CPJ, 4 others urge Saudi Authorities to release detained podcaster, other content creators

Radio Free never takes money from corporate interests, which ensures our publications are in the interest of people, not profits. Radio Free provides free and open-source tools and resources for anyone to use to help better inform their communities. Learn more and get involved at radiofree.org

On July 10, the Committee to Protect Journalists joined four human rights organizations in urging Saudi authorities to immediately release various Saudi content creators and journalists, including Palestinian journalist and podcast presenter Hatem al-Najjar 1 , who has been detained 2 since January of this year. Al-Najjar is the host of the popular podcast “Muraba” (Square) on Thmanyah 3 , a Saudi media platform that produces various podcasts.

The statement further called on Saudi authorities to end their campaigns of defamation and harassment against all those peacefully expressing views that diverge from the official government line or carrying out legitimate work in journalism, broadcasting, and online media.

As of December 2023, 10 journalists remain detained 4 in Saudi prisons.

The joint statement is available in English 5 and العربية 6 .


This content originally appeared on Committee to Protect Journalists 7 and was authored by Committee to Protect Journalists.

Citations

[1] منظمة سند الحقوقية توثق اعتقال الإعلامي الفلسطيني حاتم النجار - Sanad Organization ➤ https://sanad.uk/2024/03/17/%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%88%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%82-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7/?lang=ar[2] منظمة سند الحقوقية توثق اعتقال الإعلامي الفلسطيني حاتم النجار - Sanad Organization ➤ https://sanad.uk/2024/03/17/%D9%85%D9%86%D8%B8%D9%85%D8%A9-%D8%B3%D9%86%D8%AF-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%AD%D9%82%D9%88%D9%82%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%AA%D9%88%D8%AB%D9%82-%D8%A7%D8%B9%D8%AA%D9%82%D8%A7%D9%84-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%A5%D8%B9%D9%84%D8%A7/?lang=ar[3] إذاعة ثمانية - YouTube ➤ https://www.youtube.com/@thmanyahPodcasts[4] Explore CPJ's database of attacks on the press ➤ https://cpj.org/data/imprisoned/2023/?status=Imprisoned&cc_fips%5B%5D=SA&start_year=2023&end_year=2023&group_by=location[5] ➤ https://cpj.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/Crackdown-on-popular-Saudi-influencers-and-creators-with-harsh-sentence-for-hit-producer.pdf[6] ➤ https://cpj.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/%D9%82%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%A4%D8%AB%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86-%D9%88%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AC%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D8%B3%D8%B9%D9%88%D8%AF%D9%8A%D9%8A%D9%86-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D8%B4%D9%87%D9%88%D8%B1%D9%8A%D9%86%D8%8C-%D9%85%D8%B9-%D8%B9%D9%82%D9%88%D8%A8%D8%A9-%D9%82%D8%A7%D8%B3%D9%8A%D8%A9-%D8%B9%D9%84%D9%89-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%85%D9%86%D8%AA%D8%AC-%D8%A7%D9%84%D9%86%D8%A7%D8%AC%D8%AD.pdf