CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering 2021 mass protests in Colombia
Violent and deadly protests have flared in urban centers across Colombia since April 28, 2021, including Bogotá, the capital, as well as Cali, Medellín, Pereira, Bucaramanga, Ibagué, Zipaquirá, and Buenaventura, according to news reports. Initially sparked by President Iván Duque’s proposed tax reforms–which were later dropped–protests have since morphed into a wider movement against poverty,…
Israeli security forces injure at least 8 journalists covering protests in Jerusalem
New York, May 11, 2021 — Israeli authorities must ensure that security forces do not harm journalists covering protests, and should investigate attacks by police officers and soldiers who shot journalists with rubber bullets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 7 and 10, Israeli security forces injured at least eight local and…
Unidentified attacker beats Epoch Times journalist with bat in Hong Kong
Taipei, May 11, 2021 — The Hong Kong police force must undertake a swift and thorough investigation into the attack on reporter Sarah Liang and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 11 a.m. today, an unidentified man attacked Liang, a reporter for The Epoch Times, outside of…
Tanzanian reporter Jesse Mikofu beaten, harassed in Zanzibar
On April 21, 2021, security officers in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago in Tanzania, beat and harassed Jesse Mikofu, a reporter with the privately owned Mwananchi newspaper, according to news reports, a statement by the Media Council of Tanzania, an independent self-regulatory body, and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Three officers from…
Iraqi journalist Ahmed Hassan shot, critically wounded
New York, May 10, 2021 – Iraqi authorities should immediately and thoroughly investigate the shooting of journalist Ahmed Hassan, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Earlier today, an unidentified masked gunman shot Hassan, a reporter for the broadcaster Al-Forat TV, twice in the head in front of his…
Reporting crew for Mtavari Arkhi broadcaster attacked, harassed in Georgia
New York, May 6, 2021 – Georgian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate the recent attack on journalists Nino Kekelia and Irakli Kvaratskhelia, find the perpetrators, and ensure that the press can work freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 4, a group of unidentified men attacked and harassed Kekelia,…
CPJ, partners call on Colombian authorities to address press freedom violations in protest response
The Committee to Protect Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and IFEX-ALC–which includes 24 member organizations across Latin America–yesterday sent a letter to Colombian President Iván Duque and three other high-ranking Colombian officials urging them to investigate press freedom violations committed by state security forces responding to protests and guarantee Colombians’ rights to access information and…
Zambian Patriotic Front supporters attack 2 journalists
Lusaka, Zambia, May 4, 2021 – Zambian authorities must thoroughly investigate the recent attack on two reporters and ensure that the press can work freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 1, supporters of two factions of the ruling Patriotic Front political party violently clashed at the party’s headquarters in…
Somali security forces detain and assault journalists and raid media outlet
April 29, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed alarm at recent actions by Somali security forces who detained and beat journalists and raided a private news outlet, and called on regional and federal authorities to ensure that members of the media can do their jobs without fearing for their safety. Over the last…
Ukrainian journalist Sergiy Nikishin attacked while attempting to cover event violating COVID restrictions
New York, April 29, 2021 – Ukrainian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate the attack on journalist Sergiy Nikishin, hold the perpetrators responsible, and ensure that members of the press can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 10 p.m. on April 24, in the western village of Lahodiv in Ukraine’s…