News

Turkish Journalist Faces At Least 5‑Year Prison Sentence Over Erdogan “Threat” in YouTube Video
July 17, 2025
Turkish Journalist Faces At Least 5‑Year Prison Sentence Over Erdogan “Threat” in YouTube Video
July 17, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish journalist and prominent commentator Fatih Altayli is facing a potential prison sentence of at least five years after being formally indicted for allegedly threatening President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in a YouTube broadcast. Prosecutors claim that Altayli’s remarks in a recent video amounted to a threat against the president’s life—an accusation rooted in Turkey’s controversial laws on presidential insult and threats. In the video, Altayli referenced a historical tradition, noting that Turks had previously deposed or even executed leaders they no longer supported. He was commenting on an unofficial...
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LA Ruling Shields Journalists Amid Violent ICE Protest Crackdowns
July 17, 2025
LA Ruling Shields Journalists Amid Violent ICE Protest Crackdowns
July 17, 2025 - USA - Journalist protection advocates and civil rights groups are denouncing the Los Angeles Police Department for repeated attacks on members of the press during immigration-related protests. Demonstrations sparked by aggressive ICE deportation raids in early July saw several journalists reportedly targeted by LAPD officers, despite clearly identifying themselves. Incidents included the arrest of independent reporters, the use of “less-lethal” munitions on media crews, and physical obstruction of press coverage. CNN correspondent Jason Carroll and his crew were temporarily detained while covering a protest in downtown LA. In another incident, Status...
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UNESCO Condemns Killing of Iranian Media Workers Nima Rajabpour and Masoumeh Azimi in Israeli Airstrike
July 16, 2025
UNESCO Condemns Killing of Iranian Media Workers Nima Rajabpour and Masoumeh Azimi in Israeli Airstrike
July 16, 2025 - Iran/Israel - UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay has strongly condemned the deaths of Iranian media workers Nima Rajabpour and Masoumeh Azimi, who were killed during an Israeli airstrike on the Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB) headquarters in Tehran on June 16, 2025. Rajabpour, a 50-year-old news editor, and Azimi, an administrative staff member, were critically injured in the attack and died shortly thereafter. Their deaths highlight the severe risks faced by journalists and media personnel operating in conflict zones, where media infrastructure is increasingly targeted during military operations. Azoulay called for...
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Iraqi Kurdish Authorities Arrest, Beat Journalists Amid Growing Press Freedom Concerns
July 16, 2025
Iraqi Kurdish Authorities Arrest, Beat Journalists Amid Growing Press Freedom Concerns
July 16, 2025 - Iraq - Iraqi Kurdish authorities have recently arrested and severely beaten three journalists while assaulting a fourth in a series of troubling incidents, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). These actions have sparked significant alarm among press freedom advocates, highlighting the increasingly hostile environment for journalists operating in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. On July 14, Hersh Qadir, head of NRT’s Erbil office, was violently assaulted by three security personnel while covering a protest in Erbil’s Ainkawa district. According to Qadir, a man in plainclothes, who...
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Nearly 100 Public Figures Demand Release of French Journalist Christophe Gleizes, Deemed Unjustly Detained
July 16, 2025
Nearly 100 Public Figures Demand Release of French Journalist Christophe Gleizes, Deemed Unjustly Detained
July 16, 2025 - France - Nearly 100 prominent public figures, including writers, artists, and intellectuals, have signed an open letter calling for the immediate release of French journalist Christophe Gleizes, who they say has been unjustly detained. The letter, published by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), expresses deep concern over the ongoing detention of Gleizes, describing it as a violation of press freedom and an attack on journalistic independence. Christophe Gleizes, known for his investigative reporting and commitment to uncovering difficult truths, was detained under unclear circumstances that his supporters argue lack proper legal justification....
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Al Jazeera Reporter Caught in Israeli Airstrike While Reporting from Damascus
July 16, 2025
Al Jazeera Reporter Caught in Israeli Airstrike While Reporting from Damascus
July 16, 2025 - Syria/Israel - An Al Jazeera reporter narrowly escaped harm when an Israeli airstrike targeted Damascus, Syria, shaking the city and hitting key military and media sites. While covering the escalating conflict, Amin was caught in the chaos as the Israeli military launched strikes on multiple locations, including the Syrian army headquarters and a television studio. The strike occurred amid rising tensions between Israel and Syria, with Israeli forces targeting what they described as “military sites” in response to cross-border threats. The blast caused significant damage in Damascus, rattling buildings and forcing...
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Veteran Palestinian Journalist Nasser Laham Released After Eight Days of Israeli Detention
July 16, 2025
Veteran Palestinian Journalist Nasser Laham Released After Eight Days of Israeli Detention
July 16, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Veteran Palestinian journalist Dr. Nasser Laham, editor-in-chief of Ma’an News Agency, was released by Israeli authorities after being held for eight days on allegations of “incitement.” Laham, a well-known media figure in the West Bank, was detained at his home in Bethlehem without being formally charged. His arrest and detention drew strong criticism from press freedom advocates, who described it as arbitrary and politically motivated. During his detention, Laham reportedly endured harsh conditions, including solitary confinement and limited access to legal counsel. Human rights organisations condemned the treatment and...
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IFJ Raises Alarm Over Surge in Attacks on Pakistani Journalists
July 15, 2025
IFJ Raises Alarm Over Surge in Attacks on Pakistani Journalists
July 15, 2025 - Pakistan -  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has raised urgent concerns about mounting threats to press freedom in Pakistan, citing a sharp rise in violence, harassment, and legal intimidation targeting media professionals. According to the IFJ’s latest Pakistan Press Freedom Report, shared with the Chief Justice of Pakistan, 34 violations were recorded between May 1, 2024, and April 30, 2025. These included 7 targeted killings, 8 incidents of non-fatal violence, and several cases involving defamation, threats, arrests, and institutional assaults. The IFJ warned that these escalating violations are fostering a...
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Indian Journalist Ajit Anjum Booked Over Alleged Interference in Bihar Electoral Roll Process
July 15, 2025
Indian Journalist Ajit Anjum Booked Over Alleged Interference in Bihar Electoral Roll Process
July 15, 2025 - India - Indian journalist and YouTuber Ajit Anjum has been booked by Bihar police for allegedly disrupting an official electoral roll revision process in Begusarai district. An FIR was lodged against him on July 14 after a confrontation at a government office that led to accusations of interference with the duties of public servants and violating the Model Code of Conduct. According to police reports and statements from the Election Commission, Anjum visited a polling booth in Teghra, Begusarai, and recorded videos during an ongoing summary revision drive for the electoral...
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Press Freedom Advocates Demand Immediate Release of Palestinian Journalist Ali Al-Samoudi
July 15, 2025
Press Freedom Advocates Demand Immediate Release of Palestinian Journalist Ali Al-Samoudi
July 15, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - The National Press Club’s Press Freedom Centre has issued a strong call for the immediate release of Palestinian journalist Ali Al-Samoudi, who has been detained by Israeli authorities since May 18, 2024. Al-Samoudi, a veteran journalist based in Jenin in the occupied West Bank, has worked for over two decades with several local and international outlets, including Al-Quds newspaper. He is known for covering Israeli military operations and reporting on Palestinian life under occupation. The Press Freedom Centre emphasised that Al-Samoudi’s arrest is part of a broader and deeply...
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CNN Crew Attacked by Israeli Settlers in West Bank Amid Rising Violence
July 15, 2025
CNN Crew Attacked by Israeli Settlers in West Bank Amid Rising Violence
July 15, 2025 - Palestine -  A CNN news team was assaulted by Israeli settlers in Sinjil, near Ramallah, while covering the death of 20-year-old Palestinian‑American, Saif Musallet. Jeremy Diamond, a Jerusalem‑based correspondent who previously reported from the White House, was among those targeted. Diamond shared that the rear window of their vehicle was smashed as they fled unharmed, warning, “This is just a sliver of the reality many Palestinians face in the West Bank amid rising settler violence.” The attack unfolded over the weekend of July 12–13, after Musallet was beaten to death by...
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Kyrgyzstan Cracks Down on Independent Media with “False News” Law and Broadcaster Shutdown
July 15, 2025
Kyrgyzstan Cracks Down on Independent Media with “False News” Law and Broadcaster Shutdown
July 15, 2025 - Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyzstan has launched a sweeping assault on free press this July, tightening media controls through new legislation and judicial interference targeting independent outlets. On July 11, President Sadyr Japarov signed amendments to the national Code of Offenses imposing fines for “false information” disseminated via mass media or online platforms. The law authorizes fines of around 20,000 Kyrgyz soms (≈ US$228) for individuals and 65,000 soms (≈ US$743) for organizations. Advocates argue the law is vaguely defined and threatens to stifle dissent under the guise of curbing misinformation. Concurrently, a Bishkek court ordered the liquidation of...
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Pregnant Lebanese Journalist Petra Abou Haidar Brutally Attacked in Road Rage Incident
July 15, 2025
Pregnant Lebanese Journalist Petra Abou Haidar Brutally Attacked in Road Rage Incident
July 15, 2025 – Lebanon - Petra Abou Haidar, a journalist working for the Lebanese Broadcasting Corporation International (LBCI), was violently assaulted in a shocking road rage incident in the Furn El Chebbak area of Lebanon. The attack was carried out by a man and a woman riding an unlicensed motorcycle, who accused Abou Haidar of cutting them off in traffic. Following a verbal altercation, the man physically assaulted Abou Haidar by punching and kicking her, while the woman also participated by biting her. Bystanders intervened to stop the attack, after which the suspects fled...
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Pune Journalist Sneha Barve Brutally Attacked While Reporting on Land Grabbing
July 15, 2025
Pune Journalist Sneha Barve Brutally Attacked While Reporting on Land Grabbing
July 15, 2025 - India -  In a disturbing assault on press freedom in India, 27-year-old journalist Sneha Barve was brutally attacked on July 11 while covering an alleged land-grabbing incident in Nighotwadi, Pune. Barve, who works for Pune Pulse, was assaulted by a group of men reportedly linked to a politically connected construction lobby. The attack occurred while she was reporting on illegal construction activities and encroachments on government-owned land. According to eyewitness accounts and statements from her family, Barve was dragged, beaten with wooden sticks and rods, and left injured in the open....
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Czech Investigative Journalist Hit by Online Hate Campaign After Exposing MEP Abuse Claims
July 15, 2025
Czech Investigative Journalist Hit by Online Hate Campaign After Exposing MEP Abuse Claims
July 15, 2025 - Czechia -  A prominent Czech journalist is facing a vicious wave of online harassment after reporting on serious sexual abuse allegations made against a Czech Member of the European Parliament (MEP). The journalist, whose name has been withheld, broke a story in early July detailing accusations by several women who say the MEP sexually abused them. The exposé prompted swift backlash, with the reporter targeted by coordinated hate campaigns across social media platforms. Abusers circulated personal photos—including images of the journalist’s child—and broadcast false claims that he fabricated the allegations for...
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Two More Palestinian Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrikes, Death Toll Surpasses 230
July 14, 2025
Two More Palestinian Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrikes, Death Toll Surpasses 230
July 14, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Two Palestinian journalists were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes on July 14, bringing the number of media workers killed since the start of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza to over 230, according to medical sources and press organizations. The latest fatalities—Hossam al-Adlouni and Fadi Khalifa—underscore the escalating danger for journalists operating in the besieged enclave and fuel growing outrage over what press advocates describe as a systematic targeting of the media. Hossam al-Adlouni, a journalist affiliated with local Palestinian media outlets, was killed along with his wife and three...
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A Future Stolen: The Murder of Student Journalist Sophia Coquilla Sparks National Outrage
July 14, 2025
A Future Stolen: The Murder of Student Journalist Sophia Coquilla Sparks National Outrage
July 14, 2025 - Philippines - The brutal murder of 19-year-old campus journalist Sophia Marie Coquilla has sent shockwaves across the Philippines, igniting widespread calls for justice and reform. Coquilla, a first-year student at the University of the Philippines–Mindanao, was found dead in her bedroom in Tagum City, Davao del Norte, on July 9. She had been stabbed 38 times. Her body was discovered by her family early that morning, triggering immediate police action and public outcry. Authorities initially suggested robbery as a motive after some of Coquilla’s belongings were reported missing. However, the severity...
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Paris Exhibition Commemorates Azerbaijani Journalists Martyred in Karabakh Conflicts
July 14, 2025
Paris Exhibition Commemorates Azerbaijani Journalists Martyred in Karabakh Conflicts
July 14, 2025 - Azerbaijan/France - An exhibition honoring 14 Azerbaijani journalists who lost their lives while performing their professional duties during Armenia's military aggression against Azerbaijan has opened at the Azerbaijan Cultural Center in Paris. Organized by the Baku Network Analytical Center with support from Azerbaijan’s Embassy in France, the event aims to shed light on the sacrifices made by these journalists in the line of duty. The exhibition features photographs of the fallen journalists, serving as a poignant reminder of the dangers faced by media professionals in conflict zones. The event underscores the...
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Mexican Media Workers Ángel Sevilla and Ronald Paz Pedro Killed in Separate Attacks Amid Rising Violence Against Journalists
July 14, 2025
Mexican Media Workers Ángel Sevilla and Ronald Paz Pedro Killed in Separate Attacks Amid Rising Violence Against Journalists
July 14, 2025 - Mexico - In early July 2025, Mexico witnessed the murders of two media workers—Ángel Sevilla and Ronald Paz Pedro—in separate but equally alarming incidents that underscore the country’s ongoing crisis of violence against journalists. Ángel Sevilla, a digital technician and camera operator affiliated with an independent media outlet, was shot dead in Chilpancingo, Guerrero. Though not a reporter himself, Sevilla played a vital role in media production and distribution. His killing on July 6 adds to a growing list of media-related personnel targeted with deadly violence, illustrating that the dangers extend...
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Foreign Journalists in the U.S. Are Silencing Themselves Amid Rising Fear Under Trump Administration
July 14, 2025
Foreign Journalists in the U.S. Are Silencing Themselves Amid Rising Fear Under Trump Administration
July 14, 2025 - USA -  Foreign journalists working and studying in the United States are increasingly engaging in self-censorship, fearing retaliation from immigration authorities and political targeting under Donald Trump’s renewed administration. A growing number of international reporters, especially those on student or work visas, are altering their professional behavior to avoid scrutiny that could endanger their legal status or personal safety. According to recent reports, many foreign-born journalists are deleting social media posts, removing bylines from sensitive stories, and avoiding controversial topics, especially criticism of the U.S. government or coverage related to their...
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Ivorian “Trap” Leads to Forced Extradition and Imprisonment of Refugee‑Journalist Hugues Comlan Sosoukpe
July 14, 2025
Ivorian “Trap” Leads to Forced Extradition and Imprisonment of Refugee‑Journalist Hugues Comlan Sosoukpe
July 14, 2025 - West Africa -  In a case that has alarms ringing across West African press freedom circles, Beninese investigative journalist and rights defender Hugues Comlan Sosoukpe was allegedly lured to Abidjan under pretenses and forcibly handed over to Beninese authorities during a professional mission. Sosoukpe, the director of online investigative outlet Olofofo, had been living in exile in Togo since 2019 after obtaining refugee status. He was invited by Côte d'Ivoire’s Ministry of Digital Transition to attend the Ivoire Tech Forum in Abidjan from July 9–11, 2025. On July 10, while staying at the Palm...
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Web Journalist Hacked to Death in Odisha’s Malkangiri District
July 13, 2025
Web Journalist Hacked to Death in Odisha’s Malkangiri District
July 13, 2025 - India -  On the night of July 12, 2025, journalist C.H. Naresh was brutally murdered in Odisha’s Malkangiri district, highlighting once again the dangerous conditions faced by journalists working in remote and vulnerable regions of India. The attack took place near Muraliguda village in the Motu area, where Naresh, a local web journalist, was reportedly speaking with two fellow journalists and two other youths when a group of five assailants arrived on motorcycles and launched a violent assault. Armed with swords and sharp weapons, the attackers targeted Naresh directly, inflicting deep...
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Israel Frey Placed Under House Arrest After Applauding Deaths of IDF Soldiers
July 13, 2025
Israel Frey Placed Under House Arrest After Applauding Deaths of IDF Soldiers
July 13, 2025 - Israel -  Far-left Israeli journalist and activist Israel Frey was released to house arrest on July 13, 2025, after being arrested for a social media post in which he welcomed the deaths of five Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers killed in Gaza. Frey, known for his controversial views and outspoken criticism of the Israeli military, posted on July 8 that “the world is a better place this morning” without the soldiers, whom he referred to as participants in “one of the most brutal crimes against humanity.” He ended the post by...
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No Safe Haven: Exiled Nicaraguan Journalists and Their Families Face Growing Persecution
July 11, 2025
No Safe Haven: Exiled Nicaraguan Journalists and Their Families Face Growing Persecution
July 11, 2025 - Nicaragua -  Exiled Nicaraguan journalists living in Costa Rica are facing escalating harassment, while their families back in Nicaragua endure surveillance, intimidation, and reprisals. This dual-front repression reflects the Ortega-Murillo regime’s expanding efforts to silence dissent beyond its borders, as documented by recent investigations from the Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy (FLED) and testimonies published by The Tico Times and Havana Times. Between April and June 2025, FLED recorded at least 40 press freedom violations targeting Nicaraguan journalists in exile, mostly through online harassment, smear campaigns, and digital surveillance....
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Turkish Journalist Furkan Karabay Fined for “Insulting the President”
July 11, 2025
Turkish Journalist Furkan Karabay Fined for “Insulting the President”
July 11, 2025 - Turkey -  Freelance court reporter Furkan Karabay has been fined 10,500 TRY (≈ $320) by an Istanbul court after being convicted of “insulting the president” for social media posts criticizing President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan, including one following the devastating February 6, 2023, earthquakes. Karabay faced charges under Article 299 of the Turkish Penal Code, a frequently invoked law that criminalizes insults against the president and carries penalties ranging from one to four years imprisonment, potentially extended if the insult is public. The case, monitored closely by press freedom advocates, reached its fifth hearing on July 11, 2025, before...
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Bomb Plot in Athens: Greek Journalist Targeted in Attempted Attack
July 11, 2025
Bomb Plot in Athens: Greek Journalist Targeted in Attempted Attack
July 11, 2025 - Greece -  Greek journalist Yannis Pretenteris narrowly escaped a potential assassination attempt after police discovered and defused an explosive device outside his residence in the Neo Psychiko neighborhood of northern Athens on July 10, 2025. The improvised explosive device (IED), reportedly containing around five kilograms of TNT, was found near the fence of his home early in the morning. Bomb disposal experts safely neutralized the device, and authorities have launched a terrorism investigation to identify those responsible. Pretenteris is a prominent political commentator and columnist with a long career in Greek...
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Another Palestinian Journalist Killed; Gaza’s Media Reckons with Rising Toll
July 11, 2025
Another Palestinian Journalist Killed; Gaza’s Media Reckons with Rising Toll
July 11, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On July 11, Israeli forces killed Palestinian journalist Ahmad Abu Aisha, a correspondent for Palestine Today TV, when a drone struck him outside his home in Sawarha, central Gaza’s Nuseirat camp. His death raises the wartime press casualty count to 229 journalists killed since October 7, 2023. The Gaza government media office condemned this strike as part of Israel’s “systematic assassination of Palestinian reporters,” asserting Abu Aisha was specifically targeted while performing his professional duties. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate likewise denounced the attack as a deliberate act to suppress truthful...
