Israeli authorities shutter Voice of Palestine radio’s Israel operations, question 5 journalists
New York, March 20, 2023 – Israeli authorities should immediately reverse their order to shut down the Israeli operations of the Voice of Palestine radio station and should cease harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Monday, March 20, National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir ordered Voice of Palestine, the…
Independent journalists banned from covering opening session of new Tunisian parliament
New York, March 14, 2023—In response to news reports that Tunisian lawmakers on Monday banned all non-state media journalists from covering the opening session of parliament, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Barring journalists from covering the opening session of Tunisia’s new parliament is President Kais Saied’s latest attempt to…
Chinese journalist held for reporting on Wuhan COVID outbreak wishes he’d done more
When reports of a novel respiratory virus spreading through Wuhan began to surface in early 2020, a few independent video journalists rushed to the city. Among them was Li Zehua, a former journalist for state broadcaster CCTV, who goes by the name Kcriss Li. Giving the slip to officials chasing down reporters who challenged the…
Belarusian authorities label newspaper, journalists’ association as ‘extremist’
Paris, March 7, 2023 — In response to multiple news reports that the Belarusian security service recently labeled the exiled Belarusian Association of Journalists and independent newspaper Brestskaya Gazeta as “extremist,” the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement calling for authorities to stop harassing the organizations and let them work freely: “By labeling…
Turkish media watchdog fines broadcasters for criticizing earthquake response
Istanbul, February 22, 2023 – In response to news reports that Turkey’s media regulator penalized three broadcasters for their critical coverage of the government’s response to recent devastating earthquakes that hit the country, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Critical journalism during a time of mourning for the tens of thousands of…
Authorities in Ethiopia’s Somali region suspend 15 media outlets, revoke media association’s license
Nairobi, February 17, 2023— Authorities in Ethiopia should reverse the recent suspensions of more than a dozen news outlets and let members of the press and journalist advocacy groups work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Since late January, authorities have suspended 15 foreign media outlets operating in Somali Regional State, and also…
Indian tax authority raids BBC after critical documentary
New Delhi, February 14, 2023 – The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Indian authorities to stop harassing journalists on Tuesday after tax officials raided offices of the British broadcaster BBC in New Delhi and Mumbai. “Raiding the BBC’s India offices in the wake of a documentary criticizing Prime Minister Narendra Modi smacks of…
Russia fails to renew accreditation of longtime Finnish correspondent Arja Paananen
Paris, February 13, 2023 — Russian authorities should not interfere with the renewal of Finnish journalist Arja Paananen’s accreditation and visa and let her work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On February 9, the Finnish newspaper Ilta-Sanomat reported that the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs had failed to renew Paananen’s accreditation to…
Access to VOA and RFE/RL websites restricted in Afghanistan
New York, February 13, 2023 – Taliban officials must cease censoring news outlets in Afghanistan and restore unfettered access to the websites of the U.S.-Congress funded broadcasters Voice of America and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. The websites of both outlets are inaccessible on three of Afghanistan’s privately owned…
Cambodian authorities shutter Voice of Democracy news outlet
Bangkok, February 13, 2023 – Cambodian authorities must reverse the recent order to shut down the Voice of Democracy independent news outlet and allow the organization to continue reporting without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Sunday, February 12, Prime Minister Hun Sen said in a statement on his official…