CPJ calls on Israeli authorities to protect press freedom, journalist safety amid Israeli-Palestinian conflict
New York, May 14, 2021 — Israeli forces should do their utmost to protect Palestinian and Israeli journalists covering unrest and conflict, and should ensure that members of the press can work safely and freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 12, Israeli forces in the West Bank city Tulkarem arrested Hazem…
Algerian authorities briefly detain at least 6 journalists covering protests
On May 11, 2021, Algerian security forces briefly detained at least six journalists in downtown Algiers, the capital, while they were covering anti-government protests, according to news reports and Bouzid Ichalalene and Mustapha Bendjama, two local journalists and press freedom advocates, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. According to those sources, police arrested: Khaled…
Cuban journalist Mary Karla Ares detained over protest coverage
Miami, May 3, 2021 — Cuban authorities must immediately release journalist Mary Karla Ares, drop the criminal investigation into her work, and allow the press to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 30, at about 2 p.m., agents with the Cuban Revolutionary Police and the Political Police arrested Ares, a…
Angolan editor Francisco Rasgado facing prison, $1.5 million damages in criminal defamation case
New York, April 30, 2021 – Angolan authorities should drop the criminal defamation and insult charges against editor Francisco Rasgado and reform the country’s laws to decriminalize journalism, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 23, police officers arrested Rasgado, the founder and director of the privately owned newspaper Chela Press, at his…
Journalists harassed, arrested throughout Somalia
Between February 19 and April 9, federal and regional authorities in Somalia arrested at least two reporters and harassed at least four others, according to journalists who spoke to CPJ and a statement by the Somali Journalists Syndicate, a local press rights group. Most of the journalists were targeted for their political reporting, amid tensions…
Algerian freelance journalist Said Boudour arrested while covering protests
New York, April 26, 2021 – Algerian authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Said Boudour and cease arresting journalists for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On April 23, police in the city of Oran arrested Boudour, a blogger and freelance journalist, while he was covering anti-government protests on his Facebook…
Bangladesh journalist Abu Tayeb jailed under Digital Security Act
New York, April 23, 2021 – Bangladesh authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Abu Tayeb, and reform the country’s draconian Digital Security Act, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 10 p.m. on April 20, police in the central city of Khulna arrested Tayeb, a correspondent for the broadcaster NTV and Khulna…
Israeli security forces arrest Palestinian journalist Alaa al-Rimawi in Ramallah
New York, April 22, 2021 – Israeli authorities should immediately make public any charges against Palestinian journalist Alaa al-Rimawi and disclose where he is being held, or release him unconditionally at once, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Early yesterday morning, a group of about 12 Israeli soldiers raided the Ramallah home of al-Rimawi,…
Local official orders 2 journalists detained during municipal meeting in Tanzania
On April 12, 2021, security personnel with Tanzania’s Temeke municipality briefly detained two broadcast reporters—Dickson Billikwija with the privately owned Islands TV, and Christopher James of the privately owned ITV and Radio One—at a local official’s request, according to news reports and both journalists, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. That official, Lusubilo Mwakabibi—the…
Vietnamese police arrest 3 more journalists in probe of ‘Clean Newspaper’
Bangkok, April 21, 2021 – Vietnamese authorities should immediately release journalists Nguyen Thanh Nha, Doan Kien Giang, and Nguyen Phuoc Trung Bao, and drop any pending charges against them, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, police in the southern city of Can Tho arrested the three journalists as part of an ongoing investigation…