Nigerian broadcast regulator orders outlets to stop using Twitter amid nationwide block
Abuja, June 8, 2021 – Nigerian authorities should end their suspension of Twitter’s operations in Nigeria, not threaten to punish news outlets for using the platform, and allow the press to use social media networks freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the National Broadcasting Commission, the country’s broadcast regulator, issued a press…
Canadian police bar journalists from covering anti-logging protests
Washington, D.C., May 26, 2021 — In response to reports that officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have repeatedly denied journalists access to cover protests against logging on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, the Committee to Protect Journalists today issued the following statement: “We are concerned that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police seem to…
Iranian journalist Najaf Mehdipour imprisoned with no charges disclosed
Washington, D.C., May 24, 2021 — Iranian authorities must immediately release journalist Najaf Mehdipour, known as Kaveh, and stop arbitrarily arresting members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 18, authorities in the eastern city of Darreh Shahr, in Ilam province, arrested Mehdipour, a freelance journalist, at his home and…
Nicaraguan police raid Confidencial office, briefly detain camera operator Leonel Gutiérrez
Guatemala City, May 21, 2021 — Nicaraguan authorities must return confiscated equipment to Confidencial, allow its staff to enter their offices, and refrain from harassing independent media outlets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At 9 a.m. yesterday, riot police officers surrounded the independent news website Confidencial’s office in Managua, and about 90 minutes…
Proposed ‘NGO Law’ threatens press freedom, independent reporting in Guatemala
Guatemala City, May 19, 2021 – Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei should reject a proposed law granting the government broad control over the finances and operations of non-governmental organizations, including nonprofit news outlets and press freedom groups, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 12, newly elected members of Guatemala’s Constitutional Court overturned a…
Belarusian authorities raid 3 offices of Tut.by, detain journalists in tax case
Vilnius, Lithuania, May 18, 2021 — Belarusian authorities must allow the independent news website Tut.by to work freely, and should immediately and unconditionally release all of its employees in custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Today, officers of the Belarus Financial Investigation Department raided Tut.by’s headquarters in Minsk, the capital, its regional offices…
Venezuelan authorities seize headquarters of El Nacional as damages in defamation suit
Miami, May 17, 2021 Top of Form— Venezuelan authorities should ensure that civil defamation suits cannot be abused to censor news outlets, and should return El Nacional’s headquarters to its owners immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 7 p.m. on May 14, National Guard agents executing an order issued by a…
New Tajikistan licensing rules restrict independent reporting, increase state fees
Stockholm, May 17, 2021 – Tajik authorities should rescind new licensing regulations for independent television and radio stations and ensure that all media outlets in the country can operate freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 10, the Television and Radio Committee, the state-run media regulator, announced new licensing rules for privately…
Angola suspends 3 TV channels for alleged improper registration
New York, May 14, 2021 — Angola’s government should allow the television channels Record TV Africa, Vida TV, and Zap Viva to return to the airwaves, and should stop harassing media outlets critical of the government, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 19, the Ministry of Telecommunications Technologies and Media (MINTTICS) ordered…
Myanmar military bans all satellite TV
Bangkok, May 5, 2021 – Myanmar’s military junta must revoke its ban on satellite television and repeal all orders that aim to censor independent news reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The state-run broadcaster MRTV announced the ban yesterday, saying that “satellite television is no longer legal” and alleging that foreign broadcasts encouraged…