Belarus authorities search homes of 6 current and former BelaPAN employees, 3 remain in detention
Stockholm, August 18, 2021 – Belarusian authorities should immediately release all detained current and former employees of the BelaPAN news agency and allow the country’s independent press to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This morning, law enforcement officers in Minsk, the capital, searched the editorial offices of the independent Belarusian news…
Afghan female journalist: I may not be alive by the time US can evacuate me
Steven Butler describes it as “mass panic.” As the Taliban seized control of Afghanistan, CPJ’s Asia program coordinator has been fielding “hundreds and hundreds” of daily pleas from journalists asking for help to flee the country. Butler, along with CPJ Asia research associate Sonali Dhawan and the organization’s Emergencies team, are now in the process…
Algeria shuts down Lina TV for alleged licensing issue
New York, August 18, 2021 – Algerian authorities should allow Lina TV to resume broadcasting immediately and stop using the country’s accreditation procedures as a means of censorship, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On August 16, the Ministry of Communications ordered the privately owned news channel off the air, according to news reports…
Taliban militants raid homes of at least 4 media workers in Afghanistan
Washington, D.C., August 18, 2021 — The Taliban must immediately cease attacking journalists and searching their homes, and allow members of the press to operate freely and without fear of violence or reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Since the Taliban took power in the country earlier this week, militants have searched the…
Jammu and Kashmir police assault journalists covering religious procession
New Delhi, August 17, 2021 – Authorities in India-administered Jammu and Kashmir should investigate the recent police attacks on journalists in the city of Srinagar and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. This afternoon, police officers attacked a group of journalists covering a procession in Srinagar marking Muharram, the…
US must protect Afghan journalists as Taliban take power
Hundreds seek assistance, relocation amid threat from militant group New York, August 16, 2021 – The United States must do more to ensure the safety of Afghan journalists as the country falls under the control of the Taliban, including facilitating safe passage out of the country and providing emergency visas, the Committee to Protect Journalists…
Mob attacks journalists covering Istanbul protest and police beat, detain two reporters
On August 1, 2021 a mob in Istanbul attacked at least six journalists covering a march against the killing of seven members of a Turkish family of Kurdish origin, while also attacking the protesters, according to news reports. The police detained at least two journalists but none of the alleged attackers, the reports said. Derya…
Nicaraguan police raid La Prensa offices, detain publisher Juan Lorenzo Holmann
Guatemala City, August 16, 2021 – Nicaraguan authorities must stop harassing the La Prensa newspaper, allow its staff to enter their offices and report freely, and unconditionally release publisher Juan Lorenzo Holmann, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. At about 11 a.m. on August 13, riot police officers raided the independent newspaper’s office in…
Belarusian court bans Tut.by and affiliated news website Zerkalo.io as ‘extremist’
Stockholm, August 16, 2021 – Belarus authorities should refrain from contesting the appeal of news website Zerkalo.io against its designation as “extremist,” and cease using the country’s anti-extremism laws to stifle independent reporting, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On May 18, authorities raided the offices of the independent news website Tut.by, interrogated about…
Russia refuses to renew visa for BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford
Stockholm, August 16, 2021 – Russian authorities should extend the visa of BBC correspondent Sarah Rainsford and allow foreign correspondents to work in the country freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. In a broadcast on the evening of August 12, Russian state news channel Rossiya 24 reported that the country’s Foreign Ministry would…