Kyrgyzstan declares outlets Kloop and Temirov Live ‘extremist’ in unprecedented crackdown Babar Azam's form slump: Inside the psychological battle and classical crisis of Pakistan's cricket maestro New York Times opens 2025 fellowship for emerging journalists CPJ slams Turkey’s seizure of TELE1, calls for journalist’s release Alfred Friendly launches 2026 fellowship for exiled journalists in America Harvard invites applications for 2026 Nieman Journalism Fellowships IFJ, global unions urge ASEAN to reject Myanmar junta’s planned sham election Justice denied: Mother of slain journalist Arshad Sharif dies awaiting accountability CNN's Christiane Amanpour reveals recurrence of ovarian cancer PSL's decline: From cricket's bright promise to bureaucratic mediocrity and franchise crisis
Journalism Pakistan
Journalism Pakistan

Senior journalists take to Twitter to back Cyril Almeida

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 9 years ago

Join our WhatsApp channel

Senior journalists take to Twitter to back Cyril Almeida

ISLAMABAD – Senior journalists took to Twitter to lend support to Dawn journalist Cyril Almeida whose name was placed on the Exit Control List Monday for doing a story on civil-military relations last week.

 

Analyst and Dawn columnist Zahid Hussain tweeted the “Travel ban on Cyril @cyalm for doing his job is shameful.”

 

Almeida’s front page story headlined Act against militants or face international isolation, civilians tell military was published on October 6. It angered both the government and the army promoting Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to take “serious notice” Monday and directing that those responsible be identified for stern action.

 

Hamid Mir, host of program Capital Talk on Geo TV asked: "Will Interior Minister Ch Nisar Ali Khan explain why journalist @cyalm has been put on ECL? Is it democracy? waiting for a response.”

 

Owais Tohid, currently associated with Capital TV tweeted: “Strange govt can let Musharraf, who faces treason charges, leave the country but puts Journo Cyril @cyalm on ECL. One can only laugh...” In another tweet he said: “Placing of @cyalm Cyril on ECL is govt's ridiculous step. All the support for him He is credible journalist ¬ a wanted criminal.”

 

On the other hand Geo Television analyst Najam Sethi said: “Civ-Mil Estab has given the international media a bigger story by stupidly targeting Cyril/Dawn. Media must stand by @cyalm and @dawn_com.”

 

Murtaza Solangi, a former Director General at Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) tweeted: “We don't like mirrors that show what we actually are so we will smash them. #DAWN #Cyril.”

 

Tariq Butt, senior journalist with The News said that “Placing Cyril Almeida's name on ECL condemable All govt clarifications/contradictions duly carried by Dawn, whch shld hve been end of story.”

 

Omar R Quraishi, Editor Digital Properties at Samaa, said: “Effects of placing Cyril Almeida on ECL 1. Pakistan getting international headlines for wrong reasons 2. Makes Mr Almeida a martyr.”

 

‘Cyril’ was a trending on Twitter with 15.9K tweets published by Tuesday afternoon. Another hashtag going was #WhoFedCyril with largely anti-Dawn tweets.

 

Image: Cyril Almeida/Körber-Stiftung

 

 

Read Next

Independent and unbroken: JournalismPakistan.com turns 16

Independent and unbroken: JournalismPakistan.com turns 16

 October 24, 2025: JournalismPakistan.com celebrates 16 years of independent reporting and media insight. Founded in 2009, the platform has weathered censorship, cyberattacks, and financial pressures to remain a trusted space for all who love and follow the media.

Newsroom
Kyrgyzstan declares outlets Kloop and Temirov Live ‘extremist’ in unprecedented crackdown

Kyrgyzstan declares outlets Kloop and Temirov Live ‘extremist’ in unprecedented crackdown

 October 29, 2025 In a historic first, a Bishkek court declares Kloop, Temirov Live, and their founders extremist, marking Kyrgyzstan’s sharpest assault on press freedom under President Japarov.


Babar Azam's form slump: Inside the psychological battle and classical crisis of Pakistan's cricket maestro

Babar Azam's form slump: Inside the psychological battle and classical crisis of Pakistan's cricket maestro

 October 29, 2025 Babar Azam's form slump reveals a psychological battle between classical artistry and modern cricket demands. Inside the mind of Pakistan's maestro, struggling to rediscover flow.


 New York Times opens 2025 fellowship for emerging journalists

New York Times opens 2025 fellowship for emerging journalists

 October 29, 2025 The New York Times is accepting applications for its 2025 fellowship, a one-year journalism training program for emerging reporters, editors, and visual journalists. Deadline: November 19, 2025.


CPJ slams Turkey’s seizure of TELE1, calls for journalist’s release

CPJ slams Turkey’s seizure of TELE1, calls for journalist’s release

 October 29, 2025 CPJ calls on Turkey to release journalist Merdan Yanardag and return control of TELE1, after his arrest on espionage charges and state media takeover.


Alfred Friendly launches 2026 fellowship for exiled journalists in America

Alfred Friendly launches 2026 fellowship for exiled journalists in America

 October 29, 2025 Alfred Friendly Press Partners invites exiled journalists in the US to apply for its 2026 four-week fellowship offering training, support, and a $2,000 stipend.