Committee to Protect Journalists – Defending Journalists Worldwide.

CPJ urges Palestinian Authority to lift ban on Al Jazeera in West Bank

A military vehicle moves in a street outside the building where the Al Jazeera office is located, in Ramallah, in the Israeli-occupied West Bank, September 22, 2024. REUTERS/Mohammed Torokman - RC2F5AA82Z43 — A military vehicle in a street outside Al Jazeera’s office in the Israeli-occupied West Bank city of Ramallah in September 2024. (Photo: Reuters/Mohammed Torokman)

The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Palestinian Authority’s January 1 decision to suspend Al Jazeera’s operations in the West Bank.

“Governments resort to censoring news outlets when they have something to hide,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg. “The Palestinian Authority should reverse its decision to suspend Al Jazeera’s operations and allow journalists to report freely without fear of reprisal.”

Palestinian official news agency WAFA reported on January 1 that the Palestinian Authority froze the Qatari broadcaster’s coverage on grounds of “inciting material.”

The ban comes after the Authority criticized Al Jazeera’s coverage of a standoff between Palestinian security forces and militants in the West Bank’s Jenin camp, according to news reports.

Israel raided Al Jazeera’s Ramallah office in September and ordered its closure for 45 days on the grounds of “incitement to and support of terrorism.” Israel banned Al Jazeera’s Israel operations in May, citing national security concerns.

Israeli forces kill at least 4 Gaza journalists in mid-December strikes

CPJ, partners call on Iran to free Italian journalist Cecilia Sala

Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested by Iran on December 19, 2024, but her arrest was only made public on December 27. (Screenshot: France 24/YouTube) — Sala, who was in Iran on a journalist visa, was arrested on December 19. (Screenshot: France 24/YouTube)

CPJ, Reporters Without Borders, and the International Journalism Festival’s organizers have called on Iran to release freelance Italian journalist Cecilia Sala with immediate effect.

Sala, who was arrested in Iran on December 19, is being held in the notorious Evin prison for “violating the laws of the Islamic Republic of Iran.” Italy’s foreign ministry summoned the Iranian ambassador on Thursday to demand Sala’s release.

Reports have suggested that Sala is being held in retaliation for Italy’s detention of a Swiss-Iranian businessman and suspected arms dealer.

“Iran has a long and ignominious history of jailing journalists,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg. “Cecilia Sala’s arrest is a powerful reminder of the daily threats faced by those reporting in and about Iran.”

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The Committee to Protect Journalists promotes press freedom worldwide.

We defend the right of journalists to report the news safely and without fear of reprisal.

Journalists Attacked

Myat Thu Tan

MURDERED

Myat Thu Tan, a contributor to the local news website Western News and correspondent for several independent Myanmar news outlets, was shot and killed on January 31, 2024, while in military custody in Mrauk-U in Myanmar’s western Rakhine State.

He was arrested on September 22, 2022, and held in pre-trial detention under a broad provision of the penal code that criminalizes incitement and the dissemination of false news for critical posts he made on his Facebook page. Myat Thu Tan had not been tried or convicted at the time of his death.

The journalist’s body was found buried in a bomb shelter, with the bodies of six other political detainees, and showed signs of torture.

Myanmar’s military junta has cracked down on journalists and media outlets since seizing power in a February 2021 coup.

Learn more about Myat Thu Tan