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Iran Escalates Crackdown on Kurds: Death Sentences and Prosecutions of Journalists
July 10, 2025
Iran Escalates Crackdown on Kurds: Death Sentences and Prosecutions of Journalists
July 10, 2025 - Turkey/Iran -  Iran has intensified its campaign against Kurdish dissent, issuing death sentences to protesters and prosecuting journalists and politicians over peaceful expressions of solidarity. These developments mark a severe escalation in the state’s repression of political and media freedoms, particularly targeting Kurdish communities under the banner of suppressing the “Jin, Jiyan, Azadi” (Women, Life, Freedom) movement. In the city of Sanandaj, five Kurdish civilians were sentenced to death, adding to a total of 11 death sentences handed down by the Revolutionary Court for participation in anti-government protests. These charges stem...
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Morocco Expels Spanish Journalists and Activist from Laayoune
July 10, 2025
Morocco Expels Spanish Journalists and Activist from Laayoune
July 10, 2025 - Spain/Morocco -  Moroccan authorities expelled two Spanish journalists—Leonor Suárez and Óscar Allende—and human rights activist Raúl Conde from occupied Laayoune on July 8, 2025. They were detained at a checkpoint while reporting on human rights in Western Sahara, in coordination with the Sahrawi media group Equipe Media, then escorted under surveillance to Agadir and expelled without official explanation. The trio condemned the expulsions as “illegal,” accusing Moroccan authorities of deliberately silencing reporters and observers in the territory. Raúl Conde described how plainclothes agents stopped the car, refused to provide any formal justification, and drove them...
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Repression Surge: Scholars & Journalists Jailed in Azerbaijan’s Authoritarian Push
July 10, 2025
Repression Surge: Scholars & Journalists Jailed in Azerbaijan’s Authoritarian Push
July 10, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  A fresh wave of repression is sweeping Azerbaijan, as academic and media dissenters face sweeping prosecutions amid the country’s consolidation of power under President Ilham Aliyev. The Daraj report, alongside corroborating sources, highlights that after the ethnic Armenian exodus from Nagorno-Karabakh, Baku's crackdown has deepened significantly. On June 20, 2025, a Baku court handed down hefty prison terms—between 7 and 9 years—to several Abzas Media journalists on dubious “money laundering” charges. That case saw the prosecution of at least seven reporters, including correspondents for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, on allegations...
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Palestinian Editor’s Detention Extended Amid Israeli Crackdown on Media
July 10, 2025
Palestinian Editor’s Detention Extended Amid Israeli Crackdown on Media
July 10, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli authorities have extended the detention of Dr. Nasser Laham, editor-in-chief of the Maʿan News Agency and West Bank bureau chief for Al Mayadeen, following his arrest on July 7, 2025. Laham was taken from his home in the town of Ad-Doha, near Bethlehem, during a pre-dawn military raid in which Israeli forces reportedly ransacked his home and confiscated personal belongings. Laham’s arrest is part of an escalating crackdown on Palestinian journalists amid the ongoing war in Gaza. On July 10, an Israeli military court at Ofer prison ordered...
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Jordan Investigates Journalist Assault Amid Rising Press Freedom Concerns
July 9, 2025
Jordan Investigates Journalist Assault Amid Rising Press Freedom Concerns
July 09, 2025 - Jordan -  As violence in Gaza escalates and press freedom in Jordan faces renewed scrutiny, two developments this week shed light on the ongoing human toll and the risks facing journalists in the region. According to the Gaza Ministry of Health, Israeli airstrikes over the past 24 hours killed at least 105 Palestinians and injured 530 more, pushing the overall death toll since the conflict began on October 7, 2023, to a staggering 57,680. The total number of wounded now stands at 137,409. Since March 18, 2025, alone, over 7,100 people...
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Punishing the Advocate: Tunisia Targets Sister of Jailed Journalist
July 9, 2025
Punishing the Advocate: Tunisia Targets Sister of Jailed Journalist
July 09, 2025 - Tunisia -  In a chilling escalation of Tunisia’s crackdown on dissent, Ramla Dahmani, sister of imprisoned journalist and commentator Sonia Dahmani, was sentenced in absentia to two years in prison on July 1, 2025. Her crime: publicly calling for her sister’s release. The verdict, which she only discovered on July 8 through her legal team, came without any official notification and was based on allegations of spreading “false news” through social media posts. Ramla has been vocal in defending Sonia, who was convicted in three separate cases for similar “false news”...
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Clashes and Cracks in the Kurdish Region
July 9, 2025
Clashes and Cracks in the Kurdish Region
July 09, 2025 - Iraq/Kurdistan -  Deadly clashes erupted in the Khabat district of Erbil on the night of July 7, 2025, exposing deepening rifts between the Herki tribe and the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). The violence, which reportedly claimed at least two lives—one from each side—and left several wounded, is the latest in a series of confrontations that reflect long-standing tensions over land, power, and political dominance in the Kurdish region. According to reports from NRT TV and The Insight International, the confrontation involved armed Herki tribesmen and security forces affiliated with the KDP,...
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Censorship as Strategy: Israel Escalates Crackdown on Press Amid Iran Conflict
July 9, 2025
Censorship as Strategy: Israel Escalates Crackdown on Press Amid Iran Conflict
July 09, 2025 - Iran/Israel -  During its 12-day war with Iran in early 2025, Israel intensified its crackdown on the press, exploiting national security fears to suppress dissent, silence critical voices, and tighten control over media narratives. According to a new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the Israeli government used the conflict not only to justify expanded military operations but also to escalate long-standing assaults on press freedom. The CPJ report highlights how Israeli authorities invoked wartime censorship to block coverage of sensitive military developments, often under the guise of protecting...
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Journalist Mario Guevara Remains in ICE Custody Despite Bond Order
July 9, 2025
Journalist Mario Guevara Remains in ICE Custody Despite Bond Order
July 09, 2025 - Mexico/USA -  Mario Guevara, a veteran Salvadoran-American journalist and prominent figure in Atlanta’s Spanish-language media, remains in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody despite a federal immigration judge granting him bond. Guevara, who fled El Salvador in 2004 and has lived in the U.S. for two decades, was arrested on June 14 while livestreaming a protest in DeKalb County, Georgia. Though identifying himself as the press, he was charged with minor offenses, including obstruction and unlawful assembly. Shortly after his arrest, ICE issued a detainer and transferred him to the...
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Journalists Cleared in Chad: Wagner Conspiracy Charges Collapse
July 9, 2025
Journalists Cleared in Chad: Wagner Conspiracy Charges Collapse
July 09, 2025 - Chad -  A special criminal court in N’Djamena has acquitted four Chadian journalists after facing serious charges of conspiring with Russia’s Wagner Group. The ruling, delivered on July 8, 2025, ends months of legal uncertainty and detention for three of the reporters, who had been held in custody since March. The accused—Olivier Monodji, director of the private daily Le Pays and a correspondent for Radio France Internationale; Ndilyam Guekidata, editor at Le Pays; Mahamat Saleh Alhissein of Télé Tchad; and Ahmat Ali Adji of Toumaï Web Médias were charged with “undermining...
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Reporting Beyond the Grave: Exposing Paraguay’s Deadly Nexus of Crime and Corruption
July 9, 2025
Reporting Beyond the Grave: Exposing Paraguay’s Deadly Nexus of Crime and Corruption
July 09, 2025 - Paraguay -  In a groundbreaking collaborative investigation, Forbidden Stories and the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP) have resumed the work of murdered Paraguayan journalists to reveal a sprawling web of organized crime, corruption, and impunity that has taken root in Paraguay. Under the banner of the "Alianza" project, more than 50 journalists from 30 media outlets across 20 countries have come together to finish what those killed could not. At the center of the investigation are three Paraguayan journalists — Pablo Medina, Edgar Pantaleón Fernández Fleitas, and Leo Veras...
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Hacktivist Group Targets Iran International in Cyberattack, Threatens Journalists
July 8, 2025
Hacktivist Group Targets Iran International in Cyberattack, Threatens Journalists
July 08, 2024 - Iran/UK -  The London-based Persian-language broadcaster Iran International has become the target of a major cyberattack, claimed by a pro-Iranian hacktivist group known as Handala Hack. On July 8, 2025, the group announced that it had breached Iran International’s internal systems, gaining access to communications, servers, and databases containing personal information of staff, journalists, and tens of thousands of viewers and supporters. The hackers have threatened to leak sensitive data unless their unspecified demands are met. Handala Hack accused Iran International of operating as a front for Israeli intelligence, specifically alleging...
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Israeli Journalist Investigated for Celebrating Deaths of IDF Soldiers
July 8, 2025
Israeli Journalist Investigated for Celebrating Deaths of IDF Soldiers
July 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli journalist and far-left activist Israel Frey is under criminal investigation after he publicly celebrated the deaths of five Israel Defense Forces (IDF) soldiers killed in Gaza. In a controversial post on X (formerly Twitter) on July 8, Frey declared, “The world is a better place this morning, without five young men who partook in one of the most brutal crimes against humanity.” His remarks, referencing the previous day’s casualties in Gaza, sparked a wave of outrage across the political spectrum and led to swift action from authorities. Frey,...
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Dying Unseen: Gaza’s Journalists Risk All to Show the World
July 8, 2025
Dying Unseen: Gaza’s Journalists Risk All to Show the World
July 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - In Gaza, where bombardments continue with relentless intensity, a group of Palestinian journalists is defying death to document a war that has already claimed more than 57,000 lives and wounded over 134,500. An editorial written by journalists Emad Drimly and Sanaa Kamal, published by Xinhua, offers a haunting and powerful reflection on the experiences of Gaza’s press corps—those who run toward danger while the world often looks away. Since the start of Israel’s military operations on October 7, 2023, at least 220 Palestinian journalists have been killed, many while...
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German Government Urged to Shield Egyptian Journalist Basma Mostafa from Cairo’s Reach
July 8, 2025
German Government Urged to Shield Egyptian Journalist Basma Mostafa from Cairo’s Reach
July 08, 2025 - Egypt/Germany -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the United Nations, human rights organizations, and legal experts are urging the German federal government to provide robust protection to exiled Egyptian journalist Basma Mostafa. Residing in Berlin since June 2021, Mostafa fled Egypt after three arrests over her investigative work exposing state violence, torture, and extrajudicial killings. Despite having been granted asylum in early 2022, Mostafa remains under continuous threat. She has endured online gender-based harassment, physical assaults, and persistent surveillance by individuals allegedly connected to the Egyptian state. A notable incident occurred on...
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Seven Female Journalists Detained and Reporter Investigated for Commemoration in Turkey
July 8, 2025
Seven Female Journalists Detained and Reporter Investigated for Commemoration in Turkey
July 08, 2025 - Turkey -  The Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG) reported a sharp escalation in the Turkish government’s suppression of press freedom. The month saw seven female journalists detained, two of whom were remanded to prison, signaling the intensified criminalization of journalistic activity. Additionally, authorities raided three journalists’ homes, subjected two individuals to mistreatment, and issued threats against three more. One prominent case involved Zeynep Durgut, a reporter for Mezopotamya Agency, who was threatened due to her investigative reporting, highlighting the growing dangers facing those who dare expose the truth. The MKG denounced...
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Colombian Journalist and Wife Wounded in Targeted Shooting
July 7, 2025
Colombian Journalist and Wife Wounded in Targeted Shooting
July 07, 2025 - Colombia -  Gustavo Chicangana, the 62‑year‑old news director of Guaviare Estéreo and a reporter for Caracol Radio Guaviare, was seriously shot alongside his wife, Ana Milena Torres, as they left their residence in San José del Guaviare. Chicangana sustained injuries to the throat, chest, and shoulder, while Torres was wounded in the throat and chin. Both remain in stable condition, receiving medical care—Chicangana at a Bogotá hospital, and Torres at a local facility. Chicangana, also affiliated with Colombia’s Foundation for Press Freedom (FLIP), had long been a target of threats linked...
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“Carefree” Appearance for Veronica Guerin’s Killer During Day Release
July 7, 2025
“Carefree” Appearance for Veronica Guerin’s Killer During Day Release
July 07, 2025 - Ireland - Brian “Tosser” Meehan—the only person convicted for the 1996 murder of investigative journalist Veronica Guerin has begun unescorted day releases from Shelton Abbey open prison, marking a significant step in his gradual reintegration process. Now 57, Meehan has been spotted on his fifth such release, casually dressed in cream chinos, an orange shirt, and sporting a new beard. He was seen visiting family and friends in Dublin neighborhoods like Crumlin and Finglas, accompanied by an associate. Convicted in 1999 for driving the motorcycle used in the fatal ambush executed by...
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Journalists Detained in Darfur After Reporting on Abuse by Rebel-Aligned Forces
July 7, 2025
Journalists Detained in Darfur After Reporting on Abuse by Rebel-Aligned Forces
July 07, 2025 - Sudan -  Two Sudanese freelance journalists, Nasr Yaqoub and Mohamed Ahmed Nazar, were arrested on July 7, 2025, by armed members of the Sudan Liberation Movement–Transitional Council (SLM–TC), a rebel group aligned with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The arrests occurred in Abu Shouk camp near El Fasher, North Darfur—a region gripped by escalating conflict between the SAF, the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), and various allied militias. The detentions followed a violent incident on July 5, when Yaqoub was shot in the leg by an SLM–TC fighter after he refused to...
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Through Fire and Loss: Mahmoud Abu Hassira’s Fight to Make Gaza Seen
July 7, 2025
Through Fire and Loss: Mahmoud Abu Hassira’s Fight to Make Gaza Seen
July 07, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Mahmoud Abu Hassira walks the ruins of northern Gaza with a camera and a broken heart. The seasoned photojournalist, once focused on telling others’ stories, now carries his own—a story of unspeakable personal loss, survival, and a relentless commitment to document the suffering of a people under siege. On November 4, 2023, an Israeli airstrike obliterated his family home. Mahmoud survived alongside his father, but his wife, two young children—seven-year-old Ziyad and four-year-old Ghada—and 33 relatives were killed. Most were women and children. Earlier that day, he had taken...
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IDF Detains Veteran Palestinian Editor-in-Chief Nasser al‑Lahham in West Bank Raid
July 7, 2025
IDF Detains Veteran Palestinian Editor-in-Chief Nasser al‑Lahham in West Bank Raid
July 07, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli forces arrested Dr. Nasser al‑Lahham, veteran editor-in-chief of the Ma'an News Agency and bureau chief for the Lebanon-based Al-Mayadeen TV, during a pre-dawn raid at his home in the village of al‑Duheisha near Bethlehem. Military personnel reportedly ransacked his residence, confiscating electronic devices and phones, and transported him to the Ofer military court, where his detention was extended until at least Thursday. Israeli authorities classified al‑Lahham as a “wanted person,” though neither the Israel Defense Forces nor Shin Bet has publicly disclosed specific allegations. Al-Mayadeen is banned from operating...
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“A Price on My Head”: Larry Madowo Exposes Threats from Nairobi Politician
July 7, 2025
“A Price on My Head”: Larry Madowo Exposes Threats from Nairobi Politician
July 07, 2025 - Kenya -  Kenyan journalist Larry Madowo has revealed a disturbing plot to silence him: a Nairobi-based politician allegedly offered a Ksh 100,000 (approx. USD 700) bonus to hired goons if they physically attacked him during protest coverage. The offer reportedly included instructions to beat him up, destroy his camera equipment, and prevent him from reporting. Madowo, currently a correspondent with CNN International, disclosed the threat publicly on his LinkedIn, X, and Instagram accounts, calling it an alarming escalation against journalists who document state and political misconduct. The alleged threat came as...
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Silenced in Transit: Manipur Journalists Protest Government Inaction
July 7, 2025
Silenced in Transit: Manipur Journalists Protest Government Inaction
July 07, 2025 - India -  Journalists in Manipur staged a sit-in protest in Imphal on July 7, condemning the state government’s continued silence over the May 20 Gwaltabi incident, where security forces allegedly compelled journalists to hide the word “Manipur” from a state transport bus. The protest, organized by the All Manipur Working Journalists’ Union (AMWJU) and the Editors’ Guild of Manipur (EGM), was a symbolic but urgent call for transparency, accountability, and press freedom. The incident occurred during a government-sponsored media tour to the Shirui Lily Festival in the Ukhrul district. As the...
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Cameras, Censorship, and Colonial Echoes: Sahrawi Struggles Exposed on Screen and in Diplomacy
July 6, 2025
Cameras, Censorship, and Colonial Echoes: Sahrawi Struggles Exposed on Screen and in Diplomacy
July 06, 2025 - Morocco -  A growing chorus of resistance against Morocco’s occupation of Western Sahara has emerged through two powerful forms—film and diplomacy. The short documentary “3 Stolen Cameras”, produced by the Sahrawi activist group Equipe Media in collaboration with Swedish film collective RåFILM, offers a raw, underground glimpse into the violence, surveillance, and media blackout faced by Sahrawi journalists. Filmed covertly in Laayoune, the capital of occupied Western Sahara, the documentary chronicles how Moroccan authorities use repression and censorship to suppress dissent, arrest journalists, and crush peaceful protests. The “three stolen cameras”...
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Assam Journalist Beaten by Mob While Reporting, Sparking Outcry Over Rising Attacks on Press
July 5, 2025
Assam Journalist Beaten by Mob While Reporting, Sparking Outcry Over Rising Attacks on Press
July 05, 2025 - India -  Journalist Madhurjya Saikia of Prag News was brutally attacked by a mob while covering a political clash in Silapathar, located in Assam’s Dhemaji district. Saikia had been dispatched to report on tensions between the BJP and Gana Shakti supporters over the selection of a local Panchayat president. According to his account, upon arrival, he was identified by a local leader and soon encircled by 30 to 35 individuals, who beat him severely and stole his mobile phone while he was filming. Saikia suffered serious injuries and was hospitalized in...
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Turkish Authorities Detain Investigative Journalists Timur Soykan and Murat Ağırel Amid Political Crackdown
July 5, 2025
Turkish Authorities Detain Investigative Journalists Timur Soykan and Murat Ağırel Amid Political Crackdown
July 05, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish authorities executed early-morning raids targeting two prominent investigative journalists: Timur Soykan of BirGün and Murat Ağırel of Cumhuriyet and Halk TV. The arrests were part of a broader crackdown coinciding with nationwide unrest following the detention of Istanbul’s mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, on March 19—a move that sparked mass protests challenging President Erdoğan’s government. The Istanbul Chief Public Prosecutor’s Office charged the pair with "threats" and "blackmail" related to their investigative work on the sale of the Flash Haber TV channel by its jailed owner, Erkan Kork, who faces money-laundering...
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Somali Intelligence Agents Detain Woman Journalist, Force Her Into Voter Registration in Mogadishu
July 5, 2025
Somali Intelligence Agents Detain Woman Journalist, Force Her Into Voter Registration in Mogadishu
July 05, 2025 - Somalia -  Somali intelligence agents from the National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) forcefully seized a female journalist in Mogadishu, prompting widespread condemnation from the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS). According to the SJS, the operation involved agents breaking into the journalist’s residence, physically assaulting her, and arresting her under the directive of “ordering her to participate in voter registration.” She was reportedly taken to a NISA facility and compelled to register as a voter—an apparent misuse of state power for political ends . The SJS strongly denounced the incident as a blatant...
