Asia

2019

  
An Indian paramilitary trooper stands guard on a road in Srinagar, Kashmir's largest city, on September 7, 2019. Since the government stripped the region of its limited autonomous status and imposed a communication blackout in early August, Kashmir’s news media has faced a deep existential crisis. (AFP/Tauseef Mustafa)

Kashmir’s news media faces existential crisis amid restrictions, arrests

On August 5, the government of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi imposed a strict communication blackout in Jammu and Kashmir after stripping the state of its limited autonomous status under the Indian constitution. A month later as the restrictions continued, CPJ India Correspondent Kunal Majumder traveled to Srinagar, Kashmir’s largest city, to speak to local…

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CPJ calls on Thai prime minister to restore press freedom

CPJ wrote to Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, urging him to restore freedom the press in Thailand.

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Police are seen in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, India, on July 31, 2019. Police in Uttar Pradesh recently arrested, investigated, and filed complaints against several journalists. (Reuters/Danish Siddiqui)

Uttar Pradesh police arrest, investigate multiple journalists since August 31

Police in Uttar Pradesh, India’s largest state, have arrested, investigated, and filed complaints against journalists in several separate incidents since August 31, 2019, according to news reports and the journalists, who spoke to CPJ.

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A newspaper vendor is seen in Karachi, Pakistan, on October 7, 2018. The country is currently considering establishing courts specifically for media-related issues. (Reuters/Akhtar Soomro)

CPJ concerned about Pakistan media court initiative

Washington, D.C., September 18, 2019 — Pakistan’s federal cabinet has approved an initiative to establish specialized courts aimed at resolving media-related issues, the government announced yesterday, according to news reports. The proposal drew swift condemnation on social media from human rights and press freedom organizations.

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10 Most Censored Countries

Repressive governments use sophisticated digital censorship and surveillance alongside more traditional methods to silence independent media. A special report by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Published September 10, 2019 Eritrea is the world’s most censored country, according to a list compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The list is based on CPJ’s research into the…

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Journalists react as police fire tear gas in Hong Kong on September 8, 2019. Police recently fired tear gas and pepper spray at several groups of journalists covering protests in the city. (AFP/Philip Fong)

Hong Kong police hit journalists covering protests with tear gas and pepper spray

Taipei, September 9, 2019 — Hong Kong police must cease their unprovoked use of tear gas and pepper spray against journalists covering protests in the city, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police are seen in New Delhi, India, on February 27, 2019. Kashmiri journalist Gowhar Geelani was recently barred from leaving the country at a New Delhi airport. (Reuters/Anushree Fadnavis)

Kashmiri journalist Gowhar Geelani barred from leaving India

New Delhi, September 4, 2019 — Indian authorities should allow journalist Gowhar Geelani to travel freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Family members of Maldivian journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla are seen in Colombo, Sri Lanka, on August 28, 2018. A presidential commission in the Maldives recently announced that the journalist was killed in 2014. (Reuters/Dinuka Liyanawatte)

Maldives journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla killed by Al-Qaeda group in 2014, commission finds

New Delhi, September 3, 2019 — Maldivian authorities should prosecute those responsible for the 2014 killing of journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla, including the planners of the attack as well as any government officials who interfered in the investigation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong is seen in Singapore on November 15, 2018. The prime minister recently threatened to sue the editor of a local news website for libel. (AFP/Lillian Suwanrumpha)

Singapore prime minister threatens to sue The Online Citizen for libel

Bangkok, September 3, 2019 — Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong should drop his legal threat against news website The Online Citizen and cease his government’s long-running legal harassment of independent media, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang is seen in Beijing on January 29, 2019. Chinese authorities recently refused to renew Wall Street Journal reporter Chun Han Wong's visa. (AP/Andy Wong)

China refuses to renew Wall Street Journal reporter’s visa

Taipei, August 30, 2019 — Chinese immigration authorities should immediately reverse their decision to refuse the visa renewal of Wall Street Journal reporter Chun Han Wong and allow foreign and domestic journalists to work without interference, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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2019