Media Freedom

Radio France Internationale correspondent in Cameroon held over a month, denied access to lawyer

Committee to Protect Journalists The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the detention of a Nigerian journalist who has been held for more than a month in Cameroon and denied access to his lawyer for two weeks. CPJ also calls on Cameroonian authorities to explain the reason for Ahmed Abba's detention and allow him immediate access to his lawyer. Abba, a Nigerian national and a correspondent for Radio France Internationale's Hausa service, was arrested by Cameroonian officials in Maroua, the capital of the Far North Region, of Cameroon on July 30, according…Read more

Gunmen open fire on Geo TV broadcast van in Karachi, killing one

Committee to Protect Journalists A Geo TV technician was killed and a driver for the privately owned Pakistani station was injured today in a shooting in Karachi, according to media reports. Arshad Ali Jafri, the technician, was shot seven times in the attack, and the driver was shot twice in the shoulder but managed to drive to a hospital, police told local media. Two other Geo media workers near the van escaped injury. Unidentified gunmen on motorcycles opened fire on the broadcast van when it was parked on the street, according to reports. Police have…Read more

Newspaper columnist kidnapped from her home in Nigeria

Committee to Protect Journalists A Nigerian newspaper columnist was abducted from her home early Sunday, according to news reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Nigerian authorities to do their utmost to find Donu Kogbara, establish a motive for the abduction, and apprehend and prosecute the perpetrators.  "We condemn the kidnapping of Vanguard columnist Donu Kogbara and call on Nigerian authorities to launch an immediate and efficient investigation," said Peter Nkanga, CPJ's West Africa representative. Unidentified gunmen entered Kogbara's home in Port Harcourt city, capital of Rivers state, captured the journalist, and drove her away…Read more

Alleged killers of Balochistan journalist and his colleagues apprehended

Pakistan Press Foundation Pakistan's law enforcement agencies succeeded in their efforts and have arrested the alleged killers of Baloch journalist Irshad Mastoi and two of his colleagues. During a 2 September 2015 press conference at the Home Ministry, Balochistan Home Minister Mir Safaraz Bugti informed media that the apprehended individuals had confessed to the 2014 killing of journalists in Quetta, capital of Balochistan province. He further stated the suspects belonged to the banned Baloch Liberation Army (BLA). He identified the killers as Shafqat Ali Rodani, whose code name is Naveed, and Ibrahim Nachari,…Read more

Gambian man faces charges for sharing image of Prophet Mohammed on Facebook

Media Foundation for West Africa Alhagie Mam Seye, a Gambian citizen, has been charged with “uttering words with intent to wound religious feelings” after he shared a picture of Prophet Mohammed on Facebook. Seye, whose case is currently before the Brikana Magistrate Court, has been accused of sharing a picture of Prophet Mohammed on Facebook on July 11, 2015. It is alleged that Seye shared the picture “knowing fully well that it would hurt the religious feelings of his followers and thereby committed an offence.” The said photograph reportedly showed Prophet Mohammed with…Read more

Online newspaper editor gunned down in Mozambique

Reporters Without Borders Reporters Without Borders is alarmed to learn that Paulo Machava, the well-known editor of the online Diario de Noticias newspaper, was gunned down on a Maputo street today against a backdrop of tension for media personnel in Mozambique. Machava was shot at around 6 a.m. as he was jogging along Vladimir Lenin Avenue, one of the city's main thoroughfares, before going to work. Witnesses said the shots were fired by gunmen in a car. Previously employed by the independent weekly Savana and state-owned Radio Moçambique, Machava recently expressed support for…Read more

Maldives journalist missing for more than a year, groups deplore government’s inaction

International Federation of Journalists The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Maldives Journalists Association (MJA) express solidarity with the Maldivian media community as they mark the one year anniversary of the disappearance of local journalist, Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla. The IFJ and MJA deplore the inaction by the Maldivian Government to investigate the journalist's disappearance and join local and international demands for an independent inquiry. On August 8, 2014, the Minivan News journalist went missing. Rilwan was last seen boarding a ferry traveling to Hulhumale Island from the capital Male. The…Read more

Two arrested in Sri Lanka five years after journalist’s disappearance

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate the Free Media Movement (FMM) welcome the arrest of two former military officials over the disappearance of Prageeth Eknaligoda. The IFJ and FMM urge the government to ensure the investigation is thoroughly completed and all those responsible are brought to justice. On August 8, 2015 two former members of the military intelligence service were arrested over the disappearance of Sri Lankan journalist, Prageeth Eknaligoda. According to reports, the pair confessed to the abduction of Prageeth and handing him over to an army camp in…Read more

Religious extremists murder fourth blogger in Bangladesh

The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) strongly deplores the murder of Niladri Chattopadhyay on August 7, 2015 in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The IFJ demand immediate action from the Bangladeshi Government to end the continued and systematic attacks on freedom of expression in Bangladesh. Chattopadhyay, a secular blogger who used the pen name, Niloy Neel was brutally killed when four men armed with cleavers entered his home in Khilgoan. The men posed as potential tenants and stabbed the 28-year-old while holding his wife and sister-in-law at gunpoint. Niloy died at the scene. Niloy was working…Read more

Gambian media worker held illegally by National Intelligence Agency, charged with sedition

Reporters Without Borders Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is alarmed by the judicial uncertainty hanging over Teranga FM radio manager Alagie Ceesay, who was brought before a Banjul court on a sedition charge on 4 August and again yesterday. Ceesay had been missing since 17 July before appearing in court on 4 August and, before that, he was held incommunicado for 11 days during the first half of July. His trial is due to start on 18 August. Ceesay is facing a possible fine of 50,000 to 200,000 dalasi for allegedly using his mobile…Read more