American journalist Nathan Maung describes alleged abuse during Myanmar imprisonment
When armed authorities raided the office of news website Kamayut Media in downtown Yangon, Myanmar on March 8, editor Nathan Maung’s initial reaction was to plead not to be shot. The American journalist and his Myanmar colleague Hanthar Nyein were arrested, blindfolded, and taken to a military interrogation center, where for more two weeks they were interrogated,…
Ethiopian journalist Abebe Bayu abducted and assaulted by unidentified men
New York, July 1, 2021 – Ethiopian authorities must thoroughly investigate the recent attack on journalist Abebe Bayu, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that all members of the press can work without fear, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 21, a group of four unidentified men surrounded Abebe, a reporter…
Indian journalist Pateshwari Singh assaulted after critical coverage of Uttar Pradesh politician
New Delhi, July 1, 2021 — Authorities in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh must conduct a thorough and impartial investigation into the assault of journalist Pateshwari Singh and ensure that those responsible are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 7:30 p.m. on the evening of June 29, a…
Angola charges 2 more journalists with criminal defamation over corruption reporting
New York, July 1, 2021—Angolan authorities should drop criminal defamation charges against journalists Coque Mukuta and Escrivão José, stop pursuing such cases against the press, and ensure that journalism is not criminalized, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 17, Angolan judicial authorities charged Coque Mukuta, editor of privately owned news website O Decreto and…
Liberian journalist Aryee Davis threatened, harassed online over reporting on alleged fraud
Abuja, July 1, 2021 – Liberian authorities should investigate the threats received by journalist Aryee Davis and ensure that she can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In mid-June, a Facebook user named “Gedeh Eagleeyes” sent multiple threatening messages to Davis, founder of the Facebook-based news outlet GrainCost TV, and posted threatening…
Syrian security forces arrest journalist Bassam Safar at Damascus checkpoint
New York, June 30, 2021 – Syrian authorities should disclose their rationale for arresting journalist Bassam Safar, as well as the location where he is being held, or else release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 24, Syrian government security forces arrested Safar, an editor on cultural topics for the…
Algerian journalist Mustapha Bendjama given 2-month suspended prison sentence
On June 27, 2021, an appeals court in Annaba, in northeast Algeria, issued Mustapha Bedjama, editor-in-chief of the local independent news website Le Provincial, a two-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 20,000 dinars (US $150), according to news reports and Bendjama, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. The case stemmed from “harming…
Palestinian security forces assault at least 5 journalists covering protests in Ramallah
New York, June 30, 2021 – Authorities in the West Bank should conduct a thorough investigation into security forces’ recent attacks on members of the press covering protests, and ensure that those responsible are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 26 and 27, security forces affiliated with the Palestinian…
‘The most dangerous situation’: Serbian journalists accused of links to organized crime
In March, when a reporter at Serbian investigative news site KRIK asked President Aleksandar Vučić at a press conference about the government’s alleged links to organized crime, governing party politicians and pro-government media outlets turned the claim back on KRIK. They accused the journalists of being part of a criminal network, which KRIK has forcefully denied, as CPJ…
In five Latin American countries, COVID-19 responses restrict press freedom, CPJ, TrustLaw find
In Bolivia, Brazil, El Salvador, and Peru, emergency measures in response to COVID-19 restricted the media’s capacity to report freely and the public’s ability to access information, including critical information about public health interventions and the pandemic itself, a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists and Thomson Reuters Foundation’s TrustLaw program found. The report,…