Lebanese TV host to stand trial over remarks critical of Turkish President Erdoğan
On July 9, 2020, the Lebanese attorney general’s office filed criminal charges against Neshan Der Haroutiounian, a Lebanese-Armenian TV host, for his remarks about Turkish President Erdoğan, and set a date for his trial at Beirut’s Publications Court on October 8, according to news reports. The charges stemmed from a July 11 filing by Muhammad…
Gaza authorities ban Saudi-funded broadcasters over ‘fake news’ report
New York, July 16, 2020 – Gaza authorities should immediately lift their bans on the Al-Arabiya and Al-Hadath broadcasters and allow them to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, the Interior Ministry in the Gaza Strip, which is run by Hamas, banned the Saudi-funded news channels from working in Gaza, and…
Belarus police detain at least 17 journalists covering protests in support of opposition candidates
New York, July 16, 2020 — Belarusian authorities should stop harassing, detaining, and charging members of the press covering protests in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 14 and 15, police in the cities of Minsk, Brest, and Homel detained at least 17 journalists covering protests against the Central Electoral…
Brazilian Minister of Justice calls for criminal investigations of 2 journalists, cartoonist
Rio de Janeiro, July 16, 2020 — Brazilian authorities should refrain from investigating or prosecuting cartoonist Renato Aroeira and journalists Ricardo Noblat and Helio Schwartsman, and should not threaten journalists with criminal investigations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 15, Brazilian Minister of Justice André Mendonça published a series of tweets saying…
Pakistani journalists beaten, detained in Balochistan prison without charge for 2 days
On June 19, 2020, agents with the Pakistani Balochistan Levies force, a law enforcement agency under the direction of the Balochistan district administration, detained and beat Saeed Ali Achakzai, a reporter with the privately owned TV channel Samaa TV, and Abdul Mateen Achakzai, a reporter for privately owned broadcaster Khyber TV, according to both journalists,…
Tajikistan authorities question family members of exiled journalist
On July 3, 2020, the Tajikistan prosecutor general’s office in Dushanbe, the capital, summoned two relatives of exiled journalist Mirzo Salimpur and questioned them about their relationship with him, according to news reports and Salimpur, who spoke with CPJ in a phone interview. Salimpur said he believes his relatives were interrogated in an attempt to…
Freelance reporter charged with insulting Zimbabwe’s president
On June 29, 2020, Godfrey Mtimba, a freelance journalist in Zimbabwe’s southern town of Masvingo, was charged with insulting and undermining the authority of President Emmerson Mnangagwa, the journalist and his lawyer, Phillip Shumba, told CPJ via messaging app. Mtimba was charged under Section 33 (2) (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act,…
Gambian police detain journalist documenting COVID-19 protests
On June 21, 2020, officers of Gambia’s anti-crime police unit detained Ebou N. Keita, an editor and camera operator with the privately owned Gambian Talents Television broadcaster, for photographing police arresting people protesting the country’s COVID-19 restrictions, according to Keita and Gambian Talents Television founder Pa Ousman Joof, both of whom spoke to CPJ via…
Lebanese soldiers assault 5 journalists covering protest north of Beirut; judge bans outlets from interviewing U.S. ambassador
On June 28, 2020, Lebanese soldiers assaulted at least five journalists while they were reporting on protesters who were attempting to block a highway in Jal el-Dib, five and a half miles (nine kilometers) north of Beirut, according to news reports, the regional press freedom group SKeyes Center for Media and Cultural Freedom, reports in…
Reported press freedom violations in Black Lives Matter protests near 500
New York, July 15, 2020—The U.S. Press Freedom Tracker is investigating nearly 500 reported press freedom incidents since May 26, representing the unprecedented nature of attacks on journalists during recent nationwide Black Lives Matter protests. The incidents include journalists arrested, assaulted, hit with rubber bullets, pepper sprayed, tear gassed and threatened with weapons. A vast…