NEW YORK – August 2, 2021 – Photographer Anton Hammerl, who was killed by government forces in Libya in 2011 while covering the Libyan Civil War, tops the August ranking of the One Free Press Coalition’s “10 Most Urgent” list of press freedom cases. The “10 Most Urgent” list, issued today by a united group of pre-eminent editors and publishers, spotlights journalists whose press freedoms are being suppressed or whose cases are seeking justice.

The August list spotlights photojournalists, videographers and filmmakers who are experiencing a unique set of challenges and are often in situations of danger, given that the line of work requires them to get direct access to the action. In a 2018 global survey of photojournalists by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 90% of respondents said they have worked in high-risk environments, and almost half reported injuries at least once while working. In 2020, CPJ documented 20 photojournalists behind bars, and since 1992, 366 photographers, camera operators and documentary filmmakers have been killed around the world in connection to their work.

Published this morning at www.onefreepresscoalition.com and by all Coalition members, the 30th “10 Most Urgent” list includes the following journalists, ranked in order of urgency:

1. Anton Hammerl (Libya)

Hammerl, a photographer of South African and Austrian descent, was shot and killed by government forces in Libya in 2011 while covering the frontlines of the conflict as a freelancer. Ten years on, his body has still not been returned to his family, and there has been no formal investigation into his death. The Justice for Anton campaign is seeking to change this.

2. Olivier Dubois (Mali)

French journalist and filmmaker Olivier Dubois was kidnapped in the Malian region of Gao in April, by the Al-Qaeda affiliated group Jamaa Nusrat al-Islam, while seeking an interview with a local leader of the group. Months later, he remains in their custody.

3. Aleksandre Lashkarava (Georgia)

TV Pirveli camera operator died in Tbilisi days after he sustained a concussion and broken bones in his face, and underwent surgery as a result of an attack by anti-LGBTQ protestors while covering a demonstration in the capital. Police have launched a criminal investigation into his death.

4. Danish Siddiqui (Afghanistan)

Reuters photojournalist, who won a 2018 Pulitzer Prize for his work documenting the Rohingya Refugee Crisis, was killed in July while covering a clash between Afghan security forces and Taliban fighters. 53 journalists have been killed in Afghanistan since 1992.

5. Qaraman Shukri (Iraq)

Iraqi Kurdish photojournalist sentenced to seven years in prison in a secret trial without a lawyer present. He and his family hope to appeal. Shukri did not say what laws he was convicted of violating during the trial.

6. Alex Silveira (Brazil)

Brazilian photojournalist was shot in the eye with a rubber bullet by police in 2000 while covering protests in Sao Paulo, blinding him in his left eye. He has been fighting for justice ever since, and while the Supreme Court recently ruled in his favor, he still awaits a final decision.

7. Sayed Abd Ellah (Egypt)

Freelance photographer and commentator is one of several journalists detained since 2019 in Egypt, pending a mass trial in which thousands of people were charged with false news and anti-state crimes, and his pre-trial detention has been repeatedly renewed over the years.

8. Nooshin Jafari (Iran)

Cinema and theater photographer, covering culture for several Iranian magazines, was arrested in 2019 related to posts on Twitter, and started serving her four-year prison sentence this year on charges of “spreading anti-establishment propaganda” and “insulting sanctities.”

9. Bülent Kılıç (Turkey)

On June 28, police officers in Istanbul detained the chief Turkey photographer for AFP while he was covering police breaking up an LGBTQ Pride march in the city. Officers hit him in the face with his camera and threw it to the ground, and then pinned him down by kneeling on his neck and back as he struggled to breathe, before releasing him.

10. Magnificent Mndebele and Cebelihle Mbuyisa (Eswatini)

After covering the funeral of a police shooting victim, soldiers arrested two reporters from the South African news website New Frame in July. Soldiers threatened them at gunpoint, demanded they delete their camera footage, and took them to the police station where they were interrogated and physically abused by police for hours before being released.

Journalists can find safety resources and information on CPJ and IWMF websites.

