Algerian authorities deliver hefty prison sentences to journalists Saad Bouakba and 3 others
New York, October 20, 2023—Algerian authorities must immediately and unconditionally drop the charges against journalists Saad Bouakba, Zoubir Fadel, Salim Salhi, and Adel Lazizi, and ensure the media can work freely without fear of imprisonment, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On October 18, the Dar el-Beida court in the capital, Algiers, convicted freelance…
CPJ to release 2023 Global Impunity Index
New York, October 19, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) will publish its 2023 Global Impunity Index, an annual list and report on countries where perpetrators of journalist murders continue to evade justice, on October 31, 2023. This year’s index covers the period September 1, 2022 to August 31, 2023. It will include insights on…
Russian authorities detain RFE/RL journalist Alsu Kurmasheva
New York, October 18, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists is deeply concerned by Wednesday’s detention of journalist Alsu Kurmasheva in the western Russian city of Kazan and calls on Russian authorities to release her immediately. “CPJ is deeply concerned by the detention of U.S-Russian journalist Alsu Kurmasheva on spurious criminal charges and calls on Russian…
CPJ joins call for immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Israel-Gaza war
The Committee to Protect Journalists on Wednesday joined over 200 organizations in urging the U.N. Security Council, the U.N. Secretary General, and all world leaders to ensure an immediate humanitarian ceasefire in Israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories to prevent further harm to civilians. At least 19 journalists, who are civilians under international law, have been…
CPJ calls on Sri Lanka to reconsider bills likely to undermine press freedom
New York, October 18, 2023—Sri Lankan authorities should withdraw the proposed Online Safety Bill and Anti-Terrorism Bill or significantly amend them in line with international human rights standards, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Wednesday. In parliament on October 3, Public Security Minister Tiran Alles tabled the Online Safety Bill, which would empower a five-member…
CPJ urges Israel not to close Al-Jazeera
New York, October 18, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists urgently calls on Israel not to close the local bureau of Qatari broadcaster Al Jazeera and to allow the media to report freely on news events in Israel and Gaza during the current conflict. “We are deeply concerned by Israeli officials’ threats to censor media coverage…
CPJ joins call for Saudi Arabia not to host 2024 Internet Governance Forum
The Committee to Protect Journalists and more than 70 digital and human rights organizations on Thursday called on United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to reverse the decision for Saudi Arabia to host the 2024 annual Internet Governance Forum as the physical and digital security risks would severely undermine civil society’s participation. The joint letter highlights…
Morocco denies jailed journalist Omar Radi post-surgical care in hospital
New York, October 17, 2023—Moroccan authorities must immediately release journalist Omar Radi, and transfer him to a hospital to recover from surgery on a broken arm, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. On Wednesday, Radi—who is serving a six-year jail term—broke his right arm in prison in Tiflet and was transferred to a hospital…
Somali court dismisses false news, anti-state case against Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul
Nairobi, Kenya, October 16, 2023—The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes an October 11 court decision to dismiss the criminal case against Somali journalist Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul and calls on authorities to desist from arbitrarily detaining journalists. “Mohamed Ibrahim Osman Bulbul endured nearly two months of detention and faced punitive legal proceedings simply because he…
Malta must protect the press, 6 years after Daphne Caruana Galizia’s murder
The Committee to Protect Journalists and 12 other press freedom groups on Monday called on Maltese authorities to bring to justice all those responsible for the killing of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia and to make the European Union’s smallest state safer for the media. Read the full statement below and read more about press…