CPJ welcomes release of US freelance journalist Peter Theo Curtis
New York, August 24, 2014 – The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of American freelance journalist Peter Theo Curtis, who was held captive by the al-Qaeda affiliate Jabhat al-Nusra since October 2012, according to U.S officials and news reports. U.N. Secretary General spokesman Stephane Dujarric told CPJ Curtis was handed over to U.N.…
Ukraine must reverse ban on Russian TV channels
New York, August 20, 2014–On Tuesday, Ukrainian Minister of Internal Affairs Arsen Avakov ordered cable operators in the country to stop airing 14 Russian TV channels in an effort to curb Russia’s war propaganda, according to news reports. The Interior Ministry cited Russia’s decision to ban Ukrainian TV channels in Crimea as a justification for…
Times correspondent ordered out of Afghanistan
New York, August 20, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Afghan government’s decision to expel and ban New York Times correspondent Matthew Rosenberg from the country. The country’s attorney general accused Rosenberg today of publishing a story “considered divisive and contrary to the national interest, security and stability of Afghanistan,” according to the New…
CPJ condemns killing of American journalist James Foley
New York, August 19, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the murder of James Foley, a U.S. freelance journalist, who was abducted in Syria in November 2012. In a video posted online, the Al-Qaeda splinter group Islamic State claimed to have executed Foley, saying the act was retribution for U.S. military intervention in Iraq.
CPJ condemns ongoing harassment, arrests of reporters in Ferguson
New York, August 19, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the continued harassment and detentions of journalists covering the unrest in Ferguson, Missouri, sparked by the police killing of unarmed teenager Michael Brown. At least nine journalists have been detained and released without charge since Saturday, according to CNN. Two others were briefly…
New York Times reporter barred from leaving Afghanistan
New York, August 19, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports today that Afghan authorities have banned New York Times correspondent Matthew Rosenberg from leaving the country, according to news reports. Rosenberg is based in Kabul and Washington. His most recent story, published on Monday, alleged that some Afghan officials were threatening to…
CPJ concerned by arrests, harassment of reporters covering unrest in Ferguson, Missouri
New York, August 14, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the attacks on and brief detentions of journalists covering protests in Ferguson, Missouri, over the past week in reaction to the killing of teenager Michael Brown by the police. Two journalists were briefly detained on Wednesday and released without charge. Journalists have reported…
AP journalist and media worker killed in Gaza
New York, August 13, 2014–Simone Camilli, a video journalist for The Associated Press, and Ali Shehda Abu Afash, a freelance translator, were killed in the northern town of Beit Lahiya today when an unexploded missile blew up, the AP reported. The explosion also injured AP photographer Hatem Moussa. Camilli, an Italian, is the first international…
Ukraine must clarify status of Russian journalist
New York, August 12, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Ukrainian authorities to clarify the status of Andrei Stenin, the Russian photojournalist for the state news agency Rossiya Segodnya (previously RIA Novosti) who was reported missing on August 5 in eastern Ukraine. According to Russian news reports, Anton Gerashchenko, adviser to the head of…
Russian photojournalist missing in eastern Ukraine
New York, August 11, 2014–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the safety of Andrei Stenin, Russian photojournalist for the state news agency Rossiya Segodnya (previously RIA Novosti). The agency said it had not heard from Stenin since August 5, when he was reporting on the conflict in eastern Ukraine, including from the cities…