The most-read press freedom stories of 2021
2021 began with protestors threatening journalists covering the January 6 riot at the U.S. Capitol. The news at the end of the year isn’t much brighter, with Ethiopia using its emergency law to ramp up arrests of journalists and the first documented death of a journalist in custody in Myanmar since the country’s February coup….
Argentine newspaper El Chubut offices torched, ransacked amid protests
Miami, December 23, 2021 — Argentine authorities should immediately investigate the recent attack on the headquarters of the El Chubut newspaper and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At around 8:40 p.m. on December 20, a group of unidentified people gathered at the newspaper’s headquarters in the city of Trelew,…
Inter-American Court of Human Rights finds Ecuador responsible in El Universo libel case
New York, December 23, 2021 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed a recent decision by the Inter-American Court of Human Rights to hold Ecuador responsible for violating the right to free expression in a 2011 libel suit against the El Universo newspaper. “The Inter-American Court’s decision in the El Universo case offers long-overdue…
After a harrowing escape, a family of Afghan journalists prepares for a new life in the US
The day Kabul fell to the Taliban, was the “end of the line for us as journalists,” said Shiraz Noorani. That day, August 15, 2021, was when the Nooranis, a family of five current and former Afghan journalists, decided to flee the country. Four months later, four of the Nooranis — siblings Shiraz, Ghazal, and…
CPJ Insider: Year-End Edition
Thank you for all of your support this year, as CPJ confronted grave dangers to journalists and press freedom around the world. With you standing with us, we can continue to defend freedom of expression and your right to know the truth. Here are some highlights of 2021, which were made possible thanks to your…
Afghan journalist Jawed Yusufi beaten, stabbed in Kabul
New York, December 20, 2021 – The Taliban must thoroughly investigate the recent attack on journalist Jawed Yusufi, hold those responsible to account, and ensure the safety of Afghan reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 5 p.m. yesterday, four unidentified men followed Yusufi, a reporter with the independent online Ufuq News…
Multi-year prison terms for Egyptian journalists Alaa Abdelfattah and Mohamed Oxygen ‘unacceptable’
New York, December 20, 2021 – In response to a Cairo court’s sentencing today of journalists Alaa Abdelfattah and Mohamed Oxygen to multi-year prison terms, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Egypt’s sentencing of journalists Alaa Abdelfattah and Mohamed Oxygen to years in prison is unacceptable, and demonstrates the lengths…
First Myanmar journalist to die in custody since February coup
On December 10, soldiers in Myanmar arrested photographer Soe Naing after he photographed a “silent strike” protest in Yangon against the country’s military junta government. Citing anonymous friends, colleagues, and family members of the photographer, media reports stated on Tuesday that Soe Naing had died in custody. Those reports did not state any suspected cause of…
In Middle East and North Africa, a drop in attacks on journalists belies dire state of press freedom
The Middle East and North Africa region has long been especially dangerous for journalists. The Committee to Protect Journalists’ research has found that one out of every three reporters killed worldwide in retaliation for their work since 1992 — 477 out of 1,422, or 33.5% – were located in the region. That proportion rose to…
Ethiopia uses emergency law to ramp up arrests of journalists
Nairobi, December 16, 2021 – Ethiopian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release all journalists held in custody for their work and should refrain from using the country’s state of emergency law to imprison members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Ethiopian authorities have arrested at least 14 journalists since declaring a…