Cambodian journalist Luot Sophal detained over military water shortage report
Bangkok, February 17, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Cambodian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalist Luot Sophal, who was arrested after publishing a report about an alleged water shortage faced by frontline Cambodian soldiers. On February 13, Sophal, a journalist with the local independent Srotop Yuvakvey news, was arrested by police in…
Freed Venezuelan journalist says time behind bars ‘made me feel desperate’
Following the January 3 American military operation that captured Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro, the country’s interim government has released hundreds of political prisoners, among them journalist Nakary Ramos. Ramos, 29, was arrested with her videographer husband, Gianni González, on April 8, 2025, after the online news site Impacto Venezuela aired their report on crime rates…
CPJ: Russia’s Telegram throttling another step toward total information control
Berlin, February 11, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Russian authorities to immediately stop throttling the messaging service Telegram, warning that the restrictions represent a deliberate escalation in the Kremlin’s campaign to curtail access to independent information. Users across Russia have reported widespread disruptions on February 9 and 10, according to data from internet…
Russian bomb injures journalist in eastern Ukraine
New York, February 10, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for a thorough investigation into a recent Russian attack in Ukraine that wounded Igor Levinok, a war correspondent with the privately owned Ukrainian TV channel Inter. On the morning of February 8, a Russian aerial bomb exploded near the entrance to the building where the Inter TV crew was staying in Kramatorsk,…
Iran tightens media crackdown with raids, financial pressure
New York, February 9, 2026 —The Committee to Protect Journalists demands that Iranian authorities halt their ongoing attacks and harassment of journalists and media workers and roll back punitive measures used to silence reporting, including raids, equipment seizures, financial pressure, and restrictions on communications. Azadeh Mokhtari, a social affairs editor at the Rokna news website,…
CPJ calls for release of 2 Chinese journalists held after reporting on corruption
New York, February 6, 2026—Chinese authorities must immediately release independent journalists Liu Hu and Wu Yingjiao, who were detained days after publishing a report accusing a local official of corruption, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Friday. Liu, 50, and Wu, 34, were detained on February 1, news reports said. The following day police in the southwestern city of…
Pakistani journalist Sohrab Barkat detained for more than 60 days as employer shuts Islamabad office
New York, February 5, 2026—Pakistani authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Sohrab Barkat and ensure that his employer Siasat can continue to report the news freely, the Committee to Protect Journalist said on Thursday. Barkat was detained on November 26 on his way to attend a United Nations conference and is facing three separate…
Namibian journalist ‘shaken’ by arrest threat for asking the president a question
Lusaka, February 4, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Namibian authorities to respect and safeguard reporters, following Jemima Beukes expulsion from the president’s official residence and online threats against Tracy Tafirenyika after a minister made xenophobic comments about her. “Namibian authorities’ mistreatment of journalists Jemima Beukes and Tracy Tafirenyika raises concerns about their willingness…
Iran arrests 2 more journalists amid widening crackdown
New York, February 2, 2026— The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Iranian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release journalists Mehdi Mahmoudian and Vida Rabbani and to end the ongoing crackdown on journalists. Mahmoudian and Rabbani were arrested after signing a statement, alongside other Iranian journalists and activists, expressing their support of the recent mass…
Turkey arrests exiled Iranian journalist Kaveh Taheri sparking deportations fears
New York, January 30, 2026—Turkish authorities must immediately release exiled Iranian journalist Kaveh Taheri and halt all efforts to deport him to Iran, where he faces serious risks, including but not limited to imprisonment. Taheri, an independent and freelance journalist and human rights advocate recognized as a refugee by the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees…