Turkish police raid newspaper office, detain at least 23 employees
New York, August 29, 2016–Turkish authorities should immediately release 23 employees of the Kurdish-language daily newspaper Azadiya Welat detained yesterday in a police raid of the newspaper’s office, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Burundian intelligence service detains journalist one week without charge
Burundian authorities detained Gisa Steve Irakoze, a reporter for the independent Radio Buja FM on August 18, 2016, and released him without charge a week later, rights groups and the National Union of Journalists in Burundi reported.
Turkey Crackdown Chronicle: Week of August 28
Government revokes press credentials for 115 journalists Turkey’s General Directorate for Press, Broadcasting, and Information (BYEGM, by its Turkish acronym) — the bureau within the prime minister’s office responsible for accrediting journalists — today revoked the credentials of 115 journalists, Turkey’s official Anatolia News Agency reported. The government alleged the journalists were affiliated with the…
For India’s journalists corruption can be a deadly beat
New York, August 29, 2016–A culture of impunity in India is leaving the country’s press vulnerable to threats and attacks, CPJ found in a report released today. The report finds that regional investigations have failed to secure justice for journalists murdered for their work, and urges the national government to enact legislation that would provide…
Honduran reporter convicted of criminal defamation
Bogotá, Colombia, August 25, 2016 – Honduran prosecutors should cease pursuing criminal defamation charges against journalists, and lawmakers should swiftly repeal laws allowing for such prosecutions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. If his recent conviction on defamation charges is upheld on appeal, TV reporter Ariel Armando D’Vicente faces three years in prison and…
CPJ urges Egypt to release journalists ahead of Eid al-Adha holiday
New York, August 25, 2016 – The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Egyptian media reports that President Abdel-Fattah el-Sisi might release a number of imprisoned journalists ahead of the Eid al-Adha holiday, which this year falls on September 11. Award-winning photojournalist Mahmoud Abou Zeid, better known as Shawkan, is among those who might be released,…
Zambia suspends licenses of three broadcasters
New York, August 24, 2016 – Zambian regulators should immediately reinstate the broadcasting licenses of three media outlets it revoked, and police should drop all charges against four media workers arrested when police sealed the offices of the country’s largest privately owned television station, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Proposed cyber-security bill threatens media freedom in Bangladesh
Bangkok, August 24, 2016–The Committee to Protect Journalists called today on Bangladesh’s legislature to scrap proposed cyber-security legislation that would impose severe penalties for disseminating online material deemed to be anti-state or a threat to national security or public order. The Digital Security Act 2016 was approved on August 22 by Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s…
Iraqi media technician and journalist killed in separate attacks
New York, August 24, 2016 – Media technician Ali Ghani was killed in an attack by mortar fire while reporting in Jaziret al-Khalideya, in Iraq’s Anbar province on Saturday, August 20. Correspondent Hussein al-Fares was wounded in the same attack, according to Al-Ahad TV, which employed both men. Al-Ahad TV is affiliated with Asaib Ahl…