Four Afghan journalists arrested after reporting from border area seized by Taliban
Washington, D.C., July 27, 2021 — Afghan authorities must immediately release journalists Bismillah Watandoost, Qudrat Soltani, Moheb Obaidi, and Sanaullah Siam, drop their investigation into their work, and allow members of the press to report freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Yesterday, officials with Afghanistan’s National Directorate of Security, the country’s national intelligence…
Cambodian reporter Khou Piseth detained for criminal incitement
Bangkok, July 27, 2021 – Cambodian authorities should immediately release journalist Khou Piseth and drop any pending charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Piseth, a reporter with the local Siem Reap Tannhektar news website, was arrested on July 14 in the western city of Battambang after posting messages critical of the government’s handling…
Bangladesh authorities detain journalist Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman under Digital Security Act
On July 18, police in the northern district of Bogura arrested Mohammad Akhtaruzzaman, a district correspondent who covers business news for the Dhaka-based Bangla daily newspaper Banijjo Pratidin, and opened an investigation into the journalist under the Digital Security Act, according to news reports. Authorities allege that Akhtaruzzaman published two Facebook posts under a pseudonym…
WhatsApp Head Will Cathcart: The spyware industry is undermining freedom
Will Cathcart is the chief executive of WhatsApp, the downloadable messaging app used by millions around the world as a primary means of communication. WhatsApp offers end-to-end encryption, meaning messages shared via the platform are, under normal circumstances, highly secure—a feature that has made it attractive for journalists, human rights defenders, and other vulnerable users,…
Camila Acosta speaks from house arrest about covering Cuba’s historic protests
“I am not free, but at least I am out of the dungeons,” Camila Acosta told CPJ via messaging app after her release to house arrest on July 16 following a four-day detention for covering the recent protests in Cuba. Acosta, who is based in Havana, covered protests on July 11 for the Cuban independent…
International journalists face intense harassment, threats of violence while covering flooding in China
Taipei, July 26, 2021—Chinese authorities should ensure that all journalists can report without fear of violence and harassment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 24, a crowd of angry bystanders in Zhengzhou City, Henan Province, surrounded and confronted journalists from the Los Angeles Times and the German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle while…
Tunisian authorities raid Al-Jazeera bureau amid political turmoil
New York, July 26, 2021 – In response to news reports that Tunisian security forces today stormed Qatari broadcaster Al-Jazeera’s Tunis bureau, ordered staff to leave the building, confiscated equipment, and barred staff from returning, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement: “Today’s raid by Tunisian security forces on Al-Jazeera’s bureau jeopardizes the…
Ghana politician calls for journalist Erastus Asare Donkor to be beaten over protest coverage
Abuja, July 23, 2021 – Ghanaian authorities should ensure the safety of journalist Erastus Asare Donkor and hold politician Kennedy Ohene Agyapong to account for instigating attacks against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In an appearance on the Net 2 TV broadcaster on July 9, Agyapong, a member of Ghana’s parliament with…
South Sudanese journalist Alfred Angasi detained without charge since July 5
Nairobi, July 23, 2021 — South Sudanese authorities should immediately release journalist Alfred Angasi and cease arbitrarily detaining members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On July 5, intelligence officials in Juba, the capital, arrested Angasi, a radio presenter at the state-owned South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC), according to his sister…
Journalists attacked throughout northeastern Syria, 2 remain in detention
New York, July 23, 2021 – All parties in northern Syria must do their utmost to ensure that members of the press can work safely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since July 16, unidentified attackers and Syrian Kurdish security forces have attacked and detained at least five members of the press throughout areas…