Turkish government official sues 3 newspapers for covering corruption allegations made in parliament
In late August and early September 2021, Turkish Deputy Health Minister Selahattin Aydın filed civil defamation lawsuits against the leftist opposition dailies Cumhuriyet, BirGün, and Evrensel seeking damages over their coverage of corruption allegations made against him in the country’s parliament, according to reports by the independent news website Bianet and by each outlet targeted…
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…
Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal orders El Nacional daily to pay $13 million in defamation case
Bogotá, April 20, 2021 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned a decision by the Venezuelan Supreme Tribunal ordering the independent daily newspaper El Nacional to pay the equivalent of more than $13 million in damages in a civil defamation lawsuit. On April 16, the Civil Cassation Chamber of the Supreme Tribunal ordered El…
Nigerian governor threatens to ‘deal with’ journalists who covered 2018 corruption case
On March 19, 2021, Abdullahi Ganduje, the governor of Nigeria’s northern Kano state, said in an interview with the BBC’s Hausa-language service that he planned to “deal with” journalists who produced a 2018 series of videos published by the privately owned Daily Nigerian news website, which alleged that he had received bribes. “We are making…
Nigerian journalist Haruna Mohammed Salisu threatened over report on alleged fraud
Abuja, March 23, 2021 – Nigerian authorities should thoroughly investigate the threatening message received by journalist Haruna Mohammed Salisu and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 13, at about 9 a.m., Salisu, owner and reporter at the privately owned WikkiTimes news website, found a note slipped under his office…
Times of India parent company sues media watchdog Newslaundry for $13.7 million
New Delhi, January 29, 2021 – The Indian media conglomerate Bennett, Coleman, and Company Limited (BCCL) is undermining its own integrity with a defamation suit against the news website and media watchdog Newslaundry, and should withdraw the suit immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On January 19, BCCL filed a civil defamation suit…
Brazilian court orders The Intercept Brasil, ND+ to modify coverage of court case
Rio de Janeiro, December 23, 2020 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned a ruling by a Brazilian court requiring two local outlets to modify their reporting in response to a lawsuit. On December 12, Judge Cleni Serly Rauen Vieira, of the Santa Catarina state Court of Justice’s Third Civil Court, ordered independent news…
Colombia court’s ruling in Vicky Dávila, RCN defamation case sets dangerous precedent for investigative reporting
Bogotá, October 29, 2020 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned a Colombian appellate court’s decision ordering journalist Vicky Dávila Hoyos and media outlet RCN to pay damages for reports broadcast in 2014 on alleged police corruption. On October 15, a Bogotá appellate court ordered Dávila, one of Colombia’s best-known journalists, and the private…
Panama court freezes La Prensa’s assets amid defamation suit by former president
Managua, July 10, 2020 – Panamanian authorities should immediately restore Corporación La Prensa’s access to its financial assets, and ensure that legal actions do not censor the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 4, a Panamanian civil court ordered a freeze on the assets and bank accounts of Corporación La Prensa,…
