Middle East & North Africa

  
The May 11 issue of reformist magazine Seda is seen in Tehran, Iran, on May 12, 2019. The magazine has been suspended by the country's Culture and Media court. (AP/Vahid Salemi)

Iranian reformist magazine Seda suspended after urging negotiations with US

Washington, D.C., May 14, 2019 — Iranian authorities should immediately lift the suspension of Seda magazine and stop harassing critical media outlets, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Military vehicles are seen in Salah al-Din, south of Tripoli, Libya, on May 7, 2019. Two Libyan journalists were recently abducted in Tripoli by forces affiliated with the Libyan National Army. (Reuters/Hani Amara)

Libyan journalists Mohamed al-Qurj and Mohamed al-Shibani missing since May 2

New York, May 9, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists is gravely concerned about the safety of Mohamed al-Qurj and Mohamed al-Shibani, Libyan journalists with Qatar-based private television broadcaster Libya Alahrar, who disappeared on May 2.

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The explosion from an Israeli airstrike is seen in Gaza City on May 4, 2019. A building housing the Turkish Anadolu news agency's Gaza office was destroyed by Israeli forces that evening. (AFP/Mahmud Hams)

Israeli forces destroy Gaza office of Turkish Anadolu news agency

Beirut, May 9, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today condemned the Israeli bombing of Turkish-stated owned news outlet Anadolu Agency’s Gaza office on May 4.

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A banner depicting Egyptian President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi is seen outside a polling station, during the referendum on draft constitutional amendments, in Cairo, Egypt, on April 20, 2019. (Reuters/Amr Abdallah Dalsh)

Egypt tests new censorship law with handling of al-Mashhad website block

Magdy Shandi, editor-in-chief of the Cairo-based independent newspaper al-Mashhad, planned to send 30 journalists to report from polling stations while votes were being cast in Egypt’s constitutional referendum between April 20 and April 22. He ended up ordering them to stay away, he told CPJ in a telephone interview in May. The state’s media regulator…

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People carry umbrellas in Tehran, Iran, on February 11, 2019. On May 1, two journalists were arrested while covering Labor Day demonstrations in Tehran. (Vahid Ahmadi/Tasnim News Agency via Reuters)

Iran jailing 2 journalists since May Day demonstration

Washington, D.C., May 6, 2019 — Iranian authorities should immediately release Kayvan Samimi, editor-in-chief of Iran-e-Farda magazine, and Marzieh Amiri, economics reporter at Tehran-based newspaper Shargh Daily, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Iranian President Hassan Rouhani delivers a speech during the ceremony of the National Army Day parade in Tehran, Iran April 18, 2019. Iran arrested editor Mohammad Reza Nassab Abdollahi on April 21. (Tasnim News Agency via Reuters)

Iran arrests editor Abdollahi, fails to disclose charge or his location

Washington, D.C., May 3, 2019 — The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Iranian authorities to release Mohammad Reza Nassab Abdollahi, editor-in-chief of Iranian news websites Anar Press and Aban Press.

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Demonstrators run as Israeli troops fire tear gas canisters in the southern Gaza Strip on April 19, 2019. At least four Palestinian journalists were injured by Israeli troops during the protests. (Reuters/Ibraheem Abu Mustafa)

Israeli forces injure four Palestinian journalists covering Gaza protests

On April 19, 2019, at least four Palestinian journalists covering protests in the Gaza Strip were injured by rubber bullets and tear gas canisters fired by Israeli soldiers, according to local press freedom organizations and social media posts by the journalists and their colleagues.

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People are seen at the General Court in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, on July 24, 2018. Jordanian journalist Abdulrahman Farhana was detained by Saudi authorities in February. (Reuters/Faisal Al Nasser)

Jordanian journalist Abdulrahman Farhana detained by Saudi authorities

New York, April 25, 2019 — Saudi authorities should immediately release Jordanian journalist Abdulrahman Farhana as well as the other journalists swept up in their campaign against dissent, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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The Saudi Royal Court in Riyadh is seen on October 16, 2018. Saudi Arabia recently arrested another three bloggers amid a larger crackdown. (Reuters/Leah Millis)

Saudi Arabia detains 3 more bloggers

New York, April 18, 2019 — Saudi authorities must immediately stop persecuting journalists and release those swept up in their recent detention campaign, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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A man reads the Akhbar Al Khaleej newspaper in Manama, Bahrain, on June 22, 2009. A columnist at the paper has recently disappeared and is believed to be in government custody. (AFP/Adam Jan)

Bahraini journalist Ibrahim al-Sheikh believed to be detained on false news charges

New York, April 17, 2019 — Bahraini authorities must immediately clarify whether they are detaining Akhbar al-Khaleej columnist Ibrahim al-Sheikh and, if so, release him immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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