Rwandan prosecutors request 22-year prison sentences for 3 Iwacu TV journalists
Nairobi, September 6, 2022—Rwandan authorities should release three Iwacu TV journalists held in detention, ensure they face no further legal harassment, and guarantee that members of the press are not imprisoned for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Authorities arrested Damascene Mutuyimana, Shadrack Niyonsenga, and Jean Baptiste Nshimiyimana, reporters for the YouTube-based…
Egyptian authorities summon 4 Mada Masr journalists for interrogation
New York, September 6, 2022 – In response to news reports that Egyptian authorities recently summoned four journalists from the independent news website Mada Masr for interrogation, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for authorities to cease harassing the outlet and its staff: “Egyptian authorities should drop their attempt to interrogate…
Investigative journalist Jeff German killed outside Las Vegas home
New York, September 6, 2022—Las Vegas law enforcement should conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the killing of journalist Jeff German, determine whether he was targeted for his work, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On the morning of Saturday, September 3, German, a reporter for the…
CPJ dismayed by 22-year sentence for Russian journalist Ivan Safronov
Paris, September 5, 2022 — In response to a Russian court’s sentencing on Monday of journalist Ivan Safronov to 22 years in prison on trumped-up charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement strongly condemning the decision: “The 22-year prison sentence for Ivan Safronov, guilty of no other crime than doing his job…
Israel finds Shireen Abu Akleh likely killed by unintentional Israeli fire
Washington, D.C., September 5, 2022—In response to news reports that an internal Israeli investigation released Monday found that Al-Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was likely killed by unintentional Israel Defense Forces fire, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for accountability: “The Israel Defense Forces’ admission of guilt is late and incomplete….
Iranian freelance journalist Hadi Pourbeheshti arrested in Kerman
Washington, D.C., September 2, 2022—Iranian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Hadi Pourbeheshti, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Sunday, August 28, security forces raided Pourbeheshti’s home in the city of Kerman in the southeastern Kerman province, and arrested him while ransacking his house in the presence of his family, according to…
DRC police detain, beat 3 journalists covering protest
Kinshasa, September 2, 2022 – Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should thoroughly investigate the arrest, assault, and detention of journalists Jojo Jibikilayi, Emmanuel Tujibikila, and Achède Milantesa and hold the police officers responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Monday, August 29, DRC national police officers arrested Jibikilayi,…
US reporters wary of online, legal threats in the wake of the overturn of Roe v. Wade
In May, editors at the pro-abortion rights news website Rewire took the extraordinary step of removing reporters’ biographies from the web site. The move was a safety precaution: After the leak of a draft of a majority Supreme Court opinion in Dobbs v. Jackson Women’s Health Organization to overturn the constitutional right to abortion, reporters at Rewire grew concerned about…
Hong Kong judge upholds police request to search Jimmy Lai’s phones
Taipei, September 1, 2022–Hong Kong authorities should drop their efforts to search the cellphones of media owner Jimmy Lai, which would violate basic tenets of press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday, August 30, a High Court judge ruled that police could search two phones with journalistic information owned by Lai,…
Iraqi security forces assault, detain journalists covering Baghdad protests
New York, August 31, 2022 – Iraqi authorities should stop assaulting and detaining journalists and take all necessary measures to ensure their safety while reporting on mass political protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Monday, August 29, Iraqi security forces arrested, assaulted, or confiscated equipment from journalists with local and international outlets…