The One Free Press Coalition is comprised of 32 prominent international members including: Agencia Efe; Al Jazeera Media Network, AméricaEconomía; The Associated Press; Bloomberg News; The Boston Globe; Corriere Della Sera; De Standaard; Deutsche Welle; Estadão; EURACTIV; The Financial Times; Forbes; Fortune; HuffPost; India Today; Insider Inc.; Le Temps; Middle East Broadcasting Networks; Office of Cuba Broadcasting; Quartz; Radio Free Asia; Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty; Republik; Reuters; The Straits Times; Süddeutsche Zeitung; TIME; TV Azteca; Voice of America; The Washington Post; and Yahoo News.

One Free Press Coalition partners with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) to identify the most-urgent cases for the list, which is updated and published on the first business day of every month.

The mission of the Coalition is to use the collective voices of its members – which reach more than 1 billion people worldwide – to “stand up for journalists under attack for pursuing the truth.” News organizations throughout the world can join the Coalition by emailing info@onefreepresscoalition.com.

Members of the public are also encouraged to join the conversation using the hashtag #OneFreePress and following developments on Twitter @OneFreePress.

One Free Press Coalition

The One Free Press Coalition every month spotlights the “10 Most Urgent” journalists who press freedoms are under threat worldwide. The Coalition uses the collective voices of participating news organizations to spotlight brave journalists whose voices are being silenced or have been silenced by “standing up for journalists under attack for pursing the truth.” To see the “10 Most Urgent” list every month and to view a complete list of participating news organizations and supporting partners, please visit onefreepresscoalition.com or @OneFreePress on Twitter.

Contacts:

One Free Press Coalition PR: pr@onefreepresscoalition.com
Committee to Protect Journalists: Bebe Santa-Wood, press@cpj.com

NEW YORK – July 1, 2021 – Indian journalists Rana Ayyub, Saba Nagyi and Mohammed Zubair, who authorities say shared an unverified video allegedly “spreading discord,” top the July ranking of the One Free Press Coalition’s “10 Most Urgent” list of press freedom cases. The “10 Most Urgent” list, issued today by a united group of pre-eminent editors and publishers, spotlights journalists whose press freedoms are being suppressed or whose cases are seeking justice.

The July list spotlights journalists who are covering the COVID-19 pandemic and its aftermath, which has led to direct exposure of the virus in addition to inclination of authorities in some countries who use the contagion as a reason to attack the media. From February 2020 to June 22, 2021 alone, the Committee to Protect Journalists documented 221 press freedom violations related to the pandemic including journalists who are already facing the consequences.

Additionally, the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) recently published a report commissioned by the Gates Foundation on COVID-19 and how it has impacted the voices of women and journalists of color. “The Missing Perspectives of Women in COVID-19 News” shows that too few women experts have been quoted on the pandemic in the media.

Published this morning at www.onefreepresscoalition.com and by all Coalition members, the 29th “10 Most Urgent” list includes the following journalists, ranked in order of urgency:

1. Rana Ayyub, Saba Naqvi and Mohammed Zubair (India) 

Last year, police filed a criminal investigation of a journalist at independent news website The Wire for allegedly “spreading discord” related to the COVID-19 lockdown. Now authorities have launched a criminal investigation against The Wire and journalists Rana Ayyub, Saba Naqvi and Mohammed Zubair that alleges they shared unverified video that could cause social unrest. 

2. Azimjon Askarov (Kyrgyzstan) 

July 25 marks one year since journalist and human rights activist Azimjon Askarov died in a Kyrgyz prison. His family suspected that he had contracted COVID-19, but authorities refused to test him.

3. José Antônio Arantes (Brazil)

The founder and editor of Folha da Região has received threatening messages on social media in response to his coverage of the pandemic, and he was victim of an arson attack on the building housing both his home and newspaper headquarters. 

4. Gamal al-Gamal (Egypt)

Egyptian freelance columnist contracted COVID-19 earlier this year while held in pretrial detention in Cairo’s notorious Tora Prison. While he was eventually transferred to a hospital, conditions behind bars remain unsafe for many inmates.   

5. Rozina Islam (Bangladesh) 

Rozina Islam was arrested in May for her reporting about large sums of money spent on medical equipment during COVID and government negotiations to buy vaccines. If convicted, she could face up to 14 years in prison and the death penalty.

6. Nurgeldi Halykov (Turkmenistan)

Freelance correspondent Nurgeldi Halykov has been behind bars since September 2020 on fraud charges, which colleagues believe are retaliation for his reporting, including coverage of the pandemic for independent Netherlands-based news website Turkmen.news. 

