Afghan journalist’s appeal delayed over torture investigation
New York, June 2, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned today about a further delay in the appeal of Afghan journalist Parwez Kambakhsh. Kambakhsh is appealing a death sentence for blasphemy in a Kabul court. The appeal was delayed on Sunday pending medical corroboration of Kambakhsh’s allegation that he was tortured in prison, according…
Afghan journalist begins death penalty appeal
New York, May 19, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes an appellate hearing Sunday in the blasphemy conviction of imprisoned journalism student Parwez Kambakhsh in Afghanistan. Kambakhsh, sentenced by a trial court to death, is asking an appeals panel to overturn his conviction. Kambakhsh’s brother, Yaqub Ibrahimi, who attended the hearing before a three-judge panel…
Getting Away with Murder 2008
CPJ’s Impunity Index ranks countries where killers of journalists go free New York, April 30, 2008 — Democracies from Colombia to India and Russia to the Philippines are among the worst countries in the world at prosecuting journalists’ killers according to the Impunity Index, a list of countries compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists…
Afghan bomb wounds two Australian journalists
APRIL 29, 2008 Posted May 5, 2008 Paul Rafael, Steve Dupont, Smithsonian Magazine ATTACKED Rafael, a freelance writer, and photographer Dupont, both from Australia, were on assignment for the U.S.-based Smithsonian Magazine when a suicide bomber detonated a bomb a few meters from where they stood as part of a crowd in a small eastern…
New York-based South Asian weekly editor threatened
New York, April 7, 2008—The editor of a New York-based weekly told CPJ he received a death threat. Majeed Babar, executive editor of the Weekly Asia Tribune, said a man called him on March 29 and told him, “We will cut you to pieces” in Urdu. Babar said the threat was linked to opinion columns…
Afghan journalist detained without explanation in Iran
New York, March 14, 2008—Iranian authorities should immediately disclose the legal status of Afghan journalist Ali Mohaqiq Nasab who was arrested in the north-central city of Qom 10 days ago, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Nasab, 50, was taken from his home on March 4 by three plainclothes police officers who were bearing…
Pentagon should disclose evidence, charges against Afghan journalist
New York, February 26, 2008—U.S. authorities should disclose evidence and specify charges against Afghan journalist Jawed Ahmad, who has been held by the military since late October, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In a February 22 letter to CPJ, Pentagon spokesman Bryan Whitman said Ahmad had been designated an “unlawful enemy combatant” but…
Concern growing over Afghan journalist’s ongoing detention
New York, February 21, 2008—The U.S. Department of Defense has confirmed that the U.S. military is holding Canadian Television journalist (CTV) Jawed Ahmad, but refused to disclose any further information. The Committee to Protect Journalists is greatly concerned by Ahmad’s continuing detention at Bagram Air Base, north of Kabul, in Afghanistan. Ahmad has been held…
Afghan journalist detained at Bagram Air Base
New York, February 18, 2008—The Committee to Protect Journalists is greatly concerned by the detention of Canadian Television (CTV) journalist Jawed Ahmad by U.S. military forces at Bagram Air Base in Afghanistan, for almost three months without charge. Ahmad, who is also known as Jojo Yazemi and is about 22 years old, was detained in…