Middle East & North Africa
2015
Iran says Jason Rezaian sentenced to prison, gives no detail
New York, November 22, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Iranian authorities to release Washington Post correspondent Jason Rezaian, who has been sentenced to an unspecified prison term, according to state media reports that provided no additional details. Last month, state media reported that Rezaian, a U.S. citizen who faces espionage and other…
CPJ calls on Egypt to release imprisoned journalist
New York, November 19–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egypt to release Abdelrahman Abu Ouf, deputy editor-in-chief of Al Mesryoon, who was arrested Saturday, according to reports. The ongoing crackdown on press also included the brief detention of a journalist for the German news agency DPA, and a presenter on a state-run channel who…
CPJ concerned for safety of photojournalist missing in Libya
New York, November 17–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned for the safety of Mohamed Neili, a Libyan photojournalist missing since October 29. Neili, who works for the Chinese state-run Xinhuanews agency, disappeared after leaving his house in southern Tripoli, according to media outlets and a local press freedom center.
Amid wave of defamation cases, CPJ joins call for Morocco to drop charges against press
New York, November 13, 2015–CPJ has joined Free Press Unlimited and seven other organizations in a statement of support for seven Moroccan journalists and human rights defenders who will face trial on November 19, on charges ranging from defamation to harming national security. One of the journalists, Hicham Mansouri, is already behind bars on an…
CPJ joins call for UN members to push Iran on rights
The Committee to Protect Journalists has joined 35 other organizations in calling on member states of the U.N. General Assembly to vote in favor of a resolution for the promotion and protection of human rights in Iran. The vote is scheduled to take place during the 70th session of the General Assembly on November 19.
CPJ calls on Egypt to release investigative journalist Hossam Bahgat
New York, November 8, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately release investigative journalist Hossam Bahgat. Bahgat, who writes for Mada Masr, a progressive website that publishes news and opinion in English and Arabic, faces charges of publishing false news and is being held overnight by military prosecutors, according to Mada…
In Jordan, TV anchor charged under cybercrimes law for Facebook post
Washington D.C., November 6, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in Jordan to release TV anchor Tareq Abu al-Ragheb who was arrested Tuesday for posting allegedly insulting comments on Facebook, according to reports.
Iran steps up pressure on media with arrests of at least five journalists
New York, November 4, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by news reports that Iranian authorities have recently detained at least five local journalists, including the reformist journalists Issa Saharkhiz and Ehsan Mazandarani, and reporter Saman Sarfarzaee, who were all arrested Monday.
CPJ calls for investigation into murder of Syrian journalists in Turkey
New York, October 30, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Turkish authorities to investigate and bring to justice the murderers of two Syrian journalists found slain in an apartment in the city of Urfa in southeastern Turkey today. Ibrahim Abd al-Qader worked as the executive director and Fares Hamadi as head of the…