Algerian police arrest at least 16 journalists, reporter Kenza Khattou remains in detention
New York, May 17, 2021 – Algerian authorities must immediately release journalist Kenza Khattou and cease detaining members of the press covering protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 14, police arrested Khattou, a reporter for local independent news website Radio M, while she was covering anti-government protests in downtown Algiers, according…
Israel bombs building in Gaza City housing AP, Al-Jazeera offices
New York, May 15, 2021 — Today Israeli war planes destroyed a Gaza City building housing offices of The Associated Press, Al-Jazeera, and other offices and residential apartments, the AP and Al-Jazeera reported. The bombing, which came in the course of renewed violence between Israeli and Palestinian forces, completely collapsed the 12-story building, the AP said. “This latest attack…
CPJ calls on Israeli authorities to protect press freedom, journalist safety amid Israeli-Palestinian conflict
New York, May 14, 2021 — Israeli forces should do their utmost to protect Palestinian and Israeli journalists covering unrest and conflict, and should ensure that members of the press can work safely and freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 12, Israeli forces in the West Bank city Tulkarem arrested Hazem…
Israeli air strikes destroy buildings housing more than a dozen media outlets in Gaza
New York, May 13, 2021 – Israeli forces must refrain from bombing media outlets, and should ensure that journalists can work safely and without fear, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 11 and 12, Israeli warplanes bombed and destroyed the Al-Jawhara and Al-Shorouk office buildings in Gaza City, which house more than…
CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering the conflict in Israel and the Palestinian Territories
Violent protests erupted in parts of Jerusalem in mid-April, in response to the proposed eviction of Palestinians from the Sheikh Jarrah neighborhood, according to multiple news reports. Combined with reports of heavy handed policing of Palestinians during the holy month of Ramadan–which began in mid-April–and the use of stun grenades and tear gas to control…
Iran detained at least 8 Kurdish journalists starting in mid-2020; 3 remain behind bars
Washington, D.C., May 12, 2021 — Iranian authorities must stop imprisoning and harassing Kurdish and other minority journalists, and should allow all members of the press to cover the news freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since May 2020, Iranian authorities have arrested dozens of activists and students in a crackdown on perceived…
Algerian authorities briefly detain at least 6 journalists covering protests
On May 11, 2021, Algerian security forces briefly detained at least six journalists in downtown Algiers, the capital, while they were covering anti-government protests, according to news reports and Bouzid Ichalalene and Mustapha Bendjama, two local journalists and press freedom advocates, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. According to those sources, police arrested: Khaled…
Israeli security forces injure at least 8 journalists covering protests in Jerusalem
New York, May 11, 2021 — Israeli authorities must ensure that security forces do not harm journalists covering protests, and should investigate attacks by police officers and soldiers who shot journalists with rubber bullets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 7 and 10, Israeli security forces injured at least eight local and…
Iraqi journalist Ahmed Hassan shot, critically wounded
New York, May 10, 2021 – Iraqi authorities should immediately and thoroughly investigate the shooting of journalist Ahmed Hassan, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Earlier today, an unidentified masked gunman shot Hassan, a reporter for the broadcaster Al-Forat TV, twice in the head in front of his…
Moroccan journalist Mohamed Boutaam arrested over corruption reporting
New York, May 7, 2021 – Moroccan authorities must release journalist Mohamed Boutaam immediately, drop any charges against him, and let him work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 4, judicial police in the southern city of Tiznit arrested Boutaam, director of the privately owned local news website Tizpress, after he…