Palestinian intelligence arrests journalist Khalil Dweeb in Bethlehem
New York, April 19, 2024—Palestinian authorities in the West Bank must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Khalil Dweeb, who has been detained since Tuesday, April 16, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Two Palestinian General Intelligence Service agents arrested Dweeb, a freelance camera operator who contributes to the Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera, on Tuesday after…
Taliban shuts down broadcasters Noor and Barya, seals Noor offices
New York, April 18, 2024—The Taliban must cease their relentless suppression of independent media in Afghanistan and allow private broadcasters Noor TV and Barya TV to resume operations, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Tuesday, the Media Complaints and Rights Violations Commission banned the two broadcasters for violating “national and Islamic values,” without…
CPJ, others request update on Egyptian journalist Alaa Abdelfattah from UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 26 press freedom and human rights organizations in an April 17 letter to the UN Working Group on Arbitrary Detention (UNWGAD) seeking updates regarding the urgent appeal filed on November 14, 2023, about the case of jailed Egyptian blogger Alaa Abdelfattah. The appeal was submitted by 34 organizations, including…
Indian journalists’ 2024 election concerns: political violence, trolling, device hacking
As the scorching summer peaks this year, India’s political landscape is coming to a boil. From April 19 until June 1, the world’s biggest democracy will hold the world’s biggest election, which the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who has been in power since 2014, is expected to win….
Russia orders exiled journalist Mikhail Zygar’s arrest in absentia
New York, April 16, 2024—Russian authorities must drop all legal proceedings against journalist and writer Mikhail Zygar and cease their ongoing repression of independent journalism, said the Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday. On April 16, a Moscow court ordered that Zygar, the former editor-in-chief of the now-exiled Russian broadcaster Dozhd TV (TV Rain) and a CPJ 2014…
Safely covering U.S. election events
RISK ASSESSMENT EDITORS’ CHECKLISTS SAFETY RESOURCES Assess your risk Journalists covering the upcoming U.S. election should complete a risk assessment to consider the dangers they may face while on assignment and mitigate those risks. Journalists should consider: Mitigation plans may include: Review CPJ’s risk assessment here. Additional resources and guides for mitigating safety concerns Online…
U.S. journalist safety kit
Journalists and media workers reporting across the United States have faced increasing threats to their safety and profession over the past several years, including retaliatory violence, lawsuits, and attacks by police and protesters. Political polarization, the contested 2020 election, and the January 6, 2021 attack on the U.S. Capitol, combined with a rise in domestic…
Police investigate Nigeria’s Foundation for Investigative Journalism after corruption coverage
Abuja, April 16, 2024—Nigerian authorities should immediately drop their investigation into the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ) and its founder, the award-winning undercover reporter, Fisayo Soyombo, and stop intimidating the chairperson of FIJ’s board of trustees, Bukky Shonibare, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On February 21, Soyombo published an investigation detailing how he…
Malawian journalist Macmillan Mhone facing false news, extortion charges
Lusaka, April 15, 2024 – Malawian authorities should drop all legal proceedings against Nation Publications Limited journalist Macmillan Mhone, who is accused of cyber spamming, publishing false news, and extortion, and ensure that journalists can work without the fear of arrest, said the Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday. On April 7, Chester Chikumbutso Doba, a…
CPJ welcomes South Africa’s abolition of criminal defamation
CPJ welcomes South African President Cyril Ramaphosa’s signing into law a bill that abolishes criminal defamation, and urges authorities to reform other problematic laws that threaten press freedom in the country. On April 3, Ramaphosa signed the Judicial Matters Amendment Act (2023), which includes a provision repealing “the common law relating to the crime of…