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.
CPJ calls on Pakistan’s PM to protect press freedom ahead of elections
CPJ expresses concern that recent events in Pakistan signal that the media is not free to report on the upcoming elections, and urges the government to take necessary measures to guarantee journalists’ ability to work without fear of intimidation or reprisal.
Alleged killer of Capital Gazette employees had made repeated threats
New York, June 29, 2018–A gunman shot to death five people in the newsroom of the Capital Gazette in Annapolis, Maryland, yesterday afternoon in what police called a “targeted attack,” the newspaper reported. Police arrested Jarrod Ramos, 38, and charged him with five counts of first-degree murder, the paper said, citing court documents. He had…
At least five people killed at newsroom shooting in Maryland
New York, June 28, 2018–At least five people were killed in a shooting in the newsroom of the Capital Gazette newspaper in Annapolis, Maryland, this afternoon. Police have a suspect in custody, but his identity and motive are unknown, the newspaper reported on its website.
Russia charges independent journalist with terrorism offenses
Russian journalist Viktor Korb on May 16 was charged by authorities in the Russian town of Omsk, in southwestern Siberia, for transcribing and publishing a 2015 speech that a Kremlin critic gave at his trial. Korb on June 26 told the Committee to Protect Journalists that he remains unable to work and access money, and…