Myanmar arrests US editor Danny Fenster at Yangon airport
Bangkok, May 24, 2021 – In response to reports that Myanmar authorities detained Danny Fenster, a U.S. citizen and the managing editor of Frontier Myanmar, at Yangon International Airport today before he boarded an international flight, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Myanmar authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Frontier Myanmar managing editor Danny…
Qatar detains Kenyan labor rights blogger Malcolm Bidali without charge
New York, May 18, 2021 – Qatari authorities should immediately disclose any charges against blogger Malcolm Bidali or release him, and not try to silence critical reporting on the country’s labor rights record ahead of the 2022 World Cup, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In the night of May 4 to 5, Qatari…
Belarusian authorities raid 3 offices of Tut.by, detain journalists in tax case
Vilnius, Lithuania, May 18, 2021 — Belarusian authorities must allow the independent news website Tut.by to work freely, and should immediately and unconditionally release all of its employees in custody, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Today, officers of the Belarus Financial Investigation Department raided Tut.by’s headquarters in Minsk, the capital, its regional offices…
Bangladeshi authorities arrest journalist Rozina Islam under Official Secrets Act
New York, May 17, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Bangladeshi authorities to immediately release journalist Rozina Islam, withdraw the investigation into her, and to stop arresting journalists under the Official Secrets Act. Islam, a senior correspondent for the daily newspaper Prothom Alo, was arrested today after the Health Ministry filed a complaint…
Algerian police arrest at least 16 journalists, reporter Kenza Khattou remains in detention
New York, May 17, 2021 – Algerian authorities must immediately release journalist Kenza Khattou and cease detaining members of the press covering protests, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 14, police arrested Khattou, a reporter for local independent news website Radio M, while she was covering anti-government protests in downtown Algiers, according…
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…