Vietnamese journalist Dang Xuan Dieu released from prison
Bangkok, January 13, 2016 – The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release from prison of Vietnamese journalist Dang Xuan Dieu and calls on Vietnamese authorities to free unconditionally all journalists held behind bars. Dieu was released late last night after more than five years in prison and flew immediately to France, according to news…
CPJ urges Sessions to commit to journalist protection if confirmed as attorney general
New York, January 11, 2016–In remarks before the Senate Judiciary Committee confirmation hearing for attorney general yesterday, U.S. Senator Jeff Sessions said he was unsure whether he would commit to following guidelines adopted by Attorney General Eric Holder in 2015 that make it harder, though not impossible, for the Department of Justice to subpoena journalists’…
Journalist Jovo Martinović released in Montenegro pending trial
New York, January 5, 2017–A Montenegro court last night released independent journalist Jovo Martinović, pending the outcome of his trial, the journalist told the Committee to Protect Journalists today. The court ordered Martinović, who spent more than 14 months in prison on charges of drug smuggling, to check in with police twice a month, and…
Two Ethiopian radio journalists convicted on terror charges
Nairobi, December 21, 2016–Ethiopian radio journalists Khalid Mohammed and Darsema Sori, who have been imprisoned since February 2015, were today convicted on terrorism charges by the High Court’s 19th Criminal Bench, according to the independent Addis Standard newspaper.
Dutch journalist Okke Ornstein due to be freed from Panama prison
New York, December 20, 2016–Dutch journalist Okke Ornstein is due to be released unconditionally from a Panamanian prison by December 23, his lawyer Manuel Succari told CPJ today. The journalist was named in a list published by the government today of people whose sentences were reduced as part of a presidential pardon. Ornstein was arrested…
Swedish journalist expelled from Syria
New York, December 15, 2016 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Syrian government’s decision to expel Swedish radio journalist Cecilia Uddén from the country today. According to her employer, Radio Sweden, Uddén’s authorized reporting trip to Damascus and Aleppo was forcibly cut short when the government accused her of circulating “false information.”
Leaders of Egypt’s Journalists Syndicate sentenced to 2 years in jail
New York, November 19, 2016 – The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the conviction of three leaders of the Egyptian Journalists Syndicate today on charges of harboring a fugitive. A Cairo court sentenced Yehia Qallash, the chairman of the syndicate, and board members Khaled al-Balshy and Gamal Abdel Rahim to two years in prison, according…
Journalist attacked at U.S. protest
New York, November 11, 2016–Four masked men attacked freelance photojournalist Kyle Ludowitz yesterday as he photographed protesters looting and vandalizing businesses in the U.S. city of Oakland, California, the journalist told the Committee to Protect Journalists. Ludowitz was treated for a broken cheekbone following the incident, he said.
Montreal police spied on La Presse reporter Patrick Lagacé
New York, October 31, 2016–Montreal police have been tracking an iPhone belonging to La Presse reporter Patrick Lagacé since the beginning of the year, the journalist’s paper reported today. Canadian courts authorized 24 warrants to surveil Lagacé’s phone, according to court documents obtained by the French-language Montreal daily. The warrants allowed police to access the…
Turkey closes 15 media outlets, raids newspaper office, detains at least 12
New York, October 31, 2016 — The Turkish government should immediately reverse an emergency decree closing at least 15 news agencies, newspapers, and magazines and should immediately release all journalists imprisoned on bogus charges for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.