Journalists arrested and attacked, media offices set ablaze amid Pakistan protests
New York, May 12, 2023—Pakistan authorities and the leadership and supporters of the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf party must respect the rights of journalists covering the country’s political unrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Amid protests following the arrest of former Prime Minister Imran Khan on Tuesday, May 9, authorities and supporters of Khan’s…
UK police arrest journalist Rich Felgate while covering coronation protest
Berlin, May 12, 2023—British authorities should drop any criminal investigation into journalist Rich Felgate and ensure that members of the press can cover protests without fear of arrest, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On May 6, police arrested Felgate, a freelance journalist and documentary filmmaker, while he covered an environmental protest held during…
In Turkey, cautious optimism that tough election could be good for press freedom
Turkey’s powerful Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his Justice and Development Party (AKP) are facing one of the toughest challenges of their two decades in office. Polls ahead of the country’s May 14 presidential and parliamentary elections suggest that the president and his long-ruling party could lose to the opposition coalition of Kemal Kılıçdaroğlu, leader of…
Togolese authorities detain, threaten journalist Edouard Kamboissoa Samboe
New York, May 10, 2023—Togolese authorities should ensure that journalist Edouard Kamboissoa Samboe and all other members of the media can work without fear, and should drop any restrictions on Samboe’s work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On the morning of April 30, Togolese soldiers arrested Samboe, the founder and owner of the…
Taliban detains 4 Afghan journalists in Khost province
New York, May 9, 2023 – The Taliban must immediately release four journalists recently detained for their work and cease harassing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, May 8, the provincial directorate of the Taliban-controlled Ministry for the Promotion of Virtue and Prevention of Vice in the eastern…
Indian journalist Sakshi Joshi assaulted, detained while covering women-led protest
New York, May 5, 2023—Indian authorities must conduct an immediate and impartial investigation into the police harassment, assault, and detention of journalist Sakshi Joshi and hold the officers responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. At around 12:30 a.m. on Wednesday, May 3, police in the capital city of Delhi confronted Joshi…
Nicaraguan police detain journalist William Aragón overnight on false news charge
New York, May 5, 2023—Nicaraguan authorities should drop all criminal charges against journalist William Aragón, let him work free from harassment, and cease detaining journalists for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. At about 6 p.m. on Wednesday, May 3, police arrested Aragón at his home in the city of Estelí and…
Iranian journalist Hasan Abbasi detained in undisclosed location
Washington, D.C., May 4, 2023—Iranian authorities should immediately release journalist Hasan Abbasi and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On April 30, security forces arrested Abbasi, a freelance investigative reporter who covers news in the southern city of Bandar Abbas, in Hormozgan province, according to news reports. His detention was a…
More journalists detained, allegedly beaten in custody ahead of Turkish elections
Istanbul, May 2, 2023—Turkish authorities should immediately release Sedat Yılmaz, Dicle Müftüoğlu, and all other detained journalists and ensure the country’s security forces are not physically violent toward members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Saturday, April 29, police detained Yılmaz, an editor for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, and…
Mahoney: UN can help journalists beyond World Press Freedom Day
New York, May 1, 2023–Evan Gershkovich and Jimmy Lai are about to spend World Press Freedom Day behind bars. Gershkovich, a Wall Street Journal Moscow correspondent, and Lai, a pro-democracy Hong Kong media magnate, are among record numbers of journalists in prison as the United Nations marks the 30th anniversary of its special day for…