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Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

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    • Coronavirus - Africa: Thousands join Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) call for governments to release jailed journalists amid COVID-19
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Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

Coronavirus - Africa: Thousands join Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) call for governments to release jailed journalists amid COVID-19

At least four journalists, in Ethiopia and Iran, have been released because of the COVID-19 pandemic

In recognition of World Press Freedom Day, marked each year on May 3, the Committee to Protect Journalists today said 11,337 supporters from at least 105 countries, alongside 191 partner organizations, joined its global #FreeThePress campaign calling for the release of all jailed journalists. CPJ advanced the campaign in response to…

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

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    • A man wearing a surgical mask and gloves to protect himself from the coronavirus, walks on a street in Soweto, South Africa, Thursday, March 19, 2020. For most people the virus causes only mild or moderate symptoms. For others it can cause more severe illness, especially in older adults and people with existing health problems. (AP/Themba Hadebe)
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Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

South Africa enacts regulations criminalizing ‘disinformation’ on coronavirus outbreak

The regulations were published in the Government Gazette under the 2002 Disaster Management Act

The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed concern over newly passed regulations in South Africa that criminalize disinformation about the COVID-19 pandemic and could potentially prompt other countries to adopt more repressive rules and censorship against the press. Yesterday, the South African government enacted new regulations, which CPJ reviewed, criminalizing statements…

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

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    • CrossRiverWatch journalist Agba Jalingo (right) is seen in a federal high court in Calabar, Nigeria. The court recently granted anonymity to witnesses expected to testify against Jalingo. (Oto-Obongo Clement/CrossRiverWatch)
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Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

Jailed Nigerian journalist Agba Jalingo to face cybercrime charge in court

Jalingo has been jailed since August 22, 2019, when he was arrested and initially charged with disturbance of public peace and treason

The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Nigerian authorities to drop all charges against Agba Jalingo, the publisher of the privately owned news website CrossRiverWatch, and set him free. Jalingo is set to appear at a federal high court in Calabar city tomorrow on amended charges, including cybercrime relating to…

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

Somali authorities shut down radio station City FM, seek to question owner

The raid stemmed from Abdishakur’s reporting alleging that the government in Hirshabelle had illegally confiscated land from locals

Somali authorities should immediately allow local broadcaster City FM to reopen and let its staffers work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 19, police in Jowhar, the capital of Hirshabelle state, raided the privately owned City FM broadcaster, briefly detained seven of its staffers, confiscated the…

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

Nigerian journalists attacked and threatened while covering Bayelsa and Kogi state elections

The elections in these two states followed nationwide elections in February, which were also marred by violence against journalists, as CPJ reported at the time

Nigerian authorities should investigate and hold accountable those responsible for the harassment of journalists working to cover the November 16 gubernatorial and federal assembly elections in Kogi and Bayelsa states, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Armed men threatened and harassed reporters, security forces barred journalists from entering electoral…

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Safety Advisory: Journalist targets of Pegasus spyware

The spyware gives the attacker the ability to monitor, record, and collect existing and future data from the phone

Pegasus is a spyware created for mobile devices which transforms a cellphone into a mobile surveillance station. Researchers have documented it being used to spy on journalists. This raises significant implications for journalists’ own security and that of their sources. In 2018, Citizen Lab said it had detected Pegasus in over 45 countries.…

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) joins letter to Pope Francis urging focus on human rights during Mozambique visit

Human rights and freedom of expression organizations sent an open letter to Pope Francis yesterday, on the eve of his three-day visit to Mozambique

The Committee to Protect Journalists and 14 other human rights and freedom of expression organizations sent an open letter to Pope Francis yesterday, on the eve of his three-day visit to Mozambique, urging the pontiff to publicly support the protection and promotion of human rights as the country prepares for its general…

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

Nigerian publisher Agba Jalingo detained since August 22 without charge

On August 22, in Lagos, police officers with Nigeria’s special anti-robbery squad arrested Jalingo, publisher of online news outlet CrossRiverWatch

Nigerian authorities should immediately release publisher Agba Jalingo and halt their harassment of journalists reporting on alleged corruption and other issues of public interest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 22, in Lagos, police officers with Nigeria’s special anti-robbery squad arrested Jalingo, publisher of online news outlet CrossRiverWatch,…

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

Ethiopian authorities arrest journalist Mesganaw Getachew after he films outside court

Mesganaw, who reports for the privately owned Ethiopis weekly, was arrested shortly after he interviewed a lawyer, Henok Aklilu, outside the Arada First Instance court

Authorities in Ethiopia should unconditionally release journalist Mesganaw Getachew, who was arrested on August 9 after recording an interview outside a court in Addis Ababa, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Mesganaw, who reports for the privately owned Ethiopis weekly, was arrested shortly after he interviewed a lawyer, Henok Aklilu, outside…

Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)
Source: Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) |

Tanzania detains freelancer Kabendera over 'citizenship'

Dar es Salaam police chief Lazaro Mambosasa said at a press conference today that Kabendera was in custody and that police arrested him after the journalist failed to obey a summons

The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Tanzanian authorities to immediately release freelance journalist Erick Kabendera, whom police said is being investigated over his citizenship status. Dar es Salaam police chief Lazaro Mambosasa said at a press conference today that Kabendera was in custody and that police arrested him after the…