Sri Lankan journalist narrowly escapes kidnap after crime reports
New York, January 9, 2025—Sri Lankan authorities must conduct a swift and impartial investigation into the December 26 assault and attempted kidnapping of Murukaiya Thamilselvan, a freelance journalist of Sri Lanka’s ethnic Tamil minority, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. “Sri Lankan authorities must take immediate steps to ensure the safety of journalist Murukaiya…
Trump steps up actions against press with Des Moines Register lawsuit
Washington, D.C., December 18, 2024–The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns President-elect Donald Trump’s lawsuit against the Des Moines Register and Gannett, which was filed on Monday, for publishing a poll that showed him trailing Vice President Kamala Harris in the run-up to the November presidential election. The lawsuit, which also includes pollster J. Ann Selzer…
Bypassing the ‘Taliban firewall’: How an exile newsroom reports on Afghan women
Faisal Karimi and Wahab Siddiqi, respectively founder and editor-in-chief of the Afghanistan Women’s News Agency, were among the first journalists to flee Afghanistan after the Taliban retook control of the country in August 2021. After escaping the country undetected with nearly two dozen newsroom colleagues and family members a week after the fall of Kabul,…
Kosovo journalist Berat Buzhala, Nacionale newsroom receive death threat
Berlin December 5, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kosovo authorities to ensure the safety of journalist Berat Buzhala, founder of the online media outlet Nacionale, following a December 2 death threat he received via Facebook messenger threatening his safety and his colleagues’. “We welcome the Kosovo authorities’ swift investigation into a death threat…
Italian investigative team receives death threat referencing Charlie Hebdo attack
Berlin, November 15, 2024—The editorial team of the investigative television program “Report” on Italian public broadcaster RAI3 received a death threat via social media on Tuesday, November 12, saying the team “deserved it, Charlie Hebdo editorial team style,” following their reporting on the Israel-Gaza war. The message referenced a 2015 terrorist attack targeting the offices…
Journalist attacked by business owner, security guards in Montenegro
Berlin, November 14, 2024—A local business owner and his security guards insulted and attacked journalist Ana Raičković after following her and her family to their car outside a restaurant in Podgorica, the capital of Montenegro, on Sunday, November 10. One man grabbed Raičković, editor for online newspaper Pobjeda, by her throat and threatened her and…
Egypt sentences detained journalist to 25 years; accused of threatening 2nd journalist
Washington, D.C., November 13, 2024—Egyptian authorities sentenced in absentia journalist Yasser Abu Al-Ela to 25 years in prison on Sunday, November 10, on charges of joining a terrorist organization and spreading false news. Separately, press freedom advocate Rasha Azab accused the Interior Minister and the head of the National Security Agency of orchestrating recent threats against her and surveilling her movements, which culminated…
Bolivian protesters threaten to hang journalist Jurgen Guzmán
Bogotá, November 7, 2024—Bolivian authorities must thoroughly investigate violent attacks on journalists covering a wave of anti-government protests, including against reporter Jurgen Guzmán of private broadcaster Unitel TV, and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On October 26, protesters blocking a highway nearthe central Bolivian town of Melga threatened…
Bulgarian journalists beaten, threatened on election day
New York, November 4, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Bulgarian authorities to swiftly investigate and prosecute those who attacked or threatened at least four journalists while they were reporting on Sunday’s parliamentary elections. “Harassment and threats against journalists covering Bulgaria’s elections are deeply concerning,” said Attila Mong, CPJ’s Europe representative. “Bulgarian authorities must…
Belgrade mayor calls N1 TV journalists ‘manipulators,’ reports ‘fake’
New York, October 30, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Serbian authorities to condemn the recent verbal attacks against journalists from private independent TV station N1 and other outlets by Belgrade Mayor Aleksandar Šapić and ensure journalists can safely carry out their work without fear of intimidation or reprisal. “We are deeply concerned by…