China correspondent for The Economist Sue-Lin Wong has been denied entry to Hong Kong after the authorities refused to renew her visa.

Rozina Islam, an established journalist for Prothom Alo newspaper, is still under investigation.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is seriously concerned for the safety of its fellow member and freelance journalist Agnieszka Pikulicka, who was stranded for days after Uzbek officials at the Zhibek Zholy-Gisht Kuprik (Chernyaevka) border crossing denied her entry to the country. After braving the extreme cold at the Uzbekistan-Kazakhstan border crossing for over 48 hours, without access to proper food or shelter, Agnieszka has been unreachable since Tuesday morning. The last time the CFWIJ heard from her she said "there is no food and it is very cold". According to her Twitter, she was permitted to buy an air ticket home and was due to fly out from the Tashkent airport this morning. The CFWIJ condemns the arbitrary denial of entry to the Polish citizen and freelance reporter for Al-Jazeera and The Guardian. We urge the authorities to immediately ensure her safety.

The Coalition For Women In Journalism is concerned over Beijing’s move to ban private investment in news media amid stringent regulations already in place. We are cognizant of the state’s control and interference in the country’s existing media landscape and have been monitoring the situation. The CFWIJ urges Beijing to drop plans to ban non-state investment (private companies) in the establishing, operations or broadcasting of news agencies, newspapers, radio or television stations and related events.

The court rejected the award-winner investigative journalist Rozina Islam’s request for the return of her accreditation card, passport and mobile phone. The journalist’s belongings still remain in state custody. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns this violation of press freedom. We demand the return of Rozina’s belongings. Journalism is not a crime.

Rozina Islam, the award-winner investigative journalist, appeared in court to defend herself on a baseless criminal charge for which she faces up to 14 years in prison. Today’s hearing, her accreditation, passport and mobile phone remain in state custody. The court requested hear investigative officer decide the return of her belongings and postponed the next hearing to September 19, 2021. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) considers this adjournment as an attempt to silence the journalist. We demand Bangladeshi authorities drop all charges against Rozina immediately. A journalist should not be punished for reporting on matters of public interest.

Journalists around the country protested in the capital against the proposed Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA). In a sit-in conducted outside the Parliament House, journalists opposed the restrictions that the proposed bill will impose on the press in Pakistan, citing it as a measure to curb free speech and criticism in the country. The protest demonstration was supported by various sections of civil society, including members of the judiciary as well as the opposition.

Three women journalists were detained by the police in Moscow while picketing outside the Ministry of Justice on September 8. Alesya Marokhovskaya, Polina Uzhvak, and Irina Dolinina were protesting the use of the term “foreign agent” for independent journalists. They held signs with messages translated as, “They are not foreign agents, they are journalists.” Police arrested the three women journalists and later escorted them to a police van, as seen in a video aired by Dozhd TV station. The CFWIJ condemns the detention and demands the immediate release of the journalists. We urge the authorities to stop labeling dissenting voices, particularly the press, as foreign agents.

State authorities searched the apartment of ex-TV broadcaster Katerina Pytleva on September 7. The journalist fled the country earlier this year after facing threats of a possible criminal case against her. The CFWIJ is alarmed by the persistent harassment of women journalists in the country. We have recorded several threats and violations against press freedom, particularly involving women journalists. The mounting threats to journalists under Lukashenko’s regime have created a repressive environment for press freedom. The CFWIJ urges the present government to break this pattern.

The Supreme Court ruled to dissolve the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) on August 27 after closing a complaint filed by the Ministry of Justice. In the verdict, the court stated the arguments provided by the BAJ representative were not satisfactory. The decision maintained that the defence misunderstood the law. The CFWIJ stands in solidarity with the Belarusian Association of Journalists. The BAJ is an independent organization operating since 1995 and has gathered over 1300 members from the media sphere. The organization has earned an international reputation for its commitment to uphold press freedom.

Police raided the homes of at least 15 journalists, six of whom were women. The journalists’ laptops, phones and equipment were also confiscated. Continuing crackdown against independent news outlets in Belarus is sharply escalating. A new wave of mass raids jeopardizes the lives of journalists. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) closely monitors the incidents in the country. We urge Lukashenko’s administration to end the oppression against journalists.

CubaNet journalist Camila Acosta will be prosecuted for crimes against State Security, according to the screenwriter Ángel Santiesteban confirmed on July 12. The journalist remains in custody following the demonstrations she covered on July 11. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) is utterly dismayed by these crackdowns against journalists in the country. We demand Cuban authorities release Camila immediately.

Mildred Manrique, 800 Noticias’ journalist, affirmed that security forces attempted to search her house without having a prior notice or a search warrant. The journalist also included that the police officers were carrying long weapons. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns Venezuelan security officials for intimidating Mildred. We demand clarification into this deliberate threat against the journalist.

Journalist and columnist Juliana Dal Piva was threatened by President Jair Bolsonaro’s lawyer Frederick Wassef after a podcast was aired in which the president's corruption was exposed. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) condemns the threats against the journalist. We demand Brazilian authorities to conduct a swift investigation into the threat messages and ensure journalist’s safety.

Moscow police raided the apartments of three journalists, including reporter Maria Zholobova of the independent news organization Proekt, and interrogated them. Police confiscated phones, computers, flash drives and SIM cards from Maria. The Coalition For Women In Journalism (CFWIJ) denounces state intimidation against journalists. We demand Russian authorities to end these intimidating policies against journalists and return their equipment.