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German Journalists Attacked by Israeli Settlers While Reporting in West Bank
July 5, 2025
German Journalists Attacked by Israeli Settlers While Reporting in West Bank
July 05, 2025 - Germany/Israel -  Two German journalists from Deutsche Welle (DW) were violently attacked by Israeli settlers on July 2, 2025, while reporting on settler violence in the Palestinian village of Sinjil, north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The journalists—a reporter and a cameraman—were covering a demonstration organized by local Palestinians to protest recent settler attacks when a group of settlers approached and began throwing stones at them. The journalists, clearly identifiable as press, were forced to flee on foot as the settlers continued hurling rocks and chasing them. Their vehicle,...
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Global Condemnation Mounts Over Turkey’s Arrest Warrant for Journalist Nedim Türfent
July 4, 2025
Global Condemnation Mounts Over Turkey’s Arrest Warrant for Journalist Nedim Türfent
July 04, 2025 - Turkey -  International free speech and press freedom organizations have strongly condemned the Turkish government's decision to issue a new arrest warrant against Kurdish journalist and poet Nedim Türfent. Now living in exile in Germany, Türfent faces renewed persecution under Article 7 of Turkey’s Anti-Terror Law, accused of “disseminating propaganda for a terrorist organization” over several posts on X (formerly Twitter). The warrant, issued on May 7, 2025, by a prosecutor’s office in Hakkari, was only revealed to Türfent in late June. It cites four social media posts made while he...
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Silenced Voices: Meta’s Ban and BBC’s Gaza Coverage Stir Global Media Backlash
July 4, 2025
Silenced Voices: Meta’s Ban and BBC’s Gaza Coverage Stir Global Media Backlash
July 04, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - A growing storm of media censorship and internal dissent has erupted across two major platforms—Meta and the BBC, raising global concerns over journalistic freedom and editorial integrity. Meta's recent decision to permanently ban The Cradle, a digital media outlet focused on West Asian affairs, has ignited condemnation from press freedom advocates. The Cradle, known for its critical analysis of U.S. and Israeli policies in the region, alleges that its removal from Facebook and Instagram reflects a politically driven effort to suppress alternative narratives. With no clear explanation beyond vague...
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Exposing Power, Silenced by Bullets: The Murder of Gary Tesse and Haiti’s Culture of Impunity
July 4, 2025
Exposing Power, Silenced by Bullets: The Murder of Gary Tesse and Haiti’s Culture of Impunity
July 04, 2025 - Haiti -  In October 2022, Haitian journalist Gary Tesse was murdered in the southern city of Les Cayes after a series of investigations that exposed rampant corruption tied to powerful local figures. At the heart of his reporting was Ronald Richemond, a prominent prosecutor who Tesse alleged was shielding criminal networks and benefiting from systemic graft. Two years later, no one has been held accountable for the killing, and Richmond remains in office, untouched, unchallenged, and, critics say, above the law. Tesse’s death is now the focus of a transnational investigation...
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Imprisoned Crimean Tatar Citizen Journalist Seyran Saliyev Held in Solitary Confinement
July 3, 2025
Imprisoned Crimean Tatar Citizen Journalist Seyran Saliyev Held in Solitary Confinement
July 03, 2025 - Ukraine/Russia/Crimea -  Seyran Saliyev, a Crimean Tatar activist and self-taught journalist, remains trapped within Russia’s punitive penal system, highlighting the broader repression of independent voices from occupied Crimea. Arrested on October 11, 2017, in the town of Bakhchisaray alongside fellow Crimean Solidarity members, Saliyev was accused of plotting sabotage for Ukraine’s intelligence services. In 2020, a Russian court sentenced him to 16 years in a penitentiary, citing his affiliation with Hizb ut-Tahrir—a banned group in Russia—despite the lack of credible evidence. Since July 2024, Saliyev has endured a relentless cycle of...
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Surge in Yemen’s Journalist Arrests and Abductions
July 3, 2025
Surge in Yemen’s Journalist Arrests and Abductions
July 03, 2025 - Yemen -  Yemen has witnessed a dramatic escalation in crackdowns on journalists across multiple conflict zones. Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and other human rights groups have condemned the wave of arrests and abductions, demanding the immediate release of detained media workers. RSF reports that journalist Mozahim Bajaber, editor of Hadramout’s Al-Ahqaf Media platform, has been held for over two weeks despite an Interior Ministry order to release him. His arrest on June 18 followed social media posts critical of corruption in Hadramout’s leadership. Separately, at...
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Palestinian Journalists Face Assaults, Arrests, and House Detention
July 3, 2025
Palestinian Journalists Face Assaults, Arrests, and House Detention
July 03, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalists continue to face escalating repression as Israeli forces and occupation authorities intensify efforts to suppress independent reporting from Gaza and the West Bank. Recent cases highlight a deliberate pattern of physical attacks, prolonged detentions, and legal harassment aimed at silencing Palestinian voices. On July 3, journalist Islam Al-Za’noun, a correspondent for Palestine TV, was injured by Israeli drone fire in Gaza while covering events on the ground. According to the Palestinian Broadcasting Corporation and WAFA, Al-Za’noun was shot in the shoulder in what they described as a...
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Frontline Under Fire: Journalists as Targets in the Gaza Conflict
July 3, 2025
Frontline Under Fire: Journalists as Targets in the Gaza Conflict
July 03, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  An in-depth investigation by The Intercept reveals a disturbing pattern in which both Palestinian and international journalists covering the Gaza conflict are repeatedly targeted and killed, suggesting deliberate military tactics rather than collateral damage. The article compiles multiple cases indicating that journalists, press facilities, and media gathering places like cafés have been targeted in deliberate strikes. Ulterior motives are inferred from the deliberate targeting of clearly marked press vehicles and media hubs. For instance, in late June 2025, an IDF airstrike hit the Al‑Baqa café—a known gathering spot for...
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Between Exile and Homecoming: Syrian Journalists Navigate Fragile Hopes and Deep Divides in Post-Assad Era
July 3, 2025
Between Exile and Homecoming: Syrian Journalists Navigate Fragile Hopes and Deep Divides in Post-Assad Era
July 03, 2025 - Syria -  In the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December 2024, Syrian journalists—both in exile and at home—are navigating a deeply uncertain new landscape. For those who fled during the regime’s brutal crackdown on dissent, the end of authoritarian rule presents both an invitation and a dilemma: should they return to rebuild journalism in a fractured homeland, or continue their work from the relative safety of exile? Many journalists who escaped Assad’s regime did so under the imminent threat of imprisonment or death. Today, some exiles feel compelled to return,...
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Shattered Signals: Iran’s Media Faces Blackout and Repression After Israel Conflict
July 2, 2025
Shattered Signals: Iran’s Media Faces Blackout and Repression After Israel Conflict
July 02, 2025 - Iran -  In the aftermath of the 12-day war between Iran and Israel in June 2025, Iranian authorities have intensified their crackdown on independent journalism through mass arrests, censorship, and unprecedented internet restrictions. The war, which left hundreds dead and regional tensions at a boiling point, has become a pretext for Iran’s hardline government to tighten its grip on information and suppress dissenting voices. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Iranian security forces detained scores of journalists, social media users, and activists accused of spreading “false information” or “undermining...
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Cyberterrorism in Spain: Teen Hackers Arrested for Leaking Data of Ministers and Journalists
July 2, 2025
Cyberterrorism in Spain: Teen Hackers Arrested for Leaking Data of Ministers and Journalists
July 02, 2025 - Spain -  Spanish police have arrested two young men, aged 18 and 19, in Las Palmas, Gran Canaria, for orchestrating a large-scale cyberattack that leaked personal data belonging to senior politicians, journalists, and public officials. The suspects, known online as “Akkaspace” and “Pakito,” are accused of committing crimes classified under Spain’s cyberterrorism laws, reflecting the severity and potential impact of their actions. The breach, discovered in early June 2025, exposed sensitive information including national ID numbers, addresses, phone numbers, and email accounts of prominent figures such as Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez,...
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Press Freedom Under Siege: Arrest and Bail of Zimbabwean Editor Faith Zaba
July 2, 2025
Press Freedom Under Siege: Arrest and Bail of Zimbabwean Editor Faith Zaba
July 02, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Faith Zaba, editor of the independent weekly Zimbabwe Independent, was arrested in Harare and charged with “undermining the authority of or insulting the President.” The charge stems from a satirical column published in the paper’s “Muckraker” section on June 27, which criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa and Zimbabwe’s leadership within the Southern African Development Community (SADC), labeling it a “trade union of dictators". Her arrest followed recent harassment of independent journalists, most notably Blessed Mhlanga of HSTV, who spent 72 days in pretrial detention earlier this year. Zaba is reportedly experiencing serious health...
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Muzzled in Damascus
July 1, 2025
Muzzled in Damascus
July 01, 2025 - Syria -  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued an urgent appeal for clarity and transparency after Hassan Zaza, a Kurdish journalist, was arrested in Damascus. Security forces reportedly took him from his home early on a Friday and transferred him to an undisclosed location. Zaza, who runs an online news outlet and has contributed to a television channel allied with the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK)—a group banned in neighboring Turkey—is being held under murky “security concerns.” Government spokesperson Mohammad al‑Saleh told CPJ that the detainment is unconnected to his journalistic...
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He Died Holding the Truth: Ismail Abu Hatab’s Final Assignment
June 30, 2025
He Died Holding the Truth: Ismail Abu Hatab’s Final Assignment
June 30, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Palestinian photojournalist Ismail Abu Hatab was killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted the Al-Baqa café along Gaza City’s beachfront. He was 32 years old. Known for his sharp eye and dedication to documenting life under siege, Abu Hatab became one of the latest casualties in a war that has increasingly turned journalists into frontline targets. That afternoon, the café was crowded with civilians—many seeking a brief respite, charging their phones, or connecting to scarce internet. Without warning, an airstrike tore through the area, killing at least 30 people...
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Trump, Leaks, and Threats: The Iran Intelligence Clash
June 30, 2025
Trump, Leaks, and Threats: The Iran Intelligence Clash
June 30, 2025 - USA/Iran -  A leaked Defense Intelligence Agency (DIA) report challenged President Donald Trump’s public claims that U.S. airstrikes had “completely and obliterated” Iranian nuclear facilities as part of Operation Midnight Hammer on June 22. Instead, the preliminary assessment suggested the strikes set Iran’s nuclear program back by only a few months, raising serious doubts over Trump’s portrayal of success. The leak prompted a fierce backlash. Trump denounced the leaker as a “low-level loser,” accused major media outlets like CNN and The New York Times of pushing “fake news,” and instructed the...
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Silenced in Cuetzalan: The Killing of Salomón Ordóñez Miranda
June 30, 2025
Silenced in Cuetzalan: The Killing of Salomón Ordóñez Miranda
June 30, 2025 - Mexico - Salomón “Shalom” Ordóñez Miranda, a 40-year-old Mexican journalist and photographer, was fatally shot on June 23, 2025, at around 8 p.m. in the town of Papah­tapan in Cuetzalan del Progreso, Puebla. He succumbed to at least two gunshot wounds at a nearby hospital, marking him as the seventh journalist killed in Mexico this year. Ordóñez Miranda founded and ran Shalom Cuetzalan Producciones, a Facebook-based local news outlet boasting around 75,000 followers, outnumbering the town’s estimated 50,000 residents. He primarily covered cultural events and local communal life without delving into corruption,...
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“Analogue”: Film Project Honors Journalists Slain in Northern and Eastern Syria
June 29, 2025
“Analogue”: Film Project Honors Journalists Slain in Northern and Eastern Syria
June 29, 2025 - Turkey/Iraq/Kurdistan -  Filming began on Analogue, a new feature-length film dedicated to the memory of two journalists—Cihan Bilgin and Nazım Daştan—who were killed while reporting in Northern and Eastern Syria. Produced by journalist Enes Yıldız and directed by Selim Yıldız, the project aims to chronicle the past twelve years of conflict in the region, tracing the arc of Kurdish resistance amidst ongoing strife. The producers intend Analogue to memorialize all media workers who lost their lives covering the war in Rojava. In Yıldız’s words, participating in the film “was a duty,”...
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Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah Apologizes After ‘Lower-Class Person’ Remark Sparks Outrage
June 29, 2025
Assam Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah Apologizes After ‘Lower-Class Person’ Remark Sparks Outrage
June 29, 2025 - India -  Assam’s Public Health Engineering Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah ignited widespread controversy when he referred to a Guwahati-based journalist as a “tolor shrenir manush” — literally a “lower-class person” — during a press conference at the Gauhati Press Club. The remark came amid questioning about alleged misuse of state dairy promotion funds related to his private dairy farm housing Gir cows. The statement immediately triggered condemnation from journalist associations across Assam. Both the Media Association of Assam and the Guwahati Press Club denounced it as “insulting,” “undignified,” and “unconstitutional,” urging...
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Seven Years for a Story
June 29, 2025
Seven Years for a Story
June 29, 2025 - Algeria -  French sports journalist Christophe Gleizes has been sentenced to seven years in prison in Algeria, a ruling that has sparked widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates and international observers. The 36-year-old freelance journalist was arrested in May 2024 in the northern Algerian region of Kabylie, where he was reporting on the local football club JS Kabylie. He had entered the country on a tourist visa, which authorities later used as part of the case against him. Gleizes was charged with “glorifying terrorism” and “possessing propaganda materials harmful to national...
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North & East Syria Media Directorate Condemns Hasan Zaza’s Arrest in Damascus
June 28, 2025
North & East Syria Media Directorate Condemns Hasan Zaza’s Arrest in Damascus
June 28, 2025 - Syria -  The Media Directorate of North and East Syria publicly denounced the detention of journalist and activist Hasan Zaza in Daramsuq (Damascus), characterizing it as a flagrant assault on press freedoms and fundamental human rights. Zaza, known for his active role in defending media independence and ensuring accurate reporting, was arrested by Syrian government security forces without any legal warrant—a move the Directorate called a direct violation of both the Universal Declaration of Human Rights and the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights, specifically Article 19, which defends freedom of...
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Statue, Surveillance, and Suppression: Varanasi Journalists Face FIRs Over Viral Video
June 28, 2025
Statue, Surveillance, and Suppression: Varanasi Journalists Face FIRs Over Viral Video
June 28, 2025 - India -  Varanasi’s Lanka police station registered First Information Reports (FIRs) against six journalists connected to various media outlets, accusing them of distorting and circulating a video that depicted the routine cleaning of the statue of Bharat Ratna Pandit Madan Mohan Malaviya near the Banaras Hindu University gate. Authorities claim the video was manipulated with caste-based commentary to incite communal tensions and disturb public order. The journalists—Arshad Alam (admin of the WhatsApp group “Khabar Banaras”), Abhishek Jha (NBT Online), Abhishek Tripathi (Hindustan), Sonu Singh (Dainik Jagran), Shailesh Chaurasia (TV journalist), and...
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Another Palestinian Journalist Killed in Gaza: The Death of Ahmad Hasan Saad
June 27, 2025
Another Palestinian Journalist Killed in Gaza: The Death of Ahmad Hasan Saad
June 27, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Ahmad Hasan Saad was reportedly killed in an Israeli strike in Gaza’s Al‑Tuffah neighborhood, near the Shaaban Al‑Rees School in eastern Gaza City. Iranian outlet MizanOnline cited Shehab News, describing how Israeli airstrikes hit a group of civilians, resulting in 10 deaths and multiple injuries, among them, Saad, who was covering the scene when he was martyred. Additional details from the Stop Murdering Journalists project—backed by Databases for Palestine—readily identified Saad’s full name: Ahmad Hasan Saad. The group confirmed he was killed on June 27 by mortar or tank fire, alongside his...
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SANEF Condemns Kenyan Government’s Crackdown on Media Freedom
June 27, 2025
SANEF Condemns Kenyan Government’s Crackdown on Media Freedom
June 27, 2025 - Kenya -  The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) has expressed deep concern over escalating threats to media freedom in Kenya, warning that recent actions by the government are part of a dangerous pattern of repression that could reverberate across the continent. In a public statement issued on June 27, 2025, SANEF specifically condemned the Kenyan Communications Authority for its role in targeting independent media houses, including through signal disruptions and equipment seizures during politically sensitive periods. According to SANEF, these actions appear designed to suppress dissent and restrict the public's...
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Kyrgyzstan Parliament Moves to Curtail Torture Safeguards and Media Freedom
June 27, 2025
Kyrgyzstan Parliament Moves to Curtail Torture Safeguards and Media Freedom
June 27, 2025 - Kyrgyzstan -  Kyrgyzstan’s parliament passed two sweeping laws that dramatically weaken protections against torture and severely restrict independent media, prompting urgent warnings from rights groups and international bodies. The first law dissolves the National Center for the Prevention of Torture, established in 2012 as an independent oversight body under Kyrgyzstan’s obligations under the UN Anti-Torture Convention. It merges this role into the Ombudsman’s office, undermining its autonomy and diminishing its preventative authority. Human Rights Watch (HRW) emphasized that UN experts had previously praised the Center as “a model for Central Asia”...
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“A Well-Orchestrated Lie”: Jailed Filipino Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio Speaks from Prison
June 27, 2025
“A Well-Orchestrated Lie”: Jailed Filipino Journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio Speaks from Prison
June 27, 2025 - Philippines -  At a United Nations Human Rights Council side event in Geneva on June 27, 2025, a powerful handwritten letter from detained Filipino journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio was read aloud by UN Special Rapporteur Irene Khan. It marked the first time Cumpio, imprisoned since February 2020, was able to speak to the international community. Her message was both personal and political—a condemnation of the charges against her and a cry for justice after over five years behind bars without trial. Cumpio, then 21, was arrested in a police raid in...
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Chinese Journalist Injured in Russian Border Drone Strike Amid Rising Tensions
June 27, 2025
Chinese Journalist Injured in Russian Border Drone Strike Amid Rising Tensions
June 27, 2025 - China/Ukraine -  Chinese journalist Lu Yuguang was injured during a Ukrainian drone strike near the village of Korenevo in Russia’s Kursk region, close to the Ukrainian border. Lu, a seasoned correspondent for Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, suffered head injuries while covering military activity with a film crew. Russian authorities claim the drone was launched by Ukraine and accuse Kyiv of deliberately targeting journalists to suppress media coverage. Lu, 63, reportedly declined hospitalization and treated his wounds himself. A video released by Russian state media shows him bandaged but composed, vowing to...
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A Reckoning Half a Century Later
June 27, 2025
A Reckoning Half a Century Later
June 27, 2025 - Brazil/Israel -  Nearly 50 years after journalist Vladimir Herzog was tortured and killed by Brazil’s military dictatorship, the Brazilian government has officially recognized its responsibility and agreed to compensate his family. The landmark decision, finalized in June 2025, comes after decades of denial, judicial inaction, and public protest. Herzog, a Jewish journalist and editor-in-chief of TV Cultura, was summoned for questioning in 1975 over alleged ties to communism. He never returned. His battered body was later staged in a jail cell to appear as a suicide—a claim widely discredited and condemned...
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Thirty Years Later: The Unresolved Disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit
June 27, 2025
Thirty Years Later: The Unresolved Disappearance of Jodi Huisentruit
June 27, 2025 - USA - On June 27, 1995, 27-year-old television news anchor Jodi Huisentruit, working at KIMT-TV in Mason City, Iowa, disappeared under mysterious and disturbing circumstances. That morning, after assuring her assistant she would make the 6 a.m. broadcast, she never arrived. What remained of her: signs of a struggle by her red Mazda Miata, strewn personal items including a bent car key and high heels, and only lingering questions. Neighbors reported hearing possible screams and sighting a suspicious white Ford Econoline van in the parking lot between 3:50 and 4:30 a.m.—a detail that...
