Journalists in Hong Kong fear for personal safety as China pushes national security law through
A new survey conducted by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) and released June 19 showed that an overwhelming majority of journalists in Hong Kong worry about their personal safety if the new national security law is enacted. The legislation, approved by the National People’s Congress in Beijing, would criminalize any act of secession, subversion,…
Indian police launch investigation into Supriya Sharma’s COVID-19 coverage
New Delhi, June 18, 2020 — Authorities in Uttar Pradesh should immediately drop the criminal investigation into journalist Supriya Sharma, and cease legally harassing members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 13, police in Varanasi, in Uttar Pradesh state, opened an investigation into Sharma, executive editor…
Sierra Leone journalist Sylvia Olayinka Blyden detained, charged over social media posts
Abuja, June 18, 2020 — Authorities in Sierra Leone should release journalist Sylvia Olayinka Blyden immediately and drop the charges against her, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 1, police arrested Blyden, publisher of the Awareness Times newspaper, at her home in Freetown for alleged “cyber-related” offenses, according to Messeh Leone, a…
Sri Lankan authorities seize reporter Dharisha Bastians’ laptop in home raid
New York, June 18, 2020 – Sri Lankan authorities should immediately return journalist Dharisha Bastians’ computer and allow her to report without fear of official harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 9, officials from the Criminal Investigation Department raided Bastians’ home in Colombo, the capital, and seized her laptop in connection…
Algerian journalist Merzoug Touati arrested over protest coverage
New York, June 17, 2020 – Algerian authorities must immediately release journalist Merzoug Touati and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 12, Algerian police arrested Touati, a reporter for the news website L’Avant-Garde, while he was covering anti-government protests in the city of Béjaïa, according to journalist…
Guatemalan journalist Francisco Chox attacked by protesters, arrested while covering land dispute
Managua, Nicaragua, June 17, 2020 – Guatemalan authorities should immediately release journalist Francisco Chox and open a thorough and transparent investigation into the circumstances of his arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 11, a group of protesters in the municipality of Santa Catarina Ixtahuacan, in Sololá department, detained Chox while he…
Journalist Afgan Sadygov detained since May in Azerbaijan
New York, June 17, 2020 – Azerbaijani authorities should release journalist Afgan Sadygov and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The journalist has been jailed for his work at least three times in three years, according to CPJ research. At about 3 p.m. on May 13, Sadygov, chief editor…
One journalist in hiding, 2 others detained over protest coverage in Djibouti
New York, June 17, 2020 — Authorities in Djibouti should stop harassing journalists working with the La Voix de Djibouti broadcaster, and ensure that the press can cover matters of public interest without intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 5, police in the southern city of Ali Sabieh arrested Kassim Nour…
Amid spike in threats to US photographers, CPJ shares resources, joins call for accountability
New York, June 17, 2020 — Photojournalists must work on the frontlines and thus face heightened risks when covering protests and civil unrest, as underscored by the recent protests in the United States and separately by CPJ Emergencies’ surveys of photographers. These concerns are highlighted in a new series of CPJ videos that put #SafetyInFocus….
Turkey blocks Ozguruz radio website for 20th time
Istanbul, June 17, 2020 – Turkish authorities should cease trying to censor the Ozguruz radio station’s website, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, a Turkish court issued an order blocking the broadcaster’s website at the request of the Radio and Television Supreme Council, the country’s media regulator, according to news reports. The council…