Court hears arguments on ACLU petition demanding Mario Guevara’s release
Brunswick, Georgia, August 27, 2025一Journalist Mario Guevara remains in detention after a judge requested more information in a federal court hearing Wednesday in which the American Civil Liberties Union (ACLU) petitioned for his immediate release. Guevara’s legal team, including the ACLU, argued before U.S. Magistrate Judge Benjamin Cheesbro, of the U.S. District Court for the…
CPJ joins 71 groups in call to secure Jimmy Lai’s release on medical grounds
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 71 other press freedom and human rights organizations in an August 21 joint letter calling on British Prime Minister Keir Starmer to secure UK citizen and publisher Jimmy Lai’s release on medical grounds. Lai, the 77-year-old founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has suffered deteriorating health, including heart palpitations…
CPJ urges Maldives president to reject ‘regressive’ media bill
Editor’s note: Maldives President Mohamed Muizzu signed the Maldives Media & Broadcasting Bill into law on September 18, 2025. New Delhi, August 21, 2025—Maldives president Mohamed Muizzu should reject a bill that was recently introduced in the country’s parliament that would dismantle press freedom and place the media under government control, the second such bill…
Indian police open 2 criminal probes into The Wire news outlet
New Delhi, August 20, 2025—Two police branches in northeastern Indian state of Assam opened separate criminal investigations into Siddharth Varadarajan, editor for independent news website The Wire, its entire editorial team, including Hindi language editor Ashutosh Bhardwaj and contributor Karan Thapar, and the outlet’s parent company, the Foundation for Independent Journalism (FIJ). The investigations are…
Over 4 years added to sentence of imprisoned Kurdish journalist Sherwan Sherwani
Sulaymaniyah, Iraq, August 20, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kurdish authorities to immediately release freelance Iraqi Kurdish journalist Sherwan Sherwani after an Erbil court handed him an additional four years and five months in prison. “Sentencing Sherwani for a third time on dubious charges and imposing the maximum penalty shows the authorities’ determination to silence his critical voice and keep him behind…
‘It has become extremely difficult for us’: Uncertain future for RFE/RL’s Kazakh service
Radio Azattyq director Torokul Doorov says it is “very difficult” for journalists not to become activists in the face of “unfairness and injustice” in Kazakhstan. “You just want to start screaming,” says Doorov, who joined the Kazakh arm of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty in 2014, and the outlet grew to be one of Kazakhstan’s most influential…
Vietnam issues arrest warrant for journalist in hiding Doan Bao Chau
Bangkok, August 15, 2025—Vietnamese authorities issued an arrest warrant on August 14 for Doan Bao Chau for propagandizing against the state, according to a state media report and the reporter, who communicated with CPJ via messaging app. “Vietnam must repeal its arrest warrant, drop any pending charges, and cease its legal harassment of journalist Doan Bao Chau,”…
CPJ, partners urge Sri Lanka to end harassment of journalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined seven other civil society organizations in calling on Sri Lankan authorities to immediately end the harassment of Tamil photojournalist Kanapathipillai Kumanan and withdraw the counterterrorism police summons for questioning on August 17. The Counter Terrorism Investigation Department did not state the reason for the summons, although the journalist, who…
Gag orders against journalists raise South Africa press freedom concerns
When a South African solar panel company last month dropped its legal battle over a gag order preventing journalist Bongani Hans from reporting on allegations of misleading clients, Hans told the Committee to Protect Journalists that he saw it as “a victory for media and press freedom.” But for Hans and others in the country’s…
CPJ urges Hong Kong to free Jimmy Lai as trial near its end
New York, August 13, 2025—As closing arguments are set to begin on August 14 in the national security trial of Jimmy Lai, founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, the Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Hong Kong authorities to drop all charges against the 77-year-old publisher and release him immediately and unconditionally. Lai, whose…