Afghan police beat, detain journalists during election
New York, August 20, 2009–Security forces obstructed, assaulted, and detained Afghan and foreign journalists in Kabul and elsewhere in Afghanistan today, enforcing an official gag order on news of violent incidents during the presidential election. A spokesman for President Hamid Karzai told the press that information about attacks would discourage voter turnout.
After al-Qaeda report, Kenyan police harass Star
New York, August 18, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalist is concerned Kenyan police are attempting to intimidate journalists at the private daily, The Star, to reveal their sources for a June 20 article that said the Kenyan Anti-Terrorism Police Unit had lost crucial files about an accused al-Qaeda member.
Journalists repeatedly attacked at Honduran online daily
Unidentified individuals harassed and attacked journalists working at the Tegucigalpa offices of the online daily Hondudiario.com three times in two weeks, according to CPJ interviews and local news reports. Though the attacks appeared to be robberies, the daily’s director told CPJ he believed they were retaliation for the Hondudiario.com’s reporting on corruption in the Honduran…
At Tolo and other Afghan media, pressure from all sides
With elections due on August 20, pressure is mounting on Afghan journalists, and it’s coming from all sides. The International Federation of Journalists helped organize a meeting in Kabul last week to draw the fractious journalists’ community together; there are four or five competing organizations, all vying for recognition, dominance, and funding. In March, the…
Media harassed in Brazzaville after disputed election
New York, July 17, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the harassment of international journalists covering this week’s disputed presidential elections in Republic of Congo.On Wednesday, police smashed the camera of videographer Marlène Rabaud of France 24 while she was filming the dispersal of an opposition demonstration in the capital, Brazzaville, according to…
Tunisia must end reprisals against critical journalists
Dear Mr. President: As Tunisia’s October presidential and parliamentary elections draw closer, the Committee to Protect Journalists is writing to you for the second time in four months to protest reprisals against critical journalists and their families. It is inconceivable that free and fair elections can take place in an environment in which independent media are harassed and silenced. We urge you to honor your oft-stated commitment to promote free expression, and we ask that you instruct your government to allow our colleagues to perform their work unhindered.