Chinese Journalist Sophia Xueqin Huang Tops One Free Press Coalition’s December Ranking Of “10 Most Urgent” Press Freedom Cases
NEW YORK – Dec 2, 2019 – The One Free Press Coalition, a united group of pre-eminent editors and publishers using their global reach and social platforms to spotlight journalists under attack worldwide, today issued its monthly “10 Most Urgent” list of journalists whose press freedoms are being suppressed or whose cases are seeking justice. Chinese journalist Sophia Xueqin Huang – who was arrested in October, was moved into residential surveillance after being released from prison last week – tops the list. She was detained in Guangzhou, in Guangdong province, for the ambiguous charges of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” according to reports, ostensibly in retaliation for her coverage of the Hong Kong protests and ongoing gender discrimination in China, the Committee to Protect Journalists reports.
Meanwhile, Nazli Ilicak, a Turkish journalist featured on the August One Free Press Coalition’s “10 Most Urgent” list, was released during a retrial in early November. Ilicak, along with several other journalists, had previously been sentenced to life without parole for allegedly using their journalism to aid the network of U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen.
Published this morning by all Coalition members and at www.onefreepresscoalition.com, the tenth “10 Most Urgent” list includes the following journalists, ranked in order of urgency:
1. Sophia Xueqin Huang (China)
The Hong Kong protests reporter continues to remain under residential surveillance. CPJ notes that China is the second-leading country for imprisoned journalists.
2. Jamal Khashoggi (Saudi Arabia)
October marked the solemn anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s murder inside the Kingdom’s Istanbul consulate and no independent criminal investigation has come in 13 months. Pressured by recent attacks on Saudi oil facilities, the Kingdom’s crown prince spoke out in September denying any role in the murder but did claim responsibility for the “mistake” on behalf of consulate workers in Istanbul. Yet, findings from the UN and CIA point to his involvement. Stateside, President Donald Trump blew a Congressional deadline to release intelligence reports under the U.S. Global Magnitsky Act.
3. Luis Carlos Díaz (Venezuela)
After Luis Carlos Díaz was detained for more than 24 hours in March, Venezuelan prosecutors needed to present evidence supporting charges of “public instigation” by Nov. 12 or the case against Díaz could be closed. Authorities have ignored their deadline, leaving the dual Spanish citizen and Unión Radio News reporter prohibited from leaving the country.
4. Svetlana Prokopyeva (Russia)
The past year has brought continued attacks against Pskov-based stringer Svetlana Prokopyeva, a freelance contributor for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, who reported a story about a young man who detonated a bomb inside a government building. Prokopyeva was accused of “publicly inciting terrorism,” and was placed on a list of “terrorists and extremists.”
5. Qazi Shibli (India)
The family of Qazi Shibli has expressed concerns that The Kashmiriyat news website editor has grown weak since his July detainment. As Kashmir autonomy lessened and Shibli reported on increased troop deployments into the region, he has been held on charges including “waging war against the Union of India,” “creating fear and panic among common people” and being “deeply involved in disrupting the peaceful atmosphere.”
6. Hamid al-Mahdaoui (Morocco)
Hamid al-Mahdaoui, an editor and reporter for Moroccan online news outlet Badil, has served half of a three-year sentence for “failure to denounce a crime threatening national security” while traveling to cover anti-corruption protests in 2017. The sentence was upheld this year, and al-Mahdaoui has gone on hunger strike and been denied medicine, nutritious food and access to a doctor.
7. Sofiane Merakchi (Algeria)
Since February, Algerian authorities have expelled or suspended journalists covering protests. Sofiane Merakchi, a freelance correspondent for Beirut-based TV channel Al Mayadeen and other foreign news agencies, was arrested in September at his personal office in Algiers, and his Nov.15 hearing for charges of “evading customs and tax” was postponed.
8. Azimjon Askarov (Kyrgyzstan)
Award-winning journalist Azimjon Askarov has spent nine years in prison after receiving a life sentence for reporting on human rights violations. Letters home have described run ins with guards, detainee punishment after visiting days, Askarov’s deteriorating health and limited access to medication.
9. Esraa Abdel Fattah (Egypt)
At least seven journalists have been arrested in Egypt since anti-government protests began in September, including Esraa Abdel Fattah, a reporter and social media coordinator focused on human rights violations for banned website Tahrir News. Two pro-government outlets accused her of lying about officials beating, hanging and choking her.
10. Azory Gwanda (Tanzania)
More than two years ago, freelance journalist Azory Gwanda went missing in Tanzania after investigating rural mysterious killings. The government has failed to conduct an investigation or disclose any knowledge of his whereabouts.
The One Free Press Coalition is comprised of 37 prominent international members including: Al Jazeera Media Network, AméricaEconomía; The Associated Press; Bloomberg News; The Boston Globe; BuzzFeed; CNN Money Switzerland; Corriere Della Sera; De Standaard; Deutsche Welle; Estadão; EURACTIV; The Financial Times; Forbes; Fortune; HuffPost; India Today; Insider Inc.; Le Temps; Middle East Broadcasting Networks; NHK; Office of Cuba Broadcasting; Quartz; Radio Free Asia; Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty; Republik; Reuters; The Straits Times; Süddeutsche Zeitung; TIME; TV Azteca; Voice of America; The Washington Post; WIRED; and Yahoo News.
One Free Press Coalition partners with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) to identify the most-urgent cases for the list, which is updated and published on the first business day of every month.
The mission of the Coalition is to use the collective voices of its members – which reach more than 1 billion people worldwide – to “stand up for journalists under attack for pursuing the truth.” News organizations throughout the world can join the Coalition by emailing info@onefreepresscoalition.com. Members of the public are also encouraged to join the conversation using the hashtag #OneFreePress and following developments on Twitter @OneFreePress.
One Free Press Coalition
The One Free Press Coalition every month spotlights the “10 Most Urgent” journalists who press freedoms are under threat worldwide. The Coalition uses the collective voices of participating news organizations to spotlight brave journalists whose voices are being silenced or have been silenced by “standing up for journalists under attack for pursing the truth.” To see the “10 Most Urgent” list every month and to view a complete list of participating news organizations and supporting partners, please visit https://www.onefreepresscoalition.com/ or @OneFreePress on Twitter.
Contacts:
One Free Press Coalition PR: pr@onefreepresscoalition.com
Committee to Protect Journalists: Bebe Santa-Wood, press@cpj.com
International Women’s Media Foundation: Charlotte Fox, cfox@iwmf.org