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Alerts
Police officers are seen in Sofia, Bulgaria, April 17, 2020. Police recently journalist Dimiter Petzov for alleged drug posession after searching his car. (Reuters/Stoyan Nenov)

Bulgarian investigative journalist arrested for drug possession days after filing information request

Berlin, May 21, 2020 — Bulgarian authorities should immediately drop all charges against journalist Dimiter Petzov and let him work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Case
Protesters are seen in front of the Department of Justice in San Juan, Puerto Rico, on July 29, 2019. The department recently subpoenaed Facebook for information from student news outlets on the island. (Angel Valentin/Getty Images via AFP)

Puerto Rico authorities subpoena Facebook for information from student media outlets

On September 27, 2019, Denis Márquez, a member of Puerto Rico’s House of Representatives, told the staff of Pulso Estudiantil, a student-run newspaper based at the University of Puerto Rico, that the island’s Justice Department had acquired information from the paper’s Facebook account, as well as from Diálogo UPR and the Center for Student Communication,…

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Case
Palestinian police officers are seen in Hebron, in the West Bank, on April 7, 2020. Police recently attacked and arrested journalist Anas Hawari at a checkpoint. (Reuters/Mussa Qawasma)

Palestinian police assault and arrest journalist Anas Hawari

On May 15, 2020, Palestinian police officers manning a checkpoint in the West Bank town of Anabta pulled over, assaulted, and arrested Anas Hawari, a reporter for the Hamas-affiliated Quds News Network, according to a report by his employer, a Facebook post by his lawyer, Mohannad Karajeh, and a report by the Skeyes Center for…

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Statements
A man casts his ballot in Giheta, central Burundi, on May 20, 2020. Authorities disrupted access to social media networks during the election. (AFP)

Burundi blocks social media access during presidential elections

Nairobi, May 20, 2020 — In response to Burundian authorities’ blocking of social media networks during today’s presidential elections, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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Alerts
Tehran, Iran, is seen on April 3, 2020. Journalist Nejat Bahrami recently began a one-year jail term in Tehran for his work. (West Asia News Agency/Ali Khara via Reuters)

Iranian journalist Nejat Bahrami begins 1-year jail term

Washington, D.C., May 20, 2020 — Iranian authorities should immediately release journalist Nejat Bahrami from prison and cease arbitrarily jailing members of the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Features & Analysis
A police car is seen in Belfast, Northern Ireland, on March 26, 2020. CPJ recently joined a statement calling on the region's police and politicians to thoroughly investigate threats made against journalists. (Reuters/Jason Cairnduff)

CPJ joins call condemning threats against journalists in Northern Ireland

The Committee to Protect Journalists today joined 20 free expression groups, activist organizations, and journalists in a joint statement condemning recent threats against journalists working for the Sunday Life and Sunday World newspapers in Northern Ireland.

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Features & Analysis
The European Commission headquarters is seen in Brussels, Belgium, on April 23, 2020. CPJ recently joined a joint letter to the EU calling for reform of the group's defamation law. (Reuters/Johanna Geron)

CPJ joins call for reform of EU defamation law

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 25 other press freedom organizations today in sending a joint letter to the European Commission calling for reforms to European Union law on defamation.

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Case
Police officers wearing face masks stand guard during an anti-government protest, following the coronavirus outbreak, in Algiers, Algeria on March 6, 2020. News websites covering both the unrest and the impact of the disease have recently been blocked in the country. (Reuters/Ramzi Boudina)

Algerian media websites newly censored after “false news” ban

Three additional local news websites have been blocked on Algerian networks since April 22, 2020, bringing the number of outlets affected in April and May to at least six, according to online statements by the websites affected. The intervention came in the wake of a new law against “false news.”

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Alerts
Police tape is seen near Bavispe, Sonora state, Mexico, on January 11, 2020. Journalist Jorge Miguel Armenta Ávalos was recently killed in Sonora state. (AP/Christian Chavez)

Mexican newspaper owner Jorge Armenta shot and killed in Sonora

Mexico City, May 19, 2020 — Mexican authorities should conduct a swift and credible investigation into the killing of journalist Jorge Miguel Armenta Ávalos and hold those responsible to account, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Statements
A police officer is seen in Cotonou, Benin, on March 9, 2018. A court recently shortened journalist Ignace Sossou’s jail term, but did not free him. (AFP/Yanick Folly)

Benin appeals court shortens journalist Ignace Sossou’s jail term

New York, May 19, 2020 — In response to today’s decision by a Beninese appeals court to shorten journalist Ignace Sossou’s sentence to six months’ imprisonment and a six-month suspended sentence, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement:

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