Journalist Ayub Ali Warty criminally charged, briefly detained in Iraqi Kurdistan
Washington, D.C., July 19, 2022 – Iraqi Kurdish authorities should immediately drop all charges against journalist Ayub Ali Warty, ensure he can work freely, and Iraqi authorities should reform the country’s laws to decriminalize defamation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, July 18, police arrested Warty, a reporter for the broadcaster KNN…
CPJ says Biden’s failure to address press freedom issues on Mideast tour leaves journalists more vulnerable
Washington, D.C., July 18, 2022 — The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed dismay Monday that President Joe Biden failed to meaningfully address press freedom and journalists’ rights during his Middle East tour last week. “The U.S. effectively shrugged its shoulders over the killing of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, did not push for the release of…
CPJ ‘appalled’ by Biden’s failure to hold Mohammed bin Salman to account over Jamal Khashoggi killing
Washington, D.C., July 15, 2022–The Committee to Protect Journalists expressed deep disappointment on Friday about President Joe Biden’s comments following his meeting with Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. “The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled that President Joe Biden did not make any meaningful statement about the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi…
CPJ cautiously welcomes Biden pledge on investigation into Shireen Abu Akleh’s death; calls for US to address press freedom in Saudi Arabia and Egypt
Washington, D.C., July 15, 2022 – In response to media reports that President Joe Biden will insist on “a full and transparent accounting” of the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement Friday: “While CPJ welcomes President Biden’s public call for accountability into the death of journalist Shireen Abu…
CPJ joins call urging Egyptian government to respect human rights ahead of COP27
In a joint open letter on July 14, 2022, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined 20 other civil society groups in urging German officials meeting with Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi to press the Egyptian leader to reopen civic space in the country. The letter is addressed to German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock and State Secretary…
CPJ calls for US to pursue accountability in Shireen Abu Akleh killing
New York, July 5, 2022 – The U.S. government should ensure that those responsible for the killing of Palestinian American journalist Shireen Abu Akhleh are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, July 4, State Department spokesperson Ned Price released a statement saying that a U.S. forensic investigation concluded that…
Kuwait withdraws licenses of 90 news websites, refers 73 outlets for prosecution
Washington, D.C., June 24, 2022 – Kuwaiti authorities should restore the licenses recently withdrawn from dozens of news websites, and should ensure that media outlets are not prosecuted for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Wednesday, June 22, the Kuwaiti Information Ministry announced that over the last two weeks it had…
Iraqi Kurdish security forces prevent media outlets from covering drone strike in Erbil, detain journalist
On June 8, 2022, Iraqi Kurdish Asayish forces obstructed several crews from various media outlets and detained a journalist to prevent them from covering an explosive-laden drone strike that hit a road in the northeastern area of the city of Erbil, according to the broadcasters’ reports and journalists, who spoke with CPJ in phone interviews….
Journalist Saber al-Haidari killed in Yemen car bombing
New York, June 16, 2022 – All parties to the conflict in Yemen must stop targeting members of the press and ensure that journalist killings are fully investigated and those responsible are held to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, June 15, a bomb planted in the car of Saber al-Haidari,…