Taliban take 2 female state TV anchors off-air in Afghanistan, beat at least 2 journalists
August 19, 2021, Washington, D.C. — The Taliban must immediately cease harassing and attacking journalists for their work, allow women journalists to broadcast the news, and permit the media to operate freely and independently, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since August 15, members of the Taliban have barred at least two female journalists…
Mexican reporter Maria Teresa Montaño abducted, robbed, and threatened in Toluca
Mexico City, August 19, 2021 – Mexican authorities must immediately investigate the abduction and robbery of journalist Maria Teresa Montaño Delgado and take all necessary steps to guarantee her safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the afternoon of August 13, three unidentified men abducted Montaño, a freelance investigative reporter, as she attempted…
Turkish journalist Aydın Taş found dead in Ankara
Istanbul, August 19, 2021 — Turkish authorities must swiftly and transparently investigate the death of journalist Aydın Taş, the Committee to Protect journalists said today. On August 8, police officers found Taş’ body at the Ankara office of the Crimean News Agency (QHA), a Turkish nationalist news agency where he worked as the Turkey director,…
Cuba passes regulations criminalizing online content, further restricting internet access
Miami, August 19, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the enactment of new telecommunications regulations in Cuba that will further censor information on the island, and called for their immediate repeal. On August 17, the Cuban government enacted new regulations that criminalize the sharing of “false” and “offensive” information online, and grant…
Belarus authorities search homes of 6 current and former BelaPAN employees, 3 remain in detention
Stockholm, August 18, 2021 – Belarusian authorities should immediately release all detained current and former employees of the BelaPAN news agency and allow the country’s independent press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This morning, law enforcement officers in Minsk, the capital, searched the editorial offices of the independent Belarusian news…
Algeria shuts down Lina TV for alleged licensing issue
New York, August 18, 2021 – Algerian authorities should allow Lina TV to resume broadcasting immediately and stop using the country’s accreditation procedures as a means of censorship, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 16, the Ministry of Communications ordered the privately owned news channel off the air, according to news reports…
Taliban militants raid homes of at least 4 media workers in Afghanistan
Washington, D.C., August 18, 2021 — The Taliban must immediately cease attacking journalists and searching their homes, and allow members of the press to operate freely and without fear of violence or reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since the Taliban took power in the country earlier this week, militants have searched the…
Jammu and Kashmir police assault journalists covering religious procession
New Delhi, August 17, 2021 – Authorities in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir should investigate the recent police attacks on journalists in the city of Srinagar and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This afternoon, police officers attacked a group of journalists covering a procession in Srinagar marking Muharram, the…
Nicaraguan police raid La Prensa offices, detain publisher Juan Lorenzo Holmann
Guatemala City, August 16, 2021 – Nicaraguan authorities must stop harassing the La Prensa newspaper, allow its staff to enter their offices and report freely, and unconditionally release publisher Juan Lorenzo Holmann, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 11 a.m. on August 13, riot police officers raided the independent newspaper’s office in…
Belarusian court bans Tut.by and affiliated news website Zerkalo.io as ‘extremist’
Stockholm, August 16, 2021 – Belarus authorities should refrain from contesting the appeal of news website Zerkalo.io against its designation as “extremist,” and cease using the country’s anti-extremism laws to stifle independent reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 18, authorities raided the offices of the independent news website Tut.by, interrogated about…