Veteran Haitian journalist Wesly Renaud Jean abducted, ransom requested
Miami, September 12, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed to learn that Haitian journalist Wesly Renaud Jean was abducted by armed gang members in the Delmas 31 neighborhood of Port-au-Prince on Sunday evening and calls on Haitian authorities to swiftly secure his safe release. Jean, 46, is a veteran journalist and has co-hosted the…
Egypt must account for Sudanese journalist Ataf Mohamed Mokhtar
Washington, D.C., September 11, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately disclose the whereabouts of prominent Sudanese journalist Ataf Mohamed Mokhtar and the reasons for his arrest. Ataf was arrested Tuesday, September 8, 2026, from his home in Cairo, with no official announcement from Egyptian authorities on the legal basis for…
Togolese journalist kidnapped, assaulted in a case of mistaken identity
Dakar, September 11, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Togolese authorities to investigate the seizure and assault of journalist Roland Yaovi Kodjo, prosecute those responsible, and ensure journalists’ safety, after armed men kidnapped Kodjo on September 5 and released him hours later after realizing they had targeted the wrong man. “The kidnapping and assault…
CPJ, partners call Pakistan’s prime minister to address alarming deterioration in press freedom
The Committee to Protect Journalists, together with eight other press freedom and human rights organizations, on Friday urged Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to take immediate action to address the country’s rapidly deteriorating press freedom environment. In a joint letter, the groups expressed concern about new restrictions on reporting in parts of Pakistan, recurring internet…
Haitian community radio director Willard Vancol found dead nearly 3 weeks after abduction
Miami, September 10, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Haitian authorities to swiftly and comprehensively conduct an investigation into the murder of Haitian community radio host Joseph Willard Vancol whose remains were found Wednesday nearly three weeks after he was abducted by armed men in Gressier, a community west of the capital controlled by…
In Niger, prominent journalist Moussa Kaka missing since August 31
Dakar, September 9, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Nigerien authorities to take urgent action to find Moussa Kaka, CEO of the Radio Télévision Saraounia (RTS) group, who disappeared on August 31, days after authorities foiled an attempted coup. “The suspicious circumstances surrounding Moussa Kaka’s disappearance demand urgent action to locate him and end…
Kicked, threatened, shot at: Israeli settler violence hits West Bank journalists
Palestinian freelance journalist Salman al-Khatib and his colleagues were filming Israeli demolitions of homes in the occupied West Bank late last month when a young settler approached them, blocked their cameras, shoved the journalists, and kicked Al-Khatib. After another settler arrived on the scene, located between the towns of Birzeit and Atara, north of Ramallah,…
Pakistan detains journalist Muhammad Bilal Ghauri over commentary on security appointment
New York, September 9, 2026—Pakistani authorities must immediately release independent journalist Muhammad Bilal Ghauri and drop the cybercrime case filed against him over his commentary about the appointment of a senior counterterrorism official, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Ghauri, who covers news via his popular YouTube channel, was reported missing by his family…
Ukraine: Russian drone strike on TV channel building in Kyiv injures six people, damages newsroom
London, September 8, 2026—A Russian drone strike on a building housing two TV channels in Kyiv wounded six people and seriously damaged the newsroom on Tuesday while the team was on air. Three employees were taken to hospital following the attack on the premises of We Are Ukraine and We Are Ukraine+ TV channels, according…
CPJ condemns 15-year prison sentence handed down by Russian authorities to retired Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko
Berlin, September 8, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the harsh 15-year prison sentence handed down by Russian occupation authorities to retired Ukrainian journalist Iryna Levchenko on charges of “espionage,” and calls for her immediate and unconditional release. The Russian-controlled Zaporizhzhia Regional Court said on September 4 it had sentenced Levchenko, who is 64 and…