The Committee to Protect Journalists writes to authorities in Shenzhen, China, calling on them to release Yang Zhengjun, Wei Zhili, and Ke Chengbing–editors for the labor news outlet ILabour.net–and cease all legal proceedings against them.
CPJ and 19 other organizations write to new European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and urge her to ensure that media freedom, the protection of journalists, and EU citizens’ access to information are top political priorities during her term.
CPJ writes to U.K. Foreign Secretary Jeremy Hunt to express concern at his government’s decision to deny accreditation to Russian media outlets RT and Sputnik based on a determination that the outlets are a form of propaganda. The move empowers autocratic governments around the world who use a similar rationale to justify the repression of critical journalism.
CPJ thanks Yemeni Ambassador Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak for his May 2019 letter expressing concern for the welfare of journalists in areas under Houthi control, and calls on the Yemeni government to ensure that the rights of all journalists in the country are respected.
CPJ writes to the speaker of the People’s Majlis, asking him to strengthen press freedom in the Maldives and commit to pursuing justice and ending impunity by calling for a vote on a bill to grant investigative powers to the presidential commission on enforced disappearances and murders.