Pakistani journalist Peer Muhammad Khan Kakar held for 1 week over corruption allegations
New York, July 14, 2022 – Pakistan authorities must immediately cease harassing journalist Peer Muhammad Khan Kakar, drop any investigations into his work, and allow him to report freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On July 7, police in the Loralai district of the southwest Balochistan province arrested Kakar, a correspondent…
Italian police seize and search journalist Francesco Pesante’s phone in leak investigation
Berlin, July 14, 2022 – Italian authorities should drop any investigation into journalist Francesco Pesante and refrain from harassing members of the press in leak investigations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On June 21, police in the southern town of Foggia summoned Pesante, managing director of the news website L’Immediato, to appear for…
CPJ joins call urging Egyptian government to respect human rights ahead of COP27
In a joint open letter on July 14, 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined 20 other civil society groups in urging German officials meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to press the Egyptian leader to reopen civic space in the country. The letter is addressed to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and State Secretary…
Journalist Slava Radulov ejected from parliamentary session in Moldova
Paris, July 14, 2022 — Authorities in Moldova should investigate journalist Slava Radulov’s recent expulsion from covering a public parliamentary meeting, and ensure that the members of the press can work freely in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On July 5, Dmitry Konstantinov, chair of the People’s Assembly of Gagauzia in…
Tajikistan authorities arrest 2 journalists who criticized other journalists’ detentions
New York, July 14, 2022 – Tajik authorities should immediately provide information on the whereabouts of journalist Zavqibek Saidamini and blogger Abdusattor Pirmuhammadzoda and ensure they are released from custody at once, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On the evening of July 8, plainclothes law enforcement officers in the capital, Dushanbe, detained Saidamini,…
Committee to Protect Journalists to honor press freedom champions
Awardees are courageous journalists from Cuba, Iraqi Kurdistan, Ukraine, Russia, and Vietnam New York, July 14, 2022 – The Committee to Protect Journalists will honor four remarkable journalists from Cuba, Iraqi Kurdistan, Ukraine, and Vietnam with its 2022 International Press Freedom Awards. All four have withstood immense challenges, including government crackdowns, aggression, and imprisonment to…
Journalist Hasibur Rahman Rubel found dead in Bangladesh
New York, July 13, 2022– Bangladesh authorities must thoroughly and swiftly investigate the disappearance and death of journalist Hasibur Rahman Rubel, determine if he was killed for his work, and hold any perpetrators accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On the evening of July 3, Rubel received a phone call and left the…
CPJ calls on EU to hold India to account for media clampdown
Brussels, July 13, 2022 – The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday called on the European External Action Service to hold Indian authorities accountable for widespread and severe press freedom violations when they meet for the annual India-EU Human Rights Dialogue on Friday, July 15. “The dialogue should be an opportunity for the EU to…
Belarusian journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva convicted of treason, sentenced to additional 8 years imprisonment
Paris, July 13, 2022 — In response to a Belarusian court’s conviction Wednesday of journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva on treason charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement condemning the decision. “By convicting journalist Katsiaryna Andreyeva on ludicrous treason charges only a few months before the end of her first prison term, Belarusian authorities…
President Biden must tackle press freedom during Middle East trip
New York, July 12, 2022 – As President Joe Biden departs for a visit to the Middle East from July 13 to 16, the Committee to Protect Journalists urges Biden to mount a robust defense of press freedom with the leaders of Israel, Egypt, and Saudi Arabia, where journalists’ ability to report freely and safely…