Egypt / Middle East & North Africa

  

After Charlie Hebdo attack, vigils, protests and publishing bans

Protests against the French satirical weekly Charlie Hebdo were held in Afghanistan, Pakistan, the Middle East and parts of Africa over the weekend, as crowds demonstrated against the magazine’s portrayal of the Prophet Muhammad, according to news reports.

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Press threatened and detained as Egypt marks uprising anniversary

New York, January 26, 2015–The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the harassment and detention of journalists in Egypt on Sunday during mass demonstrations to mark the fourth anniversary of the uprising that ousted President Hosni Mubarak in 2011.

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Slideshow: Journalists killed in 2014

In 2014, at least 60 journalists and 11 media workers were killed in relation to their work, according to CPJ research. Local and international journalists died covering conflicts, including in Syria, Iraq, and Ukraine, while many others were murdered reporting on corruption and organized crime in their own countries. Here, CPJ remembers some of the…

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China is world’s worst jailer of the press; global tally second worst on record

More than 200 journalists are imprisoned for their work for the third consecutive year, reflecting a global surge in authoritarianism. China is the world’s worst jailer of journalists in 2014. A CPJ special report by Shazdeh Omari

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As election nears, Egyptian press in peril

CPJ and See Media release new documentary, ‘Under Threat’ New York, November 6, 2014–As Egypt prepares to elect a new parliament, the government continues to crack down on the press, forcing independent and critical voices into silence, exile, or prison. These threats are explored in a short documentary, “Under Threat,” by the Committee to Protect…

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Under Threat: Egyptian Press in Peril

On November 6, CPJ and See Media released a new documentary film, “Under Threat,” that highlights the perils of working for Egyptian media across the political spectrum and examines the media environment under President al-Sisi ahead of Egypt’s parliamentary vote. CPJ has documented an unprecedented number of anti-press abuses, including six journalists killed and dozens…

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Egypt’s journalists speak out against repression, self-censorship

When CPJ launched its appeal for discussion under the hashtag #EgyptLastWord, I said I didn’t expect “nationwide acts of solidarity” from within Egypt. I am happy to be wrong.

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A message from a scared Egyptian journalist

Tamer Abuarab’s article today under the title “A message from a scared person” offers strong insight into why we at CPJ decided to produce our upcoming documentary film, “Under Threat,” and make an appeal for journalists to speak out with the hashtag #EgyptLastWord.

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Don’t let al-Sisi’s government have Egypt’s last word

“I want to send a message to the world; there is no need for defending honorable Egyptian journalists.” That’s what Egyptian Prime Minister Ibrahim Mehleb said on World Press Freedom Day this year, speaking at Al-Ahram state newspaper. The same day, Al-Jazeera English Bureau Chief Mohamed Fahmy was roaring in an Egyptian court: “I want…

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Egypt's President al-Sisi addresses the U.N. General Assembly on September 24. He promised to guarantee freedom of press, but journalists are still imprisoned. (AFP/Jewel Samad)

As al-Sisi promises freedom of speech, TV host Youssef is put under investigation

The Egyptian President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi was given a great platform for his country last week, with a speech at the United Nation’s General Assembly in which he said that his “new Egypt” would “guarantee freedom of speech,” and his first ever meeting with U.S. President Barack Obama.

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