CPJ urges Uzbek court to reject politicized prosecution, acquit journalist
New York, October 9, 2008–An Uzbek court should reject the politicized prosecution of independent journalist Salidzhon Abdurakhmanov and acquit him on fabricated drug possession charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Prosecutors are seeking a 17-year prison term for Abdurakhmanov, defense lawyer Rustam Tulyaganov told CPJ today. Nukus District Court Judge Kadyrbay Dzhamolov, who…
Media reform stagnates in Zambia
On September 27, the High Court in Zambia’s capital, Lusaka, granted acting President Rupiah Banda an injunction restraining The Post newspaper from publishing libelous words against him. Zambia’s Sunday Times reported that the court had also given a penal notice to Editor-in-Chief Fred M’membe to comply with the order. M’membe refused and appealed to the…
In Mexico, CPJ urges authorities to investigate editor’s murder
We issued the following statement in response to the murder of Mexican reporter Miguel Angel Villagómez, editor of the newspaper La Noticia in the state of Michoacán, whose bullet-ridden body was found today in the neighboring state of Guerrero, according to press reports. “We mourn the death of our colleague Miguel Angel Villagómez and urge…
Press freedom in the news 10/10/08
The Associated Press has coverage today of the detention of two journalists working for the Jordan Times who had been detained by Syrian officials when they tried to enter the country from Lebanon. The Wall Street Journal is also running the AP story. Also today the Web site of the Philippine newspaper The Mindanao Examiner…
U.S. journalists, thought missing, are held by Syrian officials
New York, October 9, 2008–Two U.S. journalists missing since October 1 are being held in Syria in connection with visa issues, several news organizations reported today. The Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs said today that Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23, were arrested when they entered Syria without visas, news reports said.
Two American journalists missing
New York, October 8, 2008–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned for the safety of two American journalists on vacation in Lebanon who have not been heard from since October 1. Holli Chmela, 27, who had just finished an internship at The Jordan Times, and Taylor Luck, 23, a staff writer at the paper, had…
From the Family of Holli Chmela
CPJ is concerned for the safety of two American journalists, Holli Chmela, 27, and Taylor Luck, 23, who are reported missing in Lebanon. The Chmela family issued the following statement tonight. We are hoping and praying for the safe return of our children, Taylor Luck and Holli Chmela. We wish to thank the State Department and FBI…
State Department replies to CPJ on Tunisia
As we noted in a recent special report, Tunisian President Zine El Abidine Ben Ali relies on spying and intimidation to keep his citizens in line. The United States has been a friend and supporter of Ben Ali and not at all consistent in calling attention to ongoing human rights abuses, particularly the harassment, intimidation,…
CPJ welcomes release of Moussa Kaka
New York, October 7, 2008–The Committee to Protect Jounalists welcomes today’s provisional release of veteran Nigerien journalist Moussa Kaka after more than a year behind bars on anti-state charges. An appeals court in the capital, Niamey, ordered Kaka’s release on bail pending trial by a magistrate court on amended charges of “undermining national territorial integrity…
Press freedom in the news 10/08/08
The Associated Press has coverage today of our letter to Venezuelan President Hugo Chavez expressing concern at the growing violence Venezuela. The Spanish-language Web site of Univision is also running the AP story. The South Africa-based Web site Daily Dispatch Online has a story today about the troubled Zimbabwe media. Also making news today is the institution of a telephone hotline to help endangered journalists in Iraq. Reuters has…