Iraqi Kurdistan

Sulaymaniyah, December 20, 2024 —The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the killing of journalists Jihan Belkin and Nazim Dashdan in northern Syria in a suspected Turkish drone attack on their vehicle and calls for an investigation into whether they were targeted for their work. “Journalists are civilians and must be protected at all…

Impunity for the killers of journalists continues unabated at nearly 80% worldwide New York, October 30, 2024 — Two small nations with outsized levels of impunity—Haiti and Israel—are the world’s top offenders in allowing the murderers of journalists to go unpunished. Globally, impunity remains entrenched, as no one is held to account in almost 80% of…

As 2023 begins to wind down, journalists around the world continue to face multilayered challenges to do their jobs. Yet some press freedom developments inspire us, strengthen us, and make us grateful. Here is a short list: CPJ is grateful to the journalists covering the Israel-Gaza war who continue to bring us vital news despite…

Press freedom advocates note landmark year at annual gala New York, November 17, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and press freedom supporters celebrated journalists from Georgia, India, Mexico, and Togo last night at the 33rd annual International Press Freedom Awards (IPFA) in New York, which raised a record-breaking nearly $2.8 million to protect journalists…

Washington, D.C., February 13, 2023 – Iranian authorities must drop any charges against freelance Kurdish journalist Siamand Mohtadi and release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday.  On Saturday, February 11, authorities arrested Mohtadi after raiding his home in the Kurdish city of Bukan, in West Azerbaijan province, and took him to an…

On the night of October 4, 2022, protesters stormed the headquarters of privately owned Al Rabiaa TV in the Iraqi capital Baghdad, damaged the broadcaster’s equipment, and forced it to  go off air for a day, according to statements and multiple videos by the broadcaster, news reports, the Iraqi Communications and Media Commission, and local press freedom groups.  In a statement, Al Rabiaa TV said the perpetrators were “groups belonging…

Washington, D.C., February 22, 2022 – Authorities in northern Syria should immediately release Ahmed Sofi, Dara Abdo, and all other members of the press detained for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Saturday, February 19, forces affiliated with the Democratic Party Union, the political party in power in the Autonomous Administration…

Washington, D.C., February 10, 2022 – Kurdish security forces in northern Syria should immediately release journalists Sabri Fakhri and Bawar Malla Ahmad, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Saturday, February 5, soldiers affiliated with the Democratic Party Union, the political party in power in the Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria’s regional…

Washington, D.C., August 10, 2021 – Iranian authorities should not subject journalists Sharam Amjadian and Morteza Haq-Bayan to imprisonment or lashes, and should stop prosecuting members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 3, Branch 104 of the Sanandaj Penal Court, in the province of Iranian Kurdistan,…

In recognition of his sustained commitment to press freedom, CPJ will honor Jimmy Lai, the imprisoned founder of Hong Kong’s pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaperand the paper’s parent company, Next Digital, with the 2021 Gwen Ifill Press Freedom Award. However, in deeply troubling developments, the Chinese government has ramped up its efforts to stomp out critical…