West Africa court orders Nigeria to refrain from sanctioning media for using Twitter
New York, June 23, 2021 — In response to yesterday’s ruling by the Economic Community of West African States’ (ECOWAS) Court of Justice ordering Nigeria to refrain from sanctioning media outlets and Nigerian citizens for using Twitter, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The ECOWAS court order for Nigeria to refrain from…
Turkish journalist Mustafa Uslu beaten, equipment broken in Kocaeli
Istanbul, June 23, 2021 – Turkish authorities should ensure that the people who beat journalist Mustafa Uslu are held accountable and prosecuted, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, four people in the northwestern province of Kocaeli attacked Uslu, a reporter for the pro-government İhlas News Agency (İHA), while he was covering authorities’ demolition…
Hong Kong police arrest Apple Daily editorial writer Yeung Ching-kee under national security law
Taipei, June 23, 2021 – Hong Kong authorities must immediately release journalist Yeung Ching-kee, drop any charges against him, and allow all members of the press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This morning, officers from the Hong Kong Police Force’s National Security Department arrested Yeung, the lead editorial writer for…
Hong Kong’s Apple Daily newspaper to cease publication
Washington, D.C., June 23, 2021 — In response to today’s decision by Hong Kong-based media company Next Digital to cease publication of the Apple Daily newspaper, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The Next Digital board’s decision to cease publication of the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper is the result of the Chinese…
Cuban journalist Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca held by police since June 15
Miami, June 22, 2021 — Cuban authorities must immediately release journalist Lázaro Yuri Valle Roca, drop any charges against him, and allow the press to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 15, agents from the Cuban Revolutionary Police detained Valle when he presented himself at the Zapata y C police…
Mexican reporter Gustavo Sánchez shot and killed in Oaxaca
Mexico City, June 22, 2021 – Mexican authorities should conduct a swift, thorough, and transparent investigation into the killing of journalist Gustavo Sánchez Cabrera, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 8 a.m. on June 17, two unidentified people driving a car near the town of Morro Mazatán, in the southern state of…
Iraqi Kurdish court sentences freelance journalist Omed Baroshky to one year in prison
New York, June 22, 2021 — In response to today’s sentencing of Iraqi Kurdish journalist Omed Baroshky to one year in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “With today’s sentencing of freelance journalist Omed Baroshky, Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq have again displayed their unhindered determination to shrink the space in…
Pakistani journalist Muhammad Bilal Ghauri summoned over YouTube videos
Washington, D.C., June 22, 2021 – Pakistani authorities should cease harassing journalist Muhammad Bilal Ghauri and allow all members of the press to freely report on state institutions, including the military, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Today, M. Waseem Sikandar, a sub-inspector at the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Reporting Centre in Islamabad,…
Journalist İbrahim Akkuş beaten with pipe in Turkey
Istanbul, June 22, 2021 – Turkish authorities must investigate the recent attack on journalist İbrahim Akkuş, hold the perpetrators to account, and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, three employees of a construction company in the 19 Mayıs District of the northern province of Samsun attacked Akkuş, a reporter for…
EU must highlight press freedom in Turkey during upcoming talks
Brussels, June 22, 2021 – European Union leaders should use the upcoming European Council meeting to call for Turkey to improve its press freedom record, including the release of all jailed journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Officials plan to discuss EU-Turkey relations during the meeting, scheduled for June 24 and 25, according…