Imprisoned

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Arrests of Palestinian journalists since start of Israel-Gaza war

Since the start of the Israel-Gaza war, an unprecedented number of journalists and media workers have been arrested — often without charge — in what they and their attorneys say is retaliation for their journalism and commentary. As of June 27, CPJ has documented a total of 49 arrests of journalists in the Palestinian territories…

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Alsu Kurmasheva, a U.S.-Russian journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) who was arrested by Russia in 2023, attends a hearing at the Sovetski court in Kazan on April 1, 2024. (Photo: AFP/Alexander Nemenov)

CPJ joins call to President Biden to designate RFE/RL’s Alsu Kurmasheva ‘wrongfully detained’ by Russia

The Committee to Protect Journalists joined 17 press freedom organizations, journalists associations and rights groups on Wednesday in calling on U.S. President Joe Biden to act immediately to declare Alsu Kurmasheva, a dual U.S.-Russian citizen and an editor with the Tatar-Bashkir service of the U.S. Congress-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), as “wrongfully detained” by…

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US journalist Evan Gershkovich faces 20-year sentence as trial begins in Russia

New York, June 26, 2024—As the closed-door trial of U.S. journalist Evan Gershkovich opened in a Russian court on Wednesday, the Committee to Protect Journalists denounced it as a travesty of justice and renewed its call for the journalist’s immediate release. “U.S. reporter Evan Gershkovich goes on trial today after nearly 15 months of unjust…

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WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange, pictured in a prison van in the U.K. on May 1, 2019. The U.S. has disclosed charges under the Espionage Act against Assange. (Photo: AFP/Daniel Leal-Olivas)

CPJ welcomes reports that Assange will be released in plea deal

New York, June 24, 2024— The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes reports that WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange will be freed from prison in a plea deal with the United States Justice Department. “Julian Assange faced a prosecution that had grave implications for journalists and press freedom worldwide,” said CPJ CEO Jodie Ginsberg. “While we welcome the…

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A Belarusian border guard patrols in the Brest region at the border with Ukraine in February 2023. On June 3, 2024, a court in the city of Brest convicted and sentenced journalist Alena Tsimashchuk to five years in prison but the grounds for her charges have not been disclosed. (Photo: AFP/Natalia Kolesnikova)

Belarus jails journalist Alena Tsimashchuk for 5 years; reason for charges undisclosed

New York, June 20, 2024—Belarusian authorities must immediately disclose the reasons behind charges against journalist Alena Tsimashchuk, who was sentenced to five years imprisonment, and ensure that no members of the press are jailed for their work. On June 3, a court in the southwestern city of Brest convicted Tsimashchuk of discrediting Belarus, “incitement to…

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Fleeing prolonged media crackdown, Ethiopian journalists struggle in exile

When Belete Kassa’s friend and news show co-host Belaye Manaye was arrested in November 2023 and taken to the remote Awash Arba military camp known as the “Guantanamo of the desert,” Belete feared that he might be next. The two men co-founded the YouTube-based channel Ethio News in 2020, which had reported extensively on a conflict that…

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Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha was arrested May 14 for an article alleging that Jordan allows regional companies to ship goods to Israel. (Screenshot: Alordanalyoom/YouTube)

Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha sentenced to one year in prison

Istanbul, June 14, 2024 — Jordanian authorities must immediately and unconditionally drop all charges against Palestinian-Jordanian journalist Hiba Abu Taha, release her, and allow all journalists to cover issues related to the Israel-Gaza war without fear of reprisal, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Friday. On June 11, the Soloh Court in Amman sentenced Abu…

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Chinese journalist Sophia Huang Xueqin

CPJ calls for immediate release of Chinese journalist Sophia Huang Xueqin

Taipei, June 14, 2024—The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns a Chinese court’s decision on Friday to sentence journalist Sophia Huang Xueqin to five years in prison on the charge of “inciting subversion of state power.” The Intermediate People’s Court in the southern city of Guangzhou handed down the sentence to Huang, who is well known…

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Iranian journalist Hassan Shanbehzadeh, others imprisoned ahead of presidential election

Washington, D.C., June 11, 2024—Iranian authorities must immediately release blogger and book editor Hassan Shanbehzadeh and drop the espionage charges against him, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Tuesday. Officers with the Iranian Cyber Police arrested Shanbehzadeh on espionage charges in the northwestern city of Ardabil, in Ardabil province, on Thursday, June 6. His social…

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Headshot of Htet Aung

Myanmar adds terrorism charge against detained Rakhine State reporter Htet Aung

Bangkok, May 16, 2024—Myanmar must drop all pending charges against detained Rakhine State reporter Htet Aung and stop using false allegations of terrorism to intimidate and jail reporters, the Committee to Protect Journalists said Thursday. Military authorities filed a terrorism charge against Htet Aung in January, in addition to an existing defamation charge, but his…

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