CPJ welcomes UK High Court’s delay on Assange extradition, calls on US to drop charges
Washington, D.C., March 26, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the British High Court’s Tuesday ruling, which could allow Wikileaks founder Julian Assange to contest his extradition to the United States. According to the court’s decision, the U.S. government has three weeks to give assurances that Assange will be able to rely on First Amendment…
CPJ, 8 other groups urge Guatemalan leaders to expand press freedom
The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has joined eight other press freedom organizations in urging Guatemala’s leaders to address the concerning decline in the country’s press freedom and its significance for democracy. In a statement issued ahead of the meeting between Guatemala’s President Bernardo Arévalo and U.S. Vice President Kamala Harris on Monday, March 25, the organizations called on the…
CPJ calls on United Nations to investigate Israel’s arbitrary detention of Palestinian journalists
Israel escalates practice of detaining journalists without charge amid war New York, March 25, 2024—Israel is utilizing administrative detention to detain a record number of Palestinian journalists without charge during the Israel-Gaza war, according to an urgent appeal submitted by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) to the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention…
Pakistani journalist Jam Saghir Ahmed Lar shot dead in Punjab
Update: Following the publication of this alert, CPJ learned that Lar was targeted over a personal dispute based on statements from the local non-profit Rural Media Network Pakistan and a Pakistani journalist, who spoke to CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing a police source. New York, March 22, 2024— Pakistani authorities must thoroughly investigate…
CPJ among 145 groups condemning ‘chilling effect’ of Hong Kong security law
New York, March 22, 2024—As a new national security law goes into effect in Hong Kong on Saturday, CPJ was among 145 groups across the globe that denounced the legislation, which could deepen a crackdown on human rights and further suppress media freedom in the city. Enacted under Article 23 of Hong Kong’s mini-constitution, the…
Belarusian journalist Ihar Karnei sentenced to 3 years in prison on extremism charges
New York, March 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the sentencing on Friday of Belarusian journalist Ihar Karnei to three years in prison and a fine of 20,000 rubles (US$6,115) on charges of participating in an extremist group. “It took three days for the Belarusian authorities to send Ihar Karnei to prison for three…
Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov given 3-year suspended sentence, remains behind bars
New York, March 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday condemned the three-year suspended sentence issued to Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov for participating in an extremist group and called on authorities to release him immediately and drop all charges against him. On Wednesday, a court in the Russian capital, Moscow, gave Kuznetsov, a reporter…
CPJ calls for Israel to release journalists detained during Al-Shifa hospital raid
Beirut, March 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Israeli authorities to immediately and unconditionally release the journalists arrested at Al-Shifa hospital in Gaza City this week. On Monday, March 18, Israel Defense Forces (IDF) launched a new offensive on the Al-Shifa hospital complex, arresting scores of Palestinians. An unspecified number of journalists, including…
Spanish journalist Xavier Colás denied visa renewal, expelled from Russia
New York, March 22, 2024—Russian authorities must reconsider their decision to not renew the visa of Spanish journalist Xavier Colás and allow him to work freely in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, Spanish daily newspaper El Mundo reported that Russian authorities refused to renew Colás’ visa, the outlet’s longtime correspondent in…
Belarusian court sentences camera operator Andrei Tolchyn to 2½ years
New York, March 21, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for journalist Andrei Tolchyn’s immediate release after a Belarusian court on Thursday sentenced him to 2½ years in prison for facilitating extremism and defaming President Aleksandr Lukashenko. “The 2½ year prison sentence handed to journalist Andrei Tolchyn on unfounded charges is yet another demonstration of…