One-year anniversary of José Rubén Zamora’s imprisonment reignites calls for journalist’s release amid deteriorating press freedom in Guatemala
Zamora’s son, civil society organizations seek the journalist’s freedom and respect for the rule of law Washington, D.C., July 27, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reiterated its urgent call for the release of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora at a press conference on Wednesday marking a year since Zamora’s imprisonment in Guatemala. “José Rubén…
Belarusian journalist Pavel Mazheika sentenced to 6 years in prison
New York, July 26, 2023—In response to a Belarusian court sentencing journalist Pavel Mazheika to six years in prison on Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The sentencing of Pavel Mazheika to six years’ imprisonment once again exposes how Belarusian authorities use charges of extremism to jail independent journalists,”…
Guatemala: The imprisonment of José Rubén Zamora is an attack on the press and a bellwether for democracy
14 organizations call for justice in Zamora’s case and respect for the rule of law Over the past year, the government of President Alejandro Giammattei has engaged in desperate attempts to criminalize journalism in Guatemala. Among the lowest points of this campaign has been the imprisonment and sentencing of prominent investigative journalist José Rubén Zamora….
Burundian journalist Floriane Irangabiye’s health deteriorating in prison
Nairobi, July 25, 2023 – In response to news reports that Burundian journalist Floriane Irangabiye is suffering respiratory distress and her health has deteriorated behind bars, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Imprisoned Burundian journalist Floriane Irangabiye’s worsening health is alarming, and authorities have demonstrated negligence in their failure to ensure that…
CPJ condemns trials of Iranian journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi
Washington, D.C., July 24, 2023 – The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the continuation of the closed-door trials of journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi, who were among the first journalists to report on the death in police custody of Mahsa Amini in September 2022. “CPJ stands in solidarity with Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe…
CPJ to hold press conference on José Rubén Zamora and Guatemala’s criminalization of journalists
Washington, D.C., July 21, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) will hold a press conference on Wednesday, July 26, to mark the one-year anniversary of Guatemalan journalist José Rubén Zamora’s imprisonment. Speakers will include Zamora’s son and a Guatemalan journalist in exile. Zamora, founder of the independent investigative newspaper elPeriódico, was arrested on July 29,…
Imprisoned journalist Sherwan Sherwani given additional 4-year sentence in Iraqi Kurdistan
Beirut, July 20, 2023—Iraqi Kurdish authorities should release journalist Sherwan Sherwani at once, drop all charges against him, and allow members of the press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Thursday, July 20, the Erbil criminal court sentenced Sherwani to an additional four years in prison over a complaint by…
In Georgia, poetry, a prison visit, and a pardon for Nika Gvaramia
On the road to Rustavi Prison #12, where the only journalist jailed in Georgia is still serving out his 3.5-year sentence, Sofia Liluashvili is speaking to me about poetry. Liluashvili is the wife of Georgian journalist Nika Gvaramia, who spent more than a year behind bars before a pardon by President Salome Zurabishvili led to…
Kazakh journalist Amangeldy Batyrbekov sentenced to 20 days’ detention for defamation
Stockholm, July 10, 2023—Kazakhstan authorities should release journalist Amangeldy Batyrbekov and reform the country’s laws to remove prison sentences for defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 3, the Saryagash District Specialized Administrative Court in Kazakhstan’s southern Turkestan region sentenced Batyrbekov, chief editor of local independent newspaper S-Inform, to 20 days’ administrative…