‘Taken into a cage’: Hong Kong’s sad media milestone
The year 2021 marks a sad milestone in Hong Kong. For the first time journalists in the former British colony appear on CPJ’s annual survey of journalists unjustly imprisoned for their work. Eight. Zero to eight in one year. I first visited Hong Kong nearly 50 years ago as a student and returned to live…
How Myanmar became the world’s second-worst jailer of journalists
Myanmar has catapulted in the rankings of the Committee to Protect Journalists’ annual census of jailed journalists, the repressive upshot of a democracy-suspending February 1 coup that saw authorities suppress news coverage of their harsh clampdown on anti-military protesters. At least 26 journalists were imprisoned in Myanmar for their reporting as of December 1, compared with…
In Belarus, Lukashenko’s vindictiveness reaches new heights
On May 23, Belarusian authorities caused a global outcry when they diverted a Lithuania-bound commercial flight to the Belarus capital of Minsk so they could arrest two passengers on the plane: self-exiled journalist Raman Pratasevich and his girlfriend Sofia Sapega. This shocking tactic was seen as emblematic of just how far President Aleksandr Lukashenko is…
By the region: Where journalists are most at risk of jail or death
CPJ’s annual prison census found that a record 293 journalists were jailed for their work as of December 1, 2021. At least 24 journalists were killed because of their coverage so far this year. Read our analysis of the global data and click here to learn more from our interactive map. Related data and analysis CPJ’s database of…
Two Myanmar journalists injured, arrested while covering anti-military protest
Bangkok, December 7, 2021 – Myanmar authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalists Kaung Sett Lin and Hmu Yadanar Khet Moh Moh Tun, who were arrested after sustaining injuries covering anti-military protests, and ensure that those responsible for injuring the journalists are brought to justice, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. Authorities arrested photojournalist…
Iraqi police arrest Al-Ahd TV reporter Hamid Majed after luring him to police station
New York, December 2, 2021 — Iraqi authorities must immediately release Al-Ahd TV reporter Hamid Majed and allow journalists to work freely and without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On December 1, Colonel Tareq Imad, director of the Anbar Crime Directorate in the central Iraqi city of Habbaniyah, phoned Majed,…
Freelance journalist Andrey Kuznechyk detained in Belarus
Vilnius, Lithuania, November 29, 2021 — Belarusian authorities should immediately release journalist Andrey Kuznechyk and stop detaining independent journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said today. On November 25, Kuznechyk, a freelance correspondent for Radio Svaboda, the Belarusian-language service of the U.S. Congress-funded broadcaster Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), returned to his home in Minsk, the…
Egypt sentences journalists Hisham Fouad and Hossam Moanis to 4 years in prison
New York, November 17, 2021 – In response to a Cairo court’s sentencing of journalists Hisham Fouad and Hossam Moanis to four years in prison today, the Committee to Protect Journalists issued the following statement of condemnation: “Today’s sentencing of Egyptian journalists Hisham Fouad and Hossam Moanis to four years each in prison is unacceptable,…
American journalist Danny Fenster released from prison in Myanmar
Washington, D.C., November 15, 2021—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the news that U.S. journalist Danny Fenster was released from prison in Myanmar today and has left the country. “The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the release of American journalist Danny Fenster from prison in Myanmar, where he has been unjustly held for nearly six…
US journalist Danny Fenster sentenced to 11 years in Myanmar
Bangkok, November 12, 2021 – A Myanmar court today sentenced American journalist Danny Fenster to 11 years in prison on multiple charges including incitement, unlawful association, and visa violations, according to news reports. The trial was held at Yangon’s Insein Prison, where Fenster is being detained, and was closed to the press and public, the Associated Press reported….