Thai journalist Kowit Phothisan could face years in prison for defamation
Bangkok, May 14, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Thai politician Suchart Chomklin to immediately drop his criminal defamation lawsuit against Kowit Phothisan, editor of the independent online outlet The Isaan Record, and on Thai authorities to strengthen protections against strategic lawsuits targeting journalists. Kowit faces charges for sharing a Facebook post related to…
DRC journalist detained since January, another in hiding after mining impact report
Kinshasa, May 13, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the Democratic Republic of the Congo to release journalist Stéphane Shisso, who was arrested in January after reporting on erosion caused by mining, and to ensure the safety of his colleague Guelord Shamba, who is in hiding. “It is a grave injustice that…
Maldives jails 2 journalists over documentary about President Muizzu
New Delhi, May 12, 2026—Maldivian authorities must immediately release journalists Mohamed Shahzan and Leevan Ali Nasir and end judicial harassment of their news outlet, Adhadhu, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. According to a report by Adhadhu and a post on X by the Maldives Journalists Association, a court in the capital Malé sentenced…
Taliban raids TOLOnews office in Afghanistan after detaining 2 journalists
New York, May 12, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Taliban authorities in Afghanistan to immediately and unconditionally release two journalists from TOLOnews and end the harassment of media workers following a raid on the broadcaster and its parent company, Moby Group. Taliban intelligence agents detained TOLOnews presenter Mansoor Niazi on May 7 in…
Bukele administration freezes Salvadoran news outlet’s assets in latest act of retaliation
Mexico City, May 8, 2026—El Salvador President Nayib Bukele’s administration must immediately unfreeze the bank accounts and property of El Faro’s shareholders and end its use of the country’s Ministry of Finance as a tool for harassment of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Between February and April 2026, the Salvadoran government…
UPDATE: Colombian journalist killed following capture by rebels
Bogotá, May 8, 2026—Colombian authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Mateo Pérez Rueda, determine if he was targeted for his work, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Pérez was last seen at around 4 p.m. on May 5 near the town of Briceño in Antioquia department in northwest Colombia…
Tunisia court sentences journalist Zied el-Heni to 1 year in prison
New York, May 8, 2026 – Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Zied el-Heni and stop prosecuting journalists under repressive laws for their reporting and commentary, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday after a Tunis court sentenced him to one year in prison. On May 7, authorities convicted El-Heni, founder of the…
Rwandan YouTuber dies of alleged overdose on day of release from prison
Nairobi, May 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for an independent and credible investigation into the death of Rwandan YouTube commentator Aimable Karasira Uzaramba on Wednesday, the day of his scheduled release from prison at the end of his five-year sentence. In a statement, the Rwanda Correctional Service (RCS) said that 48-year-old Karasira died…
Sudan’s RSF paramilitary group detains journalist Adam Issac Minan
New York, May 7, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) in Sudan to immediately release journalist Adam Issac Minan, who was kidnapped by the paramilitary group on April 5, 2026, in the city of Kutum in North Darfur state, according to two local journalists, who spoke with CPJ on…
Indian journalists injured in mob attack after questioning Jharkhand minister
New Delhi, May 7, 2026—Indian authorities must swiftly investigate and hold responsible those behind an attack on two journalists who were beaten after asking critical questions to a minister in the eastern state of Jharkhand, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On April 28, Ashish Kumar, a reporter for regional satellite news channel Raftaar…