CPJ calls on new Syrian leaders to protect journalist safety, hold Assad’s media persecutors to account
As Syria transitions to a new government following the December 8 toppling of Bashar al-Assad, the Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities to take decisive action to ensure the safety of all journalists and hold accountable those responsible for the killing, imprisonment, and silencing of members of the media during the country’s 13-year civil…
Award-winning Syrian photojournalist Anas Alkharboutli killed in Hama
Sulaymaniyah, December 4, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is saddened and alarmed by the killing of award-winning Syrian journalist Anas Alkharboutli in a western Syria conflict zone and calls for an investigation into whether he was targeted for his work. Alkharboutli, 32, who worked as a photographer for the German agency dpa, was killed in…
CPJ, partners call for transparency as exiled Syrian journalist applies for UK citizenship
CPJ joined three other international press freedom and human rights organizations in an October 18 letter to U.K. Home Secretary Yvette Cooper expressing concerns over delays in the citizen application of Zaina Erhaim, an award-winning exiled Syrian journalist who has lived in the U.K. since 2017 and has been targeted by Syrian authorities due to…
Syrian journalist detained without explanation, held by Turkish intelligence
Editor’s note: Bakr al-Kassem was released without charge on September 2, according to media reports. Beirut, August 27, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by Monday’s detention of freelance journalist Bakr al-Kassem in northern Syria and his transfer to Turkish intelligence custody, and calls for his immediate release. “We are deeply concerned that Syrian opposition…
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…
Syrian journalist Mahmoud Ibrahim arrested after post on anti-Assad protests
Istanbul, May 17, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Friday called on Syrian authorities to release detained Syrian journalist Mahmoud Ibrahim immediately and to disclose his location and that of all imprisoned journalists. On February 25, Syrian government forces arrested Ibrahim, an editor with Al-Thawra newspaper, which is published by the ruling Baath party, after…
Haiti joins list of countries where killers of journalists most likely to go unpunished
By Arlene Getz/CPJ Editorial Director The persistent lack of justice for murdered reporters is a major threat to press freedom. Ten years after the United Nations declared an international day to end impunity for crimes against journalists – and more than 30 years after CPJ began documenting these killings – almost 80% of their killings…
Driver killed, journalist severely injured by suspected Turkish drone strike in Syria
Beirut, August 25, 2023—Turkish authorities should immediately and thoroughly investigate a recent drone attack in Syria that killed a driver and injured a journalist, determine if they were targeted for their work, and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Wednesday, August 23, a suspected Turkish drone strike in…
Syria revokes accreditation of 2 BBC journalists
Beirut, July 10, 2023 – Syria’s Ministry of Information must reverse its decision to revoke the accreditation of two BBC journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On July 8, the ministry said it had canceled the accreditation of two local journalists working for the BBC over “false” and “politicized” reporting, according to a…
CPJ calls on Turkish authorities to investigate airstrikes that killed Hawar News Agency reporter
Washington, D.C., November 22, 2022—Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday called on Turkish authorities to immediately conduct a full and transparent investigation into whether Hawar News Agency (ANHA) reporter Essam Abdullah and other civilians were targeted during Turkish airstrikes in northern Syria. Abdullah was killed and Mohammed Jarada, reporter of Sterk TV, was injured during…