‘Alarming escalation’: At least 41 journalists targeted since March in Somalia
Kampala, Uganda, May 15, 2025 – Somali security personnel have arrested, assaulted, or harassed at least 41 private-media journalists since mid-March, in what local press rights groups have called a “painful experience” and an “alarming escalation” in attacks on the media. Most of these press freedom violations were connected to coverage of national security issues,…
CPJ, 58 groups call for journalist Zhang Zhan’s immediate release on 5th anniversary of unjust arrest
New York, May 14, 2025—CPJ and 58 other press freedom and human rights groups condemned the Chinese government’s ongoing arbitrary detention of independent journalist Zhang Zhan and called for her immediate release on the fifth anniversary of her arrest. Zhang was first detained on May 14, 2020, while reporting on the COVID-19 outbreak in Wuhan, China. Zhang completed a four-year prison sentence for…
Taliban intelligence detain journalist Sulaiman Rahil following critical Facebook posts
New York, May 12, 2025—Taliban authorities in southeastern Ghazni Province must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Sulaiman Rahil, who was detained on May 5 by intelligence agents, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. “Sulaiman Rahil is the latest of many Afghan journalists to be swept up by the notorious General Directorate of Intelligence without…
Russian journalist sentenced to 13 days administrative detention after filming anti-Putin protest
Berlin, May 9, 2025—Russian authorities should immediately release journalist Veronika Orlova, who was detained Tuesday in Moscow after filming the aftermath of a protest against President Vladimir Putin, and drop all charges against her, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. Orlova, a reporter with the independent news outlet SOTAvision, was in Moscow to cover a…
Azerbaijan arrests 2 more journalists, increasing crackdown tally to 25
New York, May 9, 2025— After 18 months, Azerbaijan’s vast media crackdown shows no signs of abating, as police arrested two independent journalists, Ulviyya Ali and Ahmad Mammadli, on the night of May 6-7. The arrests bring the total number of journalists and media workers jailed in Azerbaijan since late 2023 to at least 25,…
6 media executives convicted in Iran amid crackdown on journalists
Paris, May 6, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the intensifying crackdown on press freedom in Iran, including the recent conviction of six media directors and founders, and urges the Iranian authorities to immediately cease their systematic persecution of journalists and media organizations. “These systematic attacks are clear examples of censorship, media repression, and obstruction…
2 Macao journalists detained, risk prosecution after seeking to cover parliament
New York, April 28, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists decries the 11-hour detention and potential prosecution of two journalists for disruption after they were barred from a parliamentary session in China’s special administrative region of Macao. “There has been a systematic erosion of press freedom in Macao, with the denial of entry to journalists and…
Sudanese journalist Emtithal Abdel Fadil detained for 3 days, banned from travel
New York, April 24, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Sudan’s military to lift its travel ban on Emtithal Abdel Fadil, a reporter for the local independent Al-Jarida newspaper, which the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) imposed after detaining her for three days. “The detention and travel ban imposed on Emtithal Abdel Fadil by the…
Ethiopian police raid Addis Standard, detain 3 managers
Nairobi, April 22, 2025—The Committee to Protect Journalists is alarmed by Ethiopian police raids on the privately owned news outlet Addis Standard’s office and an employee’s home, their confiscation of electronic devices, and detention of three managers for several hours. “The Addis Standard raids are the latest moves in the Ethiopian government’s campaign to silence…
Taliban intelligence agents detain journalist Sayed Rashed Kashefi in Kabul
New York, April 18, 2025—Taliban authorities must immediately release independent journalist Sayed Rashed Kashefi, who was detained April 14 by General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) agents in the capital Kabul, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. “Taliban intelligence must release journalist Sayed Rashed Kashefi immediately and unconditionally,” said CPJ Asia Program Coordinator Beh Lih…