CPJ urges Netanyahu government not to shut down Al Jazeera in Israel
Washington, D.C., April 1, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists urgently calls on the Israeli government not to close the Jerusalem-based bureau of Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera and allow the media to report freely on news events in Israel and Gaza during the current conflict. On Monday, Israel’s parliament, the Knesset, passed a law allowing the…
Russia extends detention of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva by 2 months
New York, April 1, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemned a Russian court’s decision on Monday to extend the pretrial detention of U.S.-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva until June 5 and called for her immediate release. “Russian authorities have been holding journalist Alsu Kurmasheva for over five months on charges directly connected with her journalistic work. Today’s extension…
CPJ: Angola’s proposed national security law threatens press freedom, puts journalists at risk
New York, April 1, 2024–Angola’s proposed national security law could hinder the public’s right to information and severely undermine press freedom, further exposing journalists to harassment, intimidation, and censorship by authorities, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Monday. The National Security Bill, which critics say threatens Angola’s democracy and could turn the country into…
Liberian law enforcement officers arrest, beat journalist Kesselee Sumo
Abuja, March 29, 2024—Liberian authorities should investigate the law enforcement officers who tear-gassed and beat to unconsciousness journalist Kesselee Sumo, and drop all legal proceedings against the talk show host, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Two officers with the Liberia Drug Enforcement Agency (LDEA) and a magistrate’s court sheriff assaulted and arrested Sumo,…
Sri Lanka arrests, investigates journalists G.P. Nissanka, Bimal Ruhunage
New York, March 29, 2024—Sri Lankan authorities must immediately drop their investigations into journalists G.P. Nissanka and Bimal Ruhunage and allow them to report without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On the evening of March 5, officers with the Sri Lanka police service’s Criminal Investigation Department arrested G.P. Nissanka, owner…
‘Your credibility is on the line’: CPJ, 41 others urge MFC member states to act on Gaza
Editor’s note: This letter has been updated to reflect an increased number of signatories. The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 41 other media freedom organizations in calling out the “collective official silence” of the Media Freedom Coalition member states regarding the killings of journalists in Gaza and further warned that this silence seriously diminishes their…
Russia detained journalist Antonina Favorskaya for 2 months for reporting on late opposition leader Navalny
New York, March 29, 2024—Russian authorities must release journalist Antonina Favorskaya, drop all charges against her, and refrain from persecuting members of the press in retaliation for their reporting on late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Wednesday, authorities did not release Favorskaya, a journalist with independent news outlet…
CPJ, partners urge UN leaders to release full report on journalist Issam Abdallah’s murder
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined its international partners on Friday in signing a letter urging the United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNFIL) to publish its investigation into the murder of Reuters video journalist Issam Abdallah, who was killed by Israeli forces in south Lebanon on October 13, 2023. Four journalists injured in the…
Rare rebuke for Chinese police who harassed state journalists covering gas explosion
Police blocked and harassed reporters from the state-owned broadcaster CCTV at the site of a fatal gas explosion in Sanhe, a city in China’s northern Hebei province, on March 13, 2024, according to news reports. The explosion was triggered by a gas leak at a restaurant, which killed seven and injured 27. During a live…
Albanian PM accused of trying to intimidate journalist Ambrozia Meta
Berlin, March 27, 2024—Albanian government officials must stop undermining press freedom by using abusive language and intimidating behavior against journalists who ask critical questions, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. CPJ’s statement follows an exchange documented in video footage and media reports between journalist Ambrozia Meta and Prime Minister Edi Rama at a March…