Asia

  
Police officers stand guard at the site of a suicide attack in Karachi, Pakistan, in April 2024.

Daily Khabrain reporter Ashfaq Ahmed Sial shot dead in Punjab, Pakistan

Update: Following the publication of this alert, two Pakistani journalists told CPJ on the condition of anonymity, citing police sources, that Sial was targeted over a personal dispute. New York, May 17, 2024 — Pakistani authorities must immediately investigate the killing of journalist Ashfaq Ahmed Sial, ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, and take…

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Headshot of Htet Aung

Myanmar adds terrorism charge against detained Rakhine State reporter Htet Aung

Bangkok, May 16, 2024—Myanmar must drop all pending charges against detained Rakhine State reporter Htet Aung and stop using false allegations of terrorism to intimidate and jail reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Military authorities filed a terrorism charge against Htet Aung in January, in addition to an existing defamation charge, but his…

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Indian journalists Aasit Sultan (left), Gautam Navlakha (top right), and Prabir Purkayastha.

CPJ urges India to ensure freedom for 3 journalists granted bail in security cases

New Delhi, May 15, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday welcomed Indian court decisions to grant bail to journalists Aasif Sultan, Gautam Navlakha, and Prabir Purkayastha, who are being held under anti-terror laws, and called on the authorities to release all three men and immediately drop charges against them. “The Indian courts’ decisions to…

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Maldives blogger Yameen Rasheed (left) was stabbed to death in 2017 and journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla's family never received his body after his 2014 disappearance.

CPJ joins call for Maldives commission to reveal findings to victims’ families, public

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 11 partner organizations on Tuesday in calling on the Maldives’ Presidential Commission on Deaths and Disappearances (DDCom), newly elected President Mohamed Muizzu, and the country’s Human Rights Commission to ensure that the findings of DDCom’s investigations are revealed to the victims’ families and made public before its expected dissolution…

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Indian journalist Ashutosh Srivastava standing with a motorbike.

Indian journalist shot dead on bike, another assaulted at BJP election rally

UPDATE: CPJ’s investigation of Srivastava’s case has determined that his killing was a targeted murder. New Delhi, May 13, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned Monday’s killing of journalist Ashutosh Srivastava and Sunday’s assault on journalist Raghav Trivedi in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh and called on authorities to thoroughly investigate the incidents and…

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A presenter is seen on London-based Afghanistan International TV.

The Taliban order journalists and citizens to boycott Afghanistan International TV and radio

New York, May 9, 2024—The Taliban must revoke their restrictions on the popular broadcaster Afghanistan International and end their crackdown on independent media in Afghanistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, the Taliban’s Media Complaints and Rights Violations Commission banned journalists, analysts, and experts from participating in discussions or cooperating with London-based…

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Philippine radio journalist Percival Mabasa, who was shot dead on October 3, 2022, working in the studio.

Shooter of Philippine journalist Percival Mabasa given up to 16 years jail

Bangkok, May 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists commends the conviction and sentencing of Joel Escorial, who confessed to shooting dead Philippine journalist Percival Mabasa in 2022. On Monday, May 6, Harold Cesar Huliganga, presiding judge at the Regional Trial Court Branch 254 in the city of Las Piñas, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south…

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Pakistani journalist Muhammad Siddique Mengal targeted, killed by bomb

New York, May 7, 2024 — Pakistani authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Muhammad Siddique Mengal, who died in a bomb attack on World Press Freedom Day, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. An unidentified motorcyclist placed a bomb on Mengal’s vehicle at a…

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Pakistani TV anchor Hamid Mir gets death threats after speaking up for press freedom

New York, May 2, 2024—Pakistani authorities must swiftly and impartially investigate death threats and online harassment targeting prominent television anchor Hamid Mir and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Mir, who hosts the flagship political show “Capital Talk” on Geo News and has survived at least two previous assassination attempts, told…

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Malaysia's Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim

Malaysia’s prime minister calls for ‘action’ over Bloomberg casino report

Bangkok, April 29, 2024 – Malaysian Prime Minister Anwar Ibrahim should retract his call on local private companies to take action against Bloomberg news agency for a report on alleged plans to build a casino complex in a troubled real estate development, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Friday, April 26, Anwar referred…

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