Ethiopian high court convicts editor of inciting subversion
New York, May 24, 2017–The Ethiopian Federal High Court’s conviction of Getachew Shiferaw, editor of the news website Negere Ethiopia, on charges of inciting subversion is a further blow to press freedom in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Gambia issues arrest warrants for suspects in Deyda Hydara murder
New York, May 17, 2017–A magistrate’s court in Banjul today issued arrest warrants for two people suspected of murdering Gambian editor Deyda Hydara in 2004, according to media reports. The two suspects are not in the country, according to reports.
At least six killed in attack on Afghanistan television station
New York, May 17, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns today’s attack on a state television station in Jalalabad, Afghanistan. The four-hour attack on the Jalalabad office of National Radio Television of Afghanistan (RTA) killed at least six people and injured at least 18 others, according to media reports.
Mexican journalist and CPJ awardee Javier Valdez Cárdenas murdered
New York, May 15, 2017–The Mexican prosecutor for crimes against freedom of expression in Mexico should swiftly investigate the murder of Javier Valdez Cárdenas and bring all those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Valdez was shot and killed today near the offices of Ríodoce, the local weekly he founded in…
In Egypt retrial, 2 journalists acquitted, 3 others’ sentences reduced
New York, May 8, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed the verdict by the Giza Criminal Court acquitting Egyptian journalists Hany Salah-el-Deen and Mosad Al-Barbary, and called on authorities to immediately free Abdullah al-Fakharany, Samhi Mustafa, and Mohamed al-Adly, whose sentences were reduced to five years from 25 years. The rulings came in a…
Expanded surveillance powers could threaten work of journalists in UK
Brussels, May 5, 2017–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by news reports that the U.K. government wants to push telecommunication companies to introduce real-time surveillance and the removal of encryption. On Thursday, The Register published leaked draft regulations detailing how telecommunications operators would be required to grant real-time access to individuals under warrant within…
Zambian journalist released from prison
Johannesburg, April 25, 2017–The unconditional release of Zambian journalist Chanda Chimba is a welcome end to the injustice he has suffered, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Chimba, who has advanced prostate cancer, was released on April 21 following a pardon on humanitarian grounds from Zambian President Edgar Lungu, Zambian media reported and Chimba’s…
In Cameroon, Ahmed Abba sentenced to 10 years in jail
New York, April 24, 2017–A military court in Cameroon today sentenced Ahmed Abba, a correspondent for Radio France Internationale’s (RFI) Hausa service, to 10 years in prison and ordered him to make a payment of 55 million Central African francs (US$91,133) Abba’s lawyer Clément Nakong, told CPJ. Abba, who has been held in pretrial detention…
Cameroonian military court convicts journalist Ahmed Abba of terrorism charges
New York, April 20, 2017–A military court in Cameroon today convicted Ahmed Abba, a journalist for Radio France Internationale’s Hausa service, on charges of “non-denunciation of terrorism” and “laundering of the proceeds of terrorist acts,” according to his lawyer and RFI. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Cameroonian authorities not to contest the journalist’s…
Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta receives white powder in mail
New York, April 19, 2017–The independent Russian newspaper Novaya Gazeta received an envelope containing an unidentified white powder this morning, the newspaper reported. The envelope’s only return address was “Grozny,” the capital of Chechnya, where preachers and political officials have recently threatened the newspaper for reporting on the alleged torture and detention of men suspected…