South African court rules that criminal defamation is in line with constitution
Cape Town, South Africa, December 5, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the decision by the Pretoria High Court in South Africa to uphold journalist Cecil Motsepe’s appeal against a conviction of criminal defamation, but disapproves of the court’s ruling that the crime of defamation for journalists falls in line with South Africa’s constitution. Motsepe,…
CPJ calls for release of U.S. journalist held in Yemen
New York, December 4, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the immediate release of U.S. freelance journalist Luke Somers, who has been held hostage in Yemen for more than a year. Following a video released on Wednesday that showed the journalist pleading for his life, U.S. government officials issued press releases today publicly acknowledging…
20 years after genocide, Rwanda’s press still restricted
CPJ to release report on present and past media conditions in Rwanda New York, December 1, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists will release a special report on press freedom conditions in Rwanda 20 years after the genocide that claimed more than 800,000 lives.
Press in Ukraine still suffering one year after attacks on journalists
A year ago today, the Committee to Protect Journalists reported on the first mass assaults on press freedom in Ukraine, after police were ordered to disperse protesters in the capital, Kiev, and other cities. At least 51 journalists–including local and international reporters–were attacked by police and protesters while covering the early days of the standoff…
Vietnamese blogger detained on anti-state charges
Bangkok, December 2, 2014–An independent blogger was detained in Vietnam on Saturday on anti-state charges for online postings deemed critical of the government, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the arrest and calls on Vietnam’s government to cease its campaign of persecution against journalists and bloggers.
Four journalists honored for commitment to press freedom
New Initiatives Fund set up to help combat ‘war on journalists’ New York, November 26, 2014–Four journalists from Burma, Iran, Russia, and South Africa were honored Tuesday night at the Committee to Protect Journalists’ 24th annual International Press Freedom Awards for their work in defiance of imprisonment, repression, and censorship.
Journalist jailed on anti-royal charges in Thailand
New York, November 25, 2014–The editor of an online news aggregator in Thailand was sentenced on Monday to four and a half years in prison on charges of defaming the country’s monarch, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the sentence and calls for an end to the use of the country’s…
Authorities order radio stations to be closed in the DRC
Nairobi, November 24, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists today calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo to stop meddling with radio station broadcasts in the country. The Congolese Information Minister Lambert Mende has called for the shutdown of several radio stations in recent weeks, and a few have gone off the air.
Media massacre witness killed, another wounded, in the Philippines
Bangkok, November 20, 2014–A state witness in the mass killing of 57 people, including 32 journalists and media workers, in the Philippines in 2009 was shot dead by assailants on Tuesday while traveling in a remote area of southern Maguindanao province, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the killing and calls…