Middle East & North Africa
2011
Journalist escapes Libyan prison after months in captivity
New York, August 24, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the news that U.S. journalist Matthew VanDyke escaped with several inmates from Abu Salim prison in Tripoli today. VanDyke’s mother told CPJ that he called her with the news of his escape and that he is safe and in good spirits. He also told his…
Video: Journalists holed up in Rixos Hotel
About 35 international journalists remained holed up in Tripoli’s Rixos Hotel today, unable to leave the location, according to news reports. New video from The Guardian, above, shows reporters and photojournalists inside the hotel. BBC correspondent Matthew Price said conditions “deteriorated massively” overnight as forces loyal to Muammar Qaddafi patrolled the corridors. UPDATE: Journalists in…
Sudanese government continues to target press freedom
New York, August 23, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is disturbed by the continued violations of press freedom in Sudan. In August, Sudanese security services confiscated two newspapers, and on Monday, local journalists reported that the Sudanese National Assembly was considering introducing more restrictive press and publication laws that would further suffocate freedom of expression.
Yemeni government forces arrest cameraman
New York, August 22, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned by the continuing deterioration of conditions for journalists operating in Yemen. On August 12, authorities detained Ahmed Firas, a cameraman for Suhail TV. According to one local journalist, Firas’ detention may be related to his work at the pro-revolution news station.
Australian journalist attacked by assailants in Benghazi
New York, August 22, 2011–Tracey Shelton, a freelance Australian journalist, was brutally attacked in her hotel room in Benghazi, Libya, on August 11, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Two armed men wearing military fatigues broke into Shelton’s room at the Africa Hotel, tied her up, beat her, and attempted to kidnap her. The…
Israel extends Al-Jazeera journalist’s detention
New York, August 17, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by Israel’s continued detention of Al-Jazeera journalist Samer Allawi, who has been held without charge for eight days.”Israeli authorities must publicly explain and provide evidence as to why they continue to hold Samer Allawi,” said Mohamed Abdel Dayem, CPJ’s Middle East and North Africa…
Iran must work toward improving press freedom
Dear Dr. Shaheed: Ahead of your report on human rights in Iran to the U.N. General Assembly in September, I would like to take this opportunity to provide you with an assessment of the country’s state of press freedom as documented by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Authorities were detaining 34 journalists when CPJ conducted its annual worldwide census of imprisoned journalists on December 1, 2010, making Iran, along with China, the world’s worst jailer of the press. In reviewing these cases and their developments, we have identified three distinct and worrying developments to which we would like to draw your attention.