Middle East & North Africa

2019

  
Protesters wave national flags as they gather for a demonstration against the government and the ruling class in Algiers on November 29, 2019. Algerians are due to vote in a presidential election on December 12. (AFP/Ryad Kramdi)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering unrest and elections in Algeria

Protests are taking place across Algeria ahead of a presidential election that is scheduled to take place on December 12, according to reports. The December vote comes after the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who stepped down from power after 20 years of rule amid widespread protests at the start of the year, according to…

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Street art depicting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 23, 2019. Saudi security forces have recently arrested several journalists. (AP/Amr Nabil)

Several journalists arrested in crackdown in Saudi Arabia

New York, November 27, 2019 – The Saudi Arabian government must immediately end its arrest campaigns against journalists and free all those who have been jailed for their writing, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police officers are seen in Alexandria, Egypt, on November 20, 2019. Police recently arrested journalists Solafa Sallam, Hossam El-Sayyad, and Mohamed Salah in Giza. (AFP/Mohamed El-Shahed)

Three more journalists arrested by Egyptian security forces

New York, November 27, 2019 — Egyptian authorities should immediately release journalists Solafa Sallam, Hossam El-Sayyad, and Mohamed Salah, drop any charges against them, and stop imprisoning and harassing the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Iraqi security forces are seen in Baghdad on November 23, 2019. Security forces recently raided and shuttered broadcaster Dijlah TV. (Reuters/Thaier al-Sudani)

Iraqi security forces shutter Baghdad office of Dijlah TV broadcaster

Beirut, November 27, 2019 — Iraqi authorities should allow Amman-based broadcaster Dijlah TV to reopen, and should cease forcing news outlets off the air for their coverage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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People walk past a building that was burned during recent protests in Shahriar, Iran, on November 20, 2019. Journalist Mohammad Mosaed was recently arrested after tweeting during an internet shutdown imposed amid the protests. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian authorities arrest journalist Mohammad Mosaed for tweets amid internet shutdown

Washington, D.C., November 25, 2019 — Iranian authorities should immediately release journalist Mohammad Mosaed and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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People watch television in Najaf, Iraq, on October 31, 2019. Iraq's media regulator recently ordered the closure of 12 broadcast outlets throughout the country. (AFP/Haidar Hamdani)

Iraq media regulator orders closure of 12 broadcast news outlets

Beirut, November 25, 2019 — Iraq’s media regulator should reverse its decision to order the closure of 12 broadcasters over a licensing dispute and should allow media outlets to freely cover protests in the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A view of Giza Pyramids, taken from Cairo Tower on October 23, 2019. Security officers raided the Cairo offices of Mada Masr on November 24 and detained three staff. (AFP/Mohamed el-Shahed)

Egypt raids critical news outlet, detains staff

November 24, 2019—The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemned today’s raid on the office of independent Egyptian news website Mada Masr by Egyptian authorities, which included the arrests of three staffers. CPJ called on the government of Egypt to end its campaign of intimidation against the outlet and to release all Mada staff.

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Israeli police are seen in Jerusalem's Old City on May 31, 2019. Israeli police recently raided the offices of Palestine TV and a local production company in Jerusalem. (AP/Mahmoud Illean)

Israeli forces raid Palestine TV and production company, order 6-month closure

Beirut, November 21, 2019 — Israeli authorities should allow Palestine TV and the Al-Arz Media Services Company to reopen their offices and resume their work, and cease conducting raids of media organizations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Smoke rises during a protest in Isfahan, Iran, on November 16, 2019. Iranian authorities have cut internet access nationwide amid the protests. (AP Photo)

Iranian government cuts internet access nationwide amid protests

Washington, D.C., November 20, 2019 — Iranian authorities should immediately restore internet access throughout the country and allow information to flow freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A demonstrator distributes a newspaper in Baghdad, Iraq, on November 17, 2019. A journalist was recently abducted and a broadcaster's office attacked amid the demonstrations. (Reuters/Thaier al-Sudani)

Journalist temporarily abducted, TV office attacked amid protests in Iraq

Beirut, November 20, 2019 — Iraqi authorities should conduct swift and transparent investigations into the temporary abduction of journalist Mohammad Qahtan al-Shamari and the attack on the Al-Arabi TV offices in Baghdad, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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2019