Kyrgyzstan jails more journalists; British-Egyptian blogger declared arbitrarily detained; NPR lawsuit
Plus, the top press freedom headlines from around the world.
Hello, and welcome to The Press Freedom Report.
I’m Liam Scott, and today I’m focused on Kyrgyzstan, an imprisoned British-Egyptian blogger, NPR’s lawsuit against Trump, and Scott Pelley’s viral commencement speech. Plus, the top press freedom headlines from around the world.
Four journalists detained in Kyrgyzstan
Kyrgyz authorities on Wednesday detained three journalists and a cameraman who had been investigating corruption and organized crime in Central Asia.
All of the journalists are current or former staffers of Kloop, an investigative Kyrgyz news outlet that the Kyrgyz government has targeted for years.
Kyrgyz agents first raided the home of journalist Zyyagul Bolot kyzy in the city Osh and took her into custody. Then, authorities detained cameraman Aleksandr Aleksandrov in the capital Bishkek. Authorities later detained journalist Aiday Erkebaeva for questioning in Bishkek, along with former Kloop reporter Zara Sydygalieva, who left the outlet two years ago.
Kloop is known for its anti-corruptions investigations. Last summer, the country’s Supreme Court upheld the liquidation of the nonprofit Kloop Media, the news site’s parent organization. But the news outlet has continued to publish.
It remains unclear why the four journalists were detained. Their lawyers have so far been denied access to the reporters, according to the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project.
Kyrgyzstan ranks 144 out of 180 countries on the World Press Freedom Index, where 180 shows the worst media freedom environment. The Kyrgyz government’s crackdown on media freedom underscores similar trends in the region.
The country’s Washington embassy did not immediately respond to my email requesting comment.
Egypt illegally detaining British-Egyptian blogger, UN group says
The UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention has determined that Egypt is arbitrarily detaining British-Egyptian blogger Alaa Abd el-Fattah.
The group said in a report released to the family that the “appropriate remedy” would be for Egypt to release the blogger immediately and “accord him an enforceable right to compensation and other reparations, in accordance with international law.” The determination follows an 18-month investigation.
Fattah was arrested in 2019. Two years later in late 2021, he was sentenced to five years in jail for spreading false news and harming Egypt’s national interest. The UN panel found the allegation was linked to Fattah sharing a Facebook post about the death of a prison inmate. He finished his sentence in September but remains behind bars, according to Reporters Without Borders, or RSF.
“The UN Working Group’s decision is an unequivocal and resounding endorsement of what we have said all along: Alaa Abd el-Fattah should never have been imprisoned and should not spend another minute in jail,” Fiona O’Brien, RSF’s UK director, said in a statement.
With Fattah in a Cairo jail, his mother, Laila Soueif, is on day 241 of a hunger strike in the United Kingdom. She is holding a daily one-hour vigil outside Downing Street. Her body weight has dropped by half since she started the strike.
Last week, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer called on Egyptian President Abdel Fatah al-Sisi for the second time to show clemency.
Egypt’s Washington embassy did not immediately respond to my request for comment on the UN group’s determination. Egypt is not required to comply with the UN group’s recommendation.
NPR sues Trump on First Amendment grounds
NPR and three Colorado public radio stations filed a First Amendment lawsuit against the Trump administration over President Donald Trump’s executive order to cut federal funding from public broadcasting, NPR said Tuesday.
Trump’s May 1 order barring the use of Congressionally appropriated funds from NPR and fellow public broadcaster PBS is a violation of the First Amendment, NPR said.
“The intent could not be more clear — the Executive Order aims to punish NPR for the content of news and other programming the President dislikes,” NPR CEO Katherine Maher said in a statement. She added that the order amounted to “retaliatory, viewpoint-based discrimination.”
Aspen Public Radio, Colorado Public Radio, and KSUT Public Radio also joined the lawsuit.
“The differing profiles of the three stations joining ... capture the appeal and reach of the broader public radio system,” NPR media correspondent David Folkenflik reported.
