Arrested

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This overview shows the sun setting before Iraq's northeastern city of Sulaymaniyah in the autonomous Kurdistan region on October 18, 2024. (Photo: AFP/Ahmad Al-Rubaye)

Media21 outlet shuttered, 4 journalists arrested in Iraq

Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, March 3, 2025—Kurdistan security forces arrested four journalists from the new digital outlet Media21 on February 28 in the eastern Iraqi city of Sulaymaniyah, confiscating their phones and taking them from their homes. The journalists were identified as Bashdar Bazyani, Dana Salih, Sardasht HamaSalih, and Nabaz Shekhani. Security forces closed the outlet’s office…

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Halk TV’s editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş

In Turkey, 5 Halk TV journalists face trial for influencing judiciary with broadcast

Istanbul, March 3, 2025— Turkish authorities should free Halk TV editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş and drop the charges against him and four colleagues, whose trial is due to open on March 4, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. An Istanbul court arrested Toktas on January 26 after pro-opposition Halk TV broadcast a conversation between its…

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Malaysiakini's newsroom is seen in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on May 24, 2018.

Malaysia arrests journalist who exposed migrant trafficking, corruption

Editor’s note: On March 14, the journalist B. Nantha Kumar was charged in a local court for allegedly receiving a bribe of 20,000 ringgit (US$4,500) in return for removing and not uploading articles about a migrant trafficking syndicate. Nantha pleaded not guilty and is out on bail pending trial. He faces up to 20 years in prison…

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Malagasy journalist Fernand Cello

In Madagascar, journalist detained on false news charge over Facebook post

Dakar, February 20, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Malagasy authorities to immediately release investigative journalist Fernand Cello, who has been in detention since his January 29 arrest over a Facebook post about President Andry Rajoelina. On January 30, a judge charged Cello with spreading false news and undermining national security and placed him…

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Temirlan Yensebek, founder of the Kazakh satirical outlet Qaznews24 gestures to his handcuff while seated in a police station in the capital Almaty on January 17.

Kazakh political satirist Temirlan Yensebek arrested on incitement charges

New York, February 4, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the two-month pretrial detention of Temirlan Yensebek, founder of the Instagram-based satirical outlet Qaznews24, on charges of inciting ethnic hatred, for which he could face seven years in jail.  “The incitement charges against Temirlan Yensebek raise concerns that he’s being targeted for his biting political…

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Arrests of Palestinian journalists since start of Israel-Gaza war

Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, an unprecedented number of journalists and media workers have been arrested — often without charge — in what they and their attorneys say is retaliation for their journalism and commentary. As of March 13, 2025, CPJ has documented a total of 75 arrests of journalists in the Palestinian…

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Halk TV’s editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş

Turkish journalist Suat Toktaş arrested following broadcast 

Istanbul, January 31, 2025—Turkish authorities should release Halk TV’s editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş, who was arrested this week after airing an interview with an expert court witness, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday.  “Suat Toktaş’ arrest and the detaining of the other Halk TV personnel is a political move by Turkish authorities to silence critical…

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Egypt arrests journalist, wife of jailed cartoonist after interview

Update: Since publication of this alert, the SSSP ordered on January 16 that Serag be detained for 15 days pending investigation on charges of joining a terrorist organization, spreading false news, using a website to promote terrorist ideas, and committing a financing-related crime, according to independent media outlets Mada Masr and Al-Manassa. Washington, D.C., January…

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Credit: Youtube/Elbilad

Algerian authorities arrest journalist Abdelwakil Blamm, target other journalists 

New York, January 6, 2025—Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release freelance journalist and political activist Abdelwakil Blamm, who was arrested December 29, 2024, outside his home in the Chéraga suburb of Algiers, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. “Abdelwakil Blamm’s detention is a troubling escalation of the ongoing crackdown on press freedom in Algeria,” said…

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Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was arrested by Iran on December 19, 2024, but her arrest was only made public on December 27. (Screenshot: France 24/YouTube)

Iran arrests, detains Italian journalist Cecilia Sala

Editor’s note: Cecilia Sala was freed on January 8, 2025. New York, December 28 2024—CPJ is deeply concerned by the arrest of Italian journalist Cecilia Sala in Iran. Italy’s foreign ministry said Sala was arrested on December 19 and was being held in Iran’s notorious Evin prison, although news of her arrest was only made public on…

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