Asia

New York, March 19, 2024—Nepali authorities must swiftly and impartially investigate the attack on journalist Padam Prasad Pokhrel and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On the evening of February 28, up to 15 police officers attacked Pokhrel, editor-in-chief of the news website Pranmancha, while the journalist was filming…

Taipei, March 19, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Hong Kong legislature’s hasty passing of a national security law on Tuesday which could lead to the suppression of press freedom and prosecution of journalists. The city’s lawmakers unanimously passed the Safeguarding National Security Bill, enacted under Article 23 of the Basic Law, the city’s…

New York, March 15, 2024—Pakistan authorities must immediately and unconditionally release independent journalist Asad Ali Toor, return his devices, and cease harassing him in retaliation for his journalistic work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On March 8, a court in Pakistan’s capital, Islamabad, ordered Toor be sent to jail on a 14-day judicial…

Philippine journalist Gerardo “Gerry” Ortega vowed he wouldn’t let the death threats stop him from using his radio show to expose corruption on the country’s idyllic tropical island of Palawan. “I am like a lone flame of a candle in a big dark room. I can’t light the whole room but I light a small…

New Delhi, March 14, 2024—Indian authorities must drop the charges against journalist Ashutosh Negi, who was arrested in connection with his reporting on a murder investigation in the northern state of Uttarakhand, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Negi, editor of the weekly Hindi newspaper Jago Uttarakhand, was arrested on March 5 from his…

Bangkok, March 13, 2024—Philippine authorities must swiftly identify and prosecute those behind the shooting threats and harassment against Rappler reporter Joann Manabat and K5 News FM Olongapo reporter Rowena Quejada, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On March 12, armed men dressed in red and white shirts with Clarkhills Properties Corporation verbally barred Manabat…

March 11, 2024 – German authorities must prioritize the Philippines’ abysmal record of impunity in the murder of journalists during the official visit by Philippine president Ferdinand Marcos Jr. scheduled for  March 11-13, a coalition of three international press freedom organizations said on Monday. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz should make press freedom and specifically the…

In 2024, the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is seeking re-election for a third consecutive five-year term. The upcoming general elections in April 2024 will see India’s vast electorate, consisting of over 600 million people, exercising their right to vote. CPJ’s Emergencies Response Team (ERT) has compiled a safety guide for journalists covering India’s election….

Bangkok, March 7, 2024—Vietnam should immediately release independent bloggers Nguyen Chi Tuyen and Nguyen Vu Binh, drop any charges pending against them, and cease harassing the free press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Thursday. On February 29, Tuyen, one of Vietnam’s best-known civil society activists and YouTubers, and Binh, a two-time recipient of…

New York, March 5, 2024—Pakistani authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Imran Riaz Khan, whose whereabouts are unknown, and stop harassing and detaining members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday. On March 1, the journalist—whose current affairs YouTube channel Imran Riaz Khan has some 4.6 million…