Syria

2011

  
Parvaz (Ben Piven)

Five Bahraini journalists detained; Parvaz still missing

New York, May 17, 2011–Bahrain’s crackdown against journalists continues unabated with five new detentions in less than a week, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Syria and Iran, one of which is holding Al-Jazeera English journalist Dorothy Parvaz, continue to make intentionally vague or misleading remarks about her whereabouts and physical condition. Meanwhile, Libya…

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Parvaz (Ben Piven)

Iran must release Dorothy Parvaz

New York, May 11, 2011–Al-Jazeera reported today that Syria has deported Dorothy Parvaz, a journalist working for the channel’s English-language service, to Iran.  The Committee to Protect Journalists is calling for her immediate release.”Syria’s apparent deportation of Dorothy Parvaz to Iran when she is also a citizen of the U.S. and Canada, is an irresponsible…

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Syrians carry banners during an anti-government protest in the coastal town of Banias, Syria. (AP)

Syria holds at least five journalists in custody

New York, May 10, 2011–Syria is holding at least five local and foreign journalists as part of its ongoing repression of the media, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. CPJ also called on the Syrian government to make public the names of all journalists currently in detention and to release them without delay.  

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Syrian Facebook: Low-tech threats and high-tech scrutiny

Journalists and online news-gatherers have been struggling to collect and distribute high-quality information about recent events in Syria. Foreign journalists have been turned away at the border; local online reporters have been detained. The quality of Internet and mobile phone connectivity has been extremely variable, with reports of Net and phone connections being cut off…

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Morocco, Syria detain journalists; violations across region

New York, May 4, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Morocco today to release editor Rachid Nini and sought the release of journalist Dorothy Parvaz as well as other journalists in Syria. Press freedom violations continued throughout the region, with abuses in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen.

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The 10 Tools of Online Oppressors

The world’s worst online oppressors are using an array of tactics, some reflecting astonishing levels of sophistication, others reminiscent of old-school techniques. From China’s high-level malware attacks to Syria’s brute-force imprisonments, this may be only the dawn of online oppression. A CPJ special report by Danny O’Brien

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Audio Report: The 10 Tools of Online Oppressors

In our special report, “The 10 Tools of Online Oppressors,” CPJ examines the 10 prevailing strategies of online oppression worldwide and the countries that have taken the lead in their use. In this accompanying podcast, CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney notes that these strategies range from sophisticated cyber-attacks to traditional brute-force techniques. Listen to the…

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Syrian authorities told Al-Jazeera's Syria-based staff not to communicate with the station's headquarters in Doha, seen here. (Reuters/Fadi Al-Assaad)

Al-Jazeera suspends Syria bureau; attacks on Lebanon crew

New York, April 27, 2011–Responding to restrictions and attacks on its staff, Al-Jazeera has suspended its operations inside Syria indefinitely, the Qatar-based news network told the Committee to Protect Journalists today. 

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Anti-government protesters Monday in Sana'a. (Reuters)

Summoned by Yemeni authorities, journalist is now missing

New York, April 18, 2011– The Committee to Protect journalists called on Yemeni authorities to clarify the whereabouts of reporter Ahmad al-Mohamadi, who has been missing since being called for questioning Saturday by the Republican Guards.

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Al-Wasat founder dies in custody in Bahrain

New York, April 15, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Bahraini authorities today to conduct an immediate and transparent investigation into the death in state custody of Karim Fakhrawi, left, founder and board member of Al-Wasat, the country’s premier independent daily. Fakhrawi died Tuesday, a week after he was apparently taken into custody, according…

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2011