Middle East & North Africa

  

Three newspapers shut down in Iran

New York, October 6, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the Iranian authorities’ decisions to revoke the licenses of three reformist newspapers on Sunday and Monday. 

Read More ›

Moroccan paper closed amid increasing attacks on press

New York, September 30, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the closure of a Moroccan independent daily amid an escalating government campaign to silence critical journalists. On Tuesday, police prevented Taoufik Bouachrine, managing publisher and editor of the daily Akhbar al-Youm, and dozens of staff members from entering the offices of the Casablanca-based newspaper.

Read More ›

In Yemen, critical journalist disappears

New York, September 25, 2009—The Committee to Protect journalists calls on Yemeni authorities to clarify the circumstances of the disappearance and current whereabouts of Muhammad al-Maqaleh, editor of Aleshteraki, a Web site affiliated with the opposition Socialist Party. Al-Maqaleh was detained by unidentified men on September 18 in Sana’a, according to local news reports. 

Read More ›

CPJ calls for end to Tunisian campaign against Al-Jazeera

New York, September 24, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Tunisian government-backed smear campaign against the Qatar-based Al-Jazeera satellite television station. The campaign has had a negative impact on freedom of expression in Tunisia.

Read More ›

CPJ to honor five international journalists

New York, September 23, 2009—The Committee to Protect Journalists will honor courageous journalists from Somalia, Sri Lanka, Tunisia, and Azerbaijan with its 2009 International Press Freedom Awards at a ceremony in November. Mustafa Haji Abdinur of Somalia, Naziha Réjiba of Tunisia, Eynulla Fatullayev of Azerbaijan, and J.S. Tissainayagam of Sri Lanka have faced imprisonment, threats…

Read More ›

Naziha Réjiba, Tunisia, Kalima

Awards 2009 |Announcement of the Awards | Eynulla Fatullayev | J.S. Tissainayagam  | Mustafa Haji Abdinur | Anthony Lewis OLPEC Naziha Réjiba, one of Tunisia’s most critical journalists, is editor of the independent online news journal Kalima—which is blocked in her own country. Réjiba, also known as Um Ziad, has been the target of continual…

Read More ›

CPJ asks Iran to release imprisoned journalists

Dear Mr. President: While you are in New York this week to attend the United Nations General Assembly, your visit will be covered by the hundreds of journalists from around the world who are in the city for the annual gathering. But as many of these journalists report freely and openly on your speech and meetings they will no doubt be thinking of the dozens of journalists back in your country who are behind bars for trying to report on events in Iran.

Read More ›

CPJ urges Iran to release journalists during Ramadan

New York, September 16, 2009—As Muslims worldwide prepare to celebrate the end of the holy month of Ramadan, a time of compassion and forgiveness, the Committee to Protect Journalists today called on the Iranian authorities to release journalists who are being held behind bars.

Read More ›

An Iraqi journalist in America: Finally … Red Lobster

Most of the Iraqi refugees who recently arrived in America were shocked by the economic situation here. I was prepared. I knew about the difficulties of finding a job in America, and I knew I could count on assistance from the American government through my status as a journalist with The New York Times. Even…

Read More ›

Iran: CPJ calls for humanitarian release as Ramadan ends

New York, September 10, 2009—As the end of Muslim holy month of Ramadan approaches, Maziar Bahari, a Canadian-Iranian national, continues to be held in an Iranian jail under deplorable conditions. The Newsweek correspondent has been detained for 80 days since he was arrested on June 21 as part of a post-election crackdown. The Committee to…

Read More ›