Belarus court sentences 4 journalists to years of house arrest
New York, November 17, 2025—Belarusian authorities should immediately revoke the house arrests of journalists Natallia Semianovich, Mikita Piatrouski, Ruslan Raviaka, and Ludmila Zeliankova, and stop prosecuting journalists for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On August 19, a court convicted the four on charges of “promoting extremist activity,” according to a source close to the case who…
3 Nigerian journalists detained on cybercrime allegations, despite reform
Abuja, November 14, 2025—At least three journalists in Nigeria have been detained since August on allegations of violating the country’s Cybercrime Act, despite last year’s reform of the law, highlighting its ongoing use to harass the media. One journalist, known under the pen name Fejiro Oliver, has been behind bars since mid-September. “Nigerian authorities appear…
CPJ, partners call on UN Working Group to issue opinion on imprisoned Russian journalist
The Committee to Protect Journalists and nine partner organizations urged the United Nations Working Group on Arbitrary Detention on November 12, 2025, to issue an opinion on the case of imprisoned Russian journalist Nika Novak. The Press Freedom Center at the National Press Club recently filed submissions to the working group requesting an opinion finding that…
China upholds harsh 7-year prison sentence for journalist Dong Yuyu on spy charges
New York, November 13, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday urged Chinese authorities to immediately release journalist Dong Yuyu and allow him to reunite with his family, after a Beijing court upheld his seven-year sentence on espionage charges. The Beijing High Court issued a ruling saying it affirmed the conviction of the 63-year-old, his…
Nigerian travel journalist jailed on terror charge in Benin since January
Abuja, November 12, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in Benin to release Nigerian YouTube-based travel journalist Matthew Ojoduma, who has been detained on a terrorism charge since January 29. Beninese police arrested Ojoduma, founder of the Africa Views channel, which covers African cities, when he was crossing Benin’s northern border into Burkina…
CPJ calls on Tunisian authorities to end harassment of jailed commentator Sonia Dahmani
New York, November 12, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Tunisian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release political commentator Sonia Dahmani, ensure she receives urgent medical care, and end her judicial harassment. On November 11, the Tunis Court of First Instance postponed Dahmani’s criminal hearing, regarding her media comments on prison conditions in Tunisia,…
Myanmar junta hits AAMIJ News with election law charges, holds journalist in prison
Bangkok, November 12, 2025—Myanmar authorities must immediately drop charges against AAMIJ News, release its freelance contributor Myat Thu Kyaw, who has been in prison since January 2023, and stop harassing independent media covering election-related news, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On November 10, Myanmar’s military government filed charges against exile-run AAMIJ News for…
CPJ writes to China’s foreign minister ahead of Dong Yuyu’s appeal ruling
Ahead of an appeals court ruling on November 13, the Committee to Protect Journalists called on China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi to consider steps that would allow jailed journalist Dong Yuyu to be reunited with his family. Dong, a long-time editor and columnist for the state-run newspaper Guangming Daily, was arrested in February 2022 while…
In Niger, 3 journalists jailed on cybercrime charges for allegedly sharing an invitation
Dakar, November 7, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Nigerien authorities to free journalists Ibro Chaibou, Youssouf Sériba, and Oumarou Abou Kané who were remanded in southern Niger’s Kollo prison on November 3. The three were initially arrested on October 30 and are accused of sending an invitation to a government news conference to…
CPJ, partners welcome dismissal of Philippine murder case against Frenchie Mae Cumpio
New York, November 7, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists and partners welcomed a Philippine court’s decision to quash the murder charges against community journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio and called on authorities to drop all remaining charges against her. The 26-year-old journalist has been held in detention for nearly six years since her arrest in February 2020 on charges of…