Belarusian authorities continue to arrest, obstruct journalists covering protests
Vilnius, Lithuania, September 8, 2020 — Belarusian authorities should immediately release all journalists detained while covering nationwide protests, return their property, and drop all charges against them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since yesterday, authorities have ordered the detention of at least two journalists, raided a journalist’s home, and fined two freelance reporters,…
Bulgarian riot police beat and pepper spray journalists covering demonstrations
Berlin, September 3, 2020 — Bulgarian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate police attacks on journalists, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that reporters can cover protests freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday evening, while breaking up an anti-government protest in Sofia, the capital, riot police officers attacked and briefly detained…
At least 10 journalists detained covering protest in Belarus, 6 remain in custody
Vilnius, Lithuania, September 2, 2020 — Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalists detained while covering protests in the country, and stop harassing and arresting members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, police in Minsk, the capital, detained at least 10 journalists covering a student rally demanding the resignation of President…
Belarus strips journalists working for foreign outlets of accreditation
New York, August 29, 2020—Authorities in Belarus today withdrew accreditation from at least 17 journalists who had been covering post-election protests for foreign media outlets, according to the Belarusian Association of Journalists and news reports. The journalists included local and Russian journalists working for outlets such as the British Broadcasting Corporation, Reuters, The Associated Press,…
Libyan radio journalist Sami al-Sharif detained while covering protests
Washington D.C., August 27, 2020 – Libyan authorities should immediately release journalist Sami al-Sharif and ensure that the press can cover protests without fear of attack or harassment from demonstrators or security forces, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 23, men in military uniforms affiliated with the U.N.-backed Government of National Accord…
Djibouti journalist Charmarke Saïd Darar held for weeks, 2 other journalists in hiding
New York, August 26, 2020 — Authorities in Djibouti should cease intimidating and arresting journalists working with the La Voix de Djibouti broadcaster, and let them report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 15, police in Balbala, a suburb of Djibouti City, the capital, arrested Charmarke Saïd Darar, a reporter with…
Nigerian court acquits journalists arrested amid #RevolutionNow protests
Abuja, August 25, 2020 — A magistrate court in Nigeria’s southern Cross River State today acquitted Cross River Watch news editor Jonathan Ugbal and managing editor Jeremiah Archibong on charges of unlawful assembly and breach of peace stemming from their 2019 protest coverage, according to news reports and Ugbal, who spoke to CPJ via messaging…
Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government files suit against broadcaster NRT for protest coverage
New York, August 24, 2020 — The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government yesterday announced a lawsuit against local broadcaster NRT in response to its coverage of recent protests in the region, according to a statement sent to CPJ via email today by Dindar Zebari, the regional government’s coordinator for international advocacy. “The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government’s…
Demonstrators attack, obstruct journalists covering protests against COVID-19 lockdown in Germany
Since mid-July, 2020, German protesters against the country’s COVID-19 restrictions have attacked journalists covering their demonstrations, according to news reports and videos of the incidents shared on social media. On July 17, at a protest in the town of Weiden, Bavaria, protesters harassed Beate Josefine Luber, a local freelance reporter covering the demonstrations for regional…
Iraqi Kurdish security forces raid broadcaster, detain and beat journalists, seize equipment
New York, August 14, 2020 – Iraqi Kurdish authorities must cease harassing local news outlets, return journalists’ equipment they have seized, and let reporters cover protests freely and without fear of assault or detention, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 12, Iraqi Kurdish Asayish security forces raided the offices of local broadcaster…