A police officer is seen in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on September 30, 2019. Police that day shot journalist Edmond Agenor Joseph in Port-au-Prince. (Reuters/Andres Martinez Casares)
A police officer is seen in Port-au-Prince, Haiti, on September 30, 2019. Police that day shot journalist Edmond Agenor Joseph in Port-au-Prince. (Reuters/Andres Martinez Casares)
The Torch

One week, two journalists shot in Haiti; Egypt press clampdown continues unabated

The Torch is a weekly newsletter from the Committee to Protect Journalists that brings you the latest press freedom and journalist safety news from around the world. Subscribe here.

In less than eight days in Port-au-Prince, Haiti’s capital, two journalists, Edmond Agenor Joseph and Chery Dieu-Nalio of the Associated Press, were shot in separate incidents. Both were clearly identified as members of the press at the time of the shootings. Dieu-Nalio was taken to a local hospital where he was treated for his injuries. The incidents highlight the serious risks that journalists in Haiti face.

Since September 20 in Egypt, amid anti-government protests, at least six journalists have been arrested, including prominent blogger Alaa Abdelfattah. Abdelfattah previously served a five-year prison sentence on anti-state charges, and was released on March 29 with the requirement that he spend every night in police custody for the following five years. Read our reporting on Egypt.

Global Press Freedom Updates

  • Algerian authorities arrest freelance journalist Sofiane Merakchi
  • Spanish reporter Laila Jiménez assaulted by protesters during Catalonia independence march
  • Russian internet regulator blocks independent Fergana news website
  • Hong Kong police fire pepper spray, projectiles at journalists covering protests
  • Police raid Mayan radio station Xyaab’ Tzuultaq’a in eastern Guatemala
  • Lebanese newspaper Nida al-Watan sued over alleged presidential criticism

Spotlight

CPJ and partners gathered in front of the Saudi embassy in Washington, D.C., Wednesday night. (CPJ/Yegi Rezaian)
CPJ and partners gathered in front of the Saudi embassy in Washington, D.C., Wednesday night. (CPJ/Yegi Rezaian)

CPJ marked the one-year anniversary of the murder of Saudi journalist and Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi with a vigil in Washington, D.C., outside the Saudi embassy. At the event, CPJ Advocacy Director Courtney Radsch highlighted the serious implications for the impunity in his case. “The public deserves to know the truth, and governments around the world must know that the murders of journalists will not go unpunished.”

In a statement ahead of the anniversary, CPJ Executive Director Joel Simon reiterated demands to the U.S. and U.N. for transparency and justice for Khashoggi and expressed dismay at the lack of accountability. One year on in Saudi Arabia, grave threats remain for journalists.

In an op-ed for Lawfare, CPJ North America Researcher Avi Asher-Schapiro details CPJ’s work to get the answer to one simple question from the Trump administration: Did the United States warn Khashoggi of the threat against his life? Last week, CPJ filed a brief in the U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia asking the court to release documents regarding Khashoggi’s murder and the “duty to warn” obligations.

Join CPJ next week at the Double Exposure Festival in Washington, D.C., for a great roster of investigative reporting films and panels. Use the code CPJ10 to receive 10% off single-day passes. On October 10, Radsch will join a panel discussion at the festival on threats faced by investigative journalists. Find more info here.

What We Are Reading

So Far in 2019…

At least 16 journalists have been killed worldwide in relation to their work. Explore our data.

Visit the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker database for info on press freedom violations in the U.S.

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