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Berlin Rebukes Moscow’s Allegations of Journalist Harassment
June 27, 2025
Berlin Rebukes Moscow’s Allegations of Journalist Harassment
June 27, 2025 - Germany/Russia -  Germany has firmly rejected recent accusations by Russia claiming that Russian journalists are being harassed within German borders. On June 27, 2025, the German Foreign Ministry labeled Moscow’s statements as “unfounded” and reaffirmed the country’s commitment to the rule of law and press freedom. A German government spokesperson emphasized that all journalists in Germany, including foreign correspondents, are protected by constitutional rights and operate under transparent legal standards. The diplomatic dispute escalated after the Russian Foreign Ministry summoned German Ambassador Alexander Graf Lambsdorff in Moscow, alleging that Germany had...
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Crackdown in Damascus: Kurdish Journalist Hassan Zaza Detained Without Charge
June 27, 2025
Crackdown in Damascus: Kurdish Journalist Hassan Zaza Detained Without Charge
June 27, 2025 - Kurdistan/Iraq -  Kurdish journalist Hassan Zaza was arrested by Syrian government security forces in Damascus, according to the UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights (SOHR). Zaza, a well-known Kurdish media figure, was reportedly seized by agents from the General Intelligence Directorate without prior warning, warrant, or explanation. His sudden detention marks another alarming episode in Syria’s ongoing repression of independent journalists and Kurdish voices. Zaza had been working in Damascus and was known for contributing to various Kurdish media outlets that report on human rights violations, political developments, and the lived...
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Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network Demands Release of Detained Reporter Hassan Zaza
June 27, 2025
Syrian Kurdish Journalists Network Demands Release of Detained Reporter Hassan Zaza
June 27, 2025 - Syria -  Journalist Hassan (Hesen) Zaza, a prominent media figure in Syria, was detained on June 27, 2025, by security forces affiliated with the Syrian Transitional Government. A joint report from the Free Press Union (YRA) and ANF News confirms that Zaza was forcibly taken from his home, with his current whereabouts and the reasons for his detention remaining undisclosed. Zaza, a member of the YRA General Council and Syria’s representative to the International Federation of Arab Journalists, suffered a pre-dawn raid in the Rukn al-Din district of Damascus. The YRA condemned the...
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RSF Illegally Spied On Under Bolsonaro’s Brazil
June 26, 2025
RSF Illegally Spied On Under Bolsonaro’s Brazil
June 26, 2025 - Brazil - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has revealed that it was one of several organizations secretly monitored by Brazil’s intelligence agency (ABIN) during Jair Bolsonaro’s presidency. RSF has demanded full disclosure of data collected and accountability for those responsible. According to RSF and statements from its leadership, a "parallel ABIN" — a clandestine surveillance structure created under Bolsonaro’s administration — targeted RSF along with at least 13 journalists and three media outlets. Surveillance included tracking internal communications and monitoring public campaigns concerning Bolsonaro. These revelations mirror findings in a comprehensive federal...
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Canadian Journalists Unite to Defend Palestinian Press
June 26, 2025
Canadian Journalists Unite to Defend Palestinian Press
June 26, 2025 - Canada -  A new organization called Canadian Journalists for Justice in Palestine (CJJP) was officially launched, with simultaneous press events in Vancouver and Toronto. The group brings together Canadian journalists and media advocates committed to amplifying the plight of Palestinian reporters who have endured disproportionate violence, suppression, and fatalities in Gaza and the occupied territories. CJJP emerged against a harrowing backdrop: data from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) notes that at least 186 journalists and media workers have been killed across Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank over the...
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Investigative Reporting Meets Intimidation in Şırnak
June 26, 2025
Investigative Reporting Meets Intimidation in Şırnak
June 26, 2025 - Turkey -  Mesopotamia Agency reporter Zeynep Durgut, known for her fearless coverage of Kurdish communities in southeastern Turkey, now faces intimidation after exposing a sex‑trafficking ring in Şırnak. Her February report detailed a long‑running investigation—initiated in 2013—into 25 suspects, including military non‑commissioned officers allegedly involved in trafficking women, girls, and minors from Syria’s Kurdish regions into forced prostitution. Following publication, Durgut received multiple threatening phone calls from relatives of key suspect Kenan Tatar. One caller warned: “We know who you are…we will not let you go…this won’t go unpunished”. Undeterred, she lodged...
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Exposing Corruption, Embracing Exile: Venezuela’s Investigative Journalists Under Threat
June 26, 2025
Exposing Corruption, Embracing Exile: Venezuela’s Investigative Journalists Under Threat
June 26, 2025 - Venezuela -  FairPlanet published a revealing account of Venezuelan journalists from the investigative outlet Armando.Info who exposed one of the country's most brazen corruption scandals, only to be labeled as criminals and forced into exile. At the heart of the story is the PBS Frontline documentary A Dangerous Assignment: Uncovering Corruption in Maduro’s Venezuela, aired February 4, 2025. It delves into the so‑called “PDVSA Crypto” scandal involving former vice president and oil minister Tareck El Aissami and other PDVSA executives accused of using cryptocurrency and state contracts to enrich themselves. Armando.Info's founders,...
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The Reluctant Photo‑Star of Gaza
June 26, 2025
The Reluctant Photo‑Star of Gaza
June 26, 2025 - Palestine -  Motaz Azaiza, a 26‑year‑old from Deir al‑Balah in Gaza, has become an unexpected global photojournalist since the outbreak of full‑scale war in October 2023. Before then, he led a modest life, capturing daily moments in Gaza for around 25,000 Instagram followers. When Israeli strikes began, his footage—raw, unfiltered, deeply human—went viral, rapidly amassing nearly 17 million followers, transforming him overnight into a visual chronicler of his people’s suffering. Wearing casual attire and gold‑rimmed glasses, Azaiza traveled to the U.S. this June to raise funds for UNRWA USA at a...
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DRC Detains Journalist Serge Sindani over Warplane Photo
June 26, 2025
DRC Detains Journalist Serge Sindani over Warplane Photo
June 26, 2025 - Congo -  Serge Sindani—a defense reporter and director of the Kis24.info news site—was taken into custody by a senior Congolese army officer in Kisangani. His arrest followed his posting, two days earlier, of a distant photograph of Sukhoi military jets at Bangoka International Airport on his X (formerly Twitter) account, captioned simply: “RDC-Instant Kisangani — the city is calm and under control with our Sukhoi fighter jets. Happy Sunday”. Sindani is currently held in a military intelligence cell in Tshopo province, where Colonel Mwambi has accused him of filming military assets without...
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Cuban Journalists Face Intimidation After Defying Police Summons
June 26, 2025
Cuban Journalists Face Intimidation After Defying Police Summons
June 26, 2025 - Cuba -  Independent Cuban journalists Yunia Figueredo and Frank Correa, both affiliated with the community news site Amanecer Habanero, have been subjected to threats, surveillance, and intimidation by Cuban authorities after refusing to comply with a police summons issued on June 23, 2025. Figueredo, the site’s director, received the official order to appear at a police station. When she refused, both she and Correa—who also reports for the outlet—began receiving anonymous phone calls warning them that they were under investigation for “dangerousness,” a vague legal charge in Cuba frequently used to...
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Silencing the Signal: Slovakia’s Media Faces Government Takeover
June 26, 2025
Silencing the Signal: Slovakia’s Media Faces Government Takeover
June 26, 2025 - Slovakia - Slovakia’s media freedom took a sharp turn as Prime Minister Robert Fico’s government pushed through legislation dismantling the country’s independent public broadcaster RTVS. The new entity, Slovak Television and Radio (STVR), places media oversight in the hands of a council appointed largely by the ruling coalition and the Ministry of Culture, effectively granting the state direct influence over public news coverage. While the government insists the move was necessary to counter alleged political bias, the legislation has sparked national protests and international outcry. Journalists and staff at RTVS staged...
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Australian Court Rules ABC Unlawfully Fired Journalist Over Gaza Post
June 25, 2025
Australian Court Rules ABC Unlawfully Fired Journalist Over Gaza Post
June 25, 2025 - Australia -  The Federal Court of Australia has ruled that the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) unlawfully terminated journalist Antoinette Lattouf in December 2023, following her social media post highlighting a Human Rights Watch report on Israel’s alleged use of starvation tactics in Gaza. Lattouf, a Lebanese-Australian presenter, was midway through a five-day contract at ABC Sydney when she was abruptly dismissed after sharing the post on Instagram. Justice Darryl Rangiah determined that Lattouf’s dismissal breached the Fair Work Act, concluding that the ABC acted under pressure from an “orchestrated campaign by...
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Swiss Journalist Faces Criminal Probe Over Banking Secrecy “Gag Law”
June 24, 2025
Swiss Journalist Faces Criminal Probe Over Banking Secrecy “Gag Law”
June 24, 2025 - Switzerland - Swiss police and prosecutors launched a raid in early June on the home and office of financial journalist Lukas Hässig, editor of the influential blog Inside Paradeplatz. Authorities seized his computer, phone, and documents as part of a criminal investigation under Article 47 of Switzerland’s Banking Act—a seldom-used legal provision that discloses confidential banking information, even when revealing wrongdoing, punishable by up to five years in prison and CHF 250,000 in fines. Hässig’s reporting, dating back to 2016, exposed alleged misconduct by Pierin Vincenz, the former CEO of Raiffeisen Bank, including...
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Former Radio Broadcaster and Trans Rights Activist Ali Jejhon Macalintal Shot Dead in General Santos
June 23, 2025
Former Radio Broadcaster and Trans Rights Activist Ali Jejhon Macalintal Shot Dead in General Santos
June 23, 2025 - Philippines - Ali Jejhon Macalintal, a former freelance radio broadcaster and prominent LGBTQ+ and human rights advocate, was shot and killed inside a massage spa in Barangay Lagao, General Santos City, Philippines. The 35-year-old, known for her work with Radyo Bandera News FM and as a deputy secretary general of the human rights group Karapatan SOCCSKSARGEN, was also an active member of the LGBTQ+ advocacy organization Bahaghari. Macalintal had been using the spa space to offer acupuncture therapy and traditional healing services. According to local police, two assailants arrived on a...
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Ukrainian Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko Freed After Four Years in Russian Custody
June 23, 2025
Ukrainian Journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko Freed After Four Years in Russian Custody
June 23, 2023 - Ukraine /Russia - Ukrainian journalist Vladyslav Yesypenko, detained for over four years in Russian-occupied Crimea, was released on June 23, 2025, in what press freedom advocates have hailed as a rare but powerful victory for free expression. A contributor to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s Krym. Realii, Yesypenko had been arrested by Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) agents in March 2021 while reporting in Simferopol. He was later convicted in a closed military court on charges of espionage and possession of explosives, accusations widely condemned as politically motivated. Yesypenko’s case drew international...
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Voice of America Slashed: Hundreds of Layoffs and Visa Denials Amid Trump Ally Shake‑Up
June 23, 2025
Voice of America Slashed: Hundreds of Layoffs and Visa Denials Amid Trump Ally Shake‑Up
June 23, 2025 - USA -  Voice of America (VOA) and other U.S. government-funded international broadcasters are facing a dramatic overhaul under the leadership of Trump ally Kari Lake, prompting widespread concern over press freedom, international diplomacy, and journalistic independence. Nearly 639 employees—almost half of VOA's workforce—have received layoff notices, and numerous foreign journalists working under special U.S. visas have been told to prepare for dismissal or repatriation. Lake, appointed to oversee the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which manages VOA and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), has begun a sweeping reorganization, citing a...
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SBU Foils Russian Assassination Attempts on Ukrainian Journalist Dmytro Gordon
June 23, 2025
SBU Foils Russian Assassination Attempts on Ukrainian Journalist Dmytro Gordon
June 23, 2025 - Ukraine/Russia -  In a chilling revelation, Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU) announced that it had foiled two assassination attempts on prominent Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Gordon, both allegedly orchestrated by Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB). The plots were reportedly ordered at the highest levels of the Russian state, with SBU officials claiming direct authorization from Russian President Vladimir Putin. The first attempt involved a criminal group from Dagestan, recruited and directed by the FSB to infiltrate Ukraine and eliminate Gordon. The operatives were reportedly promised a reward of $400,000 for successfully carrying out...
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Celiac Journalist Perihan Sevda Erkılınç Denied Medical Care in Turkish Prison
June 22, 2025
Celiac Journalist Perihan Sevda Erkılınç Denied Medical Care in Turkish Prison
June 22, 2025 - Turkey - Perihan Sevda Erkılınç, a journalist for the left-wing outlet Özgür Gelecek, is facing severe health risks in Bakırköy Women's Prison due to the denial of essential medical treatment. Arrested during a police raid on April 29, 2025—days before May Day protests—Erkılınç was taken into custody without formal charges and remains detained over seven weeks later. Erkılınç suffers from asthma and celiac disease, a serious autoimmune condition that requires a strict gluten-free diet. Despite this, prison authorities have failed to provide consistent medical care or appropriate food. Upon her arrest,...
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Iran Accused of Abducting Journalist’s Family Over War Coverage
June 22, 2025
Iran Accused of Abducting Journalist’s Family Over War Coverage
June 22, 2025 - Iran -  Iran is facing serious international criticism after reports emerged that the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) abducted the family of a London-based journalist working for Iran International, a Persian-language news channel. The incident, believed to have occurred between June 21–22, is being viewed as a retaliatory act over the outlet’s coverage of the ongoing Iran-Israel conflict. According to Iran International, the journalist—whose identity is being withheld for safety reasons—received a chilling phone call from her father, who was clearly under duress. “I’ve told you a thousand times to resign,”...
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Australian Writer Deported from U.S. Over Coverage of Pro-Palestine Protests
June 21, 2025
Australian Writer Deported from U.S. Over Coverage of Pro-Palestine Protests
June 21, 2025 - Palestine/Australia/Israel - Alistair Kitchen, a 33-year-old Australian writer and former Columbia University postgraduate student, was deported from the United States in what rights groups are calling a politically motivated move tied to his reporting on pro-Palestinian student protests. Kitchen was detained for nearly 12 hours by U.S. Customs and Border Protection (CBP) at Los Angeles International Airport before being denied entry and sent back to Australia. Kitchen had traveled to the U.S. intending to visit friends in New York and continue his writing. However, upon arrival, CBP agents reportedly questioned him...
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BBC Shelves Gaza Medics Documentary Citing Impartiality Concerns
June 21, 2025
BBC Shelves Gaza Medics Documentary Citing Impartiality Concerns
June 21, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The BBC has decided not to air Gaza: Doctors Under Attack, a documentary focusing on the targeting of medical workers during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict. The decision, announced in June 2025, has triggered widespread criticism from journalists, filmmakers, and press freedom advocates who accuse the BBC of censorship and political bias. Produced by Basement Films, the documentary was commissioned by the BBC and initially scheduled to air in February. However, internal concerns over impartiality, especially in the wake of an earlier controversy involving another Gaza documentary, led to its...
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Palestinian Journalist Belal Khaled Shares the Brutal Realities of Gaza War
June 21, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Belal Khaled Shares the Brutal Realities of Gaza War
June 21, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian photojournalist Belal Khaled has revealed searing insights into the ongoing Gaza conflict, highlighting the devastating human cost and the critical role journalists play in bearing witness. Speaking during a visit to South Africa in June 2025, Khaled shared emotional testimony about life on the front lines, where documenting the truth comes at immense personal risk. Khaled described walking through destroyed neighborhoods, photographing families torn apart by Israeli airstrikes, and capturing images of children playing among rubble. His work goes beyond visuals—it tells deeply human stories of survival, loss,...
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Veteran Journalist Fatih Altaylı Detained in Turkey Over Alleged Threat to Erdoğan
June 21, 2025
Veteran Journalist Fatih Altaylı Detained in Turkey Over Alleged Threat to Erdoğan
June 21, 2025 - Turkey -  Prominent Turkish journalist Fatih Altaylı was detained on June 22, 2025, over allegations that he threatened President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in a recent YouTube broadcast. The arrest marks another alarming chapter in Turkey’s ongoing crackdown on dissent and press freedom. Altaylı, a veteran journalist with decades of experience in mainstream Turkish media and over 1.5 million YouTube subscribers, has been a vocal critic of the government. In his recent video, he referenced a poll showing overwhelming public opposition to Erdoğan serving as president for life. He remarked that Turkey...
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Belarus Frees Opposition Leader Tsikhanouski and Journalist Karnye in Surprise Move
June 21, 2025
Belarus Frees Opposition Leader Tsikhanouski and Journalist Karnye in Surprise Move
June 21, 2025 - Belarus -  Belarus has unexpectedly released several high-profile political prisoners, including opposition leader Sergei Tsikhanouski and journalist Iryna Karnye, in what observers are calling a rare gesture from the Lukashenko regime. Their release, confirmed on June 24, 2025, comes after years of international condemnation of Belarus’s human rights abuses and suppression of dissent. Sergei Tsikhanouski, a popular video blogger turned political activist, was arrested in May 2020 while attempting to run against President Alexander Lukashenko. His arrest barred him from the election, prompting his wife, Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya, to run in his...
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Pope Leo XIV Declares Zero Tolerance for Abuse and Defends Press Freedom in Bold Address
June 21, 2025
Pope Leo XIV Declares Zero Tolerance for Abuse and Defends Press Freedom in Bold Address
June 21, 2025 - General -  In a powerful statement delivered during an event in Lima, Peru, Pope Leo XIV reaffirmed the Catholic Church’s commitment to a zero-tolerance policy on abuse, vowing to address not only sexual abuse but also spiritual, psychological, and institutional abuse. Speaking at a theatrical performance honoring investigative journalist Paola Ugaz—who helped expose abuse within the Peruvian religious group Sodalitium Christianae Vitae—Pope Leo emphasized that abuse in any form is an affront to human dignity and the mission of the Church. Pope Leo declared that “no abuse can be tolerated,” urging...
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Azerbaijan Sentences Seven Journalists in Harsh Crackdown on Free Speech
June 20, 2025
Azerbaijan Sentences Seven Journalists in Harsh Crackdown on Free Speech
June 20, 2025 - Azerbaijan - In a sweeping blow to press freedom, a court in Baku has sentenced seven independent journalists to prison terms ranging from 7½ to 9 years. The journalists, including Farid Mehralizada of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and six others from Abzas Media, were convicted on charges including illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and currency smuggling. The case has been widely condemned by international human rights and press freedom organizations, which view the charges as politically motivated. Abzas Media is known for its investigative reporting on government corruption and human rights...
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Georgia’s Crackdown: Journalists & Activists Targeted Under New “Insult” Law
June 20, 2025
Georgia’s Crackdown: Journalists & Activists Targeted Under New “Insult” Law
June 20, 2025 - Georgia -  In recent weeks, the Georgian government has escalated its crackdown on dissent by summoning dozens of journalists, activists, and opposition figures to court. They face charges of “insulting” government officials—a crime newly criminalized under a legal amendment passed in February 2025. Those accused could face fines of up to 4,000 lari (around $1,450) or 45 days in detention. The law was swiftly used to target media voices and government critics for posting strong, sometimes satirical or harsh comments on social media. Among those summoned is TV Pirveli journalist Vika Bukia, who...
