2026

  
Ahmed Shihab-Eldin

Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, subjected to ‘grave violations’ of fundamental rights, has Kuwaiti citizenship revoked

Washington, D.C., April 29, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Kuwaiti government’s decision to revoke the citizenship of U.S.-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin and his two sisters, just days after his release from two months of wrongful detention. “Stripping Shihab-Eldin of his citizenship is not just punitive, it is a dangerous escalation in the use…

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Bahraini photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel was sentenced to ten years in prison.

Bahrain sentences photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel to 10 years in prison

Washington, D.C., April 28, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled by the 10-year prison sentence handed down to Bahraini photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel after reportedly posting a video of the aftermath of an Iranian attack on the Gulf nation.  The photojournalist was convicted on charges including allegedly promoting content deemed supportive of…

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India internet regulation

Indian police invoke anti-terror law to unmask anonymous news handle TeluguScribe

New Delhi, April 29, 2026—Indian authorities in the southern state of Telangana must drop their investigation into social media news outlet TeluguScribe and stop the misuse of anti-terror legislation to silence criticism in the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On April 18, the Intelligence Department of the Telangana Police issued a formal…

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Belarus frees journalist Andrzej Poczobut 

New York, April 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release by Belarus on Tuesday of journalist Andrzej Poczobut, as part of a Polish-Belarusian prisoner exchange involving the United States, Moldova, Romania, Russia, Kazakhstan, and Ukraine.   The swap, which included ten prisoners from various countries, took place at the Polish-Belarusian border and was confirmed by Polish Prime Minister Donald Tusk, who posted a picture of…

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İsmail Arı

CPJ joins call for Turkey to repeal disinformation law for its use against journalists

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 22 press freedom and human rights organizations in an April 28 joint statement condemning Turkey’s frequent use of its disinformation law for prosecuting and imprisoning journalists. The signatories urged the Turkish authorities to release all journalists imprisoned under this law and ultimately repeal it. “Turkey’s disinformation law is structurally…

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Maldives police raid Adhadhu newsroom

Maldives police raid Adhadhu newsroom, travel bans imposed on editor and CEO

New Delhi, April 28, 2026—Maldivian authorities must immediately return seized equipment to the independent news outlet Adhadhu, lift travel bans on its staff, and cease using criminal allegations to silence reporting on the president, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On April 27, police raided Adhadhu’s headquarters in the capital city, Malé, and seized electronic devices,…

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Journalist Zied el-Heni has been placed in pretrial detention by Tunisian authorities over a social media post.

Tunisia rearrests journalist Zied el-Heni, who launches hunger strike

New York, April 28, 2026—Tunisian authorities must immediately release journalist Zied el-Heni, who has been placed in pretrial detention over a social media post last week, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday.  El-Heni, editor-in-chief of independent news site Tunisian Press, was arrested on April 24, 2026, after complying with a summons to appear before…

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German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann (left) and Kurdish-Turkish journalist Ahmed Polad (right), went missing in Raqqa on January 18, 2026.

CPJ demands transparency as German reporter confirmed detained in Syria

Sulaymaniyah, April 27, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) calls on Syrian authorities to provide immediate and transparent information on the detention of German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann and the continued enforced disappearance of Kurdish-Turkish journalist Ahmed Polad, who sources say is being held in a Syrian detention facility. Despite confirmation from Michelmann’s…

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Sai Zaw Thaike (Sai Zaw) of Myanmar Now

Myanmar junta denies journalist Sai Zaw Thaike medical care, adding to pattern of prison abuse

Bangkok, April 27, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Myanmar’s military junta to immediately provide journalist Sai Zaw Thaike with adequate medical care after sources at Insein Prison in the country’s largest city Yangon said authorities have refused him treatment for grave health conditions. Sai Zaw Thaike, a photojournalist with the independent Myanmar Now…

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Journalists Farzana Rupa (from left), Shakil Ahmed, Mozammel Haq Babu, and Shyamal Dutta.

CPJ urges new Bangladesh government to fulfill poll promise and release imprisoned journalists 

The Committee to Protect Journalists has written to Bangladesh’s Minister of Law, Justice and Parliamentary Affairs, H.E. Md Asaduzzaman, urging the new government to fulfill its election promise to withdraw politically motivated cases against journalists, and to drop charges and release Farzana Rupa, Shakil Ahmed, Mozammel Haq Babu, and Shyamal Dutta.   The journalists have…

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2026