CPJ condemns Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov’s 6-year prison sentence
New York, April 5, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned the conviction and six-year prison sentence issued to Russian journalist Igor Kuznetsov on Friday and called on authorities to drop all charges, and release him immediately. A Moscow court convicted Kuznetsov, a reporter with the independent news website RusNews, on charges of inciting mass disturbances…
Turkish authorities attack, threaten, arrest several journalists during post-election unrest
Istanbul, April 5, 2024—Turkish authorities should allow media and journalists to do their jobs, and investigate reports of journalists being attacked by security forces and threatened online for their election reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. After Sunday’s local elections, Turkey’s highest election authority, the Supreme Election Council (YSK), rescinded the victory of a pro-Kurdish Peoples’ Equality and Democracy Party (DEM)…
Journalist Ahmed al-Bitawi arrested while covering pro-Gaza march in the West Bank
New York, April 5, 2024—Palestinian authorities in the West Bank must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Ahmed al-Bitawi, who has been in detention since March 30, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On March 29, Palestinian General Intelligence Service agents arrested al-Bitawi, a reporter for Sanad News Agency, in the Palestinian West Bank city…
CPJ, others welcome Council of Europe recommendations on countering SLAPPs
The Committee to Protect Journalists, as part of the Coalition Against SLAPPs in Europe (CASE), issued a Friday statement welcoming the Council of Europe’s adoption of recommendations on countering the use of SLAPPs. Strategic lawsuits against public participation, known as SLAPPs, are civil or criminal suits typically brought by individuals, institutions, or corporations to burden…
CPJ, 27 others urge Bahraini leaders to release journalist Abduljalil Alsingace
On April 3, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined 27 press freedom and human rights organizations in urging Hamad bin Isa Al Khalifa, the king of Bahrain, and Salman bin Hamad Al Khalifa, the crown prince and prime minister, to immediately release journalist Abduljalil Alsingace and ensure he receives urgent medical care. The statement was…
Georgia ruling party reintroduces ‘foreign agents’ law to parliament
Stockholm, April 4, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s Tuesday reintroduction into the Georgian parliament of a proposed “foreign agents” law previously shelved after mass protests. “Georgian authorities’ revival of a bill that would smear media outlets as foreign-controlled is deeply concerning and utterly incompatible with their claim…
Gaza journalist Diaa Al-Kahlout describes 33 harrowing days in Israeli custody
Diaa Al-Kahlout, the veteran Gaza bureau chief for the Qatari-funded London-based newspaper Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, had been covering the Israel-Gaza war for two months when he became part of the news. On December 7, Al-Kahlout was detained along with members of his family by Israeli forces in a mass arrest in Beit Lahya in northern Gaza….
Exiled Afghan journalist Ahmad Hanayesh shot in Pakistan
New York, April 4, 2024—Pakistani authorities must promptly investigate Wednesday’s shooting of exiled Afghan journalist Ahmad Hanayesh by two gunmen on a motorcycle and bring the assailants to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Hanayesh, also known by his birth name Abdul Aleem Saqib, was returning home on the evening of April 3…
Myanmar jails filmmaker Shin Daewe for life for buying a drone
Award-winning Myanmar documentary filmmaker Shin Daewe is serving a life sentence on charges of illegal possession of an unregistered drone, a criminal offense under the country’s Anti-Terrorism Law, according to news reports. Shin Daewe was arrested on October 15, 2023, while picking up a video drone she had ordered online to use for filming a documentary, according…
Tunisian authorities arrest, charge journalist Mohamed Boughalleb
New York, April 3, 2024—Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Mohamed Boughalleb and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Boughalleb, a reporter with local independent channel Carthage Plus and local independent radio station Cap FM, was arrested by Tunisian police on March 22 and charged with “defaming…