Middle East & North Africa

2019

  
Spanish freelance journalist Ferran Barber, seen in Iraqi Kurdistan moments before his arrest. Authorities detained Barber for weeks and he was deported on September 8. (Photo via Ferran Barber)

Spanish reporter Ferran Barber detained for weeks without charge, deported from Iraqi Kurdistan

Beirut, September 10, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned Iraqi Kurdistan authorities’ detention and deportation of Spanish freelance journalist Ferran Barber and urged the authorities to allow local and foreign journalists to do their jobs freely.

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Kurdish security forces are seen in Erbil, Iraqi Kurdistan, on July 17, 2019. Journalist Bryar Muhamad Mustafa has been detained in Erbil since August 21. (Reuters/Azad Lashkari)

Journalist detained in Iraqi Kurdistan without charge since August 21

On August 21, 2019, in Topzawa, Iraqi Kurdistan, Asayish security forces affiliated with the ruling Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) arrested Roj News journalist Bryar Muhamad Mustafa, according to a report by his employer and a statement by the Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy, a local press freedom group.

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10 Most Censored Countries

Repressive governments use sophisticated digital censorship and surveillance alongside more traditional methods to silence independent media. A special report by the Committee to Protect Journalists. Published September 10, 2019 Eritrea is the world’s most censored country, according to a list compiled by the Committee to Protect Journalists. The list is based on CPJ’s research into the…

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A journalist films outside the Sulaymaniyah International Airport in January 2019. Journalists in Iraqi Kurdistan say disputes between the region's main political parties, the PDK and PUK, leave the press vulnerable. (AFP/Shwan Mohammed)

Press freedom on ‘brink of extinction’ in Iraqi Kurdistan, journalists say

“Ever since I started working as a journalist nine years ago, I have been under constant pressure from my family, my tribe, and my community to give up journalism. Friends have been asked by security forces to sever ties with me,” said freelance journalist Guhdar Zebari, when he met with CPJ in the empty lobby…

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A newspaper stand is seen in Tehran, Iran, on July 8, 2019. Newspaper columnist Hossein Ghadyani was recently sentenced to six months in prison for an Instagram post. (AFP)

Iran sentences conservative columnist Hossein Ghadyani to 6 months in prison for Instagram post

Washington, D.C., September 6, 2019 — Iranian authorities should release journalist Hossein Ghadyani from prison and stop jailing and harassing government critics, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Israeli security forces are seen in the West Bank on February 14, 2018. Palestinian journalist Abdul Mohsen Shalaldeh was recently arrested in the West Bank and is being held without charge. (AFP/Hazem Bader)

Israeli military court sentences Palestinian journalist to 4 months detention without charge

Beirut, September 4, 2019 — Israeli authorities should publicly file charges against Palestinian journalist Abdul Mohsen Shalaldeh or release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Iraqi protesters chant slogans during a demonstration in Tahrir Square in central Baghdad, Iraq, on June 21, 2019. Iraq suspended U.S.-funded broadcaster Al-Hurrah for 3 months over a corruption report on September 2. (AP Photo/Hadi Mizban)

Iraq suspends U.S.-funded broadcaster Al-Hurrah over corruption report

Beirut, September 3, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Iraqi Communications and Media Committee to reverse its three-month suspension of the U.S. government-funded Iraqi broadcaster Al-Hurra.

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Tehran, Iran, is seen on August 19, 2019. Reporter Marzieh Amiri was recently sentenced to 10.5 years in jail by a Tehran court. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Iran sentences journalist Marzieh Amiri to 10.5 years in prison, 148 lashes

Washington D.C., August 26, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today strongly condemned the Tehran’s Revolutionary Guard Corps Branch 28 Court’s sentencing of Shargh Daily economics reporter Marzieh Amiri to 10 and a half years in prison and 148 lashes.

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A police officer is seen in Hodeidah, Yemen, on February 13, 2019. Military police recently arrested and released three journalists in Taiz. (Reuters/Abduljabbar Zeyad)

Yemeni authorities arrest, release 3 journalists

New York, August 23, 2019 — Yemeni authorities should cease arresting journalists and making the dangerous work of Yemen’s press even more difficult, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A visitor walks past company exhibition stands at the Cybertech 2019 conference in Tel Aviv, Israel, on January 29, 2019. Reuters reported on August 22, 2019, that Israel has eased export controls on surveillance technologies. (Reuters/Amir Cohen)

Israel eased export controls on surveillance technologies amid criticism

New York, August 22, 2019–Israeli officials confirmed that, under a rule change by the Defense Ministry, Israeli surveillance companies are able to obtain exemptions on marketing license for the sale of some products to certain countries, Reuters reported today. It is not clear which companies, and which products, were impacted; however, Reuters reported that the…

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2019