In Serbia, a ‘witch-hunt’ for journalists who don’t toe government line
“A real epidemic of attacks.” That’s the way Serbian journalist, advocate, and professor Dinko Gruhonjić characterized the state of press freedom in his country in a recent op-ed for the media-focused news site Cenzolovka. Gruhonjić faced severe online harassment after a doctored video in which he appears to praise a war criminal was circulated online…
Palestinian journalist Rula Hassanein charged with incitement for social media posts
New York, May 8, 2024 – The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday urged Israeli authorities to release Palestinian freelance journalist Rula Hassanein on humanitarian grounds as her health and that of her infant daughter had deteriorated since Hassanein’s March arrest over her social media posts. On March 19, Israeli military forces arrested Hassanein, who…
CPJ calls for immediate release of Sudanese photographer Abdelaziz Mahmoud Arja
New York, May 8, 2024 — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on the Sudanese paramilitary group Rapid Support Forces (RSF) to immediately and unconditionally release Abdelaziz Mahmoud Arja, a photographer with state-owned Sudan TV. “We are deeply concerned by the Rapid Support Forces soldiers’ arrest of state television photographer Abdelaziz Mahmoud Arja and urge…
Jordanian authorities shut down Al-Yarmouk TV station
Beirut, May 8, 2024 — After the Al-Yarmouk TV channel was raided on Tuesday night, the Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday called on Jordanian authorities to ensure the outlet can reopen and work freely without fear of reprisal. On May 7, 2024, Jordanian security forces stormed the Al-Yarmouk offices in the capital, Amman, confiscated…
Shooter of Philippine journalist Percival Mabasa given up to 16 years jail
Bangkok, May 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists commends the conviction and sentencing of Joel Escorial, who confessed to shooting dead Philippine journalist Percival Mabasa in 2022. On Monday, May 6, Harold Cesar Huliganga, presiding judge at the Regional Trial Court Branch 254 in the city of Las Piñas, about 20 kilometers (12 miles) south…
Nigerian police secretly arrest journalist Daniel Ojukwu over critical report
Abuja, May 8, 2024—Authorities in Nigeria should immediately release journalist Daniel Ojukwu and stop intimidating and arresting members of the press who investigate the government’s spending of public funds, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On May 1, Ojukwu, a reporter with the privately owned Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), went missing and his…
Guinea suspends journalist Mamoudou Babila Keita and Inquisiteur website for 6 months
Dakar, May 8, 2023—Guinea’s media regulator should lift its suspension of the Inquisiteur outlet and journalist Mamoudou Babila Keita and allow the press to report on matters of public interest without fear of sanctions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On April 17, the High Authority for Communication (HAC) suspended the private news website…
Journalist Idrissa Soumana Maïga detained for ‘undermining national defense’ in Niger
Dakar, May 7, 2024 — Nigerien authorities must immediately release Idrissa Soumana Maïga, editor of the privately owned newspaper L’Enquêteur, and allow him to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. An investigative judge at the court in Niamey, the capital, charged Maïga with “undermining national defense” and ordered his transfer to Niamey…
Pakistani journalist Muhammad Siddique Mengal targeted, killed by bomb
New York, May 7, 2024 — Pakistani authorities must thoroughly investigate the killing of journalist Muhammad Siddique Mengal, who died in a bomb attack on World Press Freedom Day, and ensure the perpetrators are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. An unidentified motorcyclist placed a bomb on Mengal’s vehicle at a…
SABC editor-in-chief called for security vetting and polygraph before South Africa election
Lusaka, May 6, 2024 — The Committee to Protect Journalists on Monday expressed alarm that South Africa’s spy agency wants to subject Moshoeshoe Monare, the editor-in-chief of the South African Broadcasting Corporation (SABC), to additional security vetting and an invasive lie-detector test ahead of the country’s crucial May 29 general election. A senior official at…