2021
CPJ calls for immediate release of seriously ill Egyptian journalist Gamal al-Gamal
New York, May 26, 2021 – In response to news reports that Egyptian freelance columnist Gamal al-Gamal’s health has seriously deteriorated during his pretrial detention in Cairo’s Tora Prison, and that he is suspected of having contracted COVID-19, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We are extremely concerned by reports of journalist…
Unidentified men attack, bind, and gag Pakistani journalist Asad Ali Toor at his home in Islamabad
Washington, D.C., May 26, 2021 — Pakistan authorities must launch a credible investigation into the assault of journalist Asad Ali Toor and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday evening, three unidentified men beat, bound, and gagged Toor inside his apartment in Islamabad, according to news reports and the…
Canadian police bar journalists from covering anti-logging protests
Washington, D.C., May 26, 2021 — In response to reports that officers of the Royal Canadian Mounted Police have repeatedly denied journalists access to cover protests against logging on Vancouver Island in British Columbia, the Committee to Protect Journalists today issued the following statement: “We are concerned that the Royal Canadian Mounted Police seem to…
Israeli journalists assaulted and harassed by protesters and security forces
From April 21 to May 15, 2021, demonstrators and security forces assaulted and harassed journalists in cities throughout Israel, according to news reports, journalists’ social media posts, and data compiled by the Union of Journalists in Israel (ITONAIM), a local trade group. The incidents occurred following the outbreak of protests over the eviction of Palestinian…
LISTEN: A year after unprecedented assaults on US media covering protests, what comes next?
Last May, VICE video journalist Dave Mayers went to Minneapolis to cover protests in the wake of George Floyd’s murder in police custody. A day later, he was arrested with his entire crew for violating a curfew order that specifically exempted reporters. All over the United States, journalists like Mayers were impeded from doing their…
Belarusian authorities briefly detain 4 Tut.by journalists; at least 13 staff remain in custody
New York, May 25, 2021 – Belarusian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release all employees of the independent news website Tut.by who remain in custody, and cease harassing the outlet’s employees, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Today, police in Minsk, the capital, arrested Tut.by reporters Anastasiya Prudnikava and Dzianis Burkouski, and social media…
Supporters of Peruvian presidential candidate Pedro Castillo harass, assault 2 journalists covering rally
Miami, May 25, 2021 – Peruvian authorities must investigate the recent attack on journalists Stefanie Medina and Carlos Brown, and guarantee that the press can cover election events safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 19, at about 5:15 p.m., a group of people at a rally in support of presidential candidate…
Council of the EU must press Belarus to release journalist Raman Pratasevich
Brussels, May 25, 2021 – In response to a statement yesterday by the European Council demanding the immediate release of Belarusian journalist Raman Pratasevich and calling for sanctions on Belarusian officials, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “We welcome the call by European leaders for the immediate release of Belarusian journalist Raman…
Ghana police detain 2 Citi FM journalists, beat 1 in custody
Abuja, May 25, 2021 – Ghanaian authorities must thoroughly investigate allegations that police officers beat journalist Caleb Kudah in custody; arbitrarily detained Kudah and his colleague, Zoe Abu-Baidoo Addo; and deleted photos from their phones, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 11, police officers in Accra, the capital, detained and beat Kudah,…
UK online safety bill raises censorship concerns and questions on future of encryption
The U.K. government emphasized press freedom this month when it published the draft online safety bill for social media companies, pledging that the bill would protect both “citizen journalism” and “recognized news publishers” from censorship. Vocal segments of the media not only welcomed the legislation, but actively campaigned for it. When Oliver Dowden, secretary of…