Al-Watan

34 results arranged by date

Algerian authorities briefly detain at least 6 journalists covering protests

On May 11, 2021, Algerian security forces briefly detained at least six journalists in downtown Algiers, the capital, while they were covering anti-government protests, according to news reports and Bouzid Ichalalene and Mustapha Bendjama, two local journalists and press freedom advocates, who spoke to CPJ via messaging app. According to those sources, police arrested: Khaled…

Read More ›

Juba International Airport, pictured in October 2018. Two days before South Sudan's National Security Service detained Al-Watan editor Michael Christopher, the journalist had his passport confiscated at a Juba airport. (AFP/Akuot Chol)

South Sudan detains Al-Watan editor for over 3 weeks

New York, August 9, 2019—Authorities in South Sudan should immediately release Michael Christopher, editor-in-chief of the Arabic-language daily Al-Watan, and halt its harassment of his publication, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

Newspaper vendors chat on their way to sell newspapers in Juba, South Sudan. Recently, the South Sudanese government has attempted to restrict local newspapers' ability to cover the ongoing political crisis in neighboring Sudan. (Adriane Ohanesian/Reuters)

South Sudanese media regulator bars newspaper from covering Sudan crisis

Nairobi, January 18, 2019–South Sudan’s state media regulator should immediately lift an order barring a privately-owned newspaper from covering protests in neighboring Sudan and issue a statement guaranteeing the media’s right to press freedom and editorial independence, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

A demonstrator holds a picture of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi during a protest in front of Saudi Arabia's consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 5, 2018. Khashoggi has not been seen since entering the consulate on October 2. (Reuters/Osman Orsal)

CPJ calls on Saudi Arabia to account for Jamal Khashoggi’s whereabouts

New York, October 6, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists today called on Saudi Arabia to immediately account for the whereabouts of prominent Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi, who has not been seen since entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul on October 2. Multiple news outlets reported today that Turkish authorities, who have been investigating his disappearance…

Read More ›

Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi at a press conference in the Bahraini capital Manama on December 15, 2014. Khashoggi was last seen entering the Saudi consulate in Istanbul, Turkey, on October 2, 2018. (AFP Photo/Mohammed al-Shaikh)

CPJ expresses concern for Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi

Beirut, October 3, 2018–The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned about Jamal Khashoggi, a Saudi journalist who has been living in self-imposed exile in the U.S. since 2017, and urges Saudi authorities to immediately disclose his whereabouts. Khashoggi, a columnist for The Washington Post and a former editor-in-chief of the Saudi newspaper Al-Watan who…

Read More ›

A poster in Jeddah depicts Saudi Arabia's King and Crown Prince. A Saudi court has jailed a journalist for five years for insulting the royal court. (Reuters/Reem Baeshen)

Saudi journalist jailed for five years for insulting royal court

New York, February 8, 2018–A specialized criminal court in Saudi Arabia sentenced al-Watan columnist Saleh al-Shehi to five years in prison for “insulting the royal court,” and imposed a five-year travel ban that will go into effect on his release, according to a report published today in the privately-owned Saudi newspaper Okaz. Saudi security forces…

Read More ›

Sudan arrests journalists, confiscates papers for reporting on inflation protests

New York, January 18, 2017–Sudanese authorities should cease harassing and arresting journalists and confiscating newspapers, and should allow journalists to report on matters of public interest without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

In this photo released by the state-run Saudi Press Agency, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman speaks at a meeting in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday, Nov. 26, 2017. (AP/Saudi Press Agency)

Saudi Arabian authorities arrest local journalist following critical commentary

New York, January 5, 2018 — Saudi Arabian authorities must immediately release Saleh al-Shehi from detention and stop arresting journalists who criticize the country’s government, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Saudi security forces arrested al-Shehi, a columnist for the Saudi Arabian daily al-Watan, on January 3, according to Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi…

Read More ›

Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, talks to Sudanese President Omar al-Bashir during their meeting in Russia's Black Sea resort of Sochi, on Thursday, Nov. 23, 2017. Sudanese authorities began confiscating all copies of four opposition newspapers after they reported critically on this meeting. (AP/Kremlin Pool/Mikhail Klimentyev)

Sudan targets newspapers, journalists with confiscations and draconian legislation

New York, December 6, 2017–Sudanese authorities should stop confiscating newspapers and drop draft laws that would further curtail press freedom, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today.

Read More ›

The Qatar Airways office in Doha. Gulf countries imposed a ban on Qatari flights and many have announced penalties for those reporting critically on recent tensions with the country. (AFP/STR)

Amid Gulf tensions, press is used as a political pawn

Today Bahrain became the latest Gulf nation to put pressure on news outlets amid political tension, when its Interior Ministry announced that anyone publishing support or sympathy for Qatar faces up to five years in prison. The announcement came the day after the United Arab Emirates used the threat of prison to demarcate how journalists…

Read More ›