Israeli airstrike kills Palestinian journalist Yousef Abu Hussein at his home
New York, May 19, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the killing of Palestinian journalist Yousef Abu Hussein in Gaza and called on Israeli authorities to immediately clarify whether they deliberately struck his home. At dawn today, an Israeli warplane bombed the top floors of the Gaza City apartment building where Abu…
Proposed ‘NGO Law’ threatens press freedom, independent reporting in Guatemala
Guatemala City, May 19, 2021 – Guatemalan President Alejandro Giammattei should reject a proposed law granting the government broad control over the finances and operations of non-governmental organizations, including nonprofit news outlets and press freedom groups, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 12, newly elected members of Guatemala’s Constitutional Court overturned a…
Unidentified men attack crews with Georgian public broadcaster Pirveli Arkhi
New York, May 19, 2021 – Georgian authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate recent attacks on employees of the Pirveli Arkhi public broadcaster and ensure that the perpetrators are held accountable, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 17, unidentified men attacked and verbally harassed film crews working with the broadcaster in the…
French broadcaster director Jean-Jacques Basier threatened over decision to pull Joan of Arc documentary
Berlin, May 19, 2021 — French authorities should swiftly and thoroughly investigate threats made to Jean-Jacques Basier and ensure his safety, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since April 30, anonymous people have made phone calls, sent letters, and left online comments containing threats to Basier, the Centre-Val de Loire regional director of the…
Qatar detains Kenyan labor rights blogger Malcolm Bidali without charge
New York, May 18, 2021 – Qatari authorities should immediately disclose any charges against blogger Malcolm Bidali or release him, and not try to silence critical reporting on the country’s labor rights record ahead of the 2022 World Cup, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the night of May 4 to 5, Qatari…
Israel bombs additional building housing media office in Gaza; Israeli security forces assault Palestinian journalist in East Jerusalem
New York, May 18, 2021 – Israeli forces must immediately stop bombing the offices of media outlets in Gaza and do their utmost to protect all members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, Israeli warplanes bombed and damaged a Gaza City office building housing the office of the Nawa Online…
Belarusian authorities raid 3 offices of Tut.by, detain journalists in tax case
Vilnius, Lithuania, May 18, 2021 — Belarusian authorities must allow the independent news website Tut.by to work freely, and should immediately and unconditionally release all of its employees in custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Today, officers of the Belarus Financial Investigation Department raided Tut.by’s headquarters in Minsk, the capital, its regional offices…
Bangladeshi authorities arrest journalist Rozina Islam under Official Secrets Act
New York, May 17, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Bangladeshi authorities to immediately release journalist Rozina Islam, withdraw the investigation into her, and to stop arresting journalists under the Official Secrets Act. Islam, a senior correspondent for the daily newspaper Prothom Alo, was arrested today after the Health Ministry filed a complaint…
Algerian police arrest at least 16 journalists, reporter Kenza Khattou remains in detention
New York, May 17, 2021 – Algerian authorities must immediately release journalist Kenza Khattou and cease detaining members of the press covering protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 14, police arrested Khattou, a reporter for local independent news website Radio M, while she was covering anti-government protests in downtown Algiers, according…
Venezuelan authorities seize headquarters of El Nacional as damages in defamation suit
Miami, May 17, 2021 Top of Form— Venezuelan authorities should ensure that civil defamation suits cannot be abused to censor news outlets, and should return El Nacional’s headquarters to its owners immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 7 p.m. on May 14, National Guard agents executing an order issued by a…