Iran shuts down economic newspaper over COVID-19 reporting
Washington, D.C., August 10, 2020 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Iranian authorities’ to reverse their decision to shut down the Tehran-based economic daily Jahane Sanat. The Press Supervisory Board of Iran’s Ministry of Culture and Islamic Guidance revoked the operating license of Jahane Sanat for publishing an interview with a member of Iran’s National Coronavirus…
Algerian journalist Khaled Drareni sentenced to 3 years in prison over protest coverage
New York, August 10, 2020 – In response to an Algerian court’s sentencing of journalist Khaled Drareni to three years in prison today, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Khaled Drareni’s only crime was covering the news. He should not spend one day in jail for doing his job,” said CPJ Middle…
Beirut’s journalists report on the explosion that tore through their lives and city
Six minutes after the explosion at the Port of Beirut on the evening of August 4, 2020, Natalia Sancha, a correspondent for the Spanish newspaper El Pais, was on her motorcycle, heading to the scene of the blast. Like so many journalists in the city, she was documenting the catastrophe as she was living it. The…
Mohamed Monir’s death of COVID-19 is a warning sign for journalists held in Egypt’s prisons
“I am very sick! I need oxygen therapy. Someone help me! Someone please help me get admitted to the Moneera hospital! I am very sick! Please do something before I completely run out of breath!” The Egyptian journalist Mohamed Monir panted, short of breath, as he made a plea from his home over Facebook Live on July 7….
Algerian state prosecutor seeks 4-year sentence for journalist Khaled Drareni
Washington, D.C., August 6, 2020—Algeria’s state prosecutor called for a four-year sentence and a fine of 100,000 Algerian dinars ($788) for journalist Khaled Drareni during the journalist’s first hearing August 3, according to news reports. “Algerian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Khaled Drareni, especially as there is no evidence he did anything except…
Libyan National Army ‘sentences’ freelance photojournalist Ismail Abuzreiba al-Zway to 15 years
Washington, D.C., August 4, 2020–The Libyan National Army should immediately release photojournalist Ismail Abuzreiba al-Zway, and stop prosecuting journalists in secret trials and in military courts, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In a secret trial proceeding held in May 2020, a military court in Benghazi, a city in eastern Libya controlled by the…
Sudanese authorities in North Darfur state harass 2 journalists reporting on COVID-19
Between May 29 and May 31, 2020, local authorities harassed journalists Aida Abdel Qadir and Lena Sabeel in the Sudanese state of North Darfur as they were reporting on the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the independent outlet Radio Dabanga and a representative of the independent Sudanese Journalists Network, who spoke with CPJ via messaging app….
Iraqi Kurdish authorities file complaint against journalist for COVID-19 criticism
On July 22, 2020, the attorney general’s office of the Kurdistan Regional Government in northern Iraq filed a complaint against Kurdish journalist Rebwar Kerim Wali, alleging he violated the 2008 Law on Misuse of Communication Devices, according to news reports, a statement by a government spokesperson, which CPJ reviewed, and Wali, who spoke to CPJ…
Journalists Moncef Aït Kaci and Ramdane Rahmouni detained in Algeria
On July 28, 2020, Algerian authorities detained Moncef Aït Kaci, a former correspondent for French public broadcaster France 24, and Ramdane Rahmouni, a freelance producer and camera operator who contributes to the broadcaster, according to a report by France 24, news reports, and Mustapha Bendjama, a local journalist and press freedom advocate, who spoke to…
Hamas security forces hold 2 journalists in Gaza for 48 hours for allegedly spreading false news
On July 16, 2020, security forces in Gaza summoned journalists Muthanna al-Najjar, a reporter for the Saudi-funded broadcaster Al-Hadath and the local Al-Quds Radio, and freelance journalist Tareq abu Ishaq, who contributes to the news website 4Media, to the local Attorney General’s office for questioning over a complaint by the local Education Ministry, according to…