On May 3, 2021, the annual observance of World Press Freedom Day, the One Free Press Coalition launched the monthly list of “10 Most Urgent” press freedom cases around the world. This iteration focuses on journalists writing about human rights—an especially dangerous beat. Of journalists imprisoned in 2020, 55% covered human rights, and 306 journalists reporting on human rights have been killed since 1992.

Human rights stories—such as attacks on minority communities, anti-government protests, environmental degradation, and LGBT rights, among many others—have all proven to be dangerous stories for the journalists on the list this month. CPJ and IWMF applaud the courage of all journalists, and continue to provide safety resources and support to ensure they can do their job as safely as possible.

1. Ibraimo Abú Mbaruco (Mozambique)

Mozambican radio reporter and human rights advocate in Cabo Delgado has been missing for over a year as conflict in the region escalates. Family and colleagues still have no information on his whereabouts after he sent an SOS text saying he was “surrounded by soldiers.” 

2. Kasra Nouri (Iran)

Journalist, serving a 12-year sentence related to his coverage of religious protests in 2018, has spent a significant amount of time in solitary confinement, been moved multiple times, and his family is currently unable to communicate with him.         

3. Pham Chi Dung (Vietnam)

Freelance internet reporter and founding chairman of a civil society organization advocating for press freedom is serving a 15-year prison sentence on anti-state charges after calling on the EU to postpone trade agreements until Vietnam improves its human rights record.

4. Ahmed Humaidan (Bahrain)

Photographer covering protests in Bahrain was arrested while documenting protesters attacking a police station in 2012, and sentenced to ten years behind bars in 2014. He recently contracted and recovered from COVID-19 while imprisoned.

5. Esraa Abdelfattah (Egypt)

Longtime blogger, journalist and activist reporting on human rights has been held on false news and anti-state charges since 2019, and has had her pretrial detention extended. She has gone on hunger strikes multiple times to protest her sentence and treatment.

6. Leonardo Sakamoto and the team at Repórter Brasil (Brazil)

Leonardo Sakamoto is the president of Repórter Brasil, an investigative reporting organization, focused on issues from human trafficking to workers’ rights to environmental degradation. The outlet has faced online attacks, attempted break-ins and anonymous threats.      

7. Sandhya Ravishankar (India)

Freelance journalist reporting on elections, politics and corruption, including on Tamil Nadu’s sand mafia and beach sand mining, has faced years of threats and harassment, including death and rape threats, doxing, and a 2018 attempt to sabotage her motorbike.

8. Agnieszka Pikulicka (Uzbekistan)

Freelance correspondent threatened publicly by Uzbek Interior Ministry with potential lawsuits in relation to her reporting on the attack of an LGBTQ activist.

9. Katsiaryna Barysevich (Belarus)

Correspondent for the independent news website Tut.by was sentenced earlier this year to six months behind bars for her coverage of protests in Belarus in 2020.

10. Daria Komarova (Russia)

Russian journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty has been put on three trials in relation to her coverage of pro-Navalny protests, facing potential fines and administrative detention.

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On April 1, 2021 the One Free Press Coalition launched the 26th monthly “10 Most Urgent” list of press freedom cases around the world. This iteration focuses on cases of journalists who have faced retaliation in relation to posts online and on social media.

In many countries around the world, particularly those with repressive media environments, social media provides one of the few avenues for journalists to publish critical reporting. Censorship on social media platforms can take many forms, including journalists facing arrest for posts, having articles or pages removed, as well as the censorship journalists face when targeted with online harassment from state and non-state actors. 

Another nefarious threat for journalists online is the prevalence of sophisticated spyware. As CPJ has found in its newly launched campaign, dozens of journalists around the world have been subjected to spyware attacks from state actors, threatening a journalist’s personal information, sources and even their own physical safety. 

Of the 274 journalists behind bars in 2020, 79% report and publish on the internet, and 58% are considered internet reporters. Online harassment is another increasingly concerning threat to press freedom. Given how prevalent it is for journalists, especially for women and people of color, it is often difficult to quantify the number, but as reporting from IWMF and CPJ has shown, it poses a serious threat to press freedom.

Recently the Coalition Against Online Violence launched the Online Violence Response Hub with resources for journalists targeted by online abuse. In addition, CPJ provides guidance for journalists on digital safety. 

1. Kabir Kishore (Bangladesh)

Lu Yuyu (courtesy of Lu Yuyu)

Cartoonist allegedly subjected to severe physical abuse while held behind bars. Now released on bail, he faces serious health issues and charges under Bangladesh’s Digital Security Act. 

