Syria / Middle East & North Africa

  

Morocco, Syria detain journalists; violations across region

New York, May 4, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Morocco today to release editor Rachid Nini and sought the release of journalist Dorothy Parvaz as well as other journalists in Syria. Press freedom violations continued throughout the region, with abuses in Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, Oman, and Yemen.

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The 10 Tools of Online Oppressors

The world’s worst online oppressors are using an array of tactics, some reflecting astonishing levels of sophistication, others reminiscent of old-school techniques. From China’s high-level malware attacks to Syria’s brute-force imprisonments, this may be only the dawn of online oppression. A CPJ special report by Danny O’Brien

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Audio Report: The 10 Tools of Online Oppressors

In our special report, “The 10 Tools of Online Oppressors,” CPJ examines the 10 prevailing strategies of online oppression worldwide and the countries that have taken the lead in their use. In this accompanying podcast, CPJ Deputy Director Robert Mahoney notes that these strategies range from sophisticated cyber-attacks to traditional brute-force techniques. Listen to the…

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Syrian authorities told Al-Jazeera's Syria-based staff not to communicate with the station's headquarters in Doha, seen here. (Reuters/Fadi Al-Assaad)

Al-Jazeera suspends Syria bureau; attacks on Lebanon crew

New York, April 27, 2011–Responding to restrictions and attacks on its staff, Al-Jazeera has suspended its operations inside Syria indefinitely, the Qatar-based news network told the Committee to Protect Journalists today. 

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Anti-government protesters Monday in Sana'a. (Reuters)

Summoned by Yemeni authorities, journalist is now missing

New York, April 18, 2011– The Committee to Protect journalists called on Yemeni authorities to clarify the whereabouts of reporter Ahmad al-Mohamadi, who has been missing since being called for questioning Saturday by the Republican Guards.

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Al-Wasat founder dies in custody in Bahrain

New York, April 15, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Bahraini authorities today to conduct an immediate and transparent investigation into the death in state custody of Karim Fakhrawi, left, founder and board member of Al-Wasat, the country’s premier independent daily. Fakhrawi died Tuesday, a week after he was apparently taken into custody, according…

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Journalist arrested; Syria crackdown continues

New York, April 14, 2011–Syrian authorities continued a weeks-long crackdown on journalists reporting on anti-government protests as security agents arrested another member of the news media on Saturday, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

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Newspaper headlines report that Bahrain has suspended opposition newspaper Al-Wasat. (Reuters)

Bahraini blogger dies in custody; journalists under attack

New York, April 12, 2011– The Committee to Protect Journalists called on Bahraini authorities to launch an immediate and thorough investigation into the death of a blogger while in state custody. Bahraini authorities, meanwhile, announced that they would file criminal charges against three senior editors at the Gulf kingdom’s premier independent daily, continuing a months-long…

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Magdi Hilali among detained. (MBC)

More journalists held in Libya; blogger jailed in Egypt

New York, April 11, 2011–Continuing a weeks-long pattern of seizing journalists covering the Libyan conflict, the government of Muammar Qaddafi is detaining two more television journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. And in Egypt, in a serious setback for press freedom under the transitional government, a court has sentenced a blogger to a…

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Matthew VanDyke

Journalist missing in Libya; 1 killed in Iraq

New York, April 8, 2011–The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about the fate of American freelance journalist Matthew VanDyke, who has been missing in Libya since mid-March, according to his family and news reports. He is among 15 reporters either missing or in government custody in Libya.

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