Sudan tightens cybercrime law as army pursues “fake news”
Dura Qambo was on vacation in Egypt in July when a friend called to warn her to stop criticizing the Sudanese army online, she told CPJ. Earlier that day, the army had announced on Facebook that it had appointed a Special Commissioner in May to sue anyone who insults or defames the military on the…
Bangladesh prosecutors block bail of journalist Jamal Mir
On November 10, 2020, the Dhaka High Court granted the bail of Jamal Mir, a freelance journalist who had been detained since May, but on November 15, a chamber judge in the Bangladesh Supreme Court’s appellate division blocked that order, keeping the journalist in detention, according to court documents reviewed by CPJ and Rezaur Rehman…
Ecuadorian journalist Juán Sarmiento sentenced to prison for ‘discrediting’ local official
Bogotá, November 20, 2020 – Ecuadorian authorities should not contest journalist Juan Sarmiento’s appeal of a recent criminal conviction for critical comments about a local politician, and the country should remove speech laws from its penal code, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 12, the Justice Court of Napo, in central Ecuador,…
CPJ awards celebrate free media and the power of the press
Journalists from Bangladesh, Iran, Nigeria, and Russia honored New York, November 19, 2020 — In a tumultuous year marked by a global pandemic, social upheaval, and tense political divides, the overarching message from CPJ’s 2020 International Press Freedom Awards tonight was simple: journalism matters more than ever and solidarity has never been more important. “Whether…
Jamii Forums founder Maxence Melo convicted on obstruction charge, released in Tanzania
Nairobi, November 19, 2020 – The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern about the conviction of Maxence Melo, founder of the Tanzanian online discussion platform Jamii Forums, on charges of obstruction. On November 17, the Kisutu Resident Magistrate’s Court acquitted Melo on charges of operating a website that was not registered in Tanzania, but…
Judge orders Colombian outlet Semana TV to remove content, orders investigation
On September 28, 2020, a Colombian judge ordered online broadcaster Semana TV to take down an episode of one of its news programs, and ordered an investigation into how two of the station’s journalists obtained confidential information aired in that episode, according to news reports. The court order, which was made public on October 6…
Brazilian journalist assaulted and threatened over political coverage
At about 2:30 p.m. on October 21, 2020, two men entered the home of journalist José Airton Alves Júnior in the town of Itarema, in Brazil’s northeast Ceará state, punched and kicked him several times, and threatened him, according to news reports and the journalist, who spoke to CPJ in a phone interview. Alves Júnior…
Journalist Parag Bhuyan killed in hit-and-run in India’s Assam state
New Delhi, November 18, 2020 — Authorities in India’s northeastern Assam state must fully investigate the death of journalist Parag Bhuyan, determine whether it was related to his work, and ensure that those responsible are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Bhuyan, a journalist with Assamese-language news channel Pratidin Time, died…
Guatemalan journalist Mario Ortega shot and killed
Los Angeles, November 18, 2020 — Guatemalan authorities must conduct a swift and thorough investigation into the killing of journalist Mario Ortega and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 10, two unidentified individuals shot Ortega outside his home in the southwestern city of San José, according to…
Indian Supreme Court to hold bail hearing on case of imprisoned journalist Siddique Kappan
New York, November 17, 2020 – The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Uttar Pradesh authorities to not oppose bail for imprisoned journalist Siddique Kappan and to grant him access to his lawyers immediately. Yesterday, the Indian Supreme Court set a hearing for November 20 for a bail petition for Kappan, according to The Telegraph. Kappan,…