Iran: CPJ protests official campaign to silence opposition media
July 15, 1999 His Excellency Seyed Mohammad Khatami President of the Islamic Republic of Iran The Presidency Tehran, Islamic Republic of Iran Your Excellency: The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), a non-governmental organization of journalists devoted to upholding press freedom worldwide, is writing to express its deep concern about the ongoing campaign to stifle the…
How the Pentagon is trying to control the narrative
The Defense Department oversees the country’s armed forces and commands a nearly $1 trillion budget in 2026. A departure from longstanding norms and Constitutionally guaranteed media access at the Pentagon carries significant implications for press freedom in the United States as well as for public understanding of the impact of U.S. military spending and actions. Here are five things you need to…
CPJ, partners file emergency motion to Israeli Supreme Court seeking independent media access to Gaza
On Monday, April 13, 2026, the Committee to Protect Journalists, together with its amicus partners the Foreign Press Association in Israel, the Union of Journalists in Israel (UJI) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), filed an emergency motion to the Israeli Supreme Court asking the justices to expedite a decision on allowing the international media to…
CPJ launches petition calling on Kuwait to release US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
New York, April 15, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) today published a petition calling on Kuwaiti authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Kuwaiti-American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin. Shihab-Eldin, an award-winning journalist who previously contributed to The New York Times, PBS, and Al Jazeera English, has not posted online or been seen in public…
CPJ calls on Kuwait to release US-Kuwaiti journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin
Washington, D.C., April 13, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kuwaiti authorities to immediately and unconditionally release Kuwaiti-American journalist Ahmed Shihab-Eldin. Shihab-Eldin, an award-winning journalist who posts prolifically on social media, has not posted online or been seen in public in Kuwait – where he was visiting family – since March 2. It is…
Israel kills 3 journalists in Gaza and Lebanon in one day; CPJ calls for international action
New York, April 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns in the strongest terms the killing of at least three journalists in Lebanon and Gaza by Israel in one day, at least one of which was in a targeted attack. This pattern of attacks underscores a worsening climate of impunity and a blatant disregard for…
Lebanese radio presenter killed in Israeli strike on her home
Amman, April 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists strongly condemns the killing of Lebanese journalist Ghada Dayekh in an Israeli airstrike on her home in the southern city of Tyre on Tuesday. Dayekh, a presenter and reporter at the privately-owned Sawt Al-Farah radio station, was killed when an Israeli strike hit her apartment building, completely…
CPJ, RSF, Foley Foundation urge US government to designate Shelly Kittleson hostage, mobilize all resources to secure safe, swift release
CPJ, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the Foley Foundation sent a joint letter to U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on April 3 urging the U.S. government to secure the immediate, safe release of American journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was abducted in the Iraqi capital of Baghdad on March 31. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organizations asked…
How Middle East journalists report during internet blackouts
Washington D.C., April 2, 2026—Iran is now in the grip of the longest internet blackout in its history, a near-total shutdown that has stretched more than 30 days and reduced connectivity to almost zero. Imposed amid war and unrest, the sweeping, government-imposed blackout has effectively sealed off the country, cutting journalists’ access to sources and…
US journalist Shelly Kittleson kidnapped in Iraq
Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, April 1, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists urges Iraqi authorities to take all necessary measures to secure the release of U.S. journalist Shelly Kittleson, who was kidnapped in the capital Baghdad on Tuesday. “The abduction of Shelly Kittleson in broad daylight reflects an alarming breach of journalists’ safety in Iraq that highlights the…