7. Andrzej Poczobut (Belarus) 

Political commentator and TV producer Andrzej Poczobut has been detained without charge since March. He has reportedly contracted COVID-19 while behind bars, with prisoners kept in crowded conditions, but has now been placed in quarantine. 

8. Siddique Kappan (India)

Indian journalist behind bars recently contracted COVID-19. While one of his charges was recently dropped, authorities in Uttar Pradesh state continue to pursue and investigate additional retaliatory charges against him.

9. Shahram Safari (Iran)

Freelance Kurdish journalist, who also runs local news Telegram channel “Rawezh Press,” was sentenced to three months in prison over his COVID-19 reporting. While he is appealing the decision, he faces two additional cases against him.

10. Oratile Dikologang (Botswana)

Oratile Dikologang, cofounder and digital editor of local website Botswana People’s Daily News, is due in court July 12 on charges relating to information shared to Facebook about COVID-19 and local politics. He denies publishing the posts. 

The One Free Press Coalition is comprised of 32 prominent international members including: Agencia Efe; Al Jazeera Media Network, AméricaEconomía; The Associated Press; Bloomberg News; The Boston Globe; Corriere Della Sera; De Standaard; Deutsche Welle; Estadão; EURACTIV; The Financial Times; Forbes; Fortune; HuffPost; India Today; Insider Inc.; Le Temps; Middle East Broadcasting Networks; Office of Cuba Broadcasting; Quartz; Radio Free Asia; Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty; Republik; Reuters; The Straits Times; Süddeutsche Zeitung; TIME; TV Azteca; Voice of America; The Washington Post; and Yahoo News.

One Free Press Coalition partners with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) to identify the most-urgent cases for the list, which is updated and published on the first business day of every month.

The mission of the Coalition is to use the collective voices of its members – which reach more than 1 billion people worldwide – to “stand up for journalists under attack for pursuing the truth.” News organizations throughout the world can join the Coalition by emailing info@onefreepresscoalition.com. Members of the public are also encouraged to join the conversation using the hashtag #OneFreePress and following developments on Twitter @OneFreePress.

One Free Press Coalition

The One Free Press Coalition every month spotlights the “10 Most Urgent” journalists who press freedoms are under threat worldwide. The Coalition uses the collective voices of participating news organizations to spotlight brave journalists whose voices are being silenced or have been silenced by “standing up for journalists under attack for pursing the truth.” To see the “10 Most Urgent” list every month and to view a complete list of participating news organizations and supporting partners, please visit onefreepresscoalition.com or @OneFreePress on Twitter.

Contacts:

One Free Press Coalition PR: pr@onefreepresscoalition.com
Committee to Protect Journalists: Bebe Santa-Wood, press@cpj.com

The June “10 Most Urgent” List Spotlights Exiled Journalists, Those Forced to Flee and Threats Faced by Journalists Reporting At Borders

NEW YORK – June 1, 2020 – Belarusian reporter Raman Pratasevich, who was arrested last month following the diversion of a commercial passenger flight to Minsk by Belarusian authorities, tops the June ranking of the One Free Press Coalition’s “10 Most Urgent” list of press freedom cases. The “10 Most Urgent” list, issued today by a united group of pre-eminent editors and publishers, spotlights journalists whose press freedoms are being suppressed or whose cases are seeking justice.

The June list focuses on journalists forced to flee their homes or go into exile, as well as threats faced by journalists reporting at borders. The type of threats that force journalists to leave their homes can vary, ranging from sustained harassment, to physical and legal threats, or threats of imprisonment, all impeding their ability to live and work without fear. Journalists from all regions seek safety elsewhere when press crackdowns intensify, with recent examples in Myanmar and Ethiopia.

Local journalists, unlike international journalists who may be able to move more freely, when faced with threats often have no other option than to leave behind their homes, and even their families. As CPJ found in a 2015 report, only about 17 percent of journalists who fled their countries were able to continue working during their time in exile. Among the “10 Most Urgent” cases highlighted in this month’s list is Pratasevich, 26, who moved to Poland fearing for his life in late 2019, and who was detained in Minsk on May 23 and may have been beaten, based on Pratasevich’s appearance in a video released by authorities. 

