Ecuadorian congress passes ‘digital violence’ bill that threatens press freedom
Miami, May 11, 2021 – Ecuadorian President Lenín Moreno should require the country’s legislature to amend a recently passed bill to ensure that it does not threaten press freedom, or should veto that legislation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 6, the National Assembly passed the “Law to Prevent and Combat Digital…
Unidentified attacker beats Epoch Times journalist with bat in Hong Kong
Taipei, May 11, 2021 — The Hong Kong police force must undertake a swift and thorough investigation into the attack on reporter Sarah Liang and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 11 a.m. today, an unidentified man attacked Liang, a reporter for The Epoch Times, outside of…
Tanzanian reporter Jesse Mikofu beaten, harassed in Zanzibar
On April 21, 2021, security officers in Zanzibar, a semi-autonomous archipelago in Tanzania, beat and harassed Jesse Mikofu, a reporter with the privately owned Mwananchi newspaper, according to news reports, a statement by the Media Council of Tanzania, an independent self-regulatory body, and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. Three officers from…
Mexican reporter Benjamín Morales shot and killed in Sonora
Mexico City, May 11, 2021 – Mexican authorities must immediately undertake a swift, credible, and transparent investigation into the killing of independent reporter Benjamín Morales, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the evening of May 2, Morales’ family lost contact with the journalist in Sonoyta, a small…
CPJ calls on Biden administration to commit to source protection in wake of Washington Post subpoena revelations
Washington, D.C., May 10, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Biden administration to make public why the Justice Department under former President Donald Trump secretly subpoenaed journalists’ phone records, and to commit to respecting journalist and source relationships. The Justice Department secretly obtained call records from April 15, 2017, to…
Uzbek blogger Otabek Sattoriy sentenced to 6.5 years in prison
Stockholm, May 10, 2021 – Uzbekistan authorities should immediately release journalist Otabek Sattoriy, not contest his appeal, and allow all journalists to work freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Earlier today, the Muzrabot District Court in the southern Surkhondaryo region convicted Sattoriy, a blogger who covers local corruption…
Iraqi journalist Ahmed Hassan shot, critically wounded
New York, May 10, 2021 – Iraqi authorities should immediately and thoroughly investigate the shooting of journalist Ahmed Hassan, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Earlier today, an unidentified masked gunman shot Hassan, a reporter for the broadcaster Al-Forat TV, twice in the head in front of his…
CPJ calls on Thailand not to deport detained Democratic Voice of Burma reporters to Myanmar
Bangkok, May 10, 2021 – Thai authorities should refrain from deporting three Democratic Voice of Burma reporters who were arrested yesterday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. “Thai authorities should uphold the country’s proud history as a sanctuary for journalists fleeing military repression in Myanmar, and on humanitarian grounds should not deport three Democratic…
CPJ calls for immediate release of kidnapped French journalist Olivier Dubois in Mali
New York, May 7, 2021 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed great concern for the safety of French journalist Olivier Dubois, and called on any party holding him in custody to release him immediately and without harm. “French journalist Olivier Dubois must be released immediately and unharmed, and French and Malian authorities should…
Moroccan journalist Mohamed Boutaam arrested over corruption reporting
New York, May 7, 2021 – Moroccan authorities must release journalist Mohamed Boutaam immediately, drop any charges against him, and let him work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 4, judicial police in the southern city of Tiznit arrested Boutaam, director of the privately owned local news website Tizpress, after he…