Middle East & North Africa

2009

  

In Iran, journalists arrested, Khamenei calls media ‘evil’

New York, June 19, 2009–In his first public address to the nation since demonstrations erupted in many cities across Iran, Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei today blamed foreign media, calling it “evil” for attempting to divide the people of Iran. Iranian authorities continue to crack down on journalists in an attempt to control information as demonstrations…

Read More ›

Kurdish journalist concerned about safety

New York, June 19, 2009–A journalist in the Iraqi Kurdistan town of Dukan said he is concerned about his safety after a confrontation with a security officer for the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) on Tuesday evening.   

Read More ›

Iran censors newspapers amid unrest

New York, June 18, 2009–With street demonstrations continuing in Tehran, Iranian authorities expanded censorship, banning the publication of two newspapers. The Committee to Protect Journalists called on the authorities to lift the bans and to allow international reporters to return to the country. 

Read More ›

Iran should allow journalists to cover opposition rallies

New York, June 17, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists urges the Iranian government to lift all restrictions on foreign journalists and allow them to cover Thursday’s planned rallies in support of defeated presidential candidate Mir-Hossein Mousavi.

Read More ›

Israel sentences two to prison terms for censorship breach

New York, June 17, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns an Israeli court decision to sentence two television journalists on charges of breaching the military censorship law during the offensive in Gaza in December and January.

Read More ›

Special Report: Journalists in Exile 2009

Sri Lankan journalists flee under severe pressure in the past year. Iraq and Somalia, two deadly countries for the press, also rank high in numbers of journalists forced into exile. Hundreds of journalists have been driven into exile this decade. By Karen Phillips

Read More ›

Iran bars foreign media from reporting on protests

New York, June 16, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Iranian government’s decision to bar foreign journalists from leaving their offices to report, film, or take photographs–a restriction intended to prevent news coverage of protests over the disputed presidential election.  

Read More ›

CPJ condemns Tehran’s ban on foreign reporting

We issued the following statement in response to media reports today from Iran of repeated disruptions in mobile communications and Internet services, and an Interior Ministry ban on foreign reporters covering “illegal protests” without prior permission…

Read More ›

Iranian authorities crack down on media

New York, June 15, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists called today for an end to the Iranian authorities’ ongoing crackdown on media following the disputed re-election of incumbent President Mahmoud Ahmedinejad. 

Read More ›

Group sues journalist on behalf of Moroccan royals

New York, June 15, 2009–The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by defamation charges filed against a Moroccan editor by a group that represents close relatives of King Mohammed VI. A Casablanca court has summoned the editor to appear on Tuesday.

Read More ›

2009