In Middle East and North Africa, a drop in attacks on journalists belies dire state of press freedom
The Middle East and North Africa region has long been especially dangerous for journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists’ research has found that one out of every three reporters killed worldwide in retaliation for their work since 1992 — 477 out of 1,422, or 33.5% – were located in the region. That proportion rose to…
Number of journalists behind bars reaches global high
Editor’s note: Numbers for each prison census are adjusted yearly as CPJ learns of arrests, releases, or deaths in prison. The numbers for CPJ’s 2021 census have been revised from 293 to 302 in accordance with this policy. For the most recent data, see cpj.org/data/imprisoned/ The number of journalists jailed around the world set another record…
For families of Al-Jazeera journalists jailed in Egypt, an agonizing choice
When Al-Jazeera journalists Mohamed Said Fahmy, Hisham Abdelaziz, and Bahaa Eldin Ibrahim Neamatalla were arrested on terrorism charges in Egypt between 2018 and 2020, their families decided to keep quiet about their detention. They feared that public attention would backfire, leading Egyptian authorities to prolong their relatives’ time in custody or worsen their prison conditions. …
Yemen’s non-state judicial systems spell death, torture for journalists
On December 1, four journalists were on death row in the Yemeni capital, Sanaa, for the crime of spreading false news. Before they were detained in 2015, Abdulkhaleq Amran, Akram al-Waleedi, Hareth Hameed, and Tawfiq al-Mansouri worked for various outlets, including the independent Al-Masdar newspaper and outlets associated with al-Islah, one of the parties in…
Iraqi police arrest Al-Ahd TV reporter Hamid Majed after luring him to police station
New York, December 2, 2021 — Iraqi authorities must immediately release Al-Ahd TV reporter Hamid Majed and allow journalists to work freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 1, Colonel Tareq Imad, director of the Anbar Crime Directorate in the central Iraqi city of Habbaniyah, phoned Majed,…
Lebanese journalist Radwan Mortada sentenced to 13 months in prison
New York, November 29, 2021 – Lebanese authorities should drop their prosecution of journalist Radwan Mortada and refrain from imprisoning members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 26, the Permanent Military Court in Beirut sentenced Mortada, a reporter for the local daily Al-Akhbar and the news website The Cradle, to…
Syrian journalist Ibrahim Awad arrested, held in refugee camp in Jordan
New York, November 22, 2021 — Jordanian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Syrian freelance journalist Ibrahim Awad and allow journalists to do their job freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 15, four Jordanian police and intelligence officers raided Awad’s home in the Tla al-Ali neighborhood…
Sudanese journalist Ali Farsab shot and detained while covering anti-coup protest
New York, November 19, 2021 – Sudanese authorities must immediately release journalist Ali Farsab, ensure journalists can safely cover protests, and refrain from targeting members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 17, Sudanese security forces in the city of Khartoum Bahri beat, shot, and detained Farsab, a reporter for…
Egypt sentences journalists Hisham Fouad and Hossam Moanis to 4 years in prison
New York, November 17, 2021 – In response to a Cairo court’s sentencing of journalists Hisham Fouad and Hossam Moanis to four years in prison today, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Today’s sentencing of Egyptian journalists Hisham Fouad and Hossam Moanis to four years each in prison is unacceptable,…
Iraqi Kurdish security forces raid, close office of news website Gav News in Duhok
New York, November 16, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the raid and closure by Iraqi Kurdish security forces of the Duhok office of the news website Gav News and called on Kurdish authorities in northern Iraq to allow the staff to return to its office and ensure that members of the…