Alerts

  
Mohamed El-Sayed, a Saudi program host, was arrested in December without any official explanation.

Saudi Arabia arrests program host Mohamed El-Sayed

Washington, D.C., January 29, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Saudi authorities to disclose the reasons for the detention of Saudi television and YouTube program host Mohamed El-Sayed. According to the U.K.-based Arab Organization for Human Rights in the U.K. (AOHR) and the U.S.-based independent media outlet Watan, El-Sayed was taken into…

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European court rules Azerbaijan prosecuted Khadija Ismayilova in retaliation for journalism

Berlin, January 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the European Court of Human Rights’ (ECtHR) January 27 ruling that Azerbaijan violated the rights of journalist Khadija Ismayilova by prosecuting and imprisoning her in retaliation for her reporting, but calls on Azerbaijan to immediately enforce the judgment.      Ismayilova, an award-winning investigative journalist, was detained in December 2014 and subsequently sentenced to…

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Russia’s State Duma, seen here, passed the first read of government-backed amendments that would grant the FSB broad powers to order telecom operators to suspend communications services.

Russia’s State Duma advances bill allowing FSB to shut down internet

Berlin, January 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Russia to drop proposed legislation advanced in the country’s parliament that would significantly expand the Federal Security Service’s (FSB) authority to shut down communications, further restricting internet access across the country. On January 27, Russia’s State Duma passed the first read of government-backed amendments to the country’s…

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An undated photo of AAMIJ News freelance contributor Myat Thu Kyaw, who was arrested on January 13, 2023, and is serving an 8 1/2-year sentence for criminal incitement and terrorism charges in Myanmar. (Photo: Courtesy of AAMIJ News)

Myanmar journalist Myat Thu Kyaw seriously injured in alleged prison assault

Bangkok, January 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the alleged physical abuse of imprisoned Myanmar journalist Myat Thu Kyaw at Yangon’s Insein Prison and calls on authorities to immediately release him on humanitarian grounds. Prison authorities orchestrated an assault on Myat Thu Kyaw and three other political prisoners using members of an incarcerated…

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Nadir Abbas Baloch

Pakistan journalist Nadir Abbas Baloch targeted with intimidation, threats

New York, January 27, 2026—Pakistani authorities must end their intimidation of journalist Nadir Abbas Baloch, who has been summoned twice for questioning in the past month over his reporting, and ensure his safety following several threats against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On December 12, the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA)…

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Cuban flags fly beside the Interests Section Office of the United States (USINT), in Havana two days after the 57th anniversary of the start of the Cuban revolution July 28, 2010. REUTERS/Desmond Boylan (CUBA - Tags: POLITICS)

Cuban journalist handed 6-year prison sentence for protesting

Miami, January 27, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the sentencing of Cuban journalist José Gabriel Barrenechea to six years in prison on January 15 after he was found guilty of protesting and calls on Cuban authorities to free him, and allow the free flow of information in the country. The Provincial Court of Villa…

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A woman in Tehran looks at her phone, after a nationwide internet shutdown began on January 8.

Iran: 3 journalists arrested as news trickles out under internet shutdown

New York, January 27, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Iranian authorities to immediately release journalists Hassan Abbasi, Artin Ghazanfari, and Hamed Araghi, as news of their detention emerged weeks after a nationwide internet shutdown began on January 8.  CPJ was unable to confirm the charges against the journalists or their current whereabouts. “The…

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Turkish reporter Furkan Karabay

Turkey’s most frequently arrested reporter, Furkan Karabay, under house arrest

Istanbul, January 26, 2026—Turkish authorities should immediately cancel the order of house arrest for reporter Furkan Karabay and let him do his job, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.  Police in Istanbul took Karabay, a court reporter currently with the news website Medyascope, into custody and a court placed him under house arrest on the suspicion of “publicly spreading…

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DW's Hausa correspondent Gazali Abdou Tasawa

Niger arrests DW correspondent over report on Nigerian refugees

Dakar, January 26, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges authorities in Niger to release Gazali Abdou Tasawa, a correspondent for the German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle (DW), who was arrested over a report on Nigerian refugees living by a cemetery. “Gazali Abdou Tasawa is the fifth journalist trapped behind bars in Niger because of reporting…

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An image of journalists Borhen Bsaies (left) and Mourad Zghidi (right).

Tunisia issues fresh 3½-year jail terms to journalists Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaies

New York, January 26, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the three-and-a-half year prison sentences handed down to prominent Tunisian journalists Mourad Zghidi and Borhen Bsaies for tax evasion, which are widely seen as in retaliation for their reporting.  Zghidi and Baaies, who work for the local independent radio station IFM, have been behind bars…

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