CPJ welcomes Brazilian Supreme Court ruling in favor of journalist blinded by rubber bullet
São Paulo, April 30, 2026—The Brazilian Federal Supreme Court ordered the state of São Paulo to pay $20,000 in moral damage compensation and a lifetime pension to freelance photojournalist Sergio Andrade da Silva, who lost sight in his left eye after being struck by a rubber bullet fired by the police during a protest on June 13, 2013. “This…
CPJ, partners condemn Ecuador court’s order to remove press freedom NGO’s content
The Committee to Protect Journalists signed a joint statement along with the Inter-American Press Association and Voces del Sur network condemning an Ecuadorian court’s decision ordering local press freedom organization Fundamedios to remove a publication mentioning local businessman Pedro Julio Bejarano Alvarado. Last year, Bejarano formally asked Fundamedios to unpublish the alert but it refused. On January 14, 2026,…
Myanmar junta revokes licenses of 3 media outlets in martial law clampdown
Bangkok, April 30, 2026—Myanmar’s junta must restore the recently revoked publication licenses of three local news agencies — the Khonumthung Media Group, Chin World, and Myatmaukkhit News Agency — and cease its persecution of independent media groups, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. The military bans, effective on April 9 and formally announced on…
Bahrain sentences photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel to 10 years in prison
Washington, D.C., April 28, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is appalled by the 10-year prison sentence handed down to Bahraini photographer Sayed Baqer Al-Kamel after reportedly posting a video of the aftermath of an Iranian attack on the Gulf nation. The photojournalist was convicted on charges including allegedly promoting content deemed supportive of…
Indian police invoke anti-terror law to unmask anonymous news handle TeluguScribe
New Delhi, April 29, 2026—Indian authorities in the southern state of Telangana must drop their investigation into social media news outlet TeluguScribe and stop the misuse of anti-terror legislation to silence criticism in the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On April 18, the Intelligence Department of the Telangana Police issued a formal…
CPJ joins call for Turkey to repeal disinformation law for its use against journalists
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 22 press freedom and human rights organizations in an April 28 joint statement condemning Turkey’s frequent use of its disinformation law for prosecuting and imprisoning journalists. The signatories urged the Turkish authorities to release all journalists imprisoned under this law and ultimately repeal it. “Turkey’s disinformation law is structurally…
Maldives police raid Adhadhu newsroom, travel bans imposed on editor and CEO
New Delhi, April 28, 2026—Maldivian authorities must immediately return seized equipment to the independent news outlet Adhadhu, lift travel bans on its staff, and cease using criminal allegations to silence reporting on the president, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On April 27, police raided Adhadhu’s headquarters in the capital city, Malé, and seized electronic devices,…
CPJ demands transparency as German reporter confirmed detained in Syria
Sulaymaniyah, April 27, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) calls on Syrian authorities to provide immediate and transparent information on the detention of German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann and the continued enforced disappearance of Kurdish-Turkish journalist Ahmed Polad, who sources say is being held in a Syrian detention facility. Despite confirmation from Michelmann’s…
CPJ calls on Zambian president to champion the media as World Press Freedom Day host
The Committee to Protect Journalists wrote to Zambia’s President Hakainde Hichilema expressing concern over recent attacks on journalists and legislation that negatively impacts the media, as the country prepares to host the United Nations’ World Press Freedom Day 2026 Global Conference on May 3. The letter also calls on Hichilema to create a safe and…
Ugandan journalists face up to 20 years in jail under draconian foreign agents bill
Uganda is set to pass a foreign agents bill, whose sweeping provisions could be used to imprison journalists critically reporting on economics, foreign policy, or elections for up to 20 years, limit foreign media funding to about $100,000, and subject newsrooms to intrusive state oversight. The Protection of Sovereignty Bill says it aims to register…