226 journalists murdered with impunity in the last decade
Murder is the ultimate form of censorship, yet the perpetrators are seldom held to account. CPJ’s 2021 Impunity Index, released Thursday, reveals that in more than eight out of 10 cases, the murderers of journalists go unpunished. The 2021 report shows little change from last year as conflict, political instability, and weak judicial mechanisms perpetuate…
Welcome victories in the long fight against injustice
This week, the Inter-American Court of Human Rights announced that it ruled the Colombian state responsible for the 2000 abduction, rape, and torture of journalist Jineth Bedoya Lima. The court ordered the government to investigate, prosecute, and punish those responsible, and to support female journalists. Also this week, the European Court of Human Rights found…
Journalists Maria Ressa, Dmitry Muratov awarded Nobel Peace Prize
On October 8, the Nobel Peace Prize was awarded to Filipino journalist Maria Ressa and Russian journalist Dmitry Muratov, in recognition of their work fighting for freedom of expression. Their awards come at a time of unprecedented crackdowns on members of the press, digital surveillance, and an erosion of public trust in journalism. “This Nobel Peace…
Half a year missing in Mali for French journalist Olivier Dubois
In April, French journalist Olivier Dubois went missing in Mali. He was later seen in a video saying he had been kidnapped by a jihadist group and urged his family, friends, and French authorities to do everything in their power to ensure his release. Dubois’ partner, Deborah Al Hawi Al Marsi, told CPJ about waiting…
Three years without #JusticeForJamal
This Saturday, October 2, will mark the three-year anniversary of the murder of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul. CPJ continues to call for #JusticeForJamal and seek answers in his case. In 2019, CPJ joined a lawsuit urging a U.S. district court to order the intelligence community to confirm or…
The Taliban’s false promises on press freedom
The Taliban have pledged to allow Afghan journalists to do their jobs, but journalists in the country continue to face attacks, and at least one remains in custody. In Kabul last week, reporter Mohammad Ali Ahmadi was traveling in a taxi van when a man sitting next to him asked where he worked; when he…
Egyptian journalist faces trial over a tweet
CPJ joined 18 other civil society groups this week in condemning the decision by U.S. President Joseph Biden’s administration to send $170 million in military aid to Egypt and bypass human rights conditions set by Congress. The joint statement notes that the move “sidesteps the intent of Congress,” which had passed legislation to withhold such…
Apple Daily parent company shuts down in Hong Kong
The Hong Kong media company Next Digital, which owned the pro-democracy Apple Daily newspaper before it shut down in June, announced this week that it will also cease operations. Under Hong Kong’s national security law, authorities have escalated attacks on independent media outlets, including Next Digital and its executives. The company’s founder, Jimmy Lai, is…
The US is failing Afghan journalists
Many journalists have fled Afghanistan since the Taliban took power, but many more—including ones who worked for U.S.-funded outlets—are still struggling to get out, with little help from the Biden administration to help them reach safety. “The president and his team promised to support press freedom and the rights of journalists around the world. In…
Afghanistan’s free press disappearing
In recent weeks in Afghanistan, the Taliban has physically attacked journalists, raided homes, and forced female state TV anchors off the air. As they seek safety, Afghan journalists fear for their lives, going into hiding and deleting their social media presences to avoid being targeted. Since the Taliban took control of Afghanistan this month, CPJ…