Ukraine journalists say opaque accreditation process hampers war coverage
Paris, June 9, 2023—Ukrainian authorities should ensure that journalists covering the war are not pressured over their reporting and must set clear and transparent qualifications for press accreditation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Since March, officers with Ukraine’s SBU security service have repeatedly questioned journalists seeking accreditation from the country’s military and others…
Israel Defense Forces shoot 2 Palestinian photojournalists with rubber bullets
New York, June 8, 2023—Israel Defense Force officials must investigate the Wednesday, June 7, shootings of photojournalists Momen Somrain and Rabi al-Munir with rubber bullets and make public its findings, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. IDF soldiers shot the journalists with rubber-coated bullets while they reported on an IDF demolition of a terrorism…
Iranian cartoonist Atena Farghadani detained on undisclosed charges
New York, June 8, 2023—Iranian authorities must release cartoonist Atena Farghadani and stop their unabated efforts to silence commentators and members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Wednesday, June 7, authorities arrested Farghadani at Evin Prison in the capital city of Tehran after she responded to a summons to appear…
Pakistani journalists Ahmad Noorani and Shahid Aslam targeted in leak case
New York, June 8, 2023–Pakistan authorities must cease harassing journalists Ahmad Noorani and Shahid Aslam and allow them to work without interference, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. In late May, Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) issued an investigative report, which CPJ reviewed, accusing the journalists of involvement in illegally accessing the tax records…
CPJ concerned by India Law Commission’s recommendation to expand sedition law
New Delhi, June 8, 2023–The Indian government must repeal the country’s sedition law and reject recommendations from the Law Commission to retain and expand the legislation, as it would impinge on press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On May 24, the commission, which advises the Indian government on legal reforms, recommended retaining…
South African court’s gag on amaBhungane raises fears for investigative journalism, sources
New York, June 7, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday expressed concern that a South African high court judge’s temporary injunction, if made final, against the amaBhungane Centre for Investigative Journalism, a nonprofit investigative outlet, could imperil the country’s investigative journalism, journalists’ confidential sources, and whistleblowers. In April, amaBhungane published a series of articles…
Ethnic Albanian journalists attacked, vehicles vandalized during Serb protests in northern Kosovo
Berlin, June 5, 2023—Kosovo authorities must investigate the recent attacks on multiple news crews covering protests in the country and ensure journalists can cover demonstrations safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. In late May, protests broke out throughout northern Kosovo over the election of several ethnic Albanian mayors to represent Serb-majority areas, after…
Russian soldiers detain former journalist Iryna Levchenko in southeastern Ukraine
Paris, June 2, 2023 – Russian authorities should immediately release Iryna Levchenko and stop detaining current and former members of the press in occupied areas of Ukraine, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. In early May, Russian forces detained Levchenko and her husband, Oleksandr, in the Russian-occupied city of Melitopol, in southeast Ukraine, according…
Sudanese paramilitary soldiers detain journalist Nader Shulkawi
New York, June 1, 2023—The Sudanese Rapid Support Forces paramilitary group must immediately release journalist Nader Shulkawi, and all parties to the conflict in the country must stop harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday, May 30, RSF soldiers detained Shulkawi in the city of Omdurman, northwest of…
Radio journalist Cris Bundoquin shot and killed in the Philippines
Bangkok, May 31, 2023—Philippine authorities must launch a swift and thorough investigation into the killing of radio journalist Cris Bundoquin, determine if he was targeted for his work, and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. In the early hours of Wednesday, May 31, two assailants on a motorcycle shot and killed Bundoquin on the…