Middle East & North Africa

  
Iraqi Kurdish security officers are seen in Erbil on July 17, 2019. That day, officers from the Kurdish Counter-Terrorism Forces assaulted Al-Jazeera reporter Ahmed al-Zawiti. (AFP/Safin Hamed)

Kurdish forces assault Al-Jazeera reporter Ahmed al-Zawiti in Iraqi Kurdistan

On July 17, 2019, in the Iraqi Kurdistan capital of Erbil, officers from the Kurdish Counter-Terrorism Forces assaulted Al-Jazeera reporter Ahmed al-Zawiti, according to the journalist, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app, and news reports.

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Yemeni police officers are seen in Taez on July 2, 2018. Yemeni security forces recently arrested freelance journalist Yahya al-Sawari. (AFP/Ahmad al-Basha)

Yemeni journalist Yahya al-Sawari arrested, held without charge in unknown location

New York, July 15, 2019 — Yemeni and Saudi authorities must disclose freelance journalist Yahya al-Sawari’s whereabouts and release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A member of the Asayish is seen in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, on May 13, 2018. Asayish forces in Sulaymaniyah recently detained freelance journalist Zmnako Ismael. (Reuters/Ako Rasheed)

Kurdish intelligence officers detain photojournalist in Iraqi Kurdistan

On July 9, 2019, in the city of Sulaymaniyah, in Iraqi Kurdistan, Kurdish security forces detained and questioned freelance photojournalist Zmnako Ismael for more than an hour while he was covering the funeral of Diyar Gharib Mohammed, a senior leader of the Kurdistan Workers’ Party militant group, according to local news reports and Ismael, who…

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Sudanese protesters are seen with their smartphones in Khartoum on April 21, 2019. CPJ has called on South African telecommunications company MTN Group to end its role in Sudan's internet shutdowns. (AFP/Ozan Kose)

CPJ joins letter urging MTN Group to end participation in internet shutdowns in Sudan

The Committee to Protect Journalists yesterday joined 22 other organizations in signing a joint letter to executives at South African telecommunications company MTN Group, calling on them to end their roles in Sudan’s internet shutdowns.

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A checkpoint held by Syrian forces loyal to President Bashar al-Assad is pictured in Aleppo, Syria, on February 10, 2018. Security forces recently arrested pro-Assad journalist Rabea Kalawandi in Aleppo. (Reuters/Omar Sanadiki)

Syrian security forces arrest pro-Assad reporter Rabea Kalawandi

Beirut, July 10, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today expressed concern about the arrest of Syrian journalist Rabea Kalawandi, a reporter for Iranian state-run broadcaster Al-Alam TV, and called on Syrian authorities to reveal the reason for his arrest or release him immediately.

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Fighters loyal to the internationally recognized Libyan Government of National Accord are seen in Tripoli on June 19, 2019. Freelance journalist Hamza Turkia was shot and injured in Tripoli that day. (AFP/Mahmud Turkia)

AFP freelance journalist Hamza Turkia shot while covering clashes in Libya

On June 19, 2019, an unidentified individual shot Hamza Turkia, a freelance photographer and videographer at the time working for French news agency Agence France-Presse, in the hand and leg while the journalist was covering clashes between forces allied with the internationally recognized Government of National Accord and the self-styled Libyan National Army in Tripoli,…

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Security forces are seen on June 22 in Nouakchott, Mauritania. Two journalists have been arrested and the internet has been cut throughout the country following elections on June 22. (AFP/Sia Kambou)

Two journalists arrested, internet shut down amid disputed election in Mauritania

New York, July 3, 2019 — Mauritanian authorities should immediately release journalists Seydi Moussa Camara and Ahmedou Ould al-Wadea, restore internet access throughout the country, and allow journalists to report on the results of the country’s presidential elections without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Security forces are seen in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 21, 2019. The Baghdad offices of Al-Journal and 7C TV were recently raided in Baghdad following a corruption investigation. (AP/Hadi Mizban)

Armed men raid offices of Iraqi broadcaster and newspaper following corruption investigation

Beirut, July 2, 2019 — Iraqi authorities should investigate the armed raid against the Baghdad offices of Al-Journal and 7C TV and determine if the perpetrators were acting on behalf of a member of parliament, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Moroccan investigative journalist Omar Radi, who at the time worked for the website Le Desk, the website's headquarters in Casablanca, Morocco, on September 18, 2015. Radi and other independent journalists told CPJ about a climate of pervasive surveillance and harassment in the country. (AP Photo/Abdeljalil Bounhar)

Moroccan independent journalists describe climate of pervasive surveillance, harassment

In March 2015, Hicham Mansouri emailed an anti-malware company, suspicious of possible signs that someone was able to access his device remotely, without permission. He remembers exchanging a few messages with the software company, but the correspondence was interrupted after a few days, when around 10 police officers in civilian clothes arrived at his home…

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Hayat Tahrir al-Sham members are seen in northern Idlib on August 14, 2018. Militants from the group recently detained journalist Maan Bakour. (AFP/Omar Haj Kadour)

Hayat Tahrir al-Sham militant group detains Syrian journalist Maan Bakour in Idlib

Beirut, June 26, 2019 — The militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham should immediately release Syrian journalist Maan Bakour, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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