Belarus jails journalist Kyril Pazniak for 3 ½ years
New York, June 26, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the June 26 sentencing of Belarusian journalist Kyril Pazniak to three years and six months in prison, and calls on Belarusian authorities to release him immediately. The court in Minsk, the capital, convicted Pazniak on charges of creating an extremist group and discrediting Belarus. The court also fined Pazniak 24,750 Belarusian rubles (US$8,530). …
CPJ, partners call on EU to review approach toward Tunisia amid critical human rights decline
On Friday, the Committee to Protect Journalists and five other press freedom and human rights organizations sent a joint letter to the European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen calling for an immediate change in the EU’s approach toward Tunisia due to a severe human rights decline. The signatories urged von der Leyen to condemn…
Hong Kong arrests magazine editor in sedition probe tied to independent bookstore
New York, June 25, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Hong Kong authorities to immediately release journalist and bookseller Leticia Wong Man-huen who was arrested on suspicion of selling seditious publications and receiving funds from foreign political organizations. “The arrest of a journalist and editor over items sold through an independent bookstore shows Hong…
Egypt must account for missing journalist Haidar Qandil
Washington, D.C., June 24, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately reveal the whereabouts of prominent journalist Haidar Qandil, who disappeared Monday after leaving his office, according to his family and several media outlets. Freelance Egyptian journalist Iman Adel said in a Facebook post that she had been in contact with…
Pakistani authorities detain journalist Sohrab Barkat again over reporting on Kashmir
New York, June 12, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Pakistani authorities to immediately release journalist Sohrab Barkat who was arrested on June 5 at his home in Islamabad over reports on his YouTube channel about protests in Pakistan-administered Kashmir. After the arrest and seizure of his phone and car keys, the National Cyber…
Azerbaijani prosecutors seek up to 16 years in prison for defendants in Toplum TV case
New York, June 10, 2026 —The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Azerbaijan to drop charges against journalists and other individuals associated with leading independent news outlet Toplum TV after prosecutors on June 8 requested prison terms of up to 16 years on charges related to receipt and use of foreign funds. “The outrageous prison…
In Comoros, journalist arrested for report on jailed ex-president’s health
Dakar, 10 June 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Comorian authorities to release journalist Toufé Maecha who was arrested on Monday at his home in the capital, Moroni, over his reports in La Gazette des Comores about the ill-health of a jailed former president. “Comoros authorities should refrain from cavalierly arresting journalists for their…
CPJ, partners urge EU to push Egypt on rights and press freedom reforms
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 14 other press freedom and human rights organizations on Monday, expressing concern over Egypt’s failure to show meaningful progress on human rights, democracy, or the rule of law, despite the European Union presenting such progress as a key condition of the €5 billion (US$5.75 billion) macro-financial assistance (MFA) package…
Russian journalist Maria Ponomarenko sentenced to third prison term
Berlin, June 5, 2026—A court in Russia’s southern Altai Krai on Wednesday convicted Maria Ponomarenko, an imprisoned correspondent for the independent news outlet RusNews, of using violence against prison staff and sentenced her to an additional 22 months behind bars. The ruling marks the third prison sentence given to Ponomarenko, who has been detained since April 2022…
CPJ alarmed by new prison recording from Reza Valizadeh in Iran’s Evin Prison
The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by jailed Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh’s latest harrowing report of physical pressure, psychological abuse, and the denial of critical medical care inside Tehran’s Evin Prison. A recently released voice memo, obtained and aired by CBS News, offers a rare firsthand account of conditions inside the prison. In…