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Threats to Our Journalists
May 2012 – May 2013
World Press Freedom Day
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDRFE/RL correspondent Elina Chilingarian was attacked by a young man while videotaping busloads of people outside a polling station in Yerevan’s southern Erebuni district. “Will you film me?” the man said before striking down her camera.
Elina Chilingarian Armenia @RFERL
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDVOA correspondent Peter Heinlein and his translator Simegineh Yekoye were arrested by Ethiopian Police on May 25 for trying to cover a Muslim demonstration in Addis Ababa. Heinlein was held in the Maekelawi prison, where he was questioned about what Ethiopian authorities called his “illegal reporting.”
Peter Heinlein Ethiopia @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDIranian Intelligence Ministry officials continue to interrogate and intimidate family members of BBG journalists. These officials regularly denounce the work of Radio Farda and VOA reporters. The intimidation often involves demands that journalists stop reporting on Iran. VOA, Radio Farda and other western news agencies including the BBC have condemned these crude threats to family members, who have long been targeted by intelligence agents trying to silence government critics and independent analysts.
Families of Journalists Iran @RFERL @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDBonifacio Taban Kuich was detained and questioned by South Sudan’s army three times between Thursday 1 and Saturday 3 June
Bonifacio Taban Kuich South Sudan @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDPolice grabbed and twisted Ina Studzinskaja's arm to prevent her from using her mobile phone to call in a live report for the service's afternoon broadcast. Studzinskaja was then taken to a local police station and interrogated, although no charges were brought against her.
Ina Studzinskaja Belarus @RFERL
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDThe house of José Manuel Gimbi, a VOA correspondent and a human rights lawyer was ransacked. Two computers, an external hard drive, a voice recorder, two USB sticks, and a bag containing important documents related to his work were stolen.
José Manuel Gimbi Angola @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDNushaba Fatullayeva was the target of thugs who stole her camera and broke her mobile phone. Turkhan Kerimov, another RFE/RL reporter who arrived soon after to cover the incident, was also roughed-up and a flip camera he had brought for Fatullayeva was also seized.
Nushaba Fatullayeva and Turkhan Kerimov Azerbaijan @RFERL
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDMalick Aliou Maïga was badly beaten by Islamists occupying the north of the country, after reporting on the Islamists' failed plans to amputate a thief's hand.
Malick Aliou Maïga Mali @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
MISSINGAlhurra Correspondent Bashar Fahmi remains missing and incommunicado after disappearing in Aleppo, Syria. Fahmi was on a reporting trip there on Aug. 20, 2012 when he was caught in the crossfire that led to the murder of one journalist and capture of another. Few clues have emerged concerning his whereabouts and wellbeing.
Bashar Fahmi Syria @Alhurra
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDBoko Haram spokesman Abu Qaqa said in the statement the group was going to target VOA, charging VOA “has undertaken the task of harming our religion.” He said the Boko Haram “will not leave any correspondent or staff of VOA alone.”
VOA Reporters Nigeria @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDTwo correspondents with Radio Ozodi, RFE/RL's Tajik service, were detained by police officers in Dushanbe on August 31 while reporting on a student protest in front of the Presidential Palace.
Abdullo Asdhurov and Zarangez Navruzsho Tajikistan @RFERL
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDGulnur Raqifqizi Kazimova was covering an exhibit at a public square commemorating the 870 year anniversary of a revered local poet, NizamiGanjavi. A senior local government official approached her and told her, "I didn't invite you." Gulnur pointed out that the event was public, and convened at a public square. He and other authorities prevented her from taking pictures and crowded around her with the clear intent to intimidate her and obstruct her work.
Gulnur Raqifqizi Kazimova Azerbaijan @RFERL
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDMarthe van der Wolf, a VOA reporter in Ethiopia, was briefly detained and forced to erase recordings that she had made of a protest rally by local police.
Marthe Van Der Wolf Ethiopia @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDRFA and VOA reporters were summoned to a meeting with Cambodian officials in a blatant attempt to discourage objective reporting on the Cambodian government. As reported by Reuters, AFP and others, RFA and VOA broadcast locally in the Khmer language and are among the few radio stations in Cambodia considered free of government influence.