2. Lu Yuyu (China)

Chinese journalist faces continued harassment since his release from prison: police invading his home, forcing him to relocate and demanding he shut down his Twitter account. 

3. Hopewell Chin’ono (Zimbabwe)

Elena Solovyova (credit Natalia Sevets-Yermolina)

Journalist has faced repeated arrests and harassment from authorities in the past year for his reporting, and potentially faces years behind bars on charges of “publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State” for a tweet about alleged police abuse. 

4. Elena Solovyova (Russia)

Russian freelance reporter doxxed by anonymous Telegram channel in attempt to harass her for her work.

5. Otabek Sattoriy (Uzbekistan)

Otabek Sattoriy (courtesy of Otabek Sattoriy)

Uzbek blogger covering corruption detained and charged with extortion, and has had his Telegram channel taken down. 

6. Mohammad Mosaed (Iran)

Online reporter forced to flee Iran and seek exile as he faces over four years in prison on charges related to social media posts critical of the government. 

7. Ricardo Noblat (Brazil)

Brazilian authorities have repeatedly threatened criminal investigations against political news journalist in recent years for re-sharing social media posts critical of the government and of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro.

8. Arzu Geybulla (Turkey/Azerbaijan)

Azerbaijani journalist living in Turkey was targeted in a virulent online harassment campaign, forcing her to temporarily go offline, following the publication of a piece accusing her of disrespecting victims of the Azerbaijan-Armenia conflict.  

9. Basma Mostafa (Egypt)

Egyptian journalist detained and held in 2020 on charges of spreading false news, misusing social media and joining a terrorist organization. Currently free, she still faces charges and has experienced continual judicial harassment. 

10. Rana Ayyub (India)

Indian journalist has faced years of harassment in relation to her ongoing reporting and commentary on taboo subjects, with recent abuse amplified by the ongoing farmer’s protests in India.

On March 1, 2021 the One Free Press Coalition launched the 25th monthly “10 Most Urgent” list of press freedom cases around the world. This iteration focuses on women in anticipation of International Women’s Day observed March 8.

In an industry long dominated by men, more and more female journalists around the world are telling important stories and reporting the news for their communities. These brave journalists face a unique set of challenges and threats. More than 70% have experienced more than one type of harassment, threat or attack in the course of their work, according to a 2018 report published by the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF) and online threat monitor Trollbusters. Given the social stigmas tied to gender-based violence, many women may choose not to report incidents or to leave the profession.

Six of the women on the list this month are behind bars, and 13% of all imprisoned journalists in 2020 were women. One of the journalists on the list this month was murdered in connection to her reporting, and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented 70 female journalists murdered since 1992. At least one of the cases on this list has faced some form of targeted online harassment, an issue endemic to the industry. In terms of beat, the journalists on this list cover a wide range of issues and stories, but politics remains one of the most dangerous for journalists globally, according to CPJ research.

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1. Tal al-Mallohi (Syria)

Syrian journalist, currently held without charge, has spent more than ten years in total behind bars. She is detained on the orders of a security adviser to Syrian President Bashar al-Asad.

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Solafa Magdy (credit Magdy Family)

2. Solafa Magdy (Egypt)

Imprisoned freelance journalist faces rapidly worsening health conditions, medical neglect and abuse in detention.

3. Katsiaryna Andreyeva and Darya Chultsova (Belarus)

Independent journalist and camera operator each sentenced to two years in prison relating to coverage of anti-government protests.

4. Maria Elena Ferral Hernández (Mexico)

March 30 marks one year since two unidentified men on a motorcycle shot and killed newspaper correspondent following prior threats.

5. Pham Doan Trang (Vietnam)

Web reporter and magazine founder, held in pre-trial detention since October, awaits trial on anti-state charges after facing years of threats.

6. Frenchie Mae Cumpio (Philippines)

Web journalist and radio anchor, who covers alleged police and military abuses, has been detained one year and could face a prison sentence of 6-12 years.

7. Anastasia Mejía (Guatemala)

Indigenous journalist was arrested for broadcasting—and accused of participating in—a protest against a local official. Her home was raided on the same day, and she was held in pre-trial detention for over a month. 

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Neha Dixit (credit Rajni George)

8. Ayşegül Doğan (Turkey)

Turkish journalist is currently free, pending appeal, but faces more than six years’ jail time for bogus terrorism charges.

9. Neha Dixit (India)

Freelance reporter recently endured an attempted break-in, stalking and months of threatening phone calls that included death threats and references to her journalism, as well as an ongoing defamation case.

10. Haze Fan (China)

Bloomberg News Beijing staff member was detained on suspicion of endangering national security.