Ugandan constitutional court strikes down criminalization of ‘offensive communication’
Nairobi, January 10, 2023 — In response to news reports that Uganda’s constitutional court on Tuesday, January 10, struck down Section 25 of the country’s Computer Misuse Act, which criminalized “offensive communication,” the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement welcoming the decision: “The Ugandan constitutional court’s decision to nullify provisions of a law…
Benin journalist Virgile Ahouansè held for 2 days, charged with spreading false news
Dakar, January 10, 2023 — Beninese authorities should drop the false news charges against journalist Virgile Ahouansè and ensure that members of the press do not face legal harassment for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On December 19, an officer with the police criminal brigade called Ahouansè, news director of the…
Turkey convicts 10 people connected to murder of journalist Güngör Arslan, including gunman
Istanbul, January 9, 2023 – In response to news reports that a Turkish court in the western province of Kocaeli on Monday convicted 10 people for their involvement in the 2022 killing of Güngör Arslan, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement welcoming the progress in his case: “Turkish authorities should be applauded…
Bolsonaro supporters attack, harass journalists while storming Brazil government buildings
Rio de Janeiro, January 9, 2023 – In response to attacks on members of the press by supporters of former Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro who stormed the country’s Congress, Federal Supreme Court, and presidential offices Sunday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “During this critical time for Brazilian democracy, journalists…
Burkina Faso journalists Lamine Traoré and Ahmed Newton Barry threatened via WhatsApp
Lamine Traoré, a reporter with the privately owned Radio Oméga, and Ahmed Newton Barry, former editor-in-chief of the privately owned newspaper L’Evènement, received separate, anonymous threats via WhatsApp groups in early December 2022, according to press reports and both journalists, who are based in Burkina Faso and spoke to CPJ by phone. Traoré, who also…
South Sudan security forces detain 6 state media employees
Nairobi, January 6, 2023—South Sudanese authorities should immediately and unconditionally release all journalists detained this week and ensure the press can work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Tuesday, January 3, agents with the National Security Service detained six journalists with the state-run South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation, according to multiple media reports…
Journalists harassed, robbed by gunmen in Culiacán amid clashes between cartel and Mexican security forces
Mexico City, January 6, 2023 – Mexican authorities must immediately and thoroughly investigate the recent harassment of journalists in the northwestern city of Culiacán, and ensure that members of the press can do their jobs freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Starting on the morning of Thursday, January 5, members of…
CPJ joins RSF and 76 journalists, press freedom orgs in calling for release of Senegalese journalist Pape Alé Niang
CPJ joined Reporters Without Borders and 76 press freedom organizations and journalists on Friday, January 6, in calling on Senegalese authorities to drop the charges against and immediately release journalist Pape Alé Niang, who is on a protracted hunger strike deteriorating his health. Niang was refused provisional release this week by a judge, his lawyer…
‘Murder the media’: What the Jan. 6 attack on the Capitol meant for US journalists
On January 6, 2021, supporters of then-President Donald Trump stormed the U.S. Capitol in a violent attempt to stop Congress from certifying Joe Biden’s win in the 2020 presidential election. A bipartisan Senate report found that at least seven people ultimately died as a result of the attack and scores were injured. The U.S. Press…
CPJ condemns November detention of WSJ reporter in Arizona
Washington, D.C., January 5, 2023—The Phoenix Police Department should conduct a thorough investigation into the November detention of Wall Street Journal reporter Dion Rabouin and ensure that members of the press are able to work without fear of harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On November 23, a police officer detained and handcuffed…