Sudanese military forces arrest state television manager, pro-military protesters assault journalists amid unrest
New York, October 26, 2021 – Sudanese military authorities must immediately release journalist Maher Abugoukh, cease raiding media outlets, investigate pro-military protesters’ attacks on journalists, and ensure that telecommunications function in the wake of yesterday’s military coup in which military chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan deposed Prime Minister Abdalla Hamdok and dissolved the government, the Committee to…
Russian authorities harass family of exiled journalist Roman Dobrokhotov
Vilnius, Lithuania, October 1, 2021 – Russian authorities should stop harassing journalist Roman Dobrokhotov and his family members, and allow members of the press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, officers with the Federal Security Service (FSB) raided Dobrokhotov’s apartment, where his wife lives, and his parents’ apartment in Moscow,…
Polish parliament to vote on media bill targeting broadcaster TVN24
Berlin, September 15, 2021 — Polish lawmakers should reject an amendment to the country’s broadcast media law that threatens the independence of commercial television broadcaster TVN24, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. The draft amendment, which CPJ reviewed, would change Article 35 of the Broadcasting Act to restrict broadcast licenses solely to companies that…
Taliban fighters beat and whip journalists in Afghanistan
Washington, D.C., August 26, 2021– The Taliban must immediately cease using violence against journalists and allow them to cover the critical news from Afghanistan freely and without fear, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday at approximately 10:30 a.m., Taliban fighters assaulted Ziar Khan Yaad, a reporter with the privately owned broadcaster TOLO News,…
Algeria shuts down Lina TV for alleged licensing issue
New York, August 18, 2021 – Algerian authorities should allow Lina TV to resume broadcasting immediately and stop using the country’s accreditation procedures as a means of censorship, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 16, the Ministry of Communications ordered the privately owned news channel off the air, according to news reports…
Russian authorities label The Insider a ‘foreign agent,’ search editor’s home
Stockholm, August 3, 2021 – Russian authorities should remove The Insider and all other media organizations and journalists from the country’s register of foreign agents and stop harassing the outlet’s editor-in-chief Roman Dobrokhotov, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 23, the Russian Justice Ministry added independent Latvia-based investigative news site The Insider…
Zambian radio station transmitter damaged in arson attack
In the early hours of June 24, 2021, an unknown group of people tried to set fire to the Kalungwishi Radio Station in the Chienge district of Zambia’s northern Luapula Province, damaging transmission cables, a mixer, and air conditioning equipment, according to a news report quoting the local chapter of the regional press freedom group…
Exiled Turkish journalist attacked near his home in Germany
On the evening of July 7, 2021, Erk Acarer, an exiled Turkish journalist who is a columnist for the Turkish leftist daily BirGün, was attacked outside his home in Berlin by three assailants who used “fists and knives” while one told him, “you will not write,” according to journalist’s video and written accounts on Twitter, and to news reports. Acarer tweeted…
Iraqi freelance journalist Ali al-Mikdam abducted, found beaten
New York, July 13, 2021 — Iraqi authorities should thoroughly and transparently investigate the abduction of freelance journalist Ali al-Mikdam and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On the afternoon of July 9, unidentified people abducted al-Mikdam, a freelance reporter and activist, after he accepted an invitation to meet…
Ethiopian journalist Abebe Bayu abducted and assaulted by unidentified men
New York, July 1, 2021 – Ethiopian authorities must thoroughly investigate the recent attack on journalist Abebe Bayu, hold those responsible to account, and ensure that all members of the press can work without fear, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On June 21, a group of four unidentified men surrounded Abebe, a reporter…