Press Freedom
CPJ Updates
- Several journalists say US border agents questioned them about migrant coverage
- Pakistani journalist arrested for critical Twitter posts
- Mexico denies entry to at least 2 journalists covering migrant caravan
- Russia investigates reporter, seizes property over allegations of "justifying terrorism"
- CPJ holds presser outside White House, calls on Trump administration to reveal its findings on Khashoggi murder
- #JusticeForJamal campaign culminates with call for administration to respond to Senate inquiry
- Ugandan authorities arrest BBC journalists investigating black market drug sales
- CPJ calls on Jammu and Kashmir police to drop charges against journalist
- Two radio journalists shot and killed in northern Afghanistan
Reporter Without Borders
- Nigerian election campaign “polluted” by disinformation
- Ghana: Investigation into journalist’s murder has stalled
- Turkey: Resolution on ineffective domestic legal remedy for journalists
- Call for Kashmiri journalist’s release after spurious charges
- At least 79 journalists arrested in two months of protests in Sudan
- Newspaper editor Igor Rudnikov finally goes on trial in Saint Petersburg
- Philippine website editor held on defamation charge
- Thai TV channel suspended for 15 days in major blow to pluralism
OPC Repeats Demand for Release of 3 in Egypt
Since December 29, 2013, authorities in Egypt have held three Al Jazeera journalists under detention allegedly for spreading falsehoods about the country and for being part of a terrorist organization. At the end of 2013, the Overseas Press Club of America issued an open letter demanding the immediate freedom of Cairo Bureau Chief Mohamed Fahmy, producer Baher Mohamed and correspondent Peter Greste. Since then, the OPC has learned of the conditions under which Fahmy is being held.
Fahmy, a dual Canadian-Egyptian citizen is being kept in a windowless room without a bed in Cairo’s notorious Scorpion Prison. His pre-existing shoulder injury has been exacerbated by the arrest and incarceration but so far prison authorities have refused him medical assistance. They have also refused to deliver to Fahmy a sleeping bag and pillow delivered by his family. A family member who recently visited the prison says that Fahmy looked disoriented and struggled to recognize the visitor at first. Fahmy’s family fears he is being subjected to physical and psychological torture.
The OPC not reiterates its demand for the freedom of Fahmy and his colleagues but asks the Egyptian authorities and General Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to make sure the detainees receive proper medical care and be accorded humane treatment amid this unjustifiable incarceration.