Argentine court charges journalist Daniel Santoro with attempted extortion
Miami, April 22, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Argentine authorities to drop the latest criminal charge against investigative journalist Daniel Santoro, who has been subject to repeated legal harassment for at least two years. On April 19, Judge Luis Rodríguez from the Ninth Federal Criminal and Correctional Court charged Santoro,…
Israeli security forces arrest Palestinian journalist Alaa al-Rimawi in Ramallah
New York, April 22, 2021 – Israeli authorities should immediately make public any charges against Palestinian journalist Alaa al-Rimawi and disclose where he is being held, or release him unconditionally at once, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Early yesterday morning, a group of about 12 Israeli soldiers raided the Ramallah home of al-Rimawi,…
At least 10 journalists detained while covering pro-Navalny rallies in Russia
Vilnius, Lithuania, April 22, 2021 — Russian authorities should stop harassing journalists and allow members of the press to cover political demonstrations without fear, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, police detained at least 10 journalists and harassed several others in relation to their coverage of unauthorized protests in support of jailed Russian…
Brazilian media outlet that covers women’s rights targeted with DDoS attack
Between March 26 and April 2, 2021, unidentified internet users orchestrated distributed denial-of-service (DDoS) attacks on Portal Catarinas, an online media outlet specializing in gender, feminism, and human rights, according to Paula Guimarães, the portal’s executive director and a report by the Brazilian Association of Investigative Journalism (ABRAJI). The attacks flooded the site with traffic…
Hong Kong court convicts, fines journalist Choy Yuk-ling over documentary research
Taipei, April 22, 2021 — In response to a Hong Kong court’s conviction today of video producer Choy Yuk-ling, also known as Bao Choy, on charges of giving false statements, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “The unjust conviction of video producer Choy Yuk-ling marks the latest assault on press freedom in…
Crimean court fines chief editor of Qirim newspaper
New York, April 21, 2021 – Authorities in Russian-occupied Crimea should not contest the appeal of journalist Bekir Mamutov, and should refrain from fining members of the press over their coverage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the magistrates’ court of the Zheleznodorozhny district of Simferopol, the capital of Russian-occupied Crimea, convicted Mamutov,…
Nicaraguan police assault journalist Kalúa Salazar, block her from leaving home
Guatemala City, April 21, 2021 – Nicaraguan authorities must stop the police harassment of journalist Kalúa Salazar and allow members of the press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 19, at about 4:30 a.m., a riot police officer standing outside Salazar’s house in the Caribbean city of Bluefields grabbed…
Jailed Indian journalist Siddique Kappan hospitalized after contracting COVID-19
New Delhi, April 21, 2021 – Authorities in India’s Uttar Pradesh state should immediately release journalist Siddique Kappan from custody and allow him to freely seek medical treatment for COVID-19, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Kappan collapsed in the Mathura Jail yesterday, where he is held pending trial, and today he tested positive…
Journalist Jeremy McDermott faces new criminal defamation suit in Colombia
Bogotá, April 21, 2021 – Colombian authorities should dismiss a criminal defamation lawsuit against investigative journalist Jeremy McDermott, and Colombia should reform its defamation laws to align with international standards, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 6, the national attorney general’s office notified McDermott, a British national and the co-director and legal…
Local official orders 2 journalists detained during municipal meeting in Tanzania
On April 12, 2021, security personnel with Tanzania’s Temeke municipality briefly detained two broadcast reporters—Dickson Billikwija with the privately owned Islands TV, and Christopher James of the privately owned ITV and Radio One—at a local official’s request, according to news reports and both journalists, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. That official, Lusubilo Mwakabibi—the…