Journalists attacked in France since 1992
As police investigate fresh attack amid Charlie Hebdo trial, French media unify around free expression
The knifings of two employees of a French TV production company outside the former Charlie Hebdo office on Friday, which occurred as a high-profile trial on the 2015 attacks on the newspaper was underway, was a stark reminder that threats to journalists have not disappeared in the five years since the deadly assault. The megatrial had started on September…
CPJ condemns knife attack near former Charlie Hebdo office in Paris
Berlin, September 25, 2020 – At least two people were injured in Paris today in a knife attack near the former offices of French satirical newspaper Charlie Hebdo, amid the ongoing trial of the suspected facilitators of the 2015 attack on the paper that killed 12 people—including eight journalists—according to media reports. “CPJ is deeply…
In an era of global protest, France and Israel stand out for use of dangerous ammunition
With the world gripped in a historic wave of unrest, journalists in no fewer than 65 countries – about a third of the world – have been attacked covering protests since 2015, according to a report I authored for a U.N. agency that was published today. One thing that stood out during my research for the report Safety…
French TV crew assaulted by armed gang members
Berlin, June 16, 2020–French authorities must immediately and thoroughly investigate the assault of three journalists by members of an armed gang and bring those responsible for the attack to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 15, a group of armed men assaulted three members of a news team working for public…
French police detain, assault reporter Taha Bouhafs during protest
On June 11, 2019, police officers arrested Taha Bouhafs, a reporter at French news website Là-bas Si J’y Suis, allegedly assaulted him during the arrest, confiscated his mobile phone, and detained him for 24 hours, according to reports by his employer and local news outlets.
French journalists, Le Monde publisher called for questioning by intelligence agency
Berlin, May 23, 2019 — The General Directorate for Internal Security, France’s domestic intelligence agency, should immediately withdraw summons for questioning issued to journalists Ariane Chemin and Michel Despratx, and Le Monde publisher Louis Dreyfus, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The directorate has summoned at least four other journalists in recent months, according…
French reporters questioned by intelligence service in leak investigation
Berlin, May 14, 2019 — The General Directorate for Internal Security, France’s domestic intelligence agency, should stop pursuing investigative journalists Geoffrey Livolsi, Mathias Destal, and Benoît Collombat in a leak investigation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Moroccan press freedom conference in Paris shut down after disruptions, power cut
A conference on press freedom in Morocco held in Paris, France, was shut down on February 15, 2019, when the power was cut to the event after hecklers yelled at speakers and threw stink bombs, according to news reports, videos posted to social media, and witnesses who spoke with CPJ.
French police attempt to search Mediapart offices over Benalla report
Berlin, February 4, 2019–The Paris prosecutor’s office should cease its attempts to search the offices of investigative news outlet Mediapart, the Committee to Protect Journalists said. Mediapart reported that police and prosecutors attempted to search its office today as part of an investigation into the outlet’s reporting on the French president’s former top security officer…