Iran sentences journalists under espionage law
New York, October 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Iranian authorities to overturn the convictions and immediately release journalists Artin Ghazanfari and Omid Faraghat. The two were sentenced to 26 and 10 years under Iran’s sweeping espionage law, which also criminalizes routine media activities. “Iranian authorities are using espionage and national security laws to punish…
CPJ, partners condemn Egyptian authorities’ shutdown of Mada Masr, stand with editor-in-chief Lina Attalah
The Committee to Protect Journalists and 129 organizations condemn the conviction of Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent Egyptian news outlet Mada Masr, and denounce the court’s order to shut down one of the country’s last remaining independent newsrooms. In a joint statement, rights organizations urged Egyptian authorities to allow Mada Masr to operate freely,…
Somaliland detains journalist without charge after interviewing presidential aspirant
New York, October 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on authorities in the breakaway republic of Somaliland to release journalist Abdirahman Mohamed Ege, who has been held without charge since October 22 in the city of Hargeisa after interviewing a presidential aspirant. “Abdirahman Mohamed Ege has committed no crime, and the fact that he…
Tunisia sentences journalist Zied el-Heni to 4 years on terrorism charges
New York, October 28, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists demands the immediate release of Tunisian journalist Zied el-Heni, and the overturning of his four-year prison sentence. El-Heni was wrongfully convicted on Tuesday on terrorism charges for his reporting, and refusal to reveal confidential sources. “Sentencing Zied el-Heni to four years in prison on terrorism charges for carrying…
CPJ outraged by Egypt court conviction of journalist Lina Attalah, order of Mada Masr’s closure
The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the conviction of Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent Egyptian news outlet Mada Masr, on charges of running an unlicensed website, and calls on Egyptian authorities to reverse the ruling, release the journalist immediately, and end their escalating campaign against independent journalism. Mada Masr, among the first and few…
CPJ, partners condemn referral of Mada Masr editor Lina Attalah to trial
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined partner organizations on Friday in condemning the referral to trial of Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of the independent Egyptian outlet Mada Masr. The case is the latest escalation in Egypt’s crackdown on the press, which has included the arrest of all six Egypt-based journalists working for investigative platform Matsdaash and…
Azerbaijan: Prosecutors seek prison terms of up 12 years for Meclis.info journalists
London, October 22, 2026—Azerbaijan should drop its financial crimes case against two journalists and another staff member of Meclis.info, an independent media outlet covering the work of the country’s parliament, and stop using allegations of illegal funding from international donors to silence the independent press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On October 20,…
Turkish reporter İsmail Arı arrested again on suspicion of spreading ‘disinformation’
Istanbul, October 22, 2026—Turkish authorities must immediately free İsmail Arı, the latest journalist to be arrested in a relentless crackdown on independent media this year, and abolish the disinformation law that has supercharged these repressive tactics, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. “İsmail Arı has already spent more than two months in jail this…
CPJ highlights role of transnational networks in fueling attacks on journalists in Sudan
New York, October 21, 2026 – The Committee to Protect Journalists submitted testimony to the Tom Lantos Human Rights Commission ahead of its October 21 briefing on transnational networks fueling the war in Sudan, highlighting how foreign weapons, financing, personnel, and logistical support sustain armed actors responsible for killing, detaining, and otherwise targeting journalists. CPJ’s…
CPJ calls for release of dissident Russian journalist Vladimir Driagin
Miami, October 20, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the release of dissident Russian journalist Vladimir Driagin, who has been held under detention by Immigration and Customs Enforcement for almost a year despite volunteering to be deported. In July, he was transferred to the Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez, Mississippi, but he could…