Palestinian security forces arrest journalist Sami al-Saie in the West Bank
New York, June 10, 2020 — Palestinian authorities should immediately release journalist Sami al-Saie and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Palestinian Preventive Security forces in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarm arrested al-Saie, news editor for the local news website Karmool Tulkarm and reporter for the…
Anti-terrorism legislation threatens press freedom in the Philippines
Bangkok, June 10, 2020 – Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte should reject pending anti-terrorism legislation or amend the law to ensure that it does not threaten press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Anti-Terrorism Act of 2020 was submitted to Duterte’s office yesterday after its approval by the House of Representatives and Senate,…
CPJ joins call for Cameroonian government to account for Samuel Wazizi’s death in custody
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined nine other human rights and press freedom groups yesterday in a statement calling on the Cameroonian government to allow for an independent probe into the death of journalist Samuel Wazizi. The statement calls for U.N. Security Council members to take advantage of a June 12 meeting with the U.N….
Office of independent TV station 3 Kanal firebombed in Kyrgyzstan
New York, June 9, 2020 – Kyrgyzstan authorities should conduct a quick and thorough investigation into the arson attack on the office of the 3 Kanal broadcaster, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At around 7 a.m. on June 7, unidentified attackers threw a Molotov cocktail through a window of the independent television station’s…
Indonesian journalist held since early May on criminal defamation charge
Bangkok, June 9, 2020 – Indonesian authorities should immediately release journalist Diantara Putra Sumedi and stop legal proceedings against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police in Kotabaru, South Kalimantan province, have held Diantara in detention since May 4, in response to a criminal defamation complaint filed against him, according to news reports….
Chilean Supreme Court orders Radio Bío Bío to remove content from website
Miami, June 9, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned a decision by the Chilean Supreme Court ordering the independent news outlet Radio Bío Bío to take down the audio and transcript of a phone call published in a news article. On May 19, the third chamber of the Chilean Supreme Court ruled…
Nigerian journalist in hiding after police arrest and question 5 reporters about his whereabouts
Abuja, June 9, 2020 — Authorities in Nigeria should publicly disclose why they are seeking journalist Cletus Opukeme, and should not harass reporters over their professional connections, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 3 p.m. on May 28, at the Nigeria Union of Journalists’ office in Warri, a city in southern Delta…
Turkish police arrest 2 journalists in espionage investigation
Istanbul, June 9, 2020 – Turkish authorities must release journalists Müyesser Yıldız and İsmail Dükel immediately, and ensure that the press can cover political and military news freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday morning, police in Ankara arrested Yıldız, Ankara news director for opposition news website Odatv, and Dükel, the Ankara representative…
CPJ joins call to strengthen EU legislation on dual-use technologies
Yesterday, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven other human rights and free expression groups in writing a letter to European Union Trade Commissioner Phil Hogan, requesting that human rights provisions be included in draft EU legislation concerning the exports of technology products such as surveillance software, which could be used for both civilian and…
Slovenian reporter Eugenija Carl receives threatening letter with white powder
Berlin, June 8, 2020 — Slovenian authorities should conduct a quick and thorough investigation into the threats against journalist Eugenija Carl and ensure her safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 1, Carl, a reporter for public broadcaster RTV Slovenia, received an envelope mailed to her work address in the city of…