In China, one journalist freed, another expected to be released soon
New York, September 14, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes reports than Zhao Yan, a Chinese research assistant for The New York Times, is expected to be freed on Saturday morning, according to the Times. If released, Zhao will have served his combined three-year sentence in prison and pretrial detention on a fraud conviction,…
Outrage as 14-year-old son of Pakistani journalist beaten for his father’s reporting
New York, September 14, 2007— The Committee to Protect Journalists is outraged by the assault on Hassan Sharjil, the 14-year-old son of prominent journalist Shakil Ahmad Turabi, editor-in-chief of the South Asian News Agency. Hassan was beaten by a man outside his school today in Islamabad as he was dropped off for classes at around…
Assailants fire shots at TV host’s car
SEPTEMBER 13, 2007 Posted September 25, 2007 Ricardo Borges, TV Carajás ATTACKED Two individuals fired shots at a car parked outside the home of television reporter Borges in Campo Mourão in the southern state of Paraná, reported the Brazilian press. No one was injured.
COLOMBIA: Two politicians arrested for 2003 journalist murder
September 13, 2007 Posted September 21, 2007 José Emeterio Rivas, Calor Estéreo KILLED Two local politicians have been arrested by Colombian authorities in the northern city of Barrancabermeja in connection with the April 2003 Rivas murder, according to press reports.
Radio reporter wounded while covering social protest
New York, September 13, 2007—Argentine radio reporter Adela Gómez was injured Wednesday after national border guards fired rubber bullets into a crowd of protesters blocking a road in the southern province of Santa Cruz. Gómez, a reporter with radio station FM XXI in the city of Caleta Olivia, about 1,400 miles (2,300 kilometers) south of…
Four editors sentenced to jail
New York, September 13, 2007—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Cairo court’s ruling today that sentences four independent editors to one-year jail terms for publishing “false information.” Editors Ibrahim Eissa of the daily Al-Dustour, Wael al-Abrashy of the weekly Sawt al-Umm, Adel Hammouda of the weekly Al-Fajr, and Abdel Halim Kandil, former editor of…
Gambian journalist still held despite receiving bail
New York, September 13, 2007—A prominent radio producer at the Gambia Radio and Television Services is still being held in jail despite being granted bail yesterday. Producer Malick Jones was charged with communicating to an unnamed foreign journalist sensitive information in violation of state security, a charge made under the Official Secret Act. Jones, along…
In Russia, skepticism greets prosecutors’ ruling in Safronov death
New York, September 12, 2007—Moscow prosecutors closed the criminal investigation into the March death of Kommersant defense correspondent Ivan Safronov because of “an absence of foul play,” the business daily reported today. The Central Administrative District prosecutor concluded that Safronov took his own life “for subjective, private reasons,” Kommersant said. The prosecutor’s office disclosed few…
CPJ fears for Sri Lankan journalists as cease-fire ends
Dear President Rajapaksa, As your government prepares to withdraw from its 2002 cease-fire agreement with Tamil separatists, the Committee to Protect Journalists is greatly concerned by reports that members of your government have tried to intimidate journalists in the Sri Lankan media in recent weeks. In at least two instances, an official used the word “traitor” against a journalist, which is decidedly inflammatory in a country that has seen civil war rage since 1983.