Supporters of Lebanese president storm Al-Sharq office in Beirut
New York, October 13, 2021 — Lebanese authorities must identify the people who stormed the Beirut office of daily newspaper and news website Al-Sharq and hold them to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, at least a dozen supporters of Lebanese President Michel Aoun stormed inside the Al-Sharq office and hung pictures…
Branch of Bangladesh ruling party files complaint against Sweden-based journalist Tasneem Khalil
Washington, D.C., October 12, 2021 — The All European Awami League should immediately withdraw its complaint to the Swedish police against Bangladeshi journalist Tasneem Khalil, and Bangladesh authorities must cease harassing Khalil and his family, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 7, members of the All European Awami League, a Europe-focused branch…
Mozambique police beat and detain journalists covering demonstrations
On September 9, 2021, police in Mozambique’s central Nampula province harassed, beat, and detained at least six journalists covering protests over the government’s alleged delays in distributing financial relief in response to the COVID-19 pandemic, according to news reports and the journalists involved, who spoke with CPJ in phone interviews and via messaging app. The…
Polish authorities question reporter covering Belarus border area
On September 27, 2021, police in Michałowo, a Polish town near the border with Belarus, questioned Agnieszka Kaszuba, a reporter for daily newspaper Fakt, for about an hour, according to news reports, her employer, and the journalist, who communicated with CPJ via email. Kaszuba told CPJ that the officers stopped her car while she was…
Bangladesh authorities detain sister of exiled journalist Kanak Sarwar
Washington, D.C., October 6, 2021 — Bangladesh authorities must immediately release Nusrat Shahrin Raka, cease targeting journalists’ family members, and commit to allowing the media to operate without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Very early yesterday morning, officers with the police Rapid Action Battalion raided Raka’s home in Uttara, a…
Polish police search journalist’s home, seize equipment over alleged threats to legislator
Berlin, October 6, 2021 — Polish authorities should stop harassing journalist Piotr Bakselerowicz, return his equipment, and respect the confidentiality of his sources, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On October 2, four officers from the Warsaw Police Department, two of whom carried guns, searched the apartment of Bakselerowicz, a reporter for the independent…
‘It is becoming unbearable:’ Journalists say they have become ‘scapegoats’ at anti-vaccine protests
Journalists covering demonstrations against COVID-19 countermeasures have been called “terrorists,” “pedophiles,” “murderers,” and “scumbags.” Protesters have harassed and assaulted members of the press, and told them that “the nooses are ready.” Threats like these have become increasingly familiar for reporters in Europe and the United States, where the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, a CPJ partner,…
Russian authorities harass family of exiled journalist Roman Dobrokhotov
Vilnius, Lithuania, October 1, 2021 – Russian authorities should stop harassing journalist Roman Dobrokhotov and his family members, and allow members of the press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, officers with the Federal Security Service (FSB) raided Dobrokhotov’s apartment, where his wife lives, and his parents’ apartment in Moscow,…
Gunmen forcibly enter office of Salam Watandar broadcaster in Afghanistan
Washington, D.C., September 30, 2021 — The Taliban must thoroughly and impartially investigate the recent harassment of the privately owned radio broadcaster Salam Watandar, and commit to allowing the media to operate freely and openly, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On September 26, two armed men forcibly entered Salam Watandar’s office in Kabul,…
Bangladesh authorities order banks to disclose information on 12 journalists’ accounts
Washington, D.C., September 28, 2021 — Bangladesh authorities must immediately drop their investigations into the bank accounts of 12 members of the press and commit to allowing the media to operate freely and independently, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 11, the Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit, a government agency responsible for investigating…