CPJ joins call urging Pakistan to reinstate internet access after election day suspension
On Thursday, the Committee to Protect Journalists, Access Now, and the #KeepItOn coalition strongly condemned the Pakistani caretaker government’s suspension of mobile services across the country during its elections and called for full internet access to be reinstated immediately. Read the full joint statement here.
Malaysia hands 2-year prison sentence to UK journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown
Bangkok, February 9, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Malaysian authorities to reverse the decision to sentence British anti-corruption reporter Clare Rewcastle Brown to two years in prison in absentia for criminal defamation over her investigation into a major financial corruption scandal. “Malaysia should scrap the outrageous prison sentence given to Clare Rewcastle Brown…
CPJ to release 2023 report on worldwide killings of journalists
New York, February 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists will release its annual report on journalists killed worldwide in 2023 on February 15, 2024. With a focus on the ongoing Israel-Gaza war and its unprecedented toll on the press, the 2023 global analysis will report which countries are the deadliest for journalists, while providing further…
CPJ condemns phone and internet disruptions, barring of journalists during Pakistan election
New York, February 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the cell phone service suspension and widespread internet disruptions as Pakistan went to the polls on Thursday, with reports of journalists prevented from coverage in some areas. “Cutting off mobile communication services on an election day and preventing journalists from reporting from polling stations severely…
CPJ joins letter calling on British PM to protect journalists in the Israel-Gaza war
The Committee to Protect Journalists on Thursday joined eight other prominent press freedom organizations in sending a letter to British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak urging him to call for press freedom and journalists’ rights to be respected during the Israel-Gaza war. According to CPJ data, more journalists were killed in the first 10 weeks of…
CPJ partners with Forbidden Stories to strengthen journalist safety
New York, February 8, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists and Forbidden Stories announced on Thursday a new partnership to strengthen their ability to assist journalists worldwide. The partnership will see the two nonprofits share journalists’ requests for financial and non-financial support, including security assistance, with each other, as well as information about journalists who have…
Ghanaian journalist Mohammed Aminu Alabira says NPP parliamentarian, party supporters punched and kicked him
Abuja, February 7, 2024—Authorities in Ghana must ensure an efficient and comprehensive investigation into the attack on journalist Mohammed Aminu M. Alabira and hold accountable those responsible, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Alabira, a correspondent for privately owned broadcaster Citi FM, told CPJ he was covering the ruling New Patriotic Party (NPP) parliamentary…
Moscow police detain around 20 journalists during protest by soldiers’ wives
New York, February 7, 2024—Russian authorities must refrain from detaining journalists in the course of their work and allow the media to report freely on protests criticizing the war in Ukraine, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. Around 20 journalists were arrested and briefly detained in the Russian capital of Moscow on February 3…
Kyrgyzstan upholds detention of 11 journalists; CPJ calls for release
Stockholm, February 6, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Tuesday condemned a Kyrgyzstan court’s decision to uphold the two-month pretrial detention of 11 journalists, who are current and former employees of the anti-corruption investigative outlet Temirov Live. “By confirming the arrests of 11 journalists—an unprecedented assault on press freedom in modern Kyrgyz history—authorities in Kyrgyzstan…
Iranian reporter Mehdi Afshar-Nik held incommunicado since January 31
Washington, D.C., February 6, 2024—Iranian authorities should immediately release investigative journalist Mehdi Afshar-Nik, whose whereabouts remain unknown since his arrest, and drop any charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Around midnight on January 31, two plain-clothed agents of the Iranian security forces raided Afshar-Nik’s home, ransacked his apartment, confiscated his personal…