Upcoming elections could make or break Tunisia’s fledgling free press
Tunisia’s progression to a freer society took center stage this month, as journalists, digital rights activists, and tech companies gathered in Tunis for RightsCon and the IFJ congress. Tunisia has secured greater press freedom than many of the Arab Spring countries, but local journalists told CPJ that with elections slated for this year, challenges including…
Syrian photojournalist Amjad Hassan Bakir killed in suspected regime missile strike
Beirut, June 21, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the killing of Syrian photojournalist Amjad Hassan Bakir and urged all the parties to the ongoing Syrian conflict to guarantee the safety of civilians, including journalists.
Security forces harass, attempt to arrest Kurdish journalist in Iraqi Kurdistan
On June 4, 2019, security forces affiliated with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK) party harassed and attempted to arrest Barzan Ali Hama, a reporter for local broadcaster Kurdistan 24, in the city of Koya, in Iraqi Kurdistan, according to Hama, who spoke with CPJ, and news reports.
US, UN must probe Saudi crown prince role in “extrajudicial killing” of Jamal Khashoggi, report says
Paris, June 19, 2019–The Committee to Protect Journalists today welcomed a United Nations report calling on both the head of the U.N. and the U.S. Federal Bureau of Investigation to open criminal probes into the murder of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi.
Two news websites inaccessible in Algeria amid protests, social media shutdowns
New York, June 17, 2019 — Independent news websites Tout Sur l’Algérie and Algérie Part have been widely inaccessible within Algeria since June 12, according to local journalists and news reports. The apparently targeted disruption took place amid anti-government protests that have been ongoing for nearly four months, and began shortly before several social media…
Iran charges Telegram news channel Gam reporters over labor coverage
Washington, D.C., June 13, 2019 — Iranian authorities should immediately release three reporters for Gam (Step), a Telegram app news channel covering labor issues, and drop all charges against them and one other reporter for the channel, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.
Algerian state broadcaster suspends two journalists amid reporters’ sit-ins
In April and May 2019, Algeria’s Public Establishment of Television, the state broadcaster, suspended at least two television journalists who sought to cover protests in the country, according to journalists who spoke to CPJ and news reports.
CPJ calls on Yemeni government to ensure that the rights of all journalists are respected
CPJ thanks Yemeni Ambassador Ahmed Awad Bin Mubarak for his May 2019 letter expressing concern for the welfare of journalists in areas under Houthi control, and calls on the Yemeni government to ensure that the rights of all journalists in the country are respected.
