CPJ condemns ‘harsh’ Jimmy Lai jail sentence in Hong Kong fraud case
Taipei, December 10, 2022 – In response to news reports that a Hong Kong court on Saturday sentenced Jimmy Lai, founder of the Next Digital media company and the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, to five years and nine months imprisonment on fraud charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the sentencing and called for Lai’s…
CPJ to release annual report of journalists imprisoned globally
New York, December 6, 2022—On December 14, 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists will release its annual census of journalists imprisoned worldwide. The census records journalists known to be in custody as of December 1, 2022, providing background information and demographic data on each case, as well as in-depth analysis of trends driving the sharp…
Myanmar journalist Myo San Soe sentenced to 15 years in prison for terrorism
Bangkok, December 5, 2022 – Myanmar authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Myo San Soe and stop imprisoning members of the press on bogus terrorism charges, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On November 30, a court inside Pyapon Prison, in the Ayeyarwady region, sentenced Myo San Soe, a freelance reporter who contributed to the local Delta News Agency and Ayeyarwaddy Times, to 15 years in prison on charges…
Belarusian journalist Dzmitry Luksha sentenced to 4 years in prison
Paris, December 2, 2022 — In response to a Belarusian court’s sentencing of journalist Dzmitry Luksha to four years in prison on Friday, December 2, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The four-year prison sentence imposed on Dzmitry Luksha, just for doing his job as a journalist, shows that Belarusian…
DRC journalist Olivier Makambu jailed over broadcast following defamation complaint
Kinshasa, November 23, 2022 – Authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo should immediately release journalist Olivier Makambu, drop all legal proceedings against him, and reform the country’s laws to ensure journalism is not criminalized, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Wednesday, November 16, two police officers arrested Makambu, program director of…
Committee to Protect Journalists honors reporters who defy war and repression
New York, November 18, 2022—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) paid tribute Thursday evening to inspirational journalists from Cuba, Iraqi Kurdistan, Ukraine, and Vietnam by presenting them with the 2022 International Press Freedom Awards (IPFA). CPJ’s board of directors also honored Russian editor and publisher Galina Timchenko with its 2022 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. The event was held…
Myanmar releases journalists Toru Kubota and Than Htike Aung, but dozens remain behind bars
Bangkok, November 18, 2022–In response to news reports that Myanmar on Thursday released Japanese documentary filmmaker Toru Kubota and editor Than Htike Aung of the local Mizzima news website as part of a wider amnesty of 5,774 prisoners, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for the release of all jailed journalists in the country:…
CPJ, partners call on Hong Kong leader to secure Jimmy Lai’s release
CPJ and partner organizations write to Hong Kong Chief Executive Lee to request his leadership to cease targeted persecution against Jimmy Lai, the 74-year-old founder of Next Digital Limited and the Apple Daily newspaper, release him from jail, and immediately drop all charges against him.
Egyptian authorities detain 3 journalists since September
New York, November 9, 2022 – Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalists Mohamed Mostafa Moussa, Amr Shnin, and Mahmoud Saad Diab and cease detaining journalists for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Monday, state security officers arrested Moussa, a freelance journalist who contributes to independent news websites Masr al-Arabia…
Tajik journalist Zavqibek Saidamini sentenced to 7 years in prison
Stockholm, November 4, 2022 – In response to news reports that a court in Tajikistan on Thursday, November 3, sentenced independent journalist Zavqibek Saidamini to seven years in prison, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Tajik authorities have done their utmost to shroud their prosecution of journalists in secrecy. Yet, available evidence…