearing incorrect mask at protest
On November 17, 2020, traffic police in Athens stopped Greek journalist Antonis Rigopoulos while he was covering a protest, and proceeded to detain him and question him about his work, according to a report by his employer, the news website Documento, and Rigopoulos, who communicated with CPJ via email. Rigopoulos was using his cellphone to…
Turkish police raid Mezopotamya News Agency, detain journalist Dindar Karataş
Istanbul, November 24, 2020 – Turkish authorities should stop harassing journalists working at the Mezopotamya News Agency, immediately release reporter Dindar Karataş, and return any equipment confiscated from the outlet, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This morning, police officers in the eastern city of Van arrested Karataş at his home, and then brought…