CPJ, 58 others call for journalist Alaa Abdelfattah’s release at end of prison sentence
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 58 human rights organizations in a joint statement on Wednesday, September 25, 2024, calling for the release of Egyptian-British blogger and writer Alaa Abdelfattah on Sunday, September 29, at the conclusion of his five-year prison sentence, in accordance with Egyptian law. The statement also urged Egypt’s international partners to…
Hong Kong denies work visa to photojournalist Louise Delmotte
Taipei, September 25, 2024—Hong Kong authorities should renew Associated Press (AP) photojournalist Louise Delmotte’s visa, and allow foreign correspondents to work freely in the city, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Wednesday. “Denying Louise Delmotte’s entry is a petty act of retaliation against her journalistic work,” said Iris Hsu, CPJ’s China representative. “This pattern…
CPJ, others: Council of Europe must push Azerbaijan on abuses
CPJ joined 10 other civil society organizations on Wednesday in urging the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) to further pressure Azerbaijan over its “grave human rights situation” and to stop its crackdown on critical voices. In January, PACE voted to exclude Azerbaijan’s delegation because the country had not “fulfilled major commitments” on…
Iranian Kurdish journalist Fardin Mostafaei detained in undisclosed location
Washington D.C., September 24, 2024—Islamic Republic of Iran authorities must free Iranian Kurdish journalist Fardin Mostafaei, who was arrested on September 18 in a cafe in the northwestern Kurdistan province and detained in an undisclosed location on unspecified charges, according to news reports. “Iranian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Fardin Mostafaei and…
CPJ, 28 others urge UN to prioritize human rights in Bahrain
On September 23, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined 28 human rights organizations during the 79th session of the United Nations General Assembly in urging all member states to address human rights concerns in Bahrain, including the ongoing arbitrary detention of journalists, human rights defenders, scholars, bloggers, and opposition leaders. The letter included the case…
Egypt violates own law by adding 2 years to Alaa Abdelfattah’s prison term
Washington, D.C., September 24, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egyptian authorities to release Alaa Abdelfattah, a prominent Egyptian-British blogger and writer, upon completion of his five-year prison sentence this Sunday, September 29. Abdelfattah was arrested on September 28, 2019, and in December 2021, he was sentenced to five years in prison, starting from…
Taliban ban live political broadcasts, step up censorship
New York, September 24, 2024—The Taliban must reverse their directive banning live broadcasts of political shows, criticism of the group, and interviews with analysts not on a list of 68 pre-approved names, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On September 21, the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture summoned media executives in the capital…
Belarus detains journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich ahead of trial
New York, September 23, 2024—Belarusian authorities should disclose their reason for detaining journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich ahead of his September 26 trial on charges of violating public order in the southwestern city of Pinsk, and ensure that no journalists are jailed because of their work, said the Committee to Protect Journalist on Monday. “Journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich’s detention, despite a spate…
Turkey investigates Kurdish journalist for ‘spreading disinformation’ over crime reporting
Istanbul, September 23, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urged the Turkish authorities on Monday to drop the disinformation investigation into Rabia Önver, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish news website JİNNEWS, and stop using house raids to harass journalists. “The police raid of JİNNEWS reporter Rabia Önver’s house was completely unjustified for an alleged disinformation investigation…
Taliban jams Afghanistan International broadcasts in Kabul
New York, September 23, 2024 —The Taliban must stop transmitting disruptive signals to prevent residents in the Afghan capital Kabul watching the popular London-based Afghanistan International on television, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. “The Taliban must immediately cease jamming Afghanistan International’s broadcasts, which marks a new low in their shameful campaign to silence…