VOA & RFA reporters Cambodia @RadioFreeAsia @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDAntonio Rodiles, the Cuba-based independent producer of the Emmy-nominated TV Martíprogram Estado de SATS was jailed in Havana after seeking information on the arrest of two Cuban dissidents. After 19 days in a Cuban jail Rodiles was released, and Charges of “resisting authority” were dropped after he paid a nominal fine on Nov. 26.
Antonio Rodiles Cuba @martinoticias
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDIn Azerbaijan, Yafez Hasanov, an RFE/RL correspondent, has received repeated telephone calls and text messages from unidentified persons threatening reprisals against him and his family if he does not stop investigating the death last year of a man in the custody of Azerbaijan’s Ministry of National Security.
Yafez Hasanov Azerbaijan @RFERL
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDRFE/RL's Tajik Service, Radio Ozodi was targeted by an Internet blackout that included its website and Facebook. In addition to the Internet outage, Abduqayum Qayumov, a parliamentary correspondent since 2001, has been banned from reporting, the result of a refusal by the country's Ministry of Foreign Affairs to honor a routine request to accredit him. Authorities provided no official explanation of the decision, which bans Qayumov from working for the service, and serves as a warning to other RFE/RL journalists.
Abduqayum Qayumov Tajikistan @RFERL
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDAs many as 15 Radio Farda journalists who have been targeted with sophisticated online attacks in Iran. At least three Radio Fardajournalists have been the subject of fake Facebook profiles and blogs that post false and even scandalous information with the aim of discrediting them. Radio Farda’s Facebook page, which has more than 300,000 fans, has also been hacked.
Radio Farda Journalists Iran @RFERL
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDA Chinese state television report accused Voice of America broadcasts for encouraging self-immolations in Tibet. CCTV also accused VOA of using secret code to send messages to people inside Tibet. VOA Director Ensor and State Department spokeswoman Victoria Nuland rejected the claims by Chinese state media, and called the self-immolations a sign of the distress in Tibet. VOA continues to provide objective coverage on the tragic events in Tibet have been very difficult to report in a balanced and comprehensive manner.
VOA Journalists China @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDLocal journalist Fayaz Zafar, a regular contributor to VOA’s Deewa Radio and other local stations, was returning to his home in the Swat Valley with two other journalists, when they were attacked by suspected Taliban gunmen. Police escorting the reporters fired back at the gunmen and foiled the attack.
Fayaz Zafar Pakistan @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
KILLEDMohammed Ali Nuxurkey, a local VOA reporter in Somalia, was killed Monday in a bomb blast that left 10 people dead in Mogadishu.
Mohammed Ali Nuxurkey Somalia @VOA_News
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDIn recent weeks, we have been troubled to see the Cambodian government exerting unacceptable private and public pressure on Radio Free Asia to self-censor their reporting of issues sensitive to the government. Instead of seeking corrections, or even pointing out specific areas of purported inaccuracy to clarify their point of view for the record, the government has once again resorted to threatening legal action against the individual investigative reporters involved. The constant threat of litigation by a government, for politically sensitive but accurate reports about the government, is not the hallmark of a free press and is inconsistent with core democratic values.
RFA journalists Cambodia @RadioFreeAsia
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDOn April 4, a package was sent to Hasanov's home with documents that suggested he was having illicit relationships with several women. Soon after, Hasanov received a call from a man who identified himself as an agent of the Naxichivani Ministry of National Security (MNS), who recited orders from Naxichivani regional governor Vasif Talibov to cooperate with MNS. The caller also warned that if Hasanov reported on Naxichivan again he would be "exposed" and his life and the lives of his family members would be in danger. On April 19, the pro-government Internet TV station "Ses" aired recordings of cellphone conversations between Hasanov and residents of Naxichivan that Azerbaijan's Media Rights Institution told the website contact.az could only have been obtained from the country's security services.
Yafez Hasanov Azerbaijan @RFERL
May 2012
May 2013
June July Aug Sept Oct Nov Dec Jan Feb Mar April
THREATENEDIn a return to the defamation tactics that targeted Ismayilova in March 2012, on April 25 a pro-government website posted a pornographic video that was fabricated to portray Ismayilova engaging in sexual acts. Ismayilova's investigative reports for RFE/RL, which earned her the 2012 International Women's Media Foundation's "Courage in Journalism" award, have implicated the president's family in financial activities and arrangements worth hundreds of millions of dollars.
Khadija Ismayilova Azerbaijan @RFERL
For More Information
bbg.gov/broadcasters/threats-to-journalism