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Seattle Journalists Attacked at Protest, Accuse Media of Whitewashing Violence
June 20, 2025
Seattle Journalists Attacked at Protest, Accuse Media of Whitewashing Violence
June 20, 2025 - USA -  Independent journalists Cameron Higby and Brandi Kruse were violently assaulted while covering an anti-immigration enforcement protest in Seattle on June 14, 2025. The attack, which occurred during demonstrations against U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE), has ignited outrage and renewed debate over media bias and protest coverage. According to their accounts, both journalists were targeted by far-left agitators while documenting events on the ground. Cameron Higby, who was filming a protest near downtown Seattle, was allegedly choked, punched in the face while on the ground, and kicked by masked...
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Journalist Jailings Near Record High in 2024: Asia Tops the List
June 20, 2025
Journalist Jailings Near Record High in 2024: Asia Tops the List
June 20, 2025 - General -  According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the number of jailed journalists worldwide reached 361 by December 1, 2024, marking the second-highest total since CPJ began tracking in 1992. The surge reflects a sharp increase in global crackdowns on press freedom, driven by war, authoritarianism, and shrinking democratic space. Asia emerged as the region with the highest number of imprisoned journalists, accounting for 111 out of the 361 cases. In a Rappler interview, CPJ’s Asia Program Director, Beh Lih Yi, emphasized the alarming trend, saying, “Asia is now...
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Crackdown on Press Freedom Deepens in Bangladesh Under Interim Government
June 20, 2025
Crackdown on Press Freedom Deepens in Bangladesh Under Interim Government
June 20, 2025 - Bangladesh -  Press freedom in Bangladesh has entered a perilous phase, with the interim government—led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus—facing mounting criticism for sustaining and even intensifying repression of journalists. Despite initial hopes for reform following the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, the government has continued to use harsh legal measures to silence dissent. The Digital Security Act (DSA) and the Broadcast Act remain powerful tools of suppression. Since the political transition, more than 640 journalists have been arrested, and over 180 criminal cases—ranging from defamation to...
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Attack on CrossRiverWatch Exposes Deepening Threats to Press Freedom in Nigeria
June 20, 2025
Attack on CrossRiverWatch Exposes Deepening Threats to Press Freedom in Nigeria
June 20, 2025 - Nigeria - The recent reflections by CrossRiverWatch on the 2019 arrest of its founder, Agba Jalingo, underscore a chilling reality: press freedom in Nigeria remains under serious threat. On August 22, 2019, heavily armed security operatives stormed Jalingo’s Lagos home at dawn, arresting him in front of his wife and young daughter. He was charged with treason and terrorism, following a report he published alleging the misappropriation of ₦500 million meant for the Cross River State microfinance bank. Jalingo’s arrest sparked national and international outrage, with civil society organizations and media...
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Memorial Honors Slain Journalist Aserie Ndlovu and Partner Zodwa Mdhluli
June 19, 2025
Memorial Honors Slain Journalist Aserie Ndlovu and Partner Zodwa Mdhluli
June 19, 2025 - South Africa -  A solemn memorial service was held in Pretoria this week to remember Sibusiso “Aserie” Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, both brutally murdered earlier this year. The couple had gone missing in February, and their bodies were discovered in May near the Limpopo–Mpumalanga border. DNA testing later confirmed their identities. The occasion, hosted by the National Press Club at GCIS offices, gathered family, friends, media colleagues, and public figures to pay tribute. Legendary musician Vusi Mahlasela, a close friend, spoke movingly of Ndlovu’s vibrant personality and deep...
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RSF Condemns Escalating Attacks on UK-Based Iranian Journalists and Their Families
June 19, 2025
RSF Condemns Escalating Attacks on UK-Based Iranian Journalists and Their Families
June 19, 2025 - Iran/UK -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly condemned a growing campaign of intimidation and harassment targeting Iranian journalists living in the United Kingdom. The press freedom group warns that Tehran’s security apparatus is increasingly extending its repression across borders, threatening journalists in exile and their families back in Iran. The most alarming aspect of this campaign involves transnational harassment, surveillance, threats, and psychological pressure. According to RSF, several UK-based Iranian journalists have reported that their family members in Iran have been interrogated, threatened, or pressured to convince them to stop...
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Tragic Murder of Community Radio Journalist Luis Augusto Carneiro da Costa in Brazil
June 19, 2025
Tragic Murder of Community Radio Journalist Luis Augusto Carneiro da Costa in Brazil
June 19, 2025 - Brazil -  On May 27, 2025, Brazilian journalist Luis Augusto Carneiro da Costa was shot dead while broadcasting live on Guarany FM, a community radio station in Abaetetuba, in the northern state of Pará. Two masked gunmen stormed the studio during his program and fatally shot him in front of listeners and colleagues. The killing has shocked the region and sparked national and international outrage. Da Costa, 46, had more than two decades of experience in local journalism. He was known for engaging with grassroots issues and was deeply connected to...
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13 Years On: No Justice for Murdered Journalist Couple in Bangladesh
June 19, 2025
13 Years On: No Justice for Murdered Journalist Couple in Bangladesh
June 19, 2025 - Bangladesh -  Thirteen years after the brutal double murder of Bangladeshi journalists Sagar Sarowar and Meherun Runi, justice remains out of reach. The couple—both prominent reporters—were stabbed to death in their Dhaka apartment on February 11, 2012, while their five-year-old son slept in the next room. Despite multiple arrests and ongoing investigations, no one has been convicted, and the motive behind their killings remains unknown. Initially handled by local police, the investigation was later transferred to the Detective Branch, then to the elite Rapid Action Battalion (RAB), and most recently, to...
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ECPMF Condemns Detention of French Journalists by Israeli Authorities
June 18, 2025
ECPMF Condemns Detention of French Journalists by Israeli Authorities
June 18, 2025 - France/Israel -  The European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF) has strongly condemned the detention of two French journalists by Israeli authorities after they were seized aboard the Madleen, a vessel from the Gaza-bound “Freedom Flotilla.” The incident occurred during the night of June 8–9, 2025, when Israeli forces intercepted the flotilla in international waters. Journalists Yanis Mhamdi (Blast) and Omar Faiad (Al Jazeera) were among those detained while covering the humanitarian mission intended to deliver aid to Gaza. ECPMF expressed deep concern over the violation of press freedom, calling...
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BBC Faces Criticism Over Gaza Coverage Bias Following Landmark Report
June 18, 2025
BBC Faces Criticism Over Gaza Coverage Bias Following Landmark Report
June 18, 2025 - General -  Veteran journalist Peter Oborne has publicly accused the BBC of showing “double standards” in its coverage of the Gaza conflict, following the release of a major report by the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM). Speaking at the report’s launch event, Oborne said the BBC had consistently prioritized Israeli narratives while silencing or minimizing Palestinian perspectives. He went so far as to describe the coverage as “complicity in Israeli genocide,” arguing the broadcaster misled the British public during one of the deadliest assaults on Gaza in modern history. The CfMM’s...
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From Gaza’s Frontlines to Exile: How Refugee Journalists in Egypt Have Been Silenced
June 18, 2025
From Gaza’s Frontlines to Exile: How Refugee Journalists in Egypt Have Been Silenced
June 18, 2025 - Palestine/Egypt/Israel -  Youmna El Sayed, once a frontline journalist for Al Jazeera in Gaza, now finds herself silenced and stateless in Cairo. Fleeing Gaza’s war in 2024, she joins more than 250 Palestinian journalists who have taken refuge in Egypt—alongside others scattered across Oman, Qatar, Turkey, and Canada—according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate’s Cairo office. El Sayed recalls the abrupt transformation of her life: “I was a journalist until the day I crossed the border. Now, I am just a refugee with a press card that no longer holds any weight.”...
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ICNL Report Exposes Systematic Repression of Journalists in Myanmar
June 17, 2025
ICNL Report Exposes Systematic Repression of Journalists in Myanmar
June 17, 2025 - Myanmar -  A comprehensive report released by the International Centre for Not-for-Profit Law (ICNL) details the extensive repression faced by journalists in Myanmar since the military coup in February 2021. Over the four years from February 2021 to February 2025, Myanmar’s military regime has employed systematic legal and physical repression to silence the independent media and suppress critical reporting. According to the ICNL’s findings, at least 221 journalists have been detained since the coup. Out of these, 88 have been convicted, collectively receiving 497 years of prison sentences. Some journalists have...
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Detained and Ignored: Nikita Jain’s Ordeal in Egypt
June 17, 2025
Detained and Ignored: Nikita Jain’s Ordeal in Egypt
June 17, 2025 - India/Egypt/Palestine -  Maktoob Media journalist Nikita Jain, an alumna of Chennai’s Asian College of Journalism (ACJ), was covering the Global March to Gaza—a solidarity movement seeking to press authorities to open the Rafah border crossing. While the march progressed through Tunisia and Libya, upon reaching Ismaïlia, Egypt, Egyptian authorities intervened, detaining dozens of international activists and journalists, including Jain. At least three dozen individuals—citizens from India, the USA, Australia, France, Spain, Algeria, the Netherlands, and beyond—had their passports confiscated at meetings in Cairo Airport or hotel locations and were detained during...
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Israeli Strike on Iranian State TV Kills Journalists, Escalates Conflict
June 17, 2025
Israeli Strike on Iranian State TV Kills Journalists, Escalates Conflict
June 17, 2025 - Iran/Israel -  The ongoing conflict between Israel and Iran intensified as Israeli airstrikes targeted Iran's state broadcaster IRIB in Tehran, resulting in the deaths of journalist Nima Rajabpour and staffer Masoumeh Azimi. The strike, which hit during a live broadcast, forced anchor Sahar Emami off-camera when debris filled the studio. The channel briefly switched to pre-recorded programming before relocating its live coverage to a secondary facility. The Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) issued evacuation warnings before the strike, covering a wide area of central Tehran, displacing up to 330,000 residents. According to...
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Iranian Journalists Silenced Amid Rising Tensions with Israel
June 17, 2025
Iranian Journalists Silenced Amid Rising Tensions with Israel
June 17, 2025 - Iran/Israel -  As the Israel–Iran conflict intensifies, Iranian authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown on journalists and media outlets inside the country, severely restricting press freedom. According to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the government has issued warnings, enforced censorship, and made arrests in an effort to control public discourse during the crisis. On June 13, shortly after Israel launched airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear facilities, editors and reporters from several Tehran-based private newspapers were summoned and ordered not to publish any content beyond official government...
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Erin Molan Refuses to Evacuate Israel, Vows to Report Truth Amid Iran Conflict
June 17, 2025
Erin Molan Refuses to Evacuate Israel, Vows to Report Truth Amid Iran Conflict
June 17, 2025 - Australia/Iran/Israel -  Amid escalating tensions between Israel and Iran, Australian journalist Erin Molan has made headlines for refusing to evacuate Israel, choosing instead to remain and report from the ground. Molan, a well-known broadcaster, was scheduled to leave the country on June 14, just as Israel launched a significant wave of airstrikes on Iranian military and nuclear sites. With Israeli airspace shut down in response to threats of Iranian retaliation, Molan found herself stranded—but rather than seek alternate evacuation routes, she chose to stay and continue reporting. In a widely viewed...
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OSCE-DCAF Summer School Trains Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia Students on Journalist Safety
June 17, 2025
OSCE-DCAF Summer School Trains Kyrgyzstan and Mongolia Students on Journalist Safety
June 17, 2025 - Krygyzstan/Mongolia-  Between June 8 and 13, 2025, students and young journalists from Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, and several other Central Asian nations gathered at Issyk-Kul, Kyrgyzstan, for the OSCE-DCAF Summer School, a regional initiative focused on the safety of journalists and media freedom. The event was jointly organized by the OSCE Conflict Prevention Centre, the Geneva Centre for Security Sector Governance (DCAF), the OSCE Academy in Bishkek, and the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media. The program brought together 22 participants from Afghanistan, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, and Uzbekistan. The primary...
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Four Years of Impunity Since Gustavo Sánchez Cabrera’s Murder
June 17, 2025
Four Years of Impunity Since Gustavo Sánchez Cabrera’s Murder
June 17, 2025 - Mexico -  Four years ago, in June 2021, the investigative reporter and civic activist Gustavo Sánchez Cabrera was gunned down in Fresnillo, Zacatecas. At the time, he was gathering evidence related to corruption and armed groups. Despite the federal government’s promises of a thorough investigation, no one has been held accountable, and the inquiry has stalled. In a joint communiqué issued yesterday, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and civic association Propuesta Cívica underscored this alarming paralysis in Mexico’s justice system. They noted that key leads—including suspects and links to corrupt local officials—remain unexamined,...
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Israel Strikes Iranian State TV Headquarters Amid Escalating Conflict
June 16, 2025
Israel Strikes Iranian State TV Headquarters Amid Escalating Conflict
June 16, 2025 - Iran/Israel -  Israeli forces launched a targeted airstrike on the headquarters of Iran’s state television, Islamic Republic of Iran Broadcasting (IRIB), in Tehran. The attack occurred while a live broadcast was underway, dramatically cutting off the transmission. Viewers witnessed the moment of impact as the studio was filled with dust and the anchor abruptly fled, after which the broadcast was switched to pre-recorded programming. While Iranian state media confirmed damage to the studio, there are unconfirmed reports of casualties among the technical staff. The strike on the IRIB building marked a...
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Washington Post Journalists Targeted in Suspected Chinese Cyberattack
June 16, 2025
Washington Post Journalists Targeted in Suspected Chinese Cyberattack
June 16, 2025 - USA -  The Washington Post has disclosed that several of its journalists who cover national security, economic policy, and China were targeted in a sophisticated cyberattack suspected to be carried out by Chinese state-linked hackers. The attack, which came to light on June 12, 2025, involved unauthorized access to the Microsoft email accounts of a small group of reporters. Executive Editor Matt Murray informed staff in an internal memo, noting that while only a limited number of accounts were affected, there was concern that attackers may have accessed confidential email communications....
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Los Angeles Journalists Sue LAPD Over Protest Injuries
June 16, 2025
Los Angeles Journalists Sue LAPD Over Protest Injuries
June 16, 2025 - USA -  A group of journalists and media organizations has filed a federal lawsuit against the Los Angeles Police Department (LAPD), accusing officers of intentionally targeting reporters with excessive force while they covered immigration protests earlier this year. The lawsuit, filed on June 16, 2025, by the Los Angeles Press Club and investigative outlet Status Coup, alleges that the LAPD violated the constitutional rights of journalists who were reporting on anti-immigration raids and demonstrations in Los Angeles. According to the complaint, multiple journalists were injured by police using so-called "less-lethal" weapons...
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Israeli Police Crack Down on Foreign & Arab TV Crews in Haifa Amid Iran Strikes
June 16, 2025
Israeli Police Crack Down on Foreign & Arab TV Crews in Haifa Amid Iran Strikes
June 16, 2025 - General -  Amid Iran's missile barrage on Israel, Israeli police, under directives from far-right National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir, have targeted foreign and Arab media crews in Haifa, seizing camera equipment and limiting live broadcasts of missile impact zones. On June 16–17, Israeli officers raided hotel rooms housing foreign TV teams—including Turkey’s TRT Arabi and Egypt’s Al-Ghad TV—following orders to curtail “live broadcasts that endanger state security”. Police reportedly entered locations after tips that crews were filming sensitive areas like Haifa’s port. The journalists were later summoned for questioning and had their gear...
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Journalist Mario Guevara Arrested Amid ICE Protest, Faces Deportation Threat
June 16, 2025
Journalist Mario Guevara Arrested Amid ICE Protest, Faces Deportation Threat
June 16, 2025 - USA/Mexico -  Atlanta-based journalist Mario Guevara, a Salvadoran national who has lived in the U.S. for over two decades, was arrested while covering an anti-ICE protest in DeKalb County, Georgia, on June 14, 2025. Guevara, known for his reporting on immigration issues for outlets such as Diario CoLatino and Atlanta Latino, was livestreaming the "No Kings" protest when police declared the gathering unlawful. Despite identifying himself as the press and retreating from the scene, Guevara was detained by DeKalb police alongside several protesters. Charged with misdemeanor offenses including unlawful assembly, obstruction,...
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Washington Post Investigates Cyberattack on Journalists’ Email Accounts
June 16, 2025
Washington Post Investigates Cyberattack on Journalists’ Email Accounts
June 16, 2025 - USA -  The Washington Post has launched a formal investigation into a recent cyberattack that targeted the email accounts of some of its journalists, raising serious concerns over press freedom, data security, and the protection of journalistic sources. The breach, first reported in mid-June 2025, appears to have compromised sensitive communications, though the full extent of the intrusion remains under investigation. According to initial reports, the cyberattack involved unauthorized access to email accounts belonging to a select number of Washington Post journalists. The attackers allegedly gained access to both internal communications...
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UN Human Rights Council Highlights Journalist Safety at HRC59
June 16, 2025
UN Human Rights Council Highlights Journalist Safety at HRC59
June 16, 2025 - General - At the opening of the 59th Session of the UN Human Rights Council (HRC59) on June 16, 2025, the safety of journalists was placed among the highest priorities. Over the next three weeks, states, civil society organizations, and experts are addressing growing threats to press freedom globally, alongside broader issues of digital rights, elections, and the impact of artificial intelligence. One of the central discussions at HRC59 revolves around a new resolution on the safety of journalists. This resolution is led by Austria, with support from Brazil, France, Greece,...
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Escalating Campaign: Israel Strikes Iran’s State TV in Ongoing Media Assault
June 16, 2025
Escalating Campaign: Israel Strikes Iran’s State TV in Ongoing Media Assault
June 16, 2025 - Iran/Israel -  Israel launched a targeted airstrike on the glass‑fronted headquarters of IRIB, Iran’s state-run TV station in central Tehran, during a live broadcast. The strike struck while anchor Sahar Emami was on air, causing the studio to quake with four explosions, forcing her and her colleagues to flee amid smoke and dust. After a brief cut to pre-recorded footage, the broadcast resumed from an alternate location. The IDF issued evacuation orders ahead of the strike for District 3 of Tehran, home to media offices, hospitals, and government buildings, warning roughly 330,000...
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BBC Coverage of Gaza War Found Systematically Biased Against Palestinians
June 16, 2025
BBC Coverage of Gaza War Found Systematically Biased Against Palestinians
June 16, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  A comprehensive year-long study by the Centre for Media Monitoring (CfMM) has revealed significant and systematic bias in BBC News’ coverage of Israel’s war on Gaza. The analysis, based on over 3,800 articles and 32,000 broadcast segments from October 2023 to October 2024, found stark disparities in how Israeli and Palestinian deaths, narratives, and suffering were represented. One of the most striking findings is that BBC coverage gave 33 times more attention to each Israeli death compared to each Palestinian death. While the Palestinian civilian death toll soared into...
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Prominent Nigerian Rights Lawyer Femi Falana Urges Government to Drop Criminal Charges Against Journalists and Critics
June 15, 2025
Prominent Nigerian Rights Lawyer Femi Falana Urges Government to Drop Criminal Charges Against Journalists and Critics
June 15, 2025 - Nigeria -  Prominent human rights lawyer and Senior Advocate of Nigeria (SAN), Femi Falana, urged the federal government to discontinue all criminal prosecutions targeting journalists and citizens for criticizing public officials. Falana’s call follows President Bola Tinubu’s Democracy Day speech on June 12, in which the president emphasized that honest criticism—even harsh reporting—should not lead to criminal charges. Quoting Tinubu’s declaration—“no one should suffer injustice for simply writing a negative report about me or calling me names”—Falana implored Attorney-General and Minister of Justice Lateef Fagbemi (SAN) to act accordingly by withdrawing all pending...
