Committee to Protect Journalists commits $300,000 in immediate funding for Palestinian journalists
New York, February 1, 2024—The ongoing Israel-Gaza war has had an unprecedented and devastating effect on journalists. By late January 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) had documented the killing of more than 80 journalists and media workers in the conflict, the majority of them Palestinian reporters trapped inside Gaza. CPJ’s reporting also points…
Russia extends detention of U.S.-Russia journalist Alsu Kurmasheva; CPJ calls for release
New York, February 1, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned a Russian court’s decision on Thursday to extend the pretrial detention of U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until April 5, and called for her immediate release. “By extending the pretrial detention of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva, who has been held for over 100 days on ludicrous criminal…
Belarusian court sentences photojournalist Aliaksandr Ziankou to 3 years on extremism charges
New York, January 30, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Belarusian authorities to stop using extremism laws against journalists following a Belarusian court’s Tuesday sentencing of Aliaksandr Ziankou to three years in prison for allegedly participating in an extremist group. “The sentencing of veteran journalist Aliaksandr Ziankou to three years in prison is yet…
CPJ condemns Russia’s detention extension for US journalist Evan Gershkovich
New York, January 26, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists again calls on Russia to release U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich following a court decision on Friday to extend his pretrial detention until March 30, 2024. “This umpteenth extension of Evan Gershkovich’s detention will bring to one year the time he will have spent behind bars simply…
CPJ condemns acquittal of suspected organizer of 1992 murder of Polish journalist Jarosław Ziętara
Berlin, January 26, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a recent Polish court ruling that, in a final, non-appealable verdict, acquitted former member of the Polish Senate and entrepreneur Aleksander Gawronik, who has been accused of being the initiator of the 1992 murder of investigative journalist Jarosław Ziętara. “We are deeply disappointed that the long…
Turkish journalist Sinan Aygül convicted for ‘insulting’ men who beat him; attackers get suspended sentences
Istanbul, January 25, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday called on Turkish authorities to ensure justice in the case of journalist Sinan Aygül, who was hospitalized by an assault last year. The 1st Tatvan Court of First Instance in the eastern province of Bitlis found Aygül, chief editor of the privately owned…
CPJ calls for immediate release of Sudanese journalist Haitham Dafallah and his brother
New York, January 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is shocked by reports that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group, arrested journalist Haitham Dafallah and his brother Omar Dafallah, and calls for their immediate release. On Friday, RSF soldiers arrested Dafallah, editor-in-chief of local independent news website al-Maidan, and his brother from their…
CPJ calls for immediate release of Sudanese journalist Ogail Ahmed Naime
New York, January 19, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by reports that the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), a Sudanese paramilitary group, arrested journalist Ogail Ahmed Naime and calls for his immediate release. On Thursday, January 18, RSF soldiers arrested Naime, a freelance journalist, from his home in Khartoum, according to news reports. As…
CPJ calls for release of all jailed Iranian journalists after bail granted to Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi
Washington, D.C., January 17, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes Iran’s decision to grant bail to journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elahe Mohammadi while they await the outcome of appeals against their lengthy jail sentences, but calls on Iranian authorities to drop all charges and release all journalists still being held in connection with their work….
Chinese anti-corruption journalist Shangguan Yunkai sentenced to 15 years
Taipei, January 12, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the 15-year prison sentence issued to Chinese journalist Shangguan Yunkai and calls on the authorities to release him immediately. A district court in the central city of Ezhou handed down the sentence on January 5 after Shangguan was convicted for selling fake medicine, picking quarrels and…