CPJ calls on European Commission to stand for press freedom during el-Sisi visit
Brussels, February 14, 2022 — European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen must speak out on media freedom when she meets with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi this week, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday. “Egyptian President el-Sisi has systematically attacked the press, imprisoned journalists, and silenced critical voices,” said Tom Gibson, CPJ’s…
Mexican journalist Heber López shot and killed in Oaxaca, suspects arrested
Mexico City, February 12, 2022 – Mexican authorities must thoroughly and transparently investigate the killing of journalist Heber López Vásquez, determine whether he was targeted for his work, and ensure those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Saturday. In the afternoon of Thursday, February 10, a group of at least…
Syrian journalist Kenan Waqaf in hiding after security forces seek his arrest
New York, February 11, 2022 – Syrian government authorities should stop pursuing journalist Kenan Waqaf and cease harassing and detaining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the early morning of February 6, Waqaf posted a video to his Facebook account saying that he had gone into hiding after heavily…
Threats, attacks, and insults: Canadian reporters on covering vaccine mandate protests
“Fake news.” “Go home.” “You’re the virus.” These are just a few of the insults that protesters have hurled at Evan Solomon, a reporter at national Canadian broadcaster CTV, and his colleagues as they have covered demonstrations against COVID-19 restrictions in Ottawa. The protests – which began in Canada’s capital in late January to counter…
Mali expels French reporter Benjamin Roger, suspends media accreditation process
New York, February 11, 2022 — Malian authorities should ensure that bureaucratic obstacles do not prevent international journalists from entering the country and covering it freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Monday, February 7, police officers in the capital, Bamako, arrested French national Benjamin Roger, a reporter at the privately owned news…
Hungarian government bypasses court order allowing journalists to report from public hospitals
Berlin, February 11, 2022 — Hungarian authorities should not grant state media preferential access to public facilities, and should ensure that independent news outlets can cover the COVID-19 pandemic freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On February 4, the Hungarian government’s executive branch issued a decree empowering the Operational Corps, the government pandemic…
Pirambu News founder Givanildo Oliveira shot dead in Brazil
Rio de Janeiro, February 11, 2022 – Brazilian authorities must promptly and thoroughly investigate the killing of Givanildo Oliveira and determine if the crime was in retaliation to his work as a community journalist, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On the night of Monday, February 7, Oliveira, founder and journalist of news website…
Taliban arrests 2 journalists on assignment with United Nations
New York, February 11, 2022 — The Taliban must immediately release Andrew North and all other journalists held for their work, and cease harassing and detaining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Taliban forces in Kabul arrested North, a former BBC journalist on assignment for the UN High Commissioner for…
New Azerbaijan media law increases restrictions on the press
Stockholm, February 10, 2022 – Azerbaijan authorities should repeal a newly enacted media law that increases state control of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday, February 8, President Ilham Aliyev enacted the law “On Media,” which replaces existing laws governing media outlets, according to news reports and a copy of…