CPJ joins call for European Commission to fight impunity in journalist killings
In a joint letter today, addressed to President of the European Commission Jean-Claude Juncker, 17 international media freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists, called on the Commission to ensure thorough, effective investigations into the murders of investigative journalists Ján Kuciak in Slovakia and Daphne Caruana Galizia in Malta.
Slovak investigative journalist, girlfriend found shot to death
Berlin, February 26, 2018 –The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in Slovakia to quickly and effectively investigate the killing of Slovak investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and hold all the perpetrators to account. Kuciak and his girlfriend, Martina Kušnířova were on Sunday found shot to death in his house in Velká Mača, Slovakia, local…
Syrian journalist killed in airstrike in eastern Ghouta
Beirut, February 23, 2018–Abdul Rahman Ismael Yassin, a reporter for the pro-opposition Hammouriyeh Media Office, died from injuries sustained in a February 20 airstrike in the rebel-held eastern Ghouta area outside of Damascus, according to his employer and the Syrian Journalists Association.
Changes to Jordan’s hate speech law could further stifle press freedom
Recently proposed amendments to Jordan’s 2015 cybercrime law, including a vague and broad definition of hate speech, will further stifle press freedom on the pretext of protecting the country’s citizens, and could result in further self-censorship, several Jordanian journalists told CPJ.
Mexican blogger and satirist killed in Guerrero state
Mexico City, February 8, 2018–Authorities in the southern Mexican state of Guerrero must undertake an exhaustive investigation into the murder of Pamika Montenegro, a journalist, satirist and social media commentator, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Two unidentified assailants on February 5 shot Montenegro dead in the restaurant she owned in the beachside resort…
Journalist, radio worker found dead in Guatemala
New York, February 7, 2017–Guatemalan authorities should conduct a swift and credible investigation into the murders of a newspaper journalist and radio station worker, establish motives, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Colombia sentences gunman for 2015 murder of local radio journalist
New York, February 2, 2018–The sentencing of the gunman responsible for the 2015 murder of Colombian radio journalist Luis Antonio Peralta Cuéllar and his wife Sofía Quintero is a welcome step toward justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A court in Florencia, the capital of the southwestern province of Caquetá, yesterday sentenced Yean…
As peace talks resume South Sudan continues its assault on press freedom
A ceasefire agreement signed on December 21 between the South Sudanese government and opposition forces has revived a 2015 peace process and brought hope that the conflict will not persist into its fifth year. The agreement includes obligations to “ensure protection of media” and “[c]ease all forms of harassment of the media.” Yet, ahead of…
Mexico’s special prosecutor says FEADLE is improving, but impunity continues
For approximately two months, Mexico’s office of the Special Prosecutor for Attention for Crimes Against Freedom of Expression (FEADLE) led a nomadic existence after its building was damaged in a September 19 earthquake that killed almost 400 people in and around Mexico City. The agency now has a new home, but the natural disaster served…
Missile strike kills local Yemeni photographer
New York, January 22, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing of Yemeni photographer Mohammad al-Qadasi in a missile strike allegedly by the Ansar Allah movement. Al-Qadasi, who worked for the privately owned Belqees TV station, was killed today in the Khayami area of Taiz governorate while on assignment, the channel’s director general Ahmed…