CPJ welcomes acquittal of Montenegro investigative journalist Jovo Martinović
Berlin, July 13, 2023 – The Committee to Protect Journalists said it welcomed the Montenegro Supreme Court’s Wednesday decision to uphold a verdict in January to acquit journalist Jovo Martinović on drug trafficking charges. “This decision finally puts an end to the eight-year legal saga involving prominent investigative journalist Jovo Martinović, who was twice wrongly…
Police and protesters attack, obstruct at least 18 journalists covering French protests
Berlin, July 13, 2023—French authorities should investigate and hold to account police and activists responsible for attacks on journalists covering the nationwide demonstrations and riots that swept France after police shot and killed a 17-year-old delivery driver at a traffic stop in a Paris suburb, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Protesters attacked or…
Mexican journalist Luis Martín Sánchez Iñíguez killed in Nayarit
Mexico City, July 13, 2023—Mexican authorities must immediately, transparently, and credibly investigate the killing of journalist Luis Martín Sánchez Iñíguez and determine whether he was killed because of his work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Sánchez, the correspondent in the northern Mexican state of Nayarit for the Mexico City-based national newspaper La Jornada,…
CPJ urges Bangladeshi authorities to lift shutdown on 2 social media platforms
New York, July 12, 2023 – Two Bangladeshi social media outlets shuttered by authorities must be allowed to operate freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday, amid mounting indications of a pre-election campaign to silence critical voices. On Sunday, June 25, the Chittagong district administration in southeast Bangladesh sealed the offices of the privately…
CPJ calls on Kyrgyzstan authorities to allow RFE/RL’s Radio Azattyk to work freely after shutdown reversal
Stockholm, July 12, 2023— The Committee to Protect Journalists says it is relieved by Wednesday’s decision by a Kyrgyzstan appeals court to annul a lower court ruling ordering the closure of Radio Azattyk, the local service of U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty. “We are relieved by the reversal of Kyrgyz authorities’ decision to…
Iranian authorities rearrest journalist Nazila Maroofian
Washington, D.C., July 11, 2023—Iranian authorities should release journalist Nazila Maroofian and drop any charges against her, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Saturday, July 8, authorities arrested Maroofian, a Kurdish Iranian investigative reporter for the state-run news website Rouydad24, after she responded to a summons at a court in Evin prison in…
Terrorism trial of 17 Kurdish journalists, media worker begins in Turkey
Diyarbakır, July 11, 2023—In response to Tuesday’s opening of the trial of 17 Kurdish journalists and a media worker on terrorism charges in a court in Diyarbakır, Turkey, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Turkish authorities must immediately release the defendants and drop the terrorism charges, which are solely based on their…
Kazakh journalist Amangeldy Batyrbekov sentenced to 20 days’ detention for defamation
Stockholm, July 10, 2023—Kazakhstan authorities should release journalist Amangeldy Batyrbekov and reform the country’s laws to remove prison sentences for defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 3, the Saryagash District Specialized Administrative Court in Kazakhstan’s southern Turkestan region sentenced Batyrbekov, chief editor of local independent newspaper S-Inform, to 20 days’ administrative…
Syria revokes accreditation of 2 BBC journalists
Beirut, July 10, 2023 – Syria’s Ministry of Information must reverse its decision to revoke the accreditation of two BBC journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 8, the ministry said it had canceled the accreditation of two local journalists working for the BBC over “false” and “politicized” reporting, according to a…
Belarusian journalist Andrey Famin sentenced to 7 years in prison
New York, July 7, 2023—In response to a Belarusian court sentencing journalist Andrey Famin to seven years in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The seven-year prison sentence handed down to Belarusian journalist Andrey Famin for his alleged involvement in a low-profile network of regional newspapers is proof that…