Iranian journalist Ali Moslehi detained, transferred to Kashan Central Prison
Washington, D.C., August 16, 2023—Iranian authorities must release journalist Ali Moslehi from prison immediately and cease jailing members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On July 20, intelligence agents arrested Moslehi, a political columnist for the local news website KashanNews, at his home in the central city of…
Two Bangladeshi journalists investigated under Digital Security Act
On July 29, 2023, the Savar Model Police Station in Bangladesh’s central Dhaka district opened an investigation into Nazmus Sakib, editor of the Dainik Fulki newspaper and president of the Savar Press Club, and Md Emdadul Haque, a reporter for the Amader Notun Somoy newspaper, after registering a July 28 complaint against them under four…
New Jordanian cybercrime law criminalizes ‘fake news’ online
Beirut, August 15, 2023—In response to Jordanian authorities passing a new cybercrime law that threatens press freedom online, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “The new cybercrime law approved by Jordanian King Abdullah II bin Al-Hussein is alarming, and could see journalists facing harsh prison terms and huge fines over…
‘This kind of behavior cannot be tolerated’: Police raid on Kansas newspaper alarms media, press freedom groups
A police raid on a small-town Kansas newspaper, the Marion County Record, has sent shockwaves through the local community and raised national alarm among press freedom and civil rights groups about its potential to undermine press freedom in the United States. The search warrant, which was signed on Friday and alleges identity theft and unlawful…
Journalists targeted ahead of elections in Senegal and DRC
Ahead of elections in Senegal and the Democratic Republic of the Congo, journalists are being legally harassed and physically attacked. In Senegal, journalist Pape Alé Niang was arrested on July 29 and released on August 8, following a 10-day hunger strike. The day before his arrest, Niang broadcasted a video on his outlet’s YouTube channel,…
Turkish journalist Barış Pehlivan ordered to return to prison over alleged parole violation
Istanbul, August 9, 2023—Turkish authorities should not force Barış Pehlivan to return to prison for allegedly violating his parole in a 2020 case involving his reporting on a Turkish intelligence officer, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Pehlivan, a columnist for the pro-opposition daily Cumhuriyet, revealed in an August 2 column that he was…
Bangladeshi student journalist suspended from university over graft report
On August 2, 2023, Bangladeshi student journalist Mohammad Iqbal Monowar was suspendedfrom the state-run Comilla University for reporting on a speech by the university’s vice-chancellor about corruption, according to news reports and Monowar, who spoke with CPJ by phone. Monowar, 24, was studying for a Master’s in English at Comilla University in eastern Bangladesh while…
Bangladesh to replace draconian Digital Security Act with new law
Kuala Lumpur, August 7, 2023 – In response to news reports that the Bangladesh government on Monday announced its decision to replace the draconian Digital Security Act, which has been routinely used to criminalize journalists, with a new law, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “This is a step in the right…
Violence against Netherlands’ journalists dims a beacon of press freedom
On a small street off Amsterdam’s bustling museum district, there is no indication of the 2021 event seared into the memories of the Dutch press corps – at least not yet. Authorities have plans to build a memorial near the site where crime reporter Peter R. de Vries was shot on July 6 after leaving…
CPJ joins letter of concern about Kosovo’s banning of Serbian reporter Svetlana Vukmirovic
The Committee to Protect Journalists and 10 civil society organizations wrote to Kosovo authorities on Tuesday, August 1, to request an explanation as to why reporter Svetlana Vukmirovic working for public broadcaster Radio Television of Serbia is not allowed to enter Kosovo to do her work. Vukmirovic has been prevented from entering Kosovo on multiple…