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Statements   |   Yemen

Nobel Peace Prize for Yemeni press freedom activist

New York, October 7, 2011--The Committee to Protect Journalists is delighted that the 2011 Nobel Peace Prize has been awarded to renowned Yemeni press freedom activist Tawakul Karman, Chairwoman of Women Journalists Without Chains, along with two other female leaders.

"Tawakul Karman's selection for the Nobel Peace Prize not only recognizes her relentless battle for a free press in Yemen but also highlights the free flow of information as vital for peaceful and democratic societies," said CPJ Middle East and North Africa Coordinator Mohamed Abdel Dayem. "We rejoice with Karman and hope that this prize helps to shed light on the targeting of journalists which continues to plague the Arab world."

CPJ has documented more than 500 attacks on journalists covering political unrest across the Middle East and North Africa. These include targeted killings, physical attacks, censorship tactics, confiscation of equipment and anti-press legislation.  

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