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European Journalists Targeted with Paragon “Graphite” Spyware
June 15, 2025
European Journalists Targeted with Paragon “Graphite” Spyware
June 15, 2025 - Italy - Digital security researchers at Citizen Lab have uncovered that Paragon Solutions’ “Graphite” spyware—a military-grade, zero-click surveillance tool—was used to target at least three prominent journalists in Europe, including two based in Italy. In Italy, the latest victim is Ciro Pellegrino, who heads the Naples bureau of Fanpage it. Pellegrino’s phone showed forensic traces of Graphite—a confirmation that matches earlier evidence linking the spyware to Francesco Cancellato, Fanpage’s editor-in-chief. Citizen Lab also identified a third “prominent European journalist” who requested anonymity. All three phones were infected via an Apple iMessage zero-click exploit attributed...
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Saudi Arabia Executes Journalist Turki al-Jasser After Secret Trial Over Social Media Posts
June 14, 2025
Saudi Arabia Executes Journalist Turki al-Jasser After Secret Trial Over Social Media Posts
June 14, 2025 - Saudi Arabia -  Saudi authorities executed journalist Turki al‑Jasser on June 14, 2025, following a seven‑year detention after his 2018 arrest. The Interior Ministry confirmed the execution via the Saudi Press Agency, stating that the kingdom’s top court upheld convictions against him for “treason,” “terrorism,” “foreign collaboration,” and “undermining national unity". Al‑Jasser, in his late 40s, had been charged primarily due to his alleged operation of a social‑media account on X (formerly Twitter), which posted claims of corruption within the royal family and controversial commentary about militant groups. His arrest involved a raid at...
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Pakistani Journalist Abdul Latif Baloch Killed by State‑Backed Militias in Balochistan
June 14, 2025
Pakistani Journalist Abdul Latif Baloch Killed by State‑Backed Militias in Balochistan
June 14, 2025 - Pakistan -  Veteran journalist Abdul Latif Baloch was shot dead in the early hours inside his home in Mashkay Tehsil, Awaran district, Balochistan, Pakistan, in front of his wife and children. Four armed assailants forcibly entered his residence and fired four shots when he resisted abduction. Human rights groups, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Pakistan’s Federal Union of Journalists, have strongly condemned the killing. They assert the attackers belonged to a state-supported militia tied to the Pakistani military, describing the killing as part of a deadly “kill and...
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Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything – Hulu Documentary
June 14, 2025
Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything – Hulu Documentary
June 14, 2025 - USA -  A compelling new documentary, “Barbara Walters: Tell Me Everything,” directed by Jackie Jesko, chronicles the life and legacy of broadcast legend Barbara Walters. Produced by ABC News Studios, Imagine Documentaries (with Ron Howard & Brian Grazer), and Latchkey Films, it premiered at the Tribeca Film Festival on June 12 and begins streaming on Hulu (and Disney+ internationally) on June 23, 2025. This 95-minute film weaves together archival ABC footage—much of it previously unaired—with fresh interviews featuring Walters’s colleagues and subjects, including Oprah Winfrey, Katie Couric, Cynthia McFadden, Bette Midler, and more. It...
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Kurdish Journalism Honors Courage: Gurbetelli Ersöz and Musa Anter Awards Spotlight Press Freedom Under Threat
June 14, 2025
Kurdish Journalism Honors Courage: Gurbetelli Ersöz and Musa Anter Awards Spotlight Press Freedom Under Threat
June 14, 2025 - Kurdistan -  Journalism across Kurdistan continues to thrive under immense pressure, with several prestigious awards honoring journalists who persist despite risks. The Gurbetelli Ersöz Women’s Journalism Award and the Musa Anter Journalism Awards both serve as powerful tributes to Kurdish journalists who have paid a heavy price for their commitment to truth. The Gurbetelli Ersöz Women’s Journalism Award, named after the first female Kurdish editor-in-chief, commemorates the life and work of Gurbetelli Ersöz, who was killed in 1997. Introduced by the Coalition for Women in Journalism alongside Kurdish media organizations, the...
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Global Outcry as China’s #MeToo Pioneer Sophia Huang Xueqin Marks First Anniversary of Sentence
June 14, 2025
Global Outcry as China’s #MeToo Pioneer Sophia Huang Xueqin Marks First Anniversary of Sentence
June 14, 2025 - China -  Independent journalist and #MeToo activist Sophia Huang Xueqin (also known as Huang Xueqin) was sentenced by a Chinese court to five years in prison for “inciting subversion of state power.” Her co-defendant, labour activist Wang Jianbing, received a 3½-year sentence. Court details emerged almost exactly one year later, prompting renewed global advocacy on the first anniversary of the ruling. Huang first rose to prominence in 2017–2018 by reigniting China’s #MeToo movement through an online survey uncovering widespread sexual harassment, particularly within journalistic and academic environments. Her campaign supported victims...
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Military Court Detains Two Nigerien Journalists Over Alleged Plot Against the State
June 14, 2025
Military Court Detains Two Nigerien Journalists Over Alleged Plot Against the State
June 14, 2025 - Niger -  a military court in Niger remanded two journalists from Sahara FM, a private radio station, into custody in Kollo prison, south of Niamey. They are charged with “undermining national defence and plotting against state authority.” The arrests stem from early May when Sahara FM aired reports suggesting that Niger had terminated security accords with Russia, a close ally of the country's military junta. A third journalist in the group was released on bail. The case follows a pattern of growing press restrictions since the 2023 coup, with Niger facing criticism from human...
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Indian Journalist Among Hundreds Detained During Pro‑Palestine March Crackdown in Egypt
June 14, 2025
Indian Journalist Among Hundreds Detained During Pro‑Palestine March Crackdown in Egypt
June 14, 2025 - India -  Egyptian security forces detained over 200 activists and journalists—including Indian reporter Nikita Jain from Maktoob Media—at checkpoints near Ismailia and in Cairo, ahead of the Global March to Gaza solidarity protest. The march, organized by an international coalition of human rights groups and activists, aimed to enter Gaza via Rafah on foot to protest Israel’s blockade and deliver humanitarian aid, drawing participants from over 80 countries. Jain was among approximately 1,000 protesters stopped at Ismailia, where authorities seized passports and blocked non-Egyptian nationals from proceeding. She reported that around 70...
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Somali Intelligence Raid Media Outlet Over Forced Voter Registration Coverage
June 14, 2025
Somali Intelligence Raid Media Outlet Over Forced Voter Registration Coverage
June 14, 2025 - Somalia -  At around 9 a.m., armed agents from Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) raided the offices of Himilo Somali TV, an independent online broadcaster in Mogadishu. Fourteen officers—eight inside the studio and six outside—demanded that the outlet remove an interview addressing alleged forced voter registration by the controversial Federal Electoral Commission. The demands followed coverage of a man who claimed he had "been abducted … forcibly registered as a voter without his consent," and who tore up the registration papers in protest. Studio staff locked themselves in an office and...
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Chad’s Journalists Held Despite Pretrial Release Rights Amid Wagner Espionage Allegations
June 13, 2025
Chad’s Journalists Held Despite Pretrial Release Rights Amid Wagner Espionage Allegations
June 13, 2025 - Chad -  Human Rights Watch called for the pretrial release of two Chadian journalists—Olivier Monodji, editor of Le Pays and Radio France Internationale correspondent, and Mahamat Saleh Alhissein, a reporter with state broadcaster Télé Tchad—who have been held for three months by the N’Djamena High Court. Prosecutors initially accused them, alongside other suspects, of espionage, conspiracy, and threatening state security through alleged collaboration with Russia’s Wagner Group. Among the evidence cited were documents Alhissein reportedly translated from French to Arabic and an article by Monodji about a Russian cultural center opening. Following a...
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Turkish Raid Detains Four Journalists Amid Publication Ban
June 13, 2025
Turkish Raid Detains Four Journalists Amid Publication Ban
June 13, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish police conducted early-morning raids targeting four journalists, detaining them in operations spanning Istanbul and Artvin, amid an opaque inquiry shrouded by a publication ban. The journalists—Semra Balık, Dicle Baştürk, Ozan Gerik, and Melisa Efe—were arrested following coordinated home searches. Balık and Gerik were based in Istanbul and taken to the Gendarmerie Command in Maslak; the locations for Baştürk and Efe, reportedly operating in Artvin, remain less clear publicly. Authorities have neither disclosed the charges nor the issuing body behind the arrests due to the gag order in place....
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Press Freedom Under Siege: US Journalists Report Violence and Detention at LA Immigration Protests
June 13, 2025
Press Freedom Under Siege: US Journalists Report Violence and Detention at LA Immigration Protests
June 13, 2025 - USA -  Amid widespread protests in Los Angeles against ICE raids, press freedom groups have raised alarms over escalating risks to journalists covering the unrest. Reports from the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) indicate mounting “violence and detention” of media personnel, prompting calls for authorities to protect journalistic work. Numerous incidents involving law enforcement targeting reporters have surfaced. In LA, journalists faced rubber bullets, pepper balls, flash-bangs, and even brief detentions while on air. CNN’s Jason Carroll was held and cuffed during a live broadcast,...
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UNESCO Launches Global Initiative to Combat Legal Harassment of Journalists
June 13, 2025
UNESCO Launches Global Initiative to Combat Legal Harassment of Journalists
June 13, 2025 - General -  UNESCO unveiled a groundbreaking global initiative aimed at addressing the growing use of legal harassment against journalists, often referred to as “lawfare.” This tactic, which includes the abuse of defamation laws, Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs), and other forms of judicial intimidation, is increasingly being used worldwide to suppress independent journalism, exhaust journalists financially, and silence critical reporting. Recognizing the urgent need for international action, UNESCO’s initiative will adopt a comprehensive approach combining legal support, judicial training, and global awareness to counteract these threats. Drawing from its experience...
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Five Journalists Detained in Artvin; Two Released Pending Trial
June 12, 2025
Five Journalists Detained in Artvin; Two Released Pending Trial
June 12, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish authorities released two journalists—Rahime Karvar and Reyhan Hacıoğlu—from pretrial detention stemming from a broad investigation into media outlets in Istanbul and the Artvin region. The probe originally led to the arrests in January of six journalists—Karvar, Hacıoğlu, Necla Demir, Ahmet Güneş, Welat Ekin, and Vedat Örüç—on charges of "membership in a terrorist organization," widely understood as related to alleged ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Reyhan Hacıoğlu, detained on January 21 at her home in Van, was held in Van's Type T Prison for almost five months...
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BBC Faces Ageism Allegations Over Journalist Discrimination
June 12, 2025
BBC Faces Ageism Allegations Over Journalist Discrimination
June 12, 2025 - UK - The BBC is facing mounting accusations of age discrimination from several of its seasoned journalists, who allege they have been unfairly sidelined or pushed out due to their age. This controversy has reignited debates over workplace equality, diversity, and the corporation's handling of experienced staff amidst ongoing efforts to modernize its news coverage. At the heart of the complaints are claims that older presenters and reporters have seen their roles diminished, contracts terminated, or been excluded from high-profile opportunities in favor of younger colleagues. Some veteran journalists allege that...
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Ruben Salazar’s 1970 Death Reverberates Amid Modern Los Angeles Protests
June 11, 2025
Ruben Salazar’s 1970 Death Reverberates Amid Modern Los Angeles Protests
June 11, 2025 - General -  The tragic death of journalist Ruben Salazar 55 years ago casts a long shadow over current law enforcement practices in Los Angeles. Salazar, a prominent Mexican-American reporter, was killed on August 29, 1970, when a tear-gas projectile fired by a sheriff’s deputy struck him while he was covering the Chicano Moratorium March against the Vietnam War. Today’s Los Angeles protests—sparked by sweeping ICE raids in early June 2025—have seen a resurgence in the use of “less-lethal” munitions and tactics against journalists. CalMatters reports that law enforcement has deployed rubber...
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Press Freedom Under Siege in Los Angeles Amidst Immigration Protests
June 11, 2025
Press Freedom Under Siege in Los Angeles Amidst Immigration Protests
June 11, 2025 - USA -  Los Angeles became a flashpoint for press freedom concerns as journalists covering protests against federal immigration raids reported being targeted by law enforcement. Over two dozen journalists were injured, with incidents ranging from rubber bullet and pepper ball injuries to physical detentions, raising alarms about the safety and rights of the press. Among the affected were CNN correspondent Jason Carroll and his crew, who were detained while broadcasting live from the protest zone. Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi was struck in the leg by a rubber bullet, and several other...
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Gaza Journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh Faces Personal Loss Amid War Reporting
June 11, 2025
Gaza Journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh Faces Personal Loss Amid War Reporting
June 11, 2025 - General -  Wael Al-Dahdouh, a prominent Palestinian journalist based in Gaza, has endured heartbreaking personal tragedy while covering the ongoing conflict between Israel and Gaza. As the editor-in-chief of Al-Quds newspaper in Gaza, Al-Dahdouh has reported tirelessly on the devastation wrought by the war. But his professional commitment has come at a devastating personal cost: several of his family members have been killed in Israeli airstrikes, including his wife and children. Despite the unbearable loss, Al-Dahdouh continues to document the conflict’s harsh realities, determined to tell the world the human side...
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Terry Moran’s Termination from ABC News
June 11, 2025
Terry Moran’s Termination from ABC News
June 11, 2025 - USA -  Veteran ABC News correspondent Terry Moran has been terminated following a controversial social media post in which he criticized President Donald Trump and his adviser Stephen Miller. In the now-deleted post, Moran referred to both men as "world-class haters," accusing Miller of "eating his hate" and suggesting that Trump's hatred serves his self-glorification. The post, shared on the platform X (formerly Twitter), violated ABC News' policies on objectivity and professionalism, leading to his suspension and subsequent dismissal. Moran, who joined ABC News in 1997, had recently conducted a tense...
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Iranian-American Journalist Reza Valizadeh Launches Hunger Strike in Evin Prison
June 11, 2025
Iranian-American Journalist Reza Valizadeh Launches Hunger Strike in Evin Prison
June 11, 2025 - Iran/USA -  Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, a former reporter for Radio Farda, has initiated a hunger strike in Tehran's Evin Prison to protest the seizure of his essential documents, including his birth certificate. These documents are crucial for managing his legal affairs and protecting his assets abroad. Valizadeh, who was sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of "collaborating with a hostile government," began his hunger strike on June 7, 2025, following the confiscation of these vital records by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) Intelligence Organization. Valizadeh, a dual...
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Balancing Truth and Well-Being: How Climate Journalists Can Stay Resilient While Reporting the Crisis
June 11, 2025
Balancing Truth and Well-Being: How Climate Journalists Can Stay Resilient While Reporting the Crisis
June 11, 2025 - General - Covering climate change is one of the most important but emotionally challenging tasks journalists face today. Reporting on disasters like hurricanes, wildfires, and floods means witnessing devastation and human suffering firsthand, which can take a serious toll on journalists’ mental health. Many experience anxiety, depression, nightmares, and compassion fatigue — a condition caused by repeated exposure to others’ trauma. Unfortunately, newsroom cultures often overlook these issues, leaving journalists to cope alone. Studies show that nearly 20% of reporters covering extreme weather suffer from symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)...
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Starved Into Silence: Gaza’s Journalists and Europe’s Complicity
June 11, 2025
Starved Into Silence: Gaza’s Journalists and Europe’s Complicity
June 11, 2025 - Palestine -  Journalists in Gaza are facing extreme conditions that amount to systematic silencing. Under Israel’s ongoing blockade and bombardment, they are not only dodging airstrikes and losing colleagues to targeted attacks—they are also being starved into submission. Without access to food, electricity, internet, or fuel, Gaza’s reporters are physically and logistically unable to work, creating what media rights groups are calling an “information blackout.” Since October 2023, over 130 Palestinian journalists have been killed, making this war one of the deadliest for media workers in modern history. Many were killed...
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Egypt’s Female Journalists Push Back Against Newsroom Discrimination
June 11, 2025
Egypt’s Female Journalists Push Back Against Newsroom Discrimination
June 11, 2025 - Egypt -  Women journalists in Egypt face persistent discrimination and harassment in newsrooms, often working in environments that silence or penalize them for speaking out. Despite contributing significantly to the country’s media sector, they remain underrepresented in leadership roles and are frequently excluded from high-impact reporting assignments. A feature by The New Arab highlights the widespread harassment women face within Egyptian newsrooms. Journalists describe being subjected to unwanted physical contact, verbal abuse, and demeaning treatment from male colleagues and supervisors. One journalist recounted how a senior editor regularly hugged and kissed...
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Press Freedom Under Threat in Croatia Amid Funding Cuts and Legal Pressures
June 11, 2025
Press Freedom Under Threat in Croatia Amid Funding Cuts and Legal Pressures
June 11, 2025 - Croatia -  Croatia is facing mounting concerns over the state of press freedom, as recent developments highlight a shrinking space for independent journalism. Two major incidents underline the troubling trend: a critical report from international watchdogs and a funding cut targeting a Serb minority newspaper. A 2025 mission by the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), involving groups like ARTICLE 19 and the European Federation of Journalists, found systemic threats to press freedom in Croatia. The mission’s findings pointed to outdated media laws, politicised public broadcasting, a lack of protections for journalists,...
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Israel Deports Four, Detains Eight Following Madleen Aid Boat Raid
June 11, 2025
Israel Deports Four, Detains Eight Following Madleen Aid Boat Raid
June 11, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli naval forces intercepted the UK‑flagged aid vessel Madleen in international waters, approximately 185 km off the Gaza coast, amid a humanitarian convoy organized by the Freedom Flotilla Coalition. The flotilla, which set sail from Sicily on June 1 carrying symbolic aid—baby formula, rice, medical kits—intended to highlight Gaza’s critical humanitarian crisis. Israeli commandos boarded the vessel using drones, communications jamming measures, and irritant sprays before towing it to Ashdod. Aboard were 12 individuals, including high-profile participants such as climate activist Greta Thunberg, French MEP Rima Hassan, and two journalists from...
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Journalists in Eritrea: A Legacy of Repression and Silence
June 10, 2025
Journalists in Eritrea: A Legacy of Repression and Silence
June 10, 2025 - Eritrea -  Eritrea remains one of the most repressive countries for journalists, with a history of arbitrary detentions and a complete absence of independent media. Since the government's crackdown on the press in 2001, many journalists have been imprisoned without charge or trial, enduring harsh conditions and prolonged isolation. Dawit Isaak: The Longest-Imprisoned Journalist Dawit Isaak, a Swedish-Eritrean journalist and co-founder of Setit, Eritrea's first independent newspaper, was arrested in September 2001 during a government purge targeting independent media. Despite holding dual citizenship, Isaak has been detained without trial for over...
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ICIJ Reporter Nicole Sadek Honored with Livingston Award for Investigative Reporting
June 10, 2025
ICIJ Reporter Nicole Sadek Honored with Livingston Award for Investigative Reporting
June 10, 2025 - General -  Nicole Sadek, an investigative reporter for the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ), has been awarded the 2025 Livingston Award for Excellence in International Reporting. The award recognizes her exceptional work on the "Caspian Cabals" investigation, a collaborative project that exposed how Western oil companies overlooked corruption risks to secure stakes in a critical Kazakhstan-Russia pipeline, enriching Kazakh and Russian elites in the process. Sadek's reporting was praised for its "tenacity and sensitivity," highlighting the human impact of the environmental and health crises caused by the oil industry in...
