Two Sri Lankan journalists questioned, harassed following protest coverage
New York, November 8, 2023—Sri Lankan authorities must immediately drop any investigation into freelance Tamil journalists Punniyamoorthy Sasikaran and Valasingham Krishnakumar in retaliation for their reporting and allow them to work without interference, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. On October 28, a police officer separately interrogated Sasikaran and Krishnakumar at their homes in…
Two French journalists flee Yemeni island of Socotra after questioning, house arrest
On May 28, 2023, five armed soldiers and three police chiefs on the Yemeni island of Socotra arrested freelance journalist Quentin Müller and Sylvain Mercadier, co-founder and director of the independent Iraqi news website The Red Line, at their apartment, according to tweets by Müller and Mercadier, who communicated with CPJ via email. The authorities…
Tunisian authorities arrest Mosaique FM director Noureddine Boutar
New York, February 14, 2023 – Tunisian authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Noureddine Boutar and allow journalists and media workers to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Monday, February 13, police raided and searched the home of Boutar, the director of the local independent radio station and news website…
Venezuelan authorities question 2 El Nacional employees, summon 3 others
Bogotá, January 27, 2023 — Venezuelan authorities must drop their criminal investigation into two editors, three reporters, and an administrative employee of the El Nacional news website and allow them to continue their work free of intimidation, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On Wednesday, January 25, officers of Venezuela’s investigative police unit detained…
CPJ condemns Myanmar military junta’s harassment of The Irrawaddy
Bangkok, October 21, 2022 – Myanmar’s military regime must cease its harassment of The Irrawaddy and allow the independent news organization to report without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On October 14, Myanmar’s junta announced on state television that it would take legal action against The Irrawaddy for reporting that military forces…
Russian authorities search homes of 5 journalists as witnesses in investigation into ‘fake’ information about the army
Paris, September 8, 2022—Russian authorities should stop using investigations into so-called “fake” information about the Russian military to harass journalists, and should let the media work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. On Thursday, September 8, authorities searched the homes of at least five journalists in cities across Russia over their alleged connection…
Russian authorities in Kazan question, search homes of 7 RFE/RL freelance journalists and contributors
Paris, August 29, 2022—Russian authorities should stop intimidating journalists and contributors to U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and let the media work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On August 17, police in Kazan, the capital of Russia’s Tatarstan republic, searched the homes of Nelya Biktimirova, Aysilu Kadyrova, Alsu Kiyamova, and…
Taliban intelligence agents detain American filmmaker Ivor Shearer, Afghan producer Faizullah Faizbakhsh in Kabul
New York, August 19, 2022 – Taliban authorities must immediately release American journalist and independent filmmaker Ivor Shearer and Afghan producer Faizullah Faizbakhsh, and cease detaining journalists, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On August 17, Shearer and Faizbakhsh were filming in the Sherpur area of District 10 in Kabul–where a U.S. drone strike…
Guinean police detain, question journalist Mamadou Sagnane
Dakar, June 28, 2022 — Guinean authorities should drop any ongoing investigation into journalist Mamadou Sagnane and ensure that the press can work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On June 15, police in the north-central town of Dinguiraye summoned Sagnane, a reporter with the community broadcaster Dinguiraye Rural Radio, according to the…
Taliban intelligence agents detain, pressure Afghan journalist Jebran Lawrand to stop critical reporting
Washington D.C., May 23, 2022 – Taliban authorities must investigate the arbitrary detention, questioning, and intimidation of Afghan journalist Jebran Lawrand and allow local press members to work freely, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Monday. On April 25, Lawrand, a political programs manager and presenter at the independent Kabul News TV station, was summoned…