2024
UN expert committee: Israel’s detention of Palestinian journalists unlawful
The finding follows CPJ’s submission; expert body requests journalists’ immediate release due to arbitrary detention. New York, October 29, 2024—United Nations legal experts determined that Israel’s detention of three Palestinian journalists — Moath Amarneh, Mohammad Badr, and Ameer Abu Iram — is discriminatory, arbitrary, and in violation of international law. The expert opinion by the…
British police seize electronic devices in raid on journalist Asa Winstanley’s home
New York, October 29, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on British authorities to cease using counter-terrorism laws to intimidate the press after police raided the London home of journalist Asa Winstanley on October 17 on suspicion of “encouragement of terrorism.” According to Winstanley’s employer, Palestine-focused news site The Electronic Intifada, the raid was in connection with Winstanley’s social…
Turkey’s parliament expected to vote on ‘foreign agent’ law this week
Istanbul, October 29, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges members of Turkey’s parliament to vote against the foreign “influence agent law” when it comes up for a vote in the Grand National Assembly this week as expected. “Unfortunately, Turkey seems to be following the regional trend of establishing a judicial tool for demonizing and censoring independent…
Journalists face Israeli strikes, displacement, attacks as war escalates in Lebanon
The recent escalation of Israel’s war in Lebanon has imperiled the press as they face Israeli strikes that have destroyed news outlet offices and killed at least three journalists, in addition to being assaulted, obstructed, threatened, and detained while reporting. At about 3 a.m. on October 25, an Israeli airstrike hit a compound housing 18 journalists from multiple…
Taliban bans television broadcasts and public filming and photographing in Takhar province
New York, October 28, 2024—On October 13, the Taliban banned television operations and the filming and photographing of people in public spaces in northeast Takhar province according to a local journalist who spoke to the Committee to Protect Journalists under the condition of anonymity, fearing reprisal from the Taliban, and media reports. “The Taliban’s latest ban on…
Sri Lankan police harass 2 journalists over public interest reporting
New York, October 28, 2024—Sri Lankan police must cease harassing journalists Selvakumar Nilanthan and Tharindu Jayawardhana, following their reporting on alleged government misconduct, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. “With a new president, Sri Lanka has an opportunity to improve press freedom,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih Yi. “Police should drop their…
Cameroonian journalist Thierry Patrick Ondoua detained on insult charges
Dakar, October 24, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Cameroonian authorities to immediately release journalist Thierry Patrick Ondoua, publishing director of the privately-owned Le Point Hebdo bimonthly newspaper, after he was arrested on Tuesday in connection with a report on the minister of housing’s alleged mismanagement, and to drop all charges against him. “Journalist Thierry Patrick…
CPJ, partners’ report highlights ‘rapid’ deterioration of press freedom ahead of Georgia elections
The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday, October 25, joined eight partner organizations of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists and members of the Media Freedom Rapid Response consortium in issuing a report on the state of Georgia’s press freedom ahead of the country’s pivotal October 26 election. The report, which follows…
Jailed Tunisian commentator Sonia Dahmani given further 2-year sentence
New York, October 25, 2024 – Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release political commentator Sonia Dahmani, who was sentenced on Thursday to two years in prison for spreading false news, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. “Sonia Dahmani is already serving an eight-month prison term in Tunisia and sentencing her to two more…
Burkina Faso confirms conscription of 3 journalists, 1 still missing
New York, October 25, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the forced conscription of journalists Serge Atiana Oulon, Adama Bayala, and Kalifara Séré, who went missing in June, and calls for them to be immediately returned home. “It is outrageous and chilling that Burkinabe authorities feel it is acceptable to take journalists from…