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Ethiopian Authorities Detain Journalist Tesfalem Waldyes Despite Court-Ordered Bail
June 10, 2025
Ethiopian Authorities Detain Journalist Tesfalem Waldyes Despite Court-Ordered Bail
June 11, 2025 - Ethiopia -  Ethiopian journalist Tesfalem Waldyes has been detained by authorities in Addis Ababa despite a court order granting him bail, raising serious concerns about press freedom in the country. Waldyes, a well-known journalist and co-founder of the independent media outlet Ethiopia Insider, was held even after a judge authorized his release. This move has sparked condemnation from international organizations like the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which has called for his immediate release. Tesfalem Waldyes has faced legal challenges before. In 2015, he was detained on terrorism-related charges, which were...
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Staying Safe While Interviewing Dangerous Subjects: A Journalist’s Guide
June 10, 2025
Staying Safe While Interviewing Dangerous Subjects: A Journalist’s Guide
June 10, 2025 -  Interviewing potentially dangerous individuals, such as armed actors, criminals, or volatile sources, poses serious risks for journalists. Both Journalism.co.uk and IJNet emphasize the importance of preparation, awareness, and ethical boundaries when navigating such encounters. The first step is thorough preparation. Journalists should conduct a full risk assessment before setting out, considering the location, the subject’s background, and the broader context. Understanding the political, social, or criminal dynamics involved can help anticipate possible threats. Enrolling in hostile environment training and carrying a basic first aid kit are also recommended, especially in unstable...
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Cambodian Journalist’s Killer Sentenced, Marking Rare Victory for Press Freedom
June 10, 2025
Cambodian Journalist’s Killer Sentenced, Marking Rare Victory for Press Freedom
June 10, 2025 - Cambodia -  Cambodian court sentenced Sy Loeuy to 12 years in prison for the murder of environmental journalist Chhoeung Chhoeng. The 63-year-old journalist, who worked for the Khmer-language newspaper Kampuchea Aphiwat, was shot on December 4, 2024, in Siem Reap province while investigating illegal logging operations. Chhoeng succumbed to his injuries three days later in the hospital. The case drew national and international attention, particularly due to the long-standing risks faced by journalists reporting on environmental and land issues in Cambodia. In addition to the prison term, the court ordered Loeuy...
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Palestinian Photojournalist Killed in Gaza as Journalist Death Toll Reaches 227
June 10, 2025
Palestinian Photojournalist Killed in Gaza as Journalist Death Toll Reaches 227
June 10, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The ongoing conflict in Gaza has claimed another journalist's life, raising serious concerns over the safety of media professionals operating in the region. On June 9, 2025, Palestinian freelance photojournalist Momen Abu Alof was killed during Israeli attacks in eastern Gaza City. Abu Alof, who was accompanying an ambulance crew to evacuate the injured, died alongside three paramedics when Israeli forces targeted the area. His death brings the total number of journalists killed since the start of Israel's military operations on Gaza in October 2023 to 227, according to...
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RSF and CPJ Demand Release of French Journalists Intercepted on Madleen Aid Ship
June 9, 2025
RSF and CPJ Demand Release of French Journalists Intercepted on Madleen Aid Ship
June 09, 2025 - France/Palestine/Israel -  Two French journalists—Yanis Mhamdi (Blast) and Omar Faiad (Al Jazeera)—were detained by the Israeli military on June 9 during the interception of the Gaza-bound aid vessel Madleen, prompting swift international outcry from press freedom groups. The Madleen, part of the Freedom Flotilla Coalition, left Sicily on June 1 carrying symbolic humanitarian aid and 12 passengers, including climate activist Greta Thunberg and French MEP Rima Hassan. Israel’s navy intercepted the ship in international waters—around 185 km from Gaza—and towed it to Ashdod. Military commandos boarded after deploying drones and “irritant” substances to disable communications....
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Australian Reporter Shot with Rubber Bullet While Covering LA Protests
June 9, 2025
Australian Reporter Shot with Rubber Bullet While Covering LA Protests
June 09, 2025 - Australia/USA -  Australian journalist Lauren Tomasi, a correspondent for Nine News, was struck by a rubber bullet while covering protests in Los Angeles on June 8, 2025. The protests were sparked by a series of controversial ICE raids targeting immigrant communities. Tomasi was reporting live when the incident occurred, and the moment was captured on air as she was hit in the leg while marked as press. The footage shows Tomasi visibly recoiling in pain but quickly assuring viewers, “I’m good,” as she was escorted away from the scene. Despite wearing...
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Canadian Journalist Mocha Bezirgan Assaulted by Khalistani Extremists in Vancouver
June 8, 2025
Canadian Journalist Mocha Bezirgan Assaulted by Khalistani Extremists in Vancouver
June 08, 2025 - Vancouver -  Canadian journalist Mocha Bezirgan was assaulted on June 8, 2025, while covering a pro-Khalistan rally in downtown Vancouver. The attack has raised fresh concerns about press freedom, political extremism, and the growing tensions within Canada’s Sikh diaspora community. Bezirgan, known for his investigative work on extremism, was filming the rally when a group of pro-Khalistan protesters confronted him aggressively. He reported that multiple individuals surrounded him, attempted to block his camera, and forcibly seized his phone. One attacker, believed to be a British national, followed him persistently even after...
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UNRWA Condemns Israeli Ban on International Journalists in Gaza—“A Ban on the Truth”
June 7, 2025
UNRWA Condemns Israeli Ban on International Journalists in Gaza—“A Ban on the Truth”
June 07, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  In a sharply worded response, UN agency chief Philippe Lazzarini has denounced Israel’s continued prohibition on international journalists entering Gaza, calling it “a ban on the truth” and warning that it fosters misinformation, heightened polarization, and dehumanization. The ban, in effect since the outbreak of war, now surpassing 20 months, has drawn international condemnation from humanitarian groups and global media organizations. Lazzarini emphasized the critical role of independent coverage, urging that international journalists be granted access to directly report from Gaza. He also stressed the need to support local...
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Iran’s Transnational Repression: Families of BBC Persian Journalists in the Crosshairs
June 6, 2025
Iran’s Transnational Repression: Families of BBC Persian Journalists in the Crosshairs
June 06, 2025 - Iran -  Iran’s government has intensified its transnational repression by systematically targeting the families of exiled journalists, particularly those working for BBC Persian. This growing campaign aims to silence journalists abroad by threatening their loved ones still living inside Iran, using a calculated mix of intimidation, harassment, and punishment. According to reports from the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project (OCCRP), Iranian intelligence agents have summoned family members of several journalists and delivered chilling ultimatums: tell their relatives abroad to stop reporting or face severe consequences. In some cases, relatives have...
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Justice in Malta: Sentences in the Daphne Caruana Galizia Assassination
June 6, 2025
Justice in Malta: Sentences in the Daphne Caruana Galizia Assassination
June 06, 2025 - Malta -  Nearly eight years after the brutal murder of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, several key figures involved in the assassination have been convicted and sentenced, marking a significant development in one of Europe's most shocking attacks on press freedom. Caruana Galizia, known for her fearless reporting on political corruption, money laundering, and organized crime in Malta, was killed on October 16, 2017, when a car bomb detonated under her vehicle near her home. The assassination sent shockwaves through the international community, sparking widespread condemnation and calls for justice....
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Controversy Surrounds Tommy Robinson’s Court Appearance and Allegations of Journalist Harassment
June 5, 2025
Controversy Surrounds Tommy Robinson’s Court Appearance and Allegations of Journalist Harassment
June 05, 2025 - UK - Recent reports focus on Tommy Robinson, a well-known British activist and former leader of the English Defence League, amid his court appearances and accusations of harassment against journalists. Robinson, who has a history of provocative activism and legal issues, was recently in the news for his involvement in a court case and subsequent allegations. According to The Independent, Tommy Robinson appeared in court facing charges related to his conduct, which included accusations of breaching court orders and disrupting proceedings. The case has drawn significant media attention due to Robinson’s...
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Yemen Issues Arrest Warrants for Journalists Amid Ongoing Media Suppression and Harassment
June 5, 2025
Yemen Issues Arrest Warrants for Journalists Amid Ongoing Media Suppression and Harassment
June 05, 2025 - Yemen -  Recent reports from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and Radio Free Asia reveal a troubling escalation in Yemen's crackdown on the press. The Yemeni authorities have issued arrest warrants against multiple journalists, primarily targeting those investigating corruption and challenging government narratives, amid a broader pattern of harassment and repression of media workers. According to the CPJ, Yemen's security agencies have issued warrants for the detention of several journalists, accusing them of spreading false information and undermining national security. These actions come amid...
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Media Organizations Respond to Escalating Conflicts and Journalistic Detentions
June 5, 2025
Media Organizations Respond to Escalating Conflicts and Journalistic Detentions
June 05, 2025 - General -  Recent reports highlight significant challenges faced by journalists amid ongoing conflicts in the Middle East. Arab News and BBC News have covered the tense situation involving media coverage in conflict zones, emphasizing the risks journalists encounter and the importance of press freedom. Additionally, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has issued a statement condemning the detention of BBC journalists by Israeli forces. Arab News reports on the increasing dangers for journalists reporting on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The article highlights instances where journalists have been targeted or detained, underscoring the...
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African Journalists Demand Answers on Missing Guinean Reporter
June 5, 2025
African Journalists Demand Answers on Missing Guinean Reporter
June 05, 2025 - Africa - More than 100 African journalists and media rights organizations have joined forces to demand transparency and accountability from Guinea’s military authorities regarding the disappearance of journalist Habib Marouane Camara. The prominent reporter, who founded and managed the Conakry-based news outlet Le Révélateur 224, has been missing since December 3, 2024. Camara was abducted in the Lambanyi district of Conakry by men dressed in gendarme uniforms. Witnesses reported that he was forcibly removed from his vehicle, beaten unconscious, and taken to an undisclosed location. His car was later found with...
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Four Palestinian Journalists Killed in Israeli Drone Strike on Gaza Hospital
June 5, 2025
Four Palestinian Journalists Killed in Israeli Drone Strike on Gaza Hospital
June 05, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On June 4, 2025, an Israeli unmanned aerial strike targeted the courtyard of the Al‑Ahli Baptist Hospital in Gaza City, where a group of journalists had gathered. The attack resulted in the deaths of four media workers—Ismail Baddah, Suleiman Hajjaj, Samir Al‑Rifai, and Ahmad Qalja (who later succumbed to injuries)—while Imad Daloul was critically wounded. Eyewitnesses and hospital staff, including hospital director Dr. Fadel Naeem, confirmed the strike hit journalists at their makeshift reporting site. Daloul and Qalja were rushed into intensive care. Local and international press freedom monitors noted...
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Breakthrough in Amazon Murders: Brazil Charges Mastermind in Killings of Journalist and Indigenous Activist
June 5, 2025
Breakthrough in Amazon Murders: Brazil Charges Mastermind in Killings of Journalist and Indigenous Activist
June 05, 2025 - Brazil -  Brazilian prosecutors have officially charged Rubén Darío Villar, a Colombian fish trader, for orchestrating the brutal 2022 murders of British journalist Dom Phillips and Brazilian Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira. The indictment marks a major milestone in a case that has drawn global attention to the dangers faced by environmental defenders and journalists in the Amazon. On June 5, 2022, Phillips and Pereira disappeared while traveling by boat in the remote Javari Valley, one of Brazil's most isolated regions plagued by illegal fishing, logging, and mining. Their mission was to...
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Supreme Court Denies Interim Relief to MP Journalists Alleging Police Custodial Abuse
June 4, 2025
Supreme Court Denies Interim Relief to MP Journalists Alleging Police Custodial Abuse
June 04, 2025 - India -  The Supreme Court recently declined to grant interim protection to two journalists from Madhya Pradesh who had accused the police of custodial abuse and harassment. The journalists sought the court’s intervention following what they described as police intimidation linked to their professional work. The journalists alleged that police officers had subjected them to harsh treatment and abuse while in custody. They claimed that this harassment was an attempt to suppress their reporting and intimidate the press. The case raised serious concerns about freedom of the press and police conduct...
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El Salvador Convicts Former Military Officers for 1982 Murder of Dutch Journalists
June 4, 2025
El Salvador Convicts Former Military Officers for 1982 Murder of Dutch Journalists
June 04, 2025 - El Salvador - In a landmark ruling, a Salvadoran court on June 3, 2025, convicted three former military officials for orchestrating the 1982 killing of four Dutch journalists during the country’s civil war. The court sentenced Gen. José Guillermo García (91), Col. Francisco Morán (93), and Col. Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena (85) to 15 years in prison each. García and Morán, both in fragile health, were present via hospital custody in San Salvador. Reyes Mena, who resides in the United States, was convicted in absentia and faces extradition. The victims—Jan Kuiper,...
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British Journalist Charlotte Peet Found Safe in Brazil After Months Missing
June 4, 2025
British Journalist Charlotte Peet Found Safe in Brazil After Months Missing
June 04, 2025 - UK/Brazil -  Charlotte Alice Peet, a 32-year-old British journalist, has been found safe in Brazil nearly four months after she was reported missing. Known for her coverage of South American affairs for outlets like The Independent, Al Jazeera, and The Times, Peet had been living in Brazil and returned to the country in November 2024. She last communicated with her family on February 8, 2025, telling them she was headed to Rio de Janeiro in search of accommodation. After that, she went silent, prompting growing concern. Peet’s family filed a missing...
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Argentina Under Fire: Journalists Face Escalating Repression Amid Peaceful Protests
June 4, 2025
Argentina Under Fire: Journalists Face Escalating Repression Amid Peaceful Protests
June 04, 2025 - Argentina -  In a troubling trend drawing global condemnation, journalists covering peaceful protests in Argentina are increasingly facing targeted repression at the hands of state security forces. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has raised urgent alarms about what it describes as a systematic campaign to silence media coverage through violence and intimidation—an effort that directly threatens democratic freedoms in the country. Since the inauguration of President Javier Milei in December 2023, Argentina has witnessed a surge in public demonstrations, particularly among pensioners protesting austerity measures and social reforms. Yet these otherwise peaceful...
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European Union Honors Journalists from Palestine, Egypt, and Syria in 2025 Samir Kassir Award
June 3, 2025
European Union Honors Journalists from Palestine, Egypt, and Syria in 2025 Samir Kassir Award
June 03, 2025 - General -  The European Union, together with the Samir Kassir Foundation, celebrated the 20th edition of the Samir Kassir Award for Freedom of the Press. The ceremony took place at the historic Sursock Palace Gardens in Beirut, Lebanon. Established in 2006 to honor the memory of Lebanese journalist Samir Kassir, the award recognizes courageous and outstanding journalism in the Middle East, North Africa, and the Gulf region. This year, the award highlighted the exceptional work of three journalists from Palestine, Egypt, and Syria, whose reporting shed light on critical and often...
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Houthis Intensify Crackdown on Journalists and Aid Workers in Yemen
June 3, 2025
Houthis Intensify Crackdown on Journalists and Aid Workers in Yemen
June 03, 2025 - Yemen - Houthi authorities in Yemen have escalated their campaign against journalists and humanitarian workers, drawing international condemnation for a wave of detentions and rights violations. At least four journalists were abducted between May 21 and 23 in the Houthi-controlled city of Hodeidah. The detainees include freelance photographer Abduljabbar Zayad, journalist Hassan Ziyad of Al-Araby Al-Jadeed, media director Abdulaziz Al-Noum, and syndicate official Walid Ali Ghalib. The arrests were reportedly carried out without legal warrants or explanation. In a separate case, journalist Mohamed Al-Miyahi was sentenced on May 24 to 18...
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CEO Indicted in Attacks Targeting Journalist After Investigative Reporting
June 3, 2025
CEO Indicted in Attacks Targeting Journalist After Investigative Reporting
June 03, 2025 - USA -  Eric Spofford, founder and former CEO of Granite Recovery Centers, a prominent addiction treatment organization in New Hampshire, has been indicted in a case involving harassment and vandalism targeting journalist Lauren Chooljian of New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) and her colleagues. The case stems from a series of events following a 2022 investigative report by Chooljian that included allegations of sexual misconduct and financial impropriety against Spofford. Shortly after the report’s publication, Chooljian’s home, her editor’s home, and her parents' house were all vandalized—windows smashed and bricks thrown, one...
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Journalist Survives Armed Attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam District
June 3, 2025
Journalist Survives Armed Attack in Jammu and Kashmir’s Budgam District
June 03, 2025 - Kashmir - Danish Manzoor, a journalist based in Jammu and Kashmir, narrowly escaped a life-threatening attack when unidentified gunmen opened fire on his vehicle in the Budgam district. The incident occurred on Sunday evening, in a part of the region often marred by political tension and sporadic violence. Manzoor, who was inside the car at the time of the attack, reported that at least two bullets struck his vehicle, though he fortunately escaped unhurt. The assailants fled the scene immediately after the attack, and no group has claimed responsibility so far....
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Fear and Threats Grip Journalism in Northern Ireland
June 3, 2025
Fear and Threats Grip Journalism in Northern Ireland
June 03, 2025 - Ireland -  Journalists in Northern Ireland are working under increasing levels of fear due to ongoing threats, violence, and intimidation by paramilitary groups and criminal gangs, according to a new Amnesty International report. The study, Occupational Hazard?, paints a grim picture of what it calls the most dangerous region in the UK for media workers. Since 2019, more than 70 incidents involving threats or attacks on journalists have been recorded. These include direct death threats, physical assaults, threats of bombs under cars, and messages demanding reporters leave the country within 48...
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Journalist Javier Hércules Killed in Honduras Despite State Protection
June 2, 2025
Journalist Javier Hércules Killed in Honduras Despite State Protection
June 02, 2025 - Salvador - Salvadoran journalist Javier Antonio Hércules Salinas was fatally shot in Santa Rosa de Copán, Honduras, despite being under state protection since 2023. Hércules, who worked for the television channel A Todo Noticias, was ambushed by gunmen while driving his taxi—a side job he took to support his family. He had been living in Honduras for five years with his wife and children. Hércules had previously survived a kidnapping attempt in 2023, which led to his enrollment in Honduras' Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders, Justice Operators, and Journalists. However,...
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Honduran Radio Host Carlos Gilberto Aguirre Stabbed to Death in Juticalpa
June 2, 2025
Honduran Radio Host Carlos Gilberto Aguirre Stabbed to Death in Juticalpa
June 02, 2025 - Honduras -  Carlos Gilberto Aguirre, a beloved sports commentator and radio host in Honduras, was found murdered on June 1, 2025, in Juticalpa, Olancho. His death has shocked the local community and drawn widespread condemnation from journalists and human rights organizations. Aguirre, who worked for Radio Oro Estéreo, was initially believed to have been struck by a vehicle after his body was discovered on a road. However, an autopsy later revealed that he had suffered multiple stab wounds, confirming that he was murdered. Authorities have since launched a criminal investigation, but...
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OAN Pentagon Reporter Fired After Public Critique of Defense Secretary
June 2, 2025
OAN Pentagon Reporter Fired After Public Critique of Defense Secretary
June 02, 2025 - USA -  Gabrielle Cuccia, a self‑described “MAGA girl,” was OAN’s Pentagon correspondent until late May 2025. Coca‑coloured openly loyal to former President Trump, she didn’t hide her views—until she crossed an unwritten line. Three days after Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth introduced new restrictions on reporters’ movements in the Pentagon, Cuccia published a Substack post on Memorial Day titled “The Secretary of Defense‑ive.” In it, she slammed Hegseth for micromanaging press access and criticized his team, stating that real leaks came from senior Pentagon officials, not from journalists sneaking into secure spaces. Her exact...
