Egyptian authorities arrest father of freelance journalist Ahmed Gamal Ziada
New York, August 23, 2023 – Egyptian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release Gamal Abdelhamid Ziada and drop all charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On Tuesday, August 22, plainclothes state security forces arrested Ziada, the father of Belgium-based freelance Egyptian journalist Ahmed Gamal Ziada, on a street in Giza, according…
CPJ calls for protection of journalists in Bangladesh ahead of UN human rights review
Bangladesh authorities are increasingly attempting to silence the media through arbitrary detention, legal harassment, and censorship, according to a joint submission to the United Nations by the Committee to Protect Journalists, Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights, and Asian Legal Resource Centre. The submission, sent for the 44th session of the Universal Periodic Review Working Group…
Algerian prosecutor requests 3-year sentence for journalist Mustapha Bendjama
New York, August 23, 2023 – The Committee to Protect Journalists called for Algerian authorities to immediately release journalist Mustapha Bendjama on Wednesday, after a prosecutor requested that he be sentenced to three years in prison. “By requesting a three-year prison sentence for journalist Mustapha Bendjama, the Algerian government is demonstrating its brutal intolerance for…
Two Somali journalists arrested for reporting on police, 1 remains in custody
Nairobi, August 23, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday called on Somali authorities to unconditionally release journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul and stop intimidating media covering the security sector. On August 17, four plain-clothed security personnel arrested Mohamed, a reporter with the privately owned broadcaster Kaab TV, at Mogadishu University, where he studies part-time,…
Kazakh journalist Diana Saparkyzy assaulted while covering mining deaths
Stockholm, August 22, 2023 – Kazakh authorities should swiftly investigate the recent use of force against journalist Diana Saparkyzy, prosecute those involved, and ensure that members of the press can cover events of public importance without obstruction, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Friday, August 18, Saparkyzy, a correspondent for independent news agency…
Chinese publisher Lü Hua charged with extortion after reporting on alleged corruption
Washington, D.C., August 22, 2023—Chinese authorities should immediately release Lü Hua, founder and publisher of the independent news website Hubei Xinshidianwang (Hubei New Perspective Site), and respect media organizations’ right to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On April 19, police arrested Lü in the city of Huanggang, in central Hubei province,…
Taliban detains Iranian photojournalist Mohammad Hossein Velayati in Afghanistan
New York, August 22, 2023 — Taliban authorities should immediately and unconditionally release Iranian photojournalist Mohammad Hossein Velayati and cease harassing members of the press in Afghanistan, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On August 19, Taliban authorities detained Velayati, a photographer for Iran’s semi-official Tasnim News Agency, at Kabul International Airport before he…
Iranian documentary filmmaker Mojgan Ilanlou detained in Evin Prison
Washington, D.C., August 21, 2023—Iranian authorities must immediately release documentary filmmaker Mojgan Ilanlou and cease jailing members of the press for their work, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Sunday, August 20, Illanlou responded to a summons from Tehran’s intelligence police. When she arrived at the police headquarters, authorities arrested her and transferred…
India blocks The Kashmir Walla website and social media accounts
New Delhi, August 21, 2023—Authorities in India must immediately unblock the website and social media accounts of the independent Kashmiri news outlet The Kashmir Walla, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On Saturday, August 19, The Kashmir Walla became inaccessible in India following an order by India’s Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to…
Egyptian journalist Karim Asaad’s whereabouts unknown following arrest
New York, August 20, 2023 – The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Egyptian authorities to immediately release journalist Karim Asaad following his arrest on Saturday, August 19. “By arresting Karim Asaad, the Egyptian government has once again demonstrated its shameful dedication to cracking down on independent journalism and press freedom in the country,” said…