Cuba: Journalists Branded as 'Mercenaries', WPF Condemns State Persecution of Independent Media
October 3, 2024 - Cuba
Since mid-September 2024, around twenty people linked to independent media, including journalists, project managers, activists, and content creators, have been summoned as "witnesses" in a criminal investigation. They face accusations of being "mercenaries" and face prison sentences of between four and ten years.
Maria Lucia Exposito, a freelance journalist, was subjected to an extensive six-hour interrogation by authorities, during which her personal belongings, including her phone and US$1,000, were confiscated.
Katia Sanchez, a freelance communications strategist with ties to independent media outlet El Toque and SembraMedia, also faced targeted harassment from state agents. After being questioned by Ministry of the Interior officials over her participation in foreign-funded training programs for journalists, she was threatened with prosecution under Cuba's strict penal code. Authorities accused her of violating Article 143, which criminalizes receiving foreign funding as "mercenary" activity. Fearing imminent legal action and further persecution, Katia fled Cuba on September 13, 2024.
Women Press Freedom is deeply concerned over the Cuban government's actions, and calls for respect for journalists' rights to free expression and safe reporting. We urge the international community, including human rights organizations and press freedom advocates, to condemn these actions and demand that the Cuban government immediately cease its campaign of harassment against journalists. There must be accountability for those responsible for coercive interrogations, threats, and the implementation of restrictive laws aimed at criminalizing independent journalism.
Women Press Freedom unequivocally condemns the illegal 48-hour detention and intimidation of CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward and her team while covering the urgent humanitarian crisis in North Darfur by rival militia. They endured threats and lengthy interrogations, with their driver taken away in chains. Held under armed guard, they faced limited access to food, water, and privacy. This distressing incident underscores the escalating dangers journalists encounter in conflict zones and the pressing need to safeguard press freedom.
We commend the US justice system for acknowledging the grave risks faced by women journalists like Masih and reaffirm the urgent need to protect human rights and hold oppressive regimes accountable.
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We are deeply concerned about the lack of safety for journalists, who often work without adequate protection.
European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) ruling in Kobaliya and Others v. Russia confirms what we've long known: Russia's "foreign agent" law is arbitrary and a tool for silencing dissent.
WPF firmly denounces this aggressive action. It is unacceptable for her to lose her job and face terrorism charges due to a slip of the tongue while reacting to breaking news live on TV. We demand the case be dropped and that Komitgan be freed.
Officers from the Department of State Services (DSS) forcibly detained OrderPaper journalist Edna Ulaeto after raiding her Abuja home without notice. Linked to a retracted article from OrderPaper concerning a supposed DSS operation.
As Diddy faces charges for sexual crimes, Danyel’s account highlights the abuse of power in the industry.
20 Khvylyn journalist Iryna Belyakova reports being stalked after an anonymous user shared covert photos and videos of her daily activities on Facebook.
Michelle Mendoza was forced to flee her country after receiving threats stemming from online disinformation campaigns that attacked her reputation. The harassment, linked to her investigations into criminal networks within the government.
We stand in solidarity with the journalists and staff of Açık Radyo and urge Turkish authorities to reverse this decision
Sandoval was on assignment for Canal Señal 3 La Victoria when she was shot and was mother to a young child. Sentencing is scheduled for October 28, with prosecutors seeking a 30-year prison term.
Miriam Hollstein, chief political reporter for Stern, was intimidated by protesters at a pro-Palestinian rally in Berlin after greeting pro-Israel politician Karoline Preisler.
WPF condemns this crackdown on press freedom and peaceful protest. Journalists must be free to report without facing police violence. We demand the reporters are immediately freed.
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WPF condemns this harassment and demands an end to the targeting of Kili. Journalists must be able to report freely without facing intimidation.
Women Press Freedom applauds the U.S. Supreme Court's recent decision directing the 5th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals to reconsider Priscilla Villarreal's case, a citizen journalist in Texas seeking to sue for wrongful arrest.
MP Hovik Aghazaryan verbally abused journalist Knar Manukyan. His anger stemmed from dissatisfaction with an interview she published. This is not isolated; such disrespect reflects a broader pattern of hostility toward the press in Armenia.
President Nicolás Maduro intensifies his campaign against the press, specifically targeting Vicky Dávila, director of Colombia's Semana magazine, during a military event.
Emails specifically named RFE/RL journalists Iryna Sysak, Valeria Yehoshyna, and freelancer Yulia Khymeryk, blaming their activities for the alleged bombings without citing specific actions.
WPF stands in solidarity with Değer and demands an end to this judicial harassment. This baseless investigation must be dropped.
Pinar Gayip was briefly detained after being summoned to an Istanbul police station on October 14, 2024. She was taken into custody following yet another criminal complaints from lawyer Sezgin Keleş, who has persistently harassed Pınar due to her reporting on his conviction for "simple sexual assault."
WPF demands that the governor focus on combating the wave of violence in Culiacán, instead of trying to hold journalists responsible for safety concerns.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the sentencing of investigative journalist Heba Abu Taha to one year in prison and a fine exceeding $7,000 by a Jordanian court. This marks the fourth instance of legal harassment she has faced since 2020.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the vandalization of Nevenka Medić's car, the director of the Kossev portal, which occurred over the weekend in downtown North Mitrovica.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the recent court decision to impose five-year prison sentences on journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi.
Heval Onkol was beaten and threatened, while Ceylan Şahinli faced multiple attempts to obstruct her reporting.
Women Press Freedom condemns the alarming violation of press freedom represented by the summoning of journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi to begin their five-year prison sentences in the Islamic Republic. The recent announcement by Asghar Jahangir, spokesperson for Iran's judiciary, regarding their sentences—one year for propaganda against the state and five years for assembly and collusion against national security—highlights the ongoing repression of independent journalism in Iran.
Police have finally arrested the man harassing Mercedes Stephenson, political journalist and Ottawa bureau chief for Global News. Stephenson experienced ongoing targeting despite taking legal action against her harasser.
Women Press Freedom strongly condemns the recent imposition of additional six-month prison sentences on Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi and Pakhshan Azizi for their courageous protest against the execution of Reza Rasaei in August. This punitive action exemplifies the Iranian regime's relentless crackdown on dissent and its systematic efforts to suppress free expression.