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Ottawa Police Arrest Journalist During CANSEC Protest, Sparking Press Freedom Concerns
June 2, 2025
Ottawa Police Arrest Journalist During CANSEC Protest, Sparking Press Freedom Concerns
June 02, 2025 - Canada - Ottawa police arrested journalist Ramona Murphy while she was covering a protest against the CANSEC arms trade show at the EY Centre. Murphy, a volunteer journalist with The North Star, was filming police actions when she was detained alongside 12 other demonstrators. She was threatened with charges of mischief and resisting arrest but was released eight hours later without any formal charges. The North Star condemned the arrest as an attack on press freedom, emphasizing that Murphy was identifiable as a journalist and was documenting the event from a...
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Ugandan Journalist Agather Atuhaire Recounts Harrowing Ordeal During Detention in Tanzania
June 2, 2025
Ugandan Journalist Agather Atuhaire Recounts Harrowing Ordeal During Detention in Tanzania
June 02, 2025 - Uganda -  Ugandan journalist and human rights activist Agather Atuhaire endured a traumatic experience during her detention by Tanzanian authorities in Dar es Salaam. She had traveled to Tanzania alongside Kenyan activist Boniface Mwangi to attend the treason trial of opposition leader Tundu Lissu. Atuhaire recounted that upon their arrival, both were apprehended by security personnel, blindfolded, and taken to an undisclosed location. During her detention, Atuhaire was stripped down to her underwear, beaten, and subjected to invasive procedures involving unidentified substances being inserted into her body. She described being forced...
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Supreme Court to Hear Journalists’ Plea After Assault by Madhya Pradesh Police Over Sand Mafia Reporting
June 2, 2025
Supreme Court to Hear Journalists’ Plea After Assault by Madhya Pradesh Police Over Sand Mafia Reporting
June 02, 2025 - India -  India’s Supreme Court has agreed to hear a petition filed by two journalists from Madhya Pradesh who allege police officers physically assaulted them after reporting on illegal sand mining in Bhind district. The incident has sparked widespread outrage and drawn attention to the dangers faced by reporters investigating corruption and environmental crime. According to the petition, the two journalists were summoned to a police station in Bhind on May 23, 2024, under the pretense of questioning, but were instead brutally beaten by police officers. The reporters say they were...
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Revealed: Syrian Regime Held Missing American Journalist Austin Tice
June 2, 2025
Revealed: Syrian Regime Held Missing American Journalist Austin Tice
June 02, 2025 - Syria/USA -  Newly uncovered Syrian intelligence documents have confirmed that American journalist Austin Tice was held in government custody after his disappearance near Damascus in 2012, despite years of denial from the Assad regime. The revelations come from a BBC investigation that examined top-secret files, now verified by multiple sources, including law enforcement. Austin Tice, a former U.S. Marine turned freelance journalist, vanished while reporting in Syria at the height of the civil war. Until now, his fate had remained a mystery. The documents detail that he was captured by the...
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Elif Akgül Released After 101 Days in Turkish Prison
June 2, 2025
Elif Akgül Released After 101 Days in Turkish Prison
June 02, 2025 - Turkey - Turkish journalist Elif Akgül has been released after spending 101 days in pretrial detention at Bakırköy Women's Closed Prison. Her release follows a court decision prompted by an appeal from the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA). Akgül was arrested on February 18, 2025, during a coordinated operation targeting the People’s Democratic Congress (HDK), a civil platform associated with pro-Kurdish and leftist movements. She was formally imprisoned on February 21 on allegations of “strong suspicion of committing a crime” due to her purported links with the HDK. Press freedom...
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Calls Grow for Release of Detained Palestinian Journalist Ali al-Samoudi
June 2, 2025
Calls Grow for Release of Detained Palestinian Journalist Ali al-Samoudi
June 02, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Ali al-Samoudi has been held in Israeli administrative detention since April 29, 2025, prompting urgent calls from local and international press freedom organizations for his immediate release. Al-Samoudi, 58, was arrested during a pre-dawn raid on his home in Jenin by Israeli forces. He has not been formally charged and is currently being held under a six-month administrative detention order—a controversial measure that allows imprisonment without trial or due process. Al-Samoudi is a longtime correspondent for Al-Quds newspaper and a well-known figure in Palestinian media. His arrest...
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Azerbaijani Journalist Faces 12-Year Sentence for Economic Reporting
June 2, 2025
Azerbaijani Journalist Faces 12-Year Sentence for Economic Reporting
June 02, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Farid Mehralizada, an Azerbaijani economist and journalist working with Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), is on trial facing a possible 12-year prison sentence. His case has sparked international concern, with press freedom advocates condemning it as part of a wider clampdown on dissent in Azerbaijan. Mehralizada was arrested in May 2024 under troubling circumstances—detained by unidentified men who reportedly covered his head with a bag and took him to a police facility in Baku. He was later charged with smuggling foreign currency, tax evasion, and document forgery. However, many...
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Palestinian Journalists Urge Action Over Detained Reporter’s Deteriorating Health
June 1, 2025
Palestinian Journalists Urge Action Over Detained Reporter’s Deteriorating Health
June 01, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate issued an urgent appeal to international institutions to intervene on behalf of detained journalist Ali Sammoudi, whose health is reportedly deteriorating due to medical neglect in Israeli custody. The syndicate holds Israeli authorities fully responsible for his well-being. Sammoudi, 58, was arrested on April 29 at his home in Jenin. Following his detention, he was allegedly subjected to abuse and transferred through multiple facilities, including an Israeli military outpost in Jenin, Al-Jalama detention center, and finally Megiddo prison. On May 8, Israeli authorities issued a...
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BBC Bans Gaza Journalist Over Antisemitic Social Media Posts
June 1, 2025
BBC Bans Gaza Journalist Over Antisemitic Social Media Posts
June 01, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The BBC has banned Gaza-based freelance journalist Ahmed Alagha from contributing to its Arabic service following revelations of his antisemitic social media posts. Alagha, who had been reporting for BBC Arabic since early 2023, described Jews as "devils" and claimed Israelis were "not human beings," according to reports by The Telegraph and JNS. He also praised a terrorist attack near a Jerusalem synagogue on Holocaust Memorial Day in January 2023, referring to the assailant as a "martyr" who "stole my heart." Despite these posts, BBC Arabic continued to feature...
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Sheltering the Truth: Global Push to Provide Refuge for Journalists at Risk
June 1, 2025
Sheltering the Truth: Global Push to Provide Refuge for Journalists at Risk
June 01, 2025 - General -  As threats to press freedom escalate around the world, the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) and its partners are working to ensure journalists have a safe place to go when their lives are in danger. Recognizing the urgent need for protection, MFC member states have launched several programs aimed at providing emergency refuge and long-term support for media professionals facing persecution. This initiative follows a 2020 report by the High-Level Panel of Legal Experts on Media Freedom, which recommended establishing emergency visas and flexible relocation frameworks for at-risk journalists. Countries...
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Russia Accused of Targeting Hotels Housing Journalists in Ukraine
June 1, 2025
Russia Accused of Targeting Hotels Housing Journalists in Ukraine
May 28, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  A joint investigation by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Ukrainian watchdog Truth Hounds reveals that since the onset of Russia's full-scale invasion in February 2022, at least 25 hotels near Ukraine’s front lines have been struck by Russian forces. These hotels, known to accommodate journalists, have been targeted in what appears to be a deliberate strategy to suppress independent war reporting. The report documents 31 attacks resulting in injuries to at least 24 journalists and the death of one. Notably, Ryan Evans, a British security advisor for Reuters, was...
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Somali Journalists Face Escalating Threats Amid Government Crackdown
June 1, 2025
Somali Journalists Face Escalating Threats Amid Government Crackdown
June 01, 2025 - Somalia -  In a concerning escalation of press freedom violations, Somali authorities have intensified their crackdown on journalists, with recent incidents highlighting the growing risks faced by media professionals in the country. On May 30, 2025, EU-trained police officers raided the offices of Radio Wanlaweyn FM in Wanla-Weyn town, Lower Shabelle region, arresting its director and founder, Ismail Khalif Ahmed. The arrest followed the station's publication of a report alleging that local authorities were coercing residents into making payments under the guise of funding a hospital construction project. Ahmed reported being...
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Becerra Urges Journalists to ‘Speak Truth to Power’ at Health Journalism 2025
June 1, 2025
Becerra Urges Journalists to ‘Speak Truth to Power’ at Health Journalism 2025
June 01, 2025 - General - At the Health Journalism 2025 conference in Los Angeles, former U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Xavier Becerra delivered a compelling message to journalists: "Speak truth to power." Drawing from his tenure during the Biden administration, Becerra emphasized the critical role of the press in combating misinformation and disinformation, particularly when such falsehoods emanate from governmental sources. Becerra highlighted several health policy achievements during his time at HHS, including a nearly 27% reduction in drug overdoses in 2024, the implementation of the 988 mental health hotline, and the expansion...
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Ukraine Strikes Deep into Russia with Massive Drone Assault on Airbases
June 1, 2025
Ukraine Strikes Deep into Russia with Massive Drone Assault on Airbases
June 01, 2025 - Ukraine/Russia -  In a major escalation of its military capabilities, Ukraine launched “Operation Spider’s Web” on June 1, 2025, targeting five Russian airbases deep within Russian territory. The bold drone operation, orchestrated by Ukraine’s Security Service (SBU), destroyed or damaged at least 40 Russian aircraft, including several strategic bombers critical to Moscow’s long-range strike arsenal. The strike involved 117 long-range drones, covertly assembled and launched from within Russian borders. These drones hit key airbases at Belaya, Dyagilevo, Olenya, Ivanovo Severny, and Ukrainka, spanning five separate Russian regions and time zones. One...
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May: A Deadly Month for Journalists in Gaza
May 31, 2025
May: A Deadly Month for Journalists in Gaza
May 31, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  May 2025 has emerged as one of the darkest months for journalists in Gaza since the war began in October 2023. At least seven media workers were killed in a single month, adding to the grim toll of 221 journalists who have lost their lives in the conflict, according to the Palestinian Journalists Protection Center (PJPC). The deaths were not isolated incidents. Each case paints a chilling picture of journalists caught in, or directly targeted by, military strikes. Moataz Rajab, a correspondent for Al-Quds Al-Youm, was killed on May...
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Palestinian Journalist Moataz Rajab Killed in Gaza Airstrike
May 30, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Moataz Rajab Killed in Gaza Airstrike
May 30, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Moataz Mohammed Rajab was killed on May 28, 2025, during an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City, bringing the total number of media workers killed since the war began in October 2023 to at least 221. Rajab, a cameraman and video editor for Al-Quds Today TV, died when an Israeli missile struck the civilian car he was traveling in on An-Nafaq Street. Four others were also killed in the same attack. Rajab was on his way to report on the aftermath of previous bombings when his vehicle was...
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Ethiopian Journalist Ahmed Awga Sentenced to Two Years in Prison
May 30, 2025
Ethiopian Journalist Ahmed Awga Sentenced to Two Years in Prison
May 30, 2025 - Ethiopia - The Fafen Zone High Court in Jigjiga, Ethiopia, sentenced journalist Ahmed Awga, founder of Jigjiga Television Network (JTN), to two years in prison on charges of disseminating hateful information. The conviction stems from a Facebook post that Awga did not author but was tagged in, raising significant concerns about press freedom in the country. Awga, whose legal name is Ahmed Abdi Omar, was arrested on April 23 following an interview he conducted with a man alleging that his 16-year-old son died after a police beating. Initially charged with incitement,...
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UK Court Rules Police Raid on Journalist Asa Winstanley Was Unlawful
May 30, 2025
UK Court Rules Police Raid on Journalist Asa Winstanley Was Unlawful
May 30, 2025 - UK -  A British court has declared a Metropolitan Police raid on journalist Asa Winstanley's home unlawful, in a decision being hailed as a major victory for press freedom. Winstanley, known for his investigative work with The Electronic Intifada and his newsletter “Palestine is Still the Issue,” had his North London residence searched in October 2024 under counter-terrorism powers. During the early morning raid, officers seized multiple electronic devices, including his phone and laptop. The investigation stemmed from Winstanley’s social media posts related to Palestine, with police citing suspicions of offenses...
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Kurdish Journalists Face Threats and Legal Harassment from Iranian Authorities
May 30, 2025
Kurdish Journalists Face Threats and Legal Harassment from Iranian Authorities
May 30, 2025 - Kurdish/Iraq -  In a report dated May 30, 2025, the Hengaw Organization for Human Rights detailed escalating threats and judicial harassment against Kurdish journalists Keyhan Mohammadi-Nejad and Sina Ghasemizadeh. Both journalists, originally from Urmia and currently based in Erbil, Iraq, have been targeted by Iranian security agencies, notably the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC), for their human rights advocacy and reporting. The IRGC has intensified efforts to silence these journalists by summoning, interrogating, and verbally abusing their relatives in Iran. This tactic aims to pressure Mohammadi-Nejad and Ghasemizadeh into ceasing their...
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Gaza’s Journalists Struggle to Report Under Bombardment and Starvation
May 29, 2025
Gaza’s Journalists Struggle to Report Under Bombardment and Starvation
May 29, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Journalists in Gaza are enduring severe hardships as they try to cover the ongoing conflict amid deadly airstrikes, infrastructure collapse, and extreme deprivation. The dual pressures of physical danger and starvation have created near-impossible conditions for reporting, pushing local journalists to their limits. One of the most pressing threats is direct targeting. On April 7, 2025, Israeli airstrikes hit a tent sheltering journalists near the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, killing at least two and wounding others. This was not an isolated incident. Multiple press crews have faced...
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Egyptian Journalist Rasha Qandeel Charged with Spreading ‘False News’
May 29, 2025
Egyptian Journalist Rasha Qandeel Charged with Spreading ‘False News’
May 29, 2025 - Egypt -  Egyptian journalist Rasha Qandeel was summoned by the Supreme State Security Prosecution (SSSP) in Cairo, where she underwent an eight-hour interrogation. Following the session, she was charged with "spreading and broadcasting false news inside and outside the country" and released on bail of 50,000 Egyptian pounds (approximately $1,000). The charges against Qandeel stem from her investigative reports and social media posts addressing Egypt's political and economic landscape. Notably, her articles titled "The History of Borrowing and Loans from Western Countries" and "The Sovereign Wealth Fund 2: Egypt Between Military...
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Bulgarian Journalists Face Challenges Covering Gaza Due to Israeli Restrictions
May 29, 2025
Bulgarian Journalists Face Challenges Covering Gaza Due to Israeli Restrictions
May 29, 2025 - Bulgaria - Bulgarian journalists are encountering significant obstacles in reporting from Gaza amid the ongoing conflict, primarily due to stringent restrictions imposed by Israeli authorities. These limitations have raised concerns about press freedom and the ability to provide comprehensive coverage of the situation on the ground. In recent weeks, major Bulgarian media outlets have published reports based on a journalistic trip to Israel, organized by the Israeli Foreign Ministry. While these reports offer insights into the Israeli perspective, the lack of access to Gaza has hindered balanced reporting. The Association of...
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The Kyiv Independent’s Investigative Work Recognized with Ukrainian Journalism Award
May 29, 2025
The Kyiv Independent’s Investigative Work Recognized with Ukrainian Journalism Award
May 29, 2025 - Ukraine -  The Kyiv Independent has been honored with the 2025 Ukrainian journalism award, "Honor of the Profession," for its investigative documentary, "He Came Back." The film, produced by the outlet's War Crimes Investigations Unit, delves into the issue of sexual violence committed by Russian soldiers in occupied Ukrainian territories. The documentary identifies specific perpetrators and highlights the systemic nature of these crimes. Following the film's release, one of the identified soldiers was formally charged by Ukrainian authorities, marking a significant step toward accountability. Journalist Olesia Bida, who led the investigation,...
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Former LA Times Reporter Sues Over Retaliation by LA County Sheriff’s Department
May 28, 2025
Former LA Times Reporter Sues Over Retaliation by LA County Sheriff’s Department
May 28, 2025 - USA -  Maya Lau, a former investigative reporter for the Los Angeles Times, has filed a federal lawsuit against Los Angeles County and its Sheriff’s Department, accusing them of unlawfully retaliating against her for reporting on alleged corruption within the department. The lawsuit, filed in early 2025, centers on Lau’s 2020 article that exposed misconduct among deputies in a controversial “Banditos” clique operating out of the East Los Angeles station. According to Lau, her reporting, which brought national attention to a culture of impunity, violence, and secrecy within the sheriff’s department,...
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Widespread Outcry in Georgia as Journalists Demand Release of Mzia Amaghlobeli
May 28, 2025
Widespread Outcry in Georgia as Journalists Demand Release of Mzia Amaghlobeli
May 28, 2025 - Georgia -  Over 300 journalists in Georgia have united in protest, demanding the immediate release of their colleague Mzia Amaghlobeli, a respected media figure detained under controversial circumstances. Amaghlobeli, editor-in-chief of the independent outlet Publika, was arrested in January 2025 after covering a peaceful protest in Tbilisi. Her detention has sparked widespread criticism from both domestic and international media organizations, who view the move as part of a growing trend of media repression in the country. According to reports, Amaghlobeli was charged with disobeying police orders during the protest. However, eyewitness...
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Support for Palestinian Journalists Expands as Niger Cracks Down on Press Freedom
May 28, 2025
Support for Palestinian Journalists Expands as Niger Cracks Down on Press Freedom
May 28, 2025 - Niger -  In a significant move to bolster public interest journalism, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has launched a new grant program aimed at supporting Palestinian media workers. The initiative offers direct financial aid to journalists and media outlets operating in the West Bank, Gaza, and East Jerusalem, where the press faces immense challenges due to occupation, economic instability, and violence. The grants are part of a broader push to safeguard independent journalism, encourage investigative reporting, and ensure that Palestinian voices continue to be heard despite the pressures of conflict...
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Sudanese Blogger Detained Over Reporting on Corruption Allegations
May 28, 2025
Sudanese Blogger Detained Over Reporting on Corruption Allegations
May 28, 2025 - Sudan -  Sudanese blogger and political commentator Abduljalil Mohamed Abduljalil was recently arrested by Sudanese authorities after publishing content related to corruption in government institutions. The arrest has sparked concern from press freedom advocates and human rights organizations, who say the move is part of a broader campaign to silence independent voices and limit public discourse during a time of national turmoil. Abduljalil was taken into custody in May 2025, shortly after sharing posts on social media that accused high-ranking officials of embezzlement and misconduct. His work, which focuses on exposing...
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Pakistan Urged to Halt Deportations of Afghan Journalists Amid Safety Concerns
May 28, 2025
Pakistan Urged to Halt Deportations of Afghan Journalists Amid Safety Concerns
May 28, 2025 - Pakistan - A coalition of 15 international organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), PEN International, and Reporters Without Borders, has called on Pakistan to immediately suspend the deportation of Afghan journalists and other at-risk individuals. The joint statement, issued on May 28, 2025, expresses grave concern over Pakistan's "Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan," announced in October 2023, which has led to the forced return of tens of thousands of Afghans in recent months. The organizations warn that deported individuals, particularly journalists, writers, artists, and human rights defenders, face a high...
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Odisha Journalist Brutally Assaulted While Investigating Corruption
May 28, 2025
Odisha Journalist Brutally Assaulted While Investigating Corruption
May 28, 2025 - India - Journalist Bijaya Kumar Pradhan was violently attacked in Kulthipali village, Balangir district, Odisha, while reporting on alleged corruption in a government-funded construction project. The project involved a ₹10 lakh retaining wall along a village road, overseen by contractor Gajendra Dalei. Pradