Zimbabwe arrests NewsDay journalist over story on first lady’s underwear donation
New York, October 3, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Zimbabwean authorities to immediately release NewsDay journalist Kenneth Nyangani and drop all charges against him. Nyangani was arrested yesterday and charged with criminal nuisance for reporting that First Lady Grace Mugabe had donated used underwear to supporters of the country’s ruling ZANU-PF party,…
Uzbek journalist detained in Ukraine at risk of extradition
New York, September 27, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Ukrainian authorities to release Uzbek journalist Narzullo Okhunjonov. The journalist could face extradition to Uzbekistan, his lawyer, Aleksei Fyodorov, said.
Kazakh editor convicted of money laundering, banned from journalism
New York, September 7, 2017–A Kazakh court today handed down a suspended prison sentence to Zhanbolat Mamay, editor of the independent newspaper Sayasi kalam/Tribuna, for charges of money laundering, and banned him from working as a journalist for three years, according to media reports. Mamay said he plans to appeal.
Bolivian radio journalist under house arrest, facing charges after covering protest
Bogotá, September 5, 2017–Bolivian authorities must drop charges against a radio journalist arrested while covering a violent demonstration last week in the capital city of La Paz, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
North Korea sentences two South Korean journalists to death in absentia
New York, September 1, 2017–A North Korean court has sentenced the South Korean journalists Son Hyo-rim, of Dong-A Ilbo, and Yang Ji-ho, of Chosun Ilbo, and the papers’ respective director generals, Kim Jae Ho and Pang Sang Hun to death, the country’s state media reported yesterday. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the sentences and…
Cambodia accuses American journalist of espionage
Cambodia’s Ministry of Interior said on August 28, 2017 that it has opened an investigation into accusations spread in local pro-government media that American freelance journalist Geoffrey Cain is involved in a conspiracy to overthrow Prime Minister Hun Sen’s elected administration, according to local language news reports.
Congolese authorities question radio journalist over broadcast on new tax
National intelligence services and police issued summonses to Israel Ntumba, a reporter for the Congolese broadcaster, Kasai Horizontal Radio et Television (KHRT), over an August 5, 2017 broadcast on a new motorcycle tax in Kananga, a city in the Democratic Republic of Congo, the station’s program director, Honi Tshibola and Ntumba, told CPJ.
Cambodia threatens to shutter newspaper on tax evasion accusation
Bangkok, August 24, 2017–Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen should revoke his threat to forcibly close The Cambodia Daily newspaper and stop using unproven tax evasion allegations to pressure and threaten the media, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Ukrainian press union president threatened after criticizing raid on news website
New York, August 14, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the harassment of journalists in Ukraine and called on authorities to ensure the press can report freely, after the country’s National Security Service raided the offices of a news website and a member of parliament criticized Sergiy Tomilenko, head of the National Union of…
Iraqi regulator threatens TV satirist with legal action
New York, August 14, 2017–Iraqi authorities should stop threatening the pro-Kurdish broadcaster NRT and political satirist Ahmed al-Basheer, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In a letter NRT received August 10, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission inquired whether the broadcaster’s Arabic-language channel would continue airing al-Basheer’s program and threatened to pursue “legal action”…