Zimbabwean journalist Hopewell Chin’ono rearrested, charged with contempt of court
New York, November 3, 2020 – Zimbabwean police arrested journalist Hopewell Chin’ono at his home in Harare, the capital, earlier today and charged him with contempt of court for an October 28 tweet citing judges’ alleged criticism of Zimbabwean Chief Justice Luke Malaba, according to a Twitter post by Rose Hanzi, executive director of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. According…
Hong Kong police arrest, charge producer Choy Yuk Ling for research on mob attack documentary
Taipei, November 3, 2020 — Police in Hong Kong must immediately drop all charges against Choy Yuk Ling, a producer with the city’s public broadcaster Radio Television Hong Kong (RTHK), and allow journalists to report freely on matters of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Hong Kong police searched the home of…
Russian police detain, interrogate journalist Yana Toporkova, raid her home
New York, October 29, 2020 – Russian authorities should immediately return equipment confiscated from journalist Yana Toporkova and ensure that members of the press are not harassed by law enforcement, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 2, three men in plainclothes who identified themselves as police officers raided Toporkova’s apartment in the…
Daily Sangram reporter arrested in Bangladesh sedition case
New York, October 22, 2020— Bangladeshi authorities should immediately release reporter Ruhul Amin Gazi and let him work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday evening, police officers in the Hatirjheel neighborhood of Dhaka, the capital, arrested Gazi, a reporter with the Daily Sangram newspaper, according to news reports. The arrest came after…
Venezuelan intelligence services raid Correo del Caroní newspaper, detain employees
Miami, October 22, 2020 — Venezuelan authorities must stop harassing and threatening the Correo del Caroní newspaper, its owner, and its employees, and allow them to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 20, at about 9 a.m., agents from the Bolivarian Intelligence Service raided the headquarters of Correo del Caroní,…
CPJ joins call for release of 4 Iwacu journalists one year after arrest in Burundi
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 64 other press freedom and human rights organizations today in a statement calling for the immediate and unconditional release of four journalists with the independent Burundian outlet Iwacu, who were arrested one year ago. The statement called the journalists’ detention a “stark reminder” of Burundi’s “little tolerance for independent…
Iraqi Kurdish police arrest journalist Sherwan Amin Sherwani
New York, October 8, 2020 – Iraqi Kurdish authorities should disclose any charges against journalist Sherwan Amin Sherwani or release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, a group of 10 police officers raided Sherwani’s home in Sebiran, a village on the outskirts of the Iraqi Kurdish city of Erbil, and arrested…
Journalist April Ehrlich facing criminal charges over reporting on homelessness in Oregon
Washington, D.C., September 25, 2020 —The Medford Police Department in southwest Oregon should drop all charges against journalist April Ehrlich, and refrain from filing criminal charges against members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the morning of September 22, Medford police arrested Ehrlich, a reporter for National Public Radio affiliate…
Belarus authorities continue to arrest, detain journalists amid protests
Vilnius, Lithuania, September 21, 2020 — Belarusian authorities should release all reporters detained covering recent protests, and allow them to work freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 16, the Frunze District Court in Minsk, the capital, tried and convicted two journalists who had covered the protests in the country calling…
Journalist Josie Huang arrested, charged with obstructing police in Los Angeles
Washington D.C., September 16, 2020 — The Los Angeles County Sheriff’s Department should immediately drop all charges against journalist Josie Huang, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the evening of September 12, sheriff’s deputies tackled and arrested Huang, a reporter for a National Public Radio member station KPCC and local news website LAist,…