Central African Republic journalist Landry Ulrich Nguéma Ngokpélé detained overnight in defamation case
Lome, Togo, July 14, 2021 — Central African Republic authorities should drop their defamation investigation into journalist Landry Ulrich Nguema Ngokpélé and ensure that members of the press can work freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 4 p.m. on June 3, police officers with the Central Office for the…
Iran convicts 4 media workers over coverage of alleged corruption in Oil Ministry
On July 5, 2021, Judge Abbas Shaghaghi of Branch 6 of Tehran’s Media Court convicted four members of the press on criminal false news and defamation charges, according to reports by the exile-run news website IranWire and the semi-official Tasnim News Agency. The court convicted Mizenaft managing director Hamid Hajipour, Naftema managing director Mehdi Ghadiri,…
Pakistani journalist Muhammad Bilal Ghauri summoned over YouTube videos
Washington, D.C., June 22, 2021 – Pakistani authorities should cease harassing journalist Muhammad Bilal Ghauri and allow all members of the press to freely report on state institutions, including the military, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Today, M. Waseem Sikandar, a sub-inspector at the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad,…
Journalist Asad Ali Toor summoned for alleged defamation of Pakistan government
Washington, D.C., June 1, 2021 — Pakistan should authorities stop harassing journalist Asad Ali Toor and let him work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Cyber Crime Reporting Center of Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency in Rawalpindi issued a summons addressed to Toor’s home, ordering him to appear for questioning on June…
New Uzbekistan laws ban using internet to ‘disrespect’ the government, organize protests
Stockholm, April 28, 2021 – Uzbek authorities should repeal recent legal amendments that deepen restrictions on online speech, and should ensure that journalists are free to report and comment on issues of public importance without fear of prosecution, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 31, new amendments to the country’s criminal code,…
Colombian Supreme Court confirms defamation conviction of journalist Vicky Dávila, RCN
Miami, April 7, 2021 — In response to a recent decision by the Labor Cassation Chamber of the Colombian Supreme Court confirming the defamation conviction of journalist Vicky Dávila Hoyos and media outlet RCN, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “It is troubling that the Colombian Supreme Court confirmed the damages imposed…
Algerian journalist Abdelhakim Setouane sentenced to 6 months in prison
New York, March 30, 2021 – Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Abdelhakim Setouane and let him work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Sidi M’Hamed Court in Algiers convicted Setouane, director of the independent news website Essafir Broadcast, on charges of defamation, blackmail, and invasion of privacy, according…
Iranian authorities jail journalist Amir Dehbashi in defamation case
Washington, D.C., March 23, 2021 — Iranian authorities must release journalist Amir Dehbashi immediately and cease arresting members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On March 17, security forces in the southwestern province of Bushehr arrested Dehbashi, a freelance reporter, and took him to a regional prison in the provincial capital, also…
Journalist arrested from clinic bed, detained over defamation complaint in Republic of Congo
Dakar, March 16, 2020 — Authorities in the Republic of Congo should immediately release journalist Raymond Malonga and ensure that the press in the country can work without fear of harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On February 2, security officers in plainclothes arrested Malonga, an editor at the privately owned Sel-Piment newspaper,…
DRC journalist Pius Romain Rolland Ngoie detained since December over criminal defamation complaint
New York, February 11, 2021 — Congolese authorities should immediately release journalist Pius Romain Rolland Ngoie and reform their country’s laws to decriminalize defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 22, 2020, judicial police arrested Ngoie, a reporter who covers the country’s parliament for the privately owned Depeche.CD news website, while he…