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…
German journalist recounts 5-month detention in Syria, urges colleague’s release
On January 18, 2026, German journalist Eva Maria Michelmann and her Kurdish-Turkish colleague Ahmed Polad were detained while reporting from the northern Syrian city of Raqqa, as government forces advanced on the territory controlled by the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF). After months of denying knowledge, authorities admitted holding them in custody. Michelmann, who had…
Journalist Oya Lale Özan Arslan arrested in Turkey on suspicion of ‘spreading disinformation’
Istanbul, September 8, 2026—Turkish authorities must immediately release arrested journalist Oya Lale Özan Arslan and stop weaponizing the law against independent media, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday. Arslan, a freelance journalist with over 118,000 followers on X and 151,000 on YouTube where she posts under the name Lale Özan Arslan, was detained…
CPJ says Kazakhstan’s new parliament should scrap rules restricting journalists’ access
London, September 7, 2026—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Kazakhstan’s newly inaugurated parliament, or Kurultai, to scrap new rules that restrict journalists’ movements in the parliament building and limit their ability to question politicians. The unicameral parliament, established by a new constitution passed earlier this year, was inaugurated on August 28. The new rules,…
Tunisian authorities arrest journalist Mohamed Yousfi amid financial investigation
New York, September 7, 2026 —Tunisian authorities must immediately release journalist Mohamed Yousfi, a well-known critic of President Kais Saied’s government, and end its use of financial crime allegations to target members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Friday, September 4, police from the financial crimes unit arrested Yousfi, editor-in-chief…
Journalists in Lebanon and Gaza injured amid fragile ceasefires
Amman, September 7, 2026 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the recent escalation in Israeli strikes on Gaza and Lebanon, which have injured at least four journalists, including three on Sunday, underscoring the fragility of the ceasefires in both locations. On September 6, 2026, Lebanese correspondent for the local Hezbollah-affiliated Al-Manar TV…
Somaliland journalist detained without charge after interviewing poet
New York, September 7, 2026–The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the release of Somali journalist Abdiqani Hussein Abokor, also known as Baylood, who has been held without charge since August 29 in the breakaway region of Somaliland after interviewing a poet. “Abdiqani Hussein Abokor joins a long list of journalists in Somaliland who have…