French journalist Cemil Şanlı receives death threat, accosted outside home
Berlin, March 16, 2023 — French authorities should thoroughly investigate threats and insults received by journalist Cemil Şanlı and take immediate steps to ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On the morning of March 2, Şanlı, a broadcast journalist for the privately owned independent news outlet Le Média TV, received a…
Maldives parliament considers amendment restricting journalists’ coverage of elections
New York, March 15, 2023—Maldives legislators should reject or revise a recently proposed legislative amendment restricting journalists’ ability to cover elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Monday, March 13, the Maldives parliament opened debate regarding an amendment to the country’s General Elections Act proposed in mid-February by a lawmaker with the ruling…
CPJ reiterates call for Rwanda to investigate John Williams Ntwali’s death
Nairobi, March 15, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 85 other organizations in reiterating calls for the Rwandan government to allow an independent, impartial investigation into the death of investigative journalist John Williams Ntwali. Authorities said that Ntwali died on January 18 in a road accident in the Rwandan capital Kigali, but CPJ and other…
DRC defense minister files, withdraws false news complaint against reporter Stanis Bujakera
On March 9, 2023, Congolese Minister of Defense Gilbert Kabanda filed a criminal complaint accusing journalist Stanis Bujakera Tshiamala of publishing false rumors, according to news reports and a copy of that complaint, which CPJ reviewed. The complaint stemmed from a March 5 tweet by Bujakera, a correspondent for the France-based Jeune Afrique news website,…
Zambian police briefly detain 2 Millennium TV journalists covering protest
Lusaka, March 14, 2023—Zambian authorities should refrain from detaining members of the press and should ensure journalists can cover protests without fear of arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On March 10, authorities detained Namo Phiri and Abel Musonda, journalists at the privately owned broadcaster Millennium TV, while they covered a protest by…
China should improve overseas media accreditation, access following restrictive political meetings
Taipei, March 14, 2023 – Chinese authorities should allow international media to cover events and political gatherings without restrictions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday, after several accredited journalists reported being denied access or having access restricted to the first major political meetings since China relaxed its zero-COVID policy. The state-run China Daily…
Georgian authorities deny entry to Russian journalist Aleksandra Shvedchenko
Paris, March 14, 2023 – Georgian authorities should allow Russian journalists to enter the country and work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Tuesday, March 14, border guards at the airport in Tbilisi, the capital, held Aleksandra Shvedchenko, a reporter with independent broadcaster Dozhd TV, for about 30 minutes before denying her…
Independent journalists banned from covering opening session of new Tunisian parliament
New York, March 14, 2023—In response to news reports that Tunisian lawmakers on Monday banned all non-state media journalists from covering the opening session of parliament, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Barring journalists from covering the opening session of Tunisia’s new parliament is President Kais Saied’s latest attempt to…
Journalist Hosein Naderi revealed to have died in bombing at Afghan press event
New York, March 14, 2023–The Taliban must ensure that those responsible for the recent bombing at a press award event that killed journalist Hosein Naderi are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Saturday, March 11, a bomb exploded at a cultural center in Mazar-e-Sharif, the capital of northern Balkh province,…
Italian police investigate Domani newspaper in criminal defamation case
Berlin, March 14, 2022—Italian authorities should drop any investigation into the Domani newspaper and ensure that members of the press do not face criminal charges for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On March 3, two uniformed carabinieri officers arrived at the newsroom of independent private daily newspaper Domani in Rome, according…