South Sudan journalist Diing Magot released on bail, charged
New York, August 15, 2022–South Sudanese authorities should immediately drop all legal proceedings against journalist Diing Magot and allow her to work without fear of arrest or intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Monday, South Sudanese authorities released Magot, a freelance reporter, on bail after she spent eight days in detention, according to news reports, Patrick Oyet,…
Chinese journalist Mao Huibin arrested after publishing articles about Tangshan assault
Taipei, August 15, 2022 — Chinese authorities should immediately release and drop all charges against journalist Mao Huibin and allow the press to report on social issues freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. At 10 a.m. on August 9, police arrested Mao at his home in the city of Hengshui, according to the…
Journalist Salah Attia detained in Tunisia since June arrest
New York, August 12, 2022 – Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Salah Attia and ensure that journalists in the country can work without the threat of imprisonment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On June 11, plainclothes security officers arrested Attia, founder and editor-in-chief of local independent news website Al-Ray al-Jadid, from…
One year after the Taliban takeover, Afghanistan’s media faces crisis—and opportunity
One year after the Taliban’s return to power, Afghan media is in crisis. Between censorship, arrests, assaults, restrictions on women journalists, the flight of many Afghan journalists, and the country’s declining economy, Afghan media outlets are struggling to survive. CPJ special report “Afghanistan’s media crisis” finds a deterioration in press freedom over the last year….
Journalist Do Cong Duong dies in prison in Vietnam
Bangkok, August 12, 2022 — In response to news reports that Vietnamese journalist Do Cong Duong, who was imprisoned on anti-state charges, died on August 2, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “CPJ is deeply saddened by reports of imprisoned Vietnamese journalist Do Cong Duong’s death from an underlying illness,” said Shawn…
Journalist safety, press freedom groups urge U.S. Secretary of State Blinken to expedite visas for Afghan journalists
Press freedom and journalist safety organizations urge Secretary of State Blinken and the Department of State to take every possible step to expedite the processing of Priority 2-referred Afghans under the U.S. Refugee Admissions Program and Special Immigrant Visa applications from at-risk Afghan citizens, and in particular journalists.
‘I thought about the efforts and struggles of two decades… and cried’
The founder of a news agency dedicated to covering the lives and concerns of Afghan women on how female journalists are still reporting the news In November 2020, I decided to create an Afghan news agency run by and for women—an online news service that would counter the prevailing patriarchal norms of Afghanistan. The news…
Keeping hope alive
Afghan journalists in exile continue reporting despite an uncertain future “I lost my family, my job, my identity, and my country,” Afghan journalist Anisa Shaheed told CPJ in a phone interview. A former Kabul-based reporter for TOLONews, Afghanistan’s largest local broadcaster, Shaheed is one of hundreds of journalists who fled Afghanistan following the Taliban takeover…
Inside an Afghan news network’s struggle to survive
Threats, insults, beatings, and censorship: Former Ariana News staffers detail dire challenges during a year under Taliban control For veteran journalist Sharif Hassanyar, the final breaking point came in September last year. The Taliban had ousted the elected government of Afghanistan President Ashraf Ghani almost a month earlier, and the last American soldiers had since…
Iraqi Kurdish authorities detain, raid, harass journalists and media outlets covering protests
Beirut, August 9, 2022 – Iraqi Kurdistan authorities should immediately cease detaining and harassing journalists and media workers and allow them to report on political unrest freely and safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On August 5 and August 6, Asayish security forces in several locations in Iraqi Kurdistan interfered with the work…