Press Freedom
National Press Club Statement On Jason Rezaian Trial
October 12, 2015
Following is a statement by John Hughes, president of the National Press Club, on the announced conviction by an Iranian court of Washington Post Reporter Jason Rezaian: Now it is time for the community of nations to step forward as one and demand the release of Jason Rezaian from prison in Iran.…
Read MoreNational Press Club Statement on Jason Rezaian Being Held 444 Days By Iran
October 9, 2015
The following statement was issued by John Hughes, President of the National Press Club, on the 444th day Washington Post Reporter Jason Rezaian has been held in an Iranian prison: "Once again we call on the government of Iran to release Jason Rezaian. Today marks a particularly dark day in this…
Read MoreNational Press Club Calls on Azerbaijan to Free Jailed Journalists
September 2, 2015
The National Press Club called on Azerbaijan to free journalists jailed in that country on spurious charges. On Sept. 1, an Azeri court sentenced Khadija Ismayilova, a reporter who has written for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and other news organizations, to seven and a half years in jail,…
Read MoreNational Press Club Calls on Turkish Government to Stop Persecuting Journalists
September 1, 2015
The National Press Club sharply disapproves of recent incidents of journalist harassment and repression in Turkey. According to news reports, two British journalists for Vice News and a Turkish assistant were arrested in Diyarbakir, Turkey and charged yesterday with aiding terrorists. In a…
Read MoreNational Press Club outraged by jail sentences for reporters in Egypt
August 29, 2015
The National Press Club president came out strongly against an Egyptian court’s sentencing on Saturday of three Al-Jazeera English reporters. The court sentenced Peter Greste, Baher Mohammed and Mohammed Fahmy to three years in prison on charges that independent experts say are trumped up,…
Read MoreNational Press Club expresses outrage at slaying of journalists in Virginia
August 26, 2015
National Press Club President John Hughes issued the following statement in response to news that two TV reporters were gunned down during a live broadcast near Roanoke, Va.: "I am horrified by the fatal shooting of reporter Alison Parker and videographer Adam Ward in Moneta, Va., as they went…
Read MoreNPC urges Kerry to focus on press freedom in Cuba
August 13, 2015
The National Press Club on Wednesday called on Secretary of State John Kerry to make press freedom and the expansion of Internet access in Cuba a priority in his department’s engagements with the Castro regime. The secretary will become the highest-ranking U.S. official in decades to visit Cuba…
Read MoreNational Press Club statement on reporters Wesley Lowery and Ryan Reilly
August 11, 2015
Following is a statement by National Press Club President John Hughes on the circumstances surrounding the possible legal jeopardy for reporters Wesley Lowery of The Washington Post and Ryan Reilly of Huffington Post who were covering the disturbances in Ferguson, Mo., last year. “We were surprised…
Read MoreStatement on Jason Rezaian trial by National Press Club
August 11, 2015
Following is a statement by John Hughes, President of the National Press Club, on the conclusion of what is expected to be the fourth and final trial session for Jason Rezaian of The Washington Post. "Four times in the last year Washington Post reporter Jason Rezaian has been brought from prison to…
Read MoreA push To free Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian
August 3, 2015
Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian has now been held in an Iranian prison for one year, and that's the focus of this edition of Update-1, the Press Club podcast. It was July 22 of last year when Iranian security forces swarmed Rezaian's home without warning and arrested him. Recently Ali…
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