Middle East & North Africa

  
Flowers cover the coffin of Mexican journalist Jorge Celestino Ruiz Vazquez, who was killed in Veracruz in August. Ruiz is one of at least five journalists murdered in retaliation for their work in Mexico in 2019. (Reuters/Oscar Martinez)

Number of journalists killed falls sharply as reprisal murders hit record low

As wars subsided and a record low number of journalists were murdered in reprisal for reporting, the total number of journalists killed because of their work fell sharply in 2019. A CPJ special report by Elana Beiser

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Israeli police officers are seen in Jerusalem on August 11, 2019. Israeli authorities recently arrested Palestinian journalist Sameh al-Titi. (Reuters/Ammar Awad)

Palestinian journalist Sameh al-Titi arrested by Israeli authorities, held without charge

Beirut, December 11, 2019 — Israeli authorities should disclose any charges against Palestinian journalist Sameh al-Titi or release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A June 5, 2019, photo shows a "media interview area" for reporters set up near the Idkah mosque on the morning of Eid al-Fitr, when Muslims around the world celebrate the end of Ramadan, in Kashgar, in China's northwestern Xinjiang region. China was the world’s leading jailer of journalists in 2019, with at least 48 in prison. (AFP/Greg Baker)

China, Turkey, Saudi Arabia, Egypt are world’s worst jailers of journalists

For the fourth consecutive year, at least 250 journalists are imprisoned globally as authoritarians like Xi Jinping, Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, Mohammed bin Salman, and Abdel Fattah el-Sisi show no signs of letting up on the critical media. A CPJ special report by Elana Beiser

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Iranian journalist Pouyan Khoshhal, pictured, fled his home country after being detained for over two months and later sentenced to six years in prison over a single word. (Pouyan Khoshhal)

Iranian journalist imprisoned, fired, and forced into exile over a single word

In October 2018, authorities arrested Pouyan Khoshhal as he drove through the northern Iranian city of Rasht, by the Caspian Sea. The reason for the journalist’s arrest: his use of the word “death” instead of “martyrdom” to describe a Shiite saint in an article for the reformist newspaper Ebtekar.

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Travelers are seen at Kuala Lumpur International Airport in Malaysia on February 15, 2016. Syrian Kurdish journalist Himbervan Kousa was recently arrested at the airport. (Reuters/Lai Seng Sin)

Syrian Kurdish journalist Himbervan Kousa arrested at Kuala Lumpur airport

Beirut, December 10, 2019 — Malaysian authorities should disclose their reasons for holding Syrian Kurdish journalist Himbervan Kousa or release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Demonstrators are seen in Tahrir Square in Baghdad, Iraq, on December 6, 2019. One journalist was killed and another went missing after covering protests on December 6. (AP/Hadi Mizban)

One journalist killed, another missing amid protests in Iraq

Beirut, December 9, 2019 — Iraqi authorities should conduct a thorough and transparent investigation into the abduction of journalist Zaid Mohammed al-Khafaji, secure his release, and hold the perpetrators to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Protesters wave national flags as they gather for a demonstration against the government and the ruling class in Algiers on November 29, 2019. Algerians are due to vote in a presidential election on December 12. (AFP/Ryad Kramdi)

CPJ Safety Advisory: Covering unrest and elections in Algeria

Protests are taking place across Algeria ahead of a presidential election that is scheduled to take place on December 12, according to reports. The December vote comes after the resignation of President Abdelaziz Bouteflika, who stepped down from power after 20 years of rule amid widespread protests at the start of the year, according to…

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Street art depicting Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman is seen in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on September 23, 2019. Saudi security forces have recently arrested several journalists. (AP/Amr Nabil)

Several journalists arrested in crackdown in Saudi Arabia

New York, November 27, 2019 – The Saudi Arabian government must immediately end its arrest campaigns against journalists and free all those who have been jailed for their writing, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Police officers are seen in Alexandria, Egypt, on November 20, 2019. Police recently arrested journalists Solafa Sallam, Hossam El-Sayyad, and Mohamed Salah in Giza. (AFP/Mohamed El-Shahed)

Three more journalists arrested by Egyptian security forces

New York, November 27, 2019 — Egyptian authorities should immediately release journalists Solafa Sallam, Hossam El-Sayyad, and Mohamed Salah, drop any charges against them, and stop imprisoning and harassing the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Iraqi security forces are seen in Baghdad on November 23, 2019. Security forces recently raided and shuttered broadcaster Dijlah TV. (Reuters/Thaier al-Sudani)

Iraqi security forces shutter Baghdad office of Dijlah TV broadcaster

Beirut, November 27, 2019 — Iraqi authorities should allow Amman-based broadcaster Dijlah TV to reopen, and should cease forcing news outlets off the air for their coverage, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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