Published this morning at www.onefreepresscoalition.com and by all Coalition members, the 28th 10 Most Urgent list includes the following journalists, ranked in order of urgency:

1. Raman Pratasevich (Belarus)

Belarusian authorities diverted a commercial flight to Minsk in order to arrest exiled journalist Raman Pratasevich, founder and editor of Telegram channels that covered anti-Lukashenko protests. Belarusian authorities launched investigations against him in relation to his journalism.

2. Benjamín Morales (Mexico)

Local journalist working in a Northern Mexican border town in Sonora was found dead with multiple gunshot wounds, as violence surges in the state.  

3. Ayham al-Gareeb, Mohammad Shubat, Mousa al-Jamaat, and Okba Mohammad (Syria)

Facing dire threats in Syria in connection to their reporting, local journalists find safety in Spain and launch Madrid’s first refugee-led, Spanish-Arabic news site, Baynana.

4. Pouyan Khoshhal (Iran)

Journalist imprisoned, fired and forced into exile for a single story continues to report on news and politics in Iran for IranWire and still faces a sentence if he returns to Iran.  

5. Natalia Zubkova (Russia)

After facing an attack and death threats, journalist and her family were pushed into hiding—and forced to flee Russia—following her reporting on local protests as well as an alleged real estate scheme targeting disabled people.

6. Amade Abubacar (Mozambique)

Radio journalist covering families fleeing militant attacks in Cabo Delgado province, where an ongoing conflict has displaced hundreds of thousands, was arrested and detained for 108 days in several prisons in 2019. Though released, Abubacar still faces charges.  

7. Carlos Ketohou (Togo)

Director of Togolese outlet L’Indépendant Express forced to leave his home after security forces detained him, and his family received anonymous threats. Authorities have barred the outlet from publishing, and legal challenges are ongoing.

8. Can Dündar (Turkey)

Journalist and former chief editor of the Turkish opposition newspaper Cumhuriyet founded independent radio station Özgürüz while living in exile in Germany. He appeals a 27.5-year prison sentence on anti-state charges from Turkish authorities.  

9. Gerall Chávez (Nicaragua)

One of the dozens of Nicaraguan journalists forced into exile since 2018, Chávez has continued to face threats even while living in Costa Rica, including ones directed toward his family, which remains in Nicaragua. 

10. Humayra Bakhtiyar (Tajikistan)

Journalist and human rights activist covering politics and corruption was forced into exile in the EU in 2016, but remains outspoken even as she faces continued online harassment and threats from Tajik authorities directed at her family.

The One Free Press Coalition is comprised of 32 prominent international members including: Agencia Efe; Al Jazeera Media Network, AméricaEconomía; The Associated Press; Bloomberg News; The Boston Globe; Corriere Della Sera; De Standaard; Deutsche Welle; Estadão; EURACTIV; The Financial Times; Forbes; Fortune; HuffPost; India Today; Insider Inc.; Le Temps; Middle East Broadcasting Networks; Office of Cuba Broadcasting; Quartz; Radio Free Asia; Radio Free Europe and Radio Liberty; Republik; Reuters; The Straits Times; Süddeutsche Zeitung; TIME; TV Azteca; Voice of America; The Washington Post; and Yahoo News.

One Free Press Coalition partners with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) to identify the most-urgent cases for the list, which is updated and published on the first business day of every month.

The mission of the Coalition is to use the collective voices of its members – which reach more than 1 billion people worldwide – to “stand up for journalists under attack for pursuing the truth.” News organizations throughout the world can join the Coalition by emailing info@onefreepresscoalition.com. Members of the public are also encouraged to join the conversation using the hashtag #OneFreePress and following developments on Twitter @OneFreePress.

One Free Press Coalition

The One Free Press Coalition every month spotlights the “10 Most Urgent” journalists who press freedoms are under threat worldwide. The Coalition uses the collective voices of participating news organizations to spotlight brave journalists whose voices are being silenced or have been silenced by “standing up for journalists under attack for pursing the truth.” To see the “10 Most Urgent” list every month and to view a complete list of participating news organizations and supporting partners, please visit onefreepresscoalition.com or @OneFreePress on Twitter.

Contacts:

One Free Press Coalition PR: pr@onefreepresscoalition.com
Committee to Protect Journalists: Bebe Santa-Wood, press@cpj.com