Jordanian publisher arrested under cybercrime law after ex-PM complains
Beirut, March 20, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by the March 17 arrest of Jordanian publisher Omar Al Zayood, following a complaint by former Prime Minister Bisher al-Khasawneh that Zayood’s Al Hashmiyah News site published an inaccurate report about him, and calls on authorities to stop using the cybercrime law to silence…
Georgia parliament very close to making harsher ‘foreign agent’ bill a law
Editor’s note: On April 1, President Mikheil Kavelashvili signed the Foreign Agents Registration Act into law. New York, March 20, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists expresses deep concern after Georgia’s parliament on March 18 approved a second reading of a foreign agent bill that will most likely become law as early as April, creating an existential threat…
Somali journalist killed in Al-Shabaab bombing, at least 22 others arrested for reporting attack
Nairobi, March 20, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Somali authorities to investigate the killing of journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabashe in a March 18 bombing by the militant group Al Shabaab in the capital Mogadishu and allow journalists to do their jobs without fear of reprisal. “Mohamed Abukar Dabashe’s death is devastating. Unfortunately, he…
Bénin Web TV suspended for reporting on media regulator’s budget
Dakar, March 19, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Benin’s regulatory High Authority for Audiovisual and Communication (HAAC) to reverse its suspension of the privately owned news site Bénin Web TV for reporting on alleged inconsistencies in the media regulator’s budget. In its March 12 decision, the HAAC also withdrew Benin Web TV director…
Yemeni journalist disappears after threats from Houthi group
New York, March 19, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls for the immediate release of journalist Ahmed Awadhah, whose whereabouts are unknown since he disappeared on March 10 in the capital Sanaa, days after receiving threats from a Houthi-affiliated intelligence officer, according to local press freedom groups. “Ahmed Awadhah appears to be the latest Yemeni…
Media rights, journalist groups call on US to protect press freedom after USAGM gutted
The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 27 other press freedom and journalist groups on March 19 in voicing support for a free press, and called on the United States to protect reporters and media workers employed by the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). The letter, organized by CPJ, said that eliminating the agency’s outlets,…
CPJ calls on Argentine authorities to investigate after photographer gravely injured covering protest
São Paulo, March 18, 2025—Argentine authorities should hold to account police officers who injured independent photographer Pablo Grillo, who was struck in the head by a tear gas cartridge during a March 12 pensioner protest in Buenos Aires that was suppressed by police, the Committee to Protect Journalists said on Tuesday. “Photographer Pablo Grillo was peacefully working…
Indian state leader threatens to strip journalists as 2 arrested over critical interview
New Delhi, March 17, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by Telangana Chief Minister Anumula Revanth Reddy’s threat that individuals “posing as journalists and posting offensive and abusive content” would be “stripped and paraded in public,” following the publication on social media of an interview critical of the southern Indian leader. Reddy, who is…
CPJ, partners urge Peruvian lawmakers to reject bill that could harm press freedom
The Committee to Protect Journalists and four other international organizations in a joint statement called on the Peruvian Congress to reject a bill that could severely harm press freedom in the country. The bill proposes to increase the penalties for slander and defamation related to ongoing investigations into the alleged commission of crimes by officials and public servants, decreasing…
‘Reward to dictators’: CPJ stands with thousands of journalists harmed by Trump’s dismantling of VOA, Radio Free outlets
The Committee to Protect Journalists stands in support of thousands of journalists and millions of citizens around the world impacted by President Donald Trump’s dismantling Voice of America’s (VOA) staff and termination of funding to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Radio Free Asia (RFA). CPJ condemns a Trump executive order issued Friday that resulted…