Middle East & North Africa

  
Algerian journalist Mustapha Bendjama. (Photo: Mustapha Bendjama)

After prison release, journalist Mustapha Bendjama struggles to rebuild his life in Algeria

After serving a 14-month prison sentence on various charges, Algerian journalist Mustapha Bendjama assumed his life would return to normal as the editor-in-chief of Le Provincial, a local independent newspaper in the northeastern city of Annaba.  “I was wrong,” said Bendjama, who was released April 2024.  In a phone interview with CPJ, Bendjama revealed that his contract at…

Read More ›

A composite image of a woman holding a camera, a man standing in a field, and the remains of a car after it was hit by a strike.

Strike injures 2 Iraqi Kurdish reporters in Sinjar

UPDATE: Çira TV reporter Murad Mirza died on July 11 of injuries sustained in the drone strike. He was buried on July 12 in the Girê Gewir Cemetery, according to his outlet.  Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, July 10, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Turkish and Iraqi authorities to investigate after a suspected Turkish strike injured two Iraqi…

Read More ›

Sonia Dahmani, a lawyer and political affairs commentator. (Screenshot: Elhiwar Ettounsi/YouTube)

Tunisian commentator Sonia Dahmani sentenced to 1 year

New York, July 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by a Tunisian court’s sentencing of lawyer and political commentator Sonia Dahmani to one year in prison on Saturday and calls for her immediate release. “The sentencing of Tunisian lawyer and commentator Sonia Dahmani to one year in prison for her political commentary is…

Read More ›

Abduljalil Alsingace, center, stands with his family after being released from prison in February. (AP)

CPJ, 25 others urge Bahraini leaders to release blogger Abduljalil Alsingace after his hunger strike exceeds 3 years

On July 8, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined 25 human rights organizations in urging Bahrain’s King Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa to immediately release blogger Abduljalil Alsingace and ensure he receives urgent medical care. The statement was issued to mark three years since…

Read More ›

Ahmed Hassan al-Zoubi

Journalist Ahmed al-Zoubi jailed in Jordan 11 months after conviction under Cybercrime Law

Istanbul, July 8, 2024—Jordanian authorities must immediately drop all charges against  journalist Ahmed Hassan al-Zoubi, release him from jail, and stop using the Cybercrime Law against journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 2, Jordanian authorities arrested al-Zoubi, a satirical journalist and publisher of the Sawalif news website, 11 months after he…

Read More ›

Man stands in a suit.

Journalist threatened after reporting on drug trafficking in northern Syria

Since June 10, 2024, Syrian journalist Jomaa Akash, a correspondent for the Saudi state-owned broadcasters Al Arabiya and Al Hadath, has received threats of violence on social media, according to statements by the independent Syrian Journalists Association (SYJA) and Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network, and the journalist who spoke to CPJ.  The threats followed Akash’s June…

Read More ›

A collection of newspapers spread on a table.

Algerian authorities detain 2 journalists over news report

New York, July 5, 2024—Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalists Omar Ferhat and Sofiane Ghirous, drop all charges against them, and stop arresting journalists for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Algerian authorities arrested Ferhat, director of local independent news website Algeria Scoop, and Ghirous, the outlet’s editor-in-chief, in the…

Read More ›

Sleman-Ahmed-Syrian-Journalist

After 8 months in detention, Syrian journalist Sleman Ahmed faces spying charges in Iraq

Sulaymaniyah, June 24, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Iraqi Kurdish authorities to immediately and unconditionally free Syrian journalist Sleman Ahmed, who has been detained for eight months, and drop all charges against him. Ahmed — an Arabic editor for the local news website RojNews — is due to stand trial before Duhok Criminal…

Read More ›

Forced to flee: Exiled journalists face unsafe passage and transnational repression

By Lucy Westcott/CPJ Emergencies Director Threats, repression, conflict, and unrest: across the world, these and other factors are pushing journalists into exile in record numbers. In a striking development, exiled or soon-to-be exiled journalists now make up more than half of the people CPJ assists. Between January and June 2024, CPJ provided financial support to…

Read More ›

Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha was arrested May 14 for an article alleging that Jordan allows regional companies to ship goods to Israel. (Screenshot: Alordanalyoom/YouTube)

Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha sentenced to one year in prison

Istanbul, June 14, 2024 — Jordanian authorities must immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha, release her, and allow all journalists to cover issues related to the Israel-Gaza war without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On June 11, the Soloh Court in Amman sentenced Abu…

Read More ›