CPJ Reports

  
Slemani News Network camera operator Sivar Baban struggles to breathe after being teargassed during a Kurdistan teachers’ protest on February 9.

Dozens of Iraqi Kurdistan journalists teargassed, arrested, raided over protest

Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, February 13, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by Kurdistan security forces’ assault on 12 news crews covering a February 9 protest by teachers and other public employees over unpaid salaries, which resulted in at least 22 journalists teargassed, two arrested, and a television station raided. “The aggressive treatment meted out to…

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Russian President Vladimir Putin speaks with journalist Pavel Zarubin after his annual televised year-end press conference and phone-in held in Moscow, Russia, December 19, 2024.

Russia preps to block income of ‘foreign agent’ journalists

Berlin, February 11, 2025—After a year that saw Russia increase its pressure on independent media and journalists, authorities are seeking to tighten the squeeze on dissenting voices from March 1 by blocking those designated as “foreign agents’” from access to their earnings. The 2025 law requires those listed by the justice ministry as “persons under…

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Georgian journalists assaulted, obstructed while covering renewed protests

New York, February 7, 2025 – In Georgia, resurgent protests demanding new elections have been met with a violent police crackdown in which authorities forcefully obstructed or assaulted more than a dozen journalists covering the demonstrations. Protests against the Georgian Dream party’s disputed October election victory and the November suspension of European Union accession talks…

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An image of journalist Albino Sibia's last words after being shot by police in Mozambique on December 12 (left); reporter Pedro Júnior is transported to the hospital after being shot while covering Sibia's December 14 funeral (center); and a selfie of journalist Arlindo Chissale, who went missing on January 7 and who may be dead, according to media reports. (Images, from left: screenshot via José Pimentel Teixeira/ YouTube; photo by Egilio Litsure, photo by Arlindo Chissale)

Blogger killed, editor missing as Mozambique’s press freedom crisis deepens

New York, February 5, 2025—“Help. I got shot and they keep shooting…I am dying.” These were among the last words that Mozambican blogger Albino Sibia streamed live on Facebook on December 12, 2024, after a police officer shot him twice in the back as he was filming police action against protestors. Sibia, also known as…

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Journalists covering eastern DRC conflict face death threats, censorship

Kinshasa, January 30, 2025—The M23 rebel group’s assault on the Democratic Republic of the Congo’s eastern city of Goma has brought familiar dangers for Congolese journalists, who for years have navigated intimidation and attacks from government and armed groups in the country’s restive, mineral-rich east. Advances by the M23, which United Nations experts say is…

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Publika reporter Aleksandre Keshelashvili suffered a broken nose following an assault by police officers before he was detained at a Tbilisi police station, among other reported incidents of journalists being assaulted while covering pro-European Union demonstrations. (Photo: Courtesy of Publika)

CPJ condemns police brutality against journalists covering Georgian protests

New York, December 4, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Georgian authorities to hold police officers accountable and ensure journalists’ safety following multiple reports of least 50 journalists injured during violent police dispersals of pro-European Union demonstrations between November 28 and December 3. “The protection of journalists is a hallmark of democratic…

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A police officer aims his weapon at protesters in Maputo, Mozambique, on November 7, 2024, who were disputing the outcome of the October 9 elections that extended the ruling Frelimo party’s 49-year rule. (Photo: AP/Carlos Uqueio)

Journalists in the crossfire of Mozambique’s post-election crisis

New York, November 19, 2024—In the weeks since Mozambique’s October 9 general election — which was characterized by irregularities and in which the ruling Frelimo party claimed victory — the country has descended into chaos as security personnel engage in violent clashes with protestors disputing the results.  News reports and statements by human rights groups…

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The Taliban’s Minister of Higher Education Shaikh Neda Mohammad Nadeem, who barred similar filming of similar speaking events of his, speaks at Kabul University on June 5, 2024. (Screenshot: RTA/YouTube)

Taliban bans television broadcasts and public filming and photographing in Takhar province 

New York, October 28, 2024—On October 13, the Taliban banned television operations and the filming and photographing of people in public spaces in northeast Takhar province according to a local journalist who spoke to the Committee to Protect Journalists under the condition of anonymity, fearing reprisal from the Taliban, and media reports. “The Taliban’s latest ban on…

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Composite of an animated video, published in the The Citizen newspaper, of a character resembling President Samia Suluhu Hassan watching television coverage of recent reported killings and abductions of government critics. (Screenshots: SK Media Online TV/CPJ)

Tanzania’s regulator bans media outlets as journalists harassed

Kampala, October 15, 2024—Instead of providing the latest news updates, the homepages of three leading Tanzanian newspapers are focused on their own suspension over a video seen as critical of the president, as concerns mount over deteriorating press freedom ahead of elections. On October 2, the Tanzania Communications Regulatory Authority (TCRA) issued a 30-day suspension…

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Several journalists flee Cuba after state agents question, pressure at least 8

Miami, October 11, 2024—CPJ is alarmed by reports that since mid-September, Cuban state security agents questioned at least eight journalists and media workers from non-state media outlets, many in connection to alleged crimes against the state, leading several to flee the country.  “The Cuban government appears to be engaged in a campaign of harassment and…

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