In Hong Kong law, privacy may trump public interest
Tens of thousands of residents demonstrated on the streets of Hong Kong on Monday, the 16th anniversary of the city’s return to Chinese rule. The protests have become an annual rite, but the demonstrators’ demands were quite specific this year. They wanted the resignation of Chief Executive Leung Chun-ying and they called for direct elections.…
Vietnam intensifies crackdown on bloggers
New York, July 2, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned by the ongoing investigation into a critical Vietnamese blogger. Dinh Nhat Uy was the third blogger arrested in a month, signaling that the country’s crackdown continues to intensify.
The guide Jennifer Lopez should have read before she sang in Turkmenistan
After Jennifer Lopez performed at an event in Turkmenistan on Saturday night, the Guardian created a guide to the “-stans” so “no pop star need be caught out by accidentally singing happy birthday to a despotic ruler in this region ever again.” The guide points to the fact that Uzbekistan was sixth on CPJ’s list…
Journalist dead, several attacked in Egypt
New York, July 1, 2013–The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about the security of journalists covering ongoing mass protests in Egypt. One journalist was killed and six others were injured while covering demonstrations against President Mohamed Morsi over the weekend, according to news reports.
Egypt warns of TV shutdowns; legal threats mount
New York, June 28, 2013–Egypt’s Ministry of Investment sent notice today to all satellite television channels warning they will be shut down if the government deems that their coverage of this weekend’s political protests incites violence, insults individuals, or contradicts societal values, news reports said. Numerous journalists are also facing new legal threats in the…
In Barroso-Aliyev talks, press freedom takes a back seat
“We in Europe are also not perfect,” José Manuel Barroso said last week while hosting a joint press conference in Brussels with Azerbaijan’s head of state, Ilham Aliyev. The president of the European Commission, who is supposed to defend the EU’s democratic values, seemed to prove his own point by deciding not to openly question…
Nigeria re-files charges against Leadership journalists
Abuja, Nigeria, June 27, 2013–Nigerian authorities should stop the legal harassment of journalists in connection with a critical story about President Goodluck Jonathan’s political plans, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. A reporter and editor for the Nigerian daily Leadership, and a representative of the Leadership parent company, were arraigned in court today and…
Karimov should uphold media pledge by freeing journalists
New York, June 27, 2013–Uzbek President Islam Karimov should follow through on his public commitment today to support his country’s journalists by releasing the unjustly jailed reporter Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. News accounts have reported that the health of Abdurakhmanov, who has been imprisoned since 2008, has deteriorated in…