Cambodia jails journalist Luot Sophal for 2 years over report on soldiers’ water shortages
Bangkok, July 21, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the two-year prison sentence given to Cambodian journalist Luot Sophal on incitement charges and calls for his immediate and unconditional release. Sophal, a reporter with the independent local news site Srotop Yuvakvey, was convicted on July 14 by the Oddar Meanchey Provincial Court on charges of…
CPJ, partners call on Thailand not to deport detained journalist Bai Zhaodong to China
The Committee to Protect Journalists has joined 58 other press freedom and civil society organizations in calling on Thailand to halt the forcible return of detained Chinese journalist Bai Zhaodong to China. Bai, a former reporter with Caijing magazine and an investigative journalist for over 25 years, has been held in immigration detention in Thailand since January…
CPJ, partners call on Cambodian PM to seek release of journalists Phon Sopheap and Pheap Pheara
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 15 other press freedom and civil society organizations on Friday in calling on Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Manet to recommend an amnesty for imprisoned journalists Phon Sopheap and Pheap Phara, both of whom are serving 14-year sentences on espionage charges. The journalists were convicted on December 17, 2025, of…
CPJ, partners call on Indonesian president to reopen investigation into journalist’s murder
The Committee to Protect Journalists and five other civil society organizations on Thursday called on Indonesian President Prabowo Subianto to order police to reopen the investigation into the murder of journalist Rico Sempurna Pasaribu and his family, with a focus on the alleged involvement of a soldier named Corporal Herman Bukit. The joint letter was…
Hong Kong arrests 2 journalists in latest sedition case targeting independent bookstores
New York, July 16, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Hong Kong authorities to immediately release freelance journalists and booksellers Sum Wan-wah and Mandy Lau and end their escalating crackdown on independent publishing in the city, following the second such incident in less than a month. On July 15, Hong Kong police said its…
CPJ, partners call on Bangladesh to drop ICT case against journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined four other press freedom and human rights organizations on Wednesday in calling on Bangladesh’s government to drop any pending criminal charges against journalists Farzana Rupa and Mozammel Babu, including in a crimes-against-humanity case. On May 14, Bangladesh’s International Crimes Tribunal (ICT) revealed Rupa, a former chief reporter and presenter…
CPJ warns Bloomberg defamation ruling could chill reporting in Singapore
Jakarta, July 15, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by the Singapore High Court’s decision ordering Bloomberg and one of its reporters to pay S$460,000 (US$356,000) in damages to two senior ministers who sued them for defamation over an article about their property deals. The coordinating minister for national security, K. Shanmugam, and…
Journalist Syed Farhad Ali Shah detained without charge over Kashmir protest coverage
New York, July 8, 2026—Authorities in Pakistan-administered Kashmir must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Syed Farhad Ali Shah, who was detained by police after covering demonstrations called by a recently banned alliance of civil society groups, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Ali Shah, who reports for the social media-focused outlet Times of Kashmir,…
Pakistan suspends Geo News broadcast license for 15 days over religious content
New York, July 2, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Pakistan’s media regulator to immediately lift its 15-day suspension of Geo News’ broadcast license after the news network was reprimanded over content aired during a program marking Muharram, one of the holiest months in the Islamic calendar. The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA)…
The high price journalists paid for LGBTQ+ reporting, and how to protect yourself now
As LGBTQ+ communities celebrate Pride this June, many journalists continue to face an ugly reality: simply reporting on this community can open them up to prosecution, physical attacks, threats, arrest, exile, and even death. Avijit Roy, a Bangladeshi-born American who blogged about LGBTQ+ rights and free expression, was stabbed to death alongside his wife after…