Canada’s proposed reform of access to information is inadequate
The Committee to Protect Journalists, along with a coalition of more than 30 international and Canadian civil society organizations, sent a letter on September 28 to Canadian Member of Parliament Scott Brison, the president of the Treasury Board of Canada, calling for proposed access to information legislation to be replaced with a more robust reform.
Chinese journalist Ding Lingjie reportedly jailed
Taipei, September 27, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Chinese authorities to immediately release journalist Ding Lingjie from state custody. Ding, an editor for the human rights news website Minsheng Guancha (Civil Rights & Livelihood Watch), disappeared from her relative’s apartment in city of Zibo in the eastern Shandong province on September 22, according…
Press freedom group harassed in Jordan
The head of a Jordanian trade regulatory body on September 10, 2017, publically accused a regional press freedom group, the Center for Defending Freedom of Journalists (CDFJ), of failing to properly register as a non-profit organization, and referred the case to Jordan’s attorney general who can then begin legal processes against the group that could…
Uzbek journalist detained in Ukraine at risk of extradition
New York, September 27, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Ukrainian authorities to release Uzbek journalist Narzullo Okhunjonov. The journalist could face extradition to Uzbekistan, his lawyer, Aleksei Fyodorov, said.
Indian police beat up local journalist after unflattering article
New Delhi, September 26, 2017–Authorities in India must thoroughly investigate and bring to justice the perpetrators behind an attack on journalist Sanjeev Gopalan in the southern Kerala state, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Somaliland journalist detained on false news accusation
Nairobi, September 27, 2017–Somaliland authorities should immediately release Mohamed Adan Dirir, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Police arrested the Somali journalist on September 16 on allegations of incitement and publishing false news, local journalist groups told CPJ.
Israeli security forces arrest Palestinian journalist in West Bank
Beirut, September 27, 2017-Israeli security forces should immediately release Palestinian journalist Abdul Rahman Awad, a correspondent in Ramallah for the Hamas-affiliated Palestinian news agency Safa, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Tunisian police beat reporter, seize his equipment at protest
Tunisian police beat Hamdi al-Souissi, a reporter for the local radio station Diwan FM, seized Souissi’s recording equipment, detained him, and questioned him for two hours at a precinct in in the country’s eastern city of Sfax, on September 18, 2017, local media reported.
Syrian-American journalist killed in Turkey
New York, September 22, 2017–Syrian-American journalist Halla Barakat and her mother, Syrian opposition activist Orouba Barakat, were found dead yesterday in their Istanbul apartment, the Turkish news agency DHA reported today. Friends alerted the police when Halla Barakat, 23, did not show up for her reporting job at the Syrian opposition website Orient Net, according…