PBS has also been preparing to take legal action but has not yet filed suit, according to CNN. And the Corporation for Public Broadcasting has also filed its own lawsuit over the Trump administration’s ploy to terminate three of its board members.
Scott Pelley’s Viral Commencement Address
Veteran CBS correspondent Scott Pelley passionately defended free speech during a Tuesday commencement address at Wake Forest University in North Carolina.
“In this moment — this moment, this morning — our sacred rule of law is under attack. Journalism is under attack. Universities are under attack. Freedom of speech is under attack. An insidious fear is reaching through our schools, our businesses, our homes and into our private thoughts,” the “60 Minutes” presenter said.
In the speech, Pelley didn’t explicitly mention Trump’s ongoing lawsuit against CBS, or how the broadcaster’s parent company Paramount is reportedly considering settling.
Read Pelley’s full speech here.
An update from Hong Kong
In my Sunday newsletter, I reported on how Hong Kong authorities are using tax audits to target independent news outlets, journalists and their family members. After publication, I received a comment from a spokesperson with Hong Kong’s Inland Revenue Department.
“If there is any information showing that any person may have breached the provisions of the Inland Revenue Ordinance (IRO), the IRD will follow up the case in accordance with the IRO. The industry or background of a taxpayer has no bearing on such reviews,” the spokesperson said. The spokesperson added they cannot comment on specific cases.
Press Freedom News Wrap
United States
Termination notices expected to go out to all remaining Voice of America employees this week (POLITICO)
PEN Call to Lift Restrictions on Journalists Covering the Pentagon, which Harms Transparency and Public Trust (PEN America)
Protect student journalists at USF and beyond (The Oracle)
Journalist Maya Lau sues former L.A. County sheriff for unlawful retaliation (RCFP)
Greene County, Virginia policy barring staff from speaking to press “unconstitutional,” experts say (Daily Progress)
Africa
DRC: Journalist shot by police officer while covering insecurity protest (CPJ)
Mauritania president makes press freedom commitments (RSF)
Uganda VP calls for greater media freedom (Nile Post)
Zimbabwe: IPI calls on authorities to drop charges against journalist Blessed Mhlanga (IPI)
Europe
European Union must make media reforms a reality in European Democracy Shield (CPJ)
Georgia: On news outlet’s anniversary, IPI renews call for release of journalist Mzia Amaglobeli (IPI)
Middle East
Gaza: French journalists call on France to help evacuate collaborators from Gaza (Radio France Internationale)
Gaza: RSF asks International Criminal Court to allow Gazan journalists to participate in war crime investigation (RSF)
Yemen: Houthi court sentences journalist Mohammed Dabwan Al-Meyahi (IFJ)
North America
Honduras: Journalist Frank Mejía files complaint alleging police abuse during in-home detention (CPJ)
Mexico: Authorities identify two people linked to murder of journalist Avisack Douglas in Veracruz (Diario de Xalapa)
Nicaragua: Journalists stripped of Nicaraguan nationality ask Spanish government for protection (Artículo 66)
Oceania
Samoa: Journalists Association of Western Samoa President arrested over article (IFJ)
South America
Bolivia: Journalists forced to erase images under threat of being thrown into river (El Diario)
Brazil: Journalist fined for publishing judge’s salary (O Globo)
Chile: UNESCO commemorates press freedom in Chile, focusing on digital challenges and journalist protection (UNESCO)
On a personal note
I’m proud to share that I’m part of a team whose documentary won Gold from the New York Festival TV & Film Awards. The Empty Chair traces the fight to secure the release of American RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva from wrongful detention in Russia. I’m deeply grateful to Alsu and her husband Pavel for trusting us with telling their story. With this award, I’m also reminded of my 11 colleagues from VOA, RFE/RL and RFA who remain imprisoned for their work.
Thanks for reading. I’ll be back on Sunday.
Best,
Liam