Dominican journalist Marino Zapete to face criminal defamation trial for corruption report
Miami, January 23, 2020 — Authorities in the Dominican Republic should immediately drop all criminal charges against Marino Zapete and stop pursuing criminal defamation cases against journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Brazilian prosecutor should drop charges against Glenn Greenwald
Rio de Janeiro, January 22, 2020–Brazilian authorities should immediately drop charges against Intercept Brasil co-founder and editor Glenn Greenwald and refrain from prosecuting journalists for their communication with sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering 2020 protests in Lebanon
Protests in Lebanon have become more violent in recent weeks, with approximately 500 protesters and members of the security forces injured, according to reports. Lebanese authorities have used water cannon, batons, rubber bullets and, on occasion, fired teargas directly at protesters, according to reports. Protesters have thrown projectiles including molotov cocktails, stones and fireworks, directed…
Saudi crown prince’s alleged hacking of Bezos raises press freedom concerns
Washington, January 22, 2020—The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined U.N. human rights experts in calling for an investigation into the alleged hacking of The Washington Post owner and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos. The U.N. experts called the alleged hacking “an effort to influence, if not silence, The Washington Post’s reporting on Saudi Arabia.”
Qatar changes penal code to include ‘false news’ law
New York, January 21, 2020—Qatari Emir Tamim bin Hamad al-Thani amended Article 136 of the country’s penal code to make the publication or sharing of “false news” punishable by up to five years in prison or a 100,000 Qatari riyal fine (US$27,473), according to the Beirut-based Gulf Center for Human Rights. Details of the law,…
Lebanese authorities detain US freelancer Nicholas Frakes for 2 days
At about 8:30 p.m. on January 19, 2020, Lebanese security forces arrested Nicholas Frakes, a U.S. national and freelance reporter, while he was covering protests in downtown Beirut, according to news reports and a friend of the journalist, who spoke to CPJ.
Far-right demonstrators assault reporter Thomas Jacobi in Greece
Berlin, January 21, 2020 – Greek authorities should quickly and thoroughly investigate an attack on reporter Thomas Jacobi by protesters in Athens and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
