Free Syrian Army group detains 3 journalists in northern Syria
Members of the Northern Brigade of the Turkish-backed Free Syrian Army (FSA) on June 22, 2018, detained Kaniwar Khalef and Essam al-Abbas, camerapersons for the Dubai-based news agency Arab 24, and Hassan Khalef, their camera assistant, in northeastern Syria near the village of Chath, according to the Syrian Journalists Association, the regional press freedom group…
Mexican journalist killed in Quintana Roo
Mexico City, July 5, 2018–Authorities in the southern Mexican state of Quintana Roo must immediately undertake a swift and credible investigation into the shooting death of journalist José Guadalupe Chan Dzib and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Chan Dzib was shot and killed by an unknown assailant in…
Mission Journal: Duterte leads tri-pronged attack on press amid condemnation of controversial policies
Pia Randa is in Philippine leader Rodrigo Duterte’s crosshairs. At presidential press conferences, Duterte has repeatedly singled out the reporter by name and referred to Rappler, the news site where she works, as “fake news” and her reporting as “corrupt” and “biased” against his administration.
Russian Duma committee OKs legislation to label individual journalists ‘foreign agents’
New York, July 3, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Russian authorities to refrain from labeling individual bloggers and journalists as foreign agents. The State Duma’s information and communication committee today approved legislation that would allow authorities to label private persons as foreign agents if they work for organizations the Justice Ministry labels…
Moroccan court sentences two journalists to several years in prison
New York, July 3, 2018–Moroccan authorities should immediately release journalists Mohamed al-Asrihi and Hamid al-Mahdaoui and drop all charges against them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The Casablanca Court of Appeals sentenced al-Asrihi on June 26 to five years in prison and a fine of 2,000 Moroccan dirhams (US$210), according to news reports;…
Republic of Congo releases Bemba after nearly 18 months without charge
New York, July 3, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the release after nearly 18 months in prison without charge of Ghys Fortuné Dombé Bemba, editor of the privately owned newspaper Talassa, in Brazzaville. CPJ urged authorities in the Republic of Congo not to pursue further legal action against him and to ensure that…
Sri Lankan politicians try to intimidate journalists over New York Times report
Washington, D.C., July 3, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on opposition politicians in Sri Lanka to stop trying to intimidate local journalists by publicly leveling accusations against them. At a press conference yesterday evening, associates of former President Mahinda Rajapaksa accused two journalists for The New York Times of being tools of the…
CPJ awardee ‘Mother Mushroom’ faces threats, poor prison conditions
Bangkok, July 3, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the recent harassment of jailed Vietnamese blogger Nguyen Ngoc Nhu Quynh, known by her pen name “Mother Mushroom,” and called again for her immediate and unconditional release.
CPJ welcomes Natalie Southwick as Central and South America program coordinator
New York, July 2, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists is pleased to announce that Natalie Southwick has been named CPJ’s Central and South America program coordinator. Southwick will lead efforts to report, monitor, and advocate on press freedom issues in South and Central America, and the Caribbean.