Nicaraguan police arrest journalist Orlando Chávez in León
Nicaraguan police detained Orlando Chávez, the director of the independent news radio show “El Metropolitano,” along with his brother and sister, after raiding their home on May 19, 2024, according to the Nicaraguan newspaper La Prensa. News reports said police arrested the journalist’s siblings, Obed and Merary Chávez, for alleged obstruction and confiscated their phones….
Russia bans news site SOTA, penalizes 3 ‘foreign agent’ journalists
Berlin, May 22, 2024—Russian authorities must immediately halt their criminalization of journalists and independent media outlets by labeling them as “undesirable” and by issuing punitive sanctions against those they deem “foreign agents,” the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On May 16, the prosecutor general’s office banned SOTA, one of Russia’s last independent news outlets,…
UN asks Taiwanese journalists for Chinese passports to attend WHO assembly
Taipei, May 22, 2024 – The World Health Organization should allow all journalists to cover the organization’s annual decision-making meeting, the World Health Assembly, and issue press accreditation to Taiwanese media outlets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On May 9 and 10, after submitting a request for press accreditation to cover the World…
CPJ, partners call on ICJ to order unimpeded media access to Gaza following South Africa’s urgent request
New York, May 22, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), ARTICLE 19 and partners on Wednesday issued a statement (full text below) in support of South Africa’s urgent request to the International Court of Justice to order Israel to facilitate unimpeded media access to Gaza. In a joint statement, nine human rights and press freedom…
Syrian student journalist Atia Abu Salem on hunger strike in Jordanian prison
Istanbul, May 22, 2024—Jordanian authorities must immediately release Syrian student journalist Atia Abu Salem, revoke the deportation order against him, and stop censoring members of the press because of their reporting on the Israel-Gaza war, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On April 9, Jordanian security forces arrested Abu Salem, a Syrian student at…
Belarusian authorities invade homes of 2 exiled journalists
New York, May 21, 2024 — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Belarusian authorities to stop harassing exiled journalists and ensure the media can work freely, both abroad and at home. On Thursday, May 16, officers with the Belarusian State Security Committee, or KGB, and representatives of the Ministry of Taxes and Duties sealed…
Colombian journalist flees after death threat after report on extortion claims
Bogotá, May 21, 2024—Colombian authorities must thoroughly investigate the death threat received by journalist Edward Álvarez, ensure his safety, and bring those responsible to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Álvarez, a reporter for the independent online news outlet La Chiva de Urabá in the northern city of Apartadó, received a death threat…
Iraqi Kurdish Asayish security forces arrest journalist Shakar Star after smuggling reports
Beirut, May 21, 2024 — Iraqi Kurdish authorities should immediately and unconditionally release journalist Shakar Star and allow all members of the media to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On the evening of Saturday, May 18, Iraqi Kurdistan Asayish security forces arrested Star, a presenter at local media agency Tiwar News,…
Israeli authorities confiscate AP equipment broadcasting live feed of Gaza
Update: AP reported that Israeli authorities said they would return the equipment after widespread backlash from press freedom advocates and a White House request. The live feed was restored Wednesday morning. Beirut, May 21, 2024 — Israeli authorities must return the equipment they confiscated from The Associated Press in southern Israel and stop harassing and censoring journalists covering…
CPJ, others urge UK to repeal harsh media law passed after phone hacking scandal
The Committee to Protect Journalists and nine other organizations representing news media titles, journalists, and campaign groups, urged U.K. authorities on Tuesday to urgently repeal Section 40 of the Crime and Courts Act 2013, which could force publishers to pay the costs of people who sue them — even if the outlet wins. Section 40,…