Middle East & North Africa
2019
Jordanian journalist Abdulrahman Farhana detained by Saudi authorities
New York, April 25, 2019 — Saudi authorities should immediately release Jordanian journalist Abdulrahman Farhana as well as the other journalists swept up in their campaign against dissent, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Bahraini journalist Ibrahim al-Sheikh believed to be detained on false news charges
New York, April 17, 2019 — Bahraini authorities must immediately clarify whether they are detaining Akhbar al-Khaleej columnist Ibrahim al-Sheikh and, if so, release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Journalists injured while covering protests in northwestern Iraq
Two journalists covering demonstrations in northwestern Iraq suffered injuries on March 22, 2019, when they were struck by a vehicle carrying the provincial governor, according to an account by one of the journalists, and local press freedom groups.
Algeria expels AFP bureau chief Aymeric Vincenot after accreditation expires
New York, April 16, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the expulsion of Aymeric Vincenot, the Agence France-Presse bureau chief in Algiers, and called on the Algerian government to facilitate press accreditation for foreign journalists.
At least 10 Palestinian journalists injured by Israeli soldiers while covering Gaza protests since late March
At least 10 Palestinian journalists were injured by gunfire, rubber bullets, and tear gas canisters fired by Israeli soldiers in the Gaza Strip from March 22 to April 5, 2019, according to the journalists, news reports, and local press freedom groups.
At least four more journalists arrested in Saudi crackdown
New York, April 8, 2019 — Saudi Arabian authorities must immediately release journalists Thumar al-Marzouqi, Bader al-Ibrahim, Mohammed al-Sadiq, and Abdullah al-Duhailan and stop their brazen campaign against the media, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Morocco hands local journalists suspended prison sentences, expels Dutch journalist
On January 2, 2018, a court in Rabat, Morocco’s capital, charged four local journalists with disclosing unpublished information concerning a parliamentary commission of inquiry, according to one of the journalists, Mohammed Ahdad, who spoke with CPJ. On March 27, 2019, the court gave each journalist a six-month suspended prison sentence and a fine of 10,000…
Tunisian Reuters and TRT journalists detained, expelled during Algeria protests
New York, April 4, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the detention and expulsion of two Tunisian journalists from Algeria and called on Algerian authorities to allow the foreign press to freely cover demonstrations in the country.
In Egypt, ‘freedom’ ends daily at 6pm for Shawkan and Abdelfattah
Relief over the release of Egyptian journalists Mahmoud Abou Zeid, known as Shawkan, and Alaa Abdelfattah from prison last month has been clouded by the conditions of their freedom. “I am happy to see your joy over my release, but I am unfortunately not free,” Abdelfattah wrote to his large following on social media yesterday.…