Middle East & North Africa

2019

  
An Israeli police officer is seen in Jerusalem on February 8, 2019. Individuals in Kiryat Ata recently assaulted journalist Daniel Siryoti. (AP/Mahmoud Illean)

Members of public assault Israeli journalist Daniel Siryoti in Kiryat Ata

New York, October 28, 2019 — Israeli authorities should investigate the assault on journalist Daniel Siryoti and ensure that the perpetrators are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A Palestinian girl talks on her cell phone in the West Bank on July 3, 2018. Palestinian authorities recently blocked dozens of websites throughout the territories. (AFP/Hazem Bader)

Palestinian court orders block of dozens of news websites and Facebook pages

Beirut, October 25, 2019 — The Palestinian National Authority should immediately lift a ban on dozens of news websites and Facebook pages, and allow news outlets in the country to publish freely online, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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The Egyptian photojournalist Mahmoud Abu Zeid, second right, known as Shawkan, poses for a selfie at his home in Cairo on March 4, 2019. As part of the restrictive terms of his release from prison, the journalist has to spend each night at a police station. (AFP/Khaled Desouki)

Restrictive terms of Shawkan’s release from Egyptian jail highlighted to UN

On October 10, Mahmoud Abu Zeid turned 33. It was the Egyptian photojournalist’s first birthday out of prison since his August 2013 arrest. But in spite of his celebrated freedom in March, the police monitoring conditions of his probation have, in effect, rendered his release obsolete.

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Protesters chant slogans during anti-government demonstrations in Algiers, on October 18, 2019. Police have arrested at least five journalists in recent weeks. (AFP/Ryad Kramdi)

Algeria arrests fifth journalist amid anti-government protests

Washington, D.C., October 23, 2019—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Algerian authorities to release Bendjama Mustapha, editor-in-chief of Le Provincial, and end the harassment of journalists covering anti-government protests.

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An Iraqi federal police officer is seen in Baghdad on October 7, 2019. Iraqi blogger Shojaa Fares al-Khafaji was recently detained by unidentified men. (Reuters/Wissm al-Okili)

Unidentified gunmen detain Iraqi blogger Shojaa al-Khafaji

Beirut, October 17, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Iraqi authorities to disclose whether they have custody of Iraqi blogger Shojaa Fares al-Khafaji and if not, to immediately open an investigation after unidentified armed men took him from his home.

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Algerian demonstrators chant and wave their country's national flag as they take part in an anti-government protest in the capital Algiers on October 15, 2019. Authorities have detained at least three more journalists in recent days. (AFP)

Algeria detains three journalists who covered protests, alleged corruption

Washington, D.C., October 17, 2019–Algerian authorities should immediately release journalists Said Boudour, Abdelmoundji Kheladi, and Adel Azeb Chikh from pretrial detention and drop all charges against them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Downtown Tehran, Iran, is seen on July 10, 2019. Iranian authorities recently arrested exiled journalist Roohollah Zam. (WANA/Nazanin Tabatabaee via Reuters)

Iranian journalist in exile arrested, gives televised confession in Iran

On October 14, 2019, intelligence agents of the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps arrested journalist and activist Roohollah Zam, manager of Amad News, a popular anti-government news channel on the messaging app Telegram, according to a statement by the guard corps that was broadcast on state media.

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An explosion is seen over the Syrian town of Ras al-Ain on October 12, 2019. Turkish airstrikes near Ras al-Ain recently killed two journalists. (Reuters/Stoyan Nenov)

Second Syrian Kurdish journalist dies of wounds sustained in Turkish air strike

Beirut, October 15, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the Turkish air strike on a civilian convoy, as reports emerged that a second journalist died yesterday as a result of the attack.

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A police van is seen in Alexandria, Egypt, on September 27, 2019. Security forces recently arrested and allegedly tortured journalist Esraa Abdel Fattah. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

Egyptian journalist Esraa Abdel Fattah arrested on false news charges, allegedly tortured

Washington, D.C., October 15, 2019 — Egyptian authorities must immediately release imprisoned journalist Esraa Abdel Fattah, drop all charges against her, and investigate allegations that she was physically abused in state custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Smoke is seen billowing from the sites of air strikes in Ras al-Ayn, Syria, on October 13, 2019. Syrian Kurdish journalist Saad Ahmed was killed in an airstrike in the town. (AP/Emrah Gurel)

Syrian Kurdish journalist killed in Turkish airstrike on civilian convoy

Beirut, October 13, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the Turkish air strike on a civilian convoy that killed journalist Saad Ahmed and injured at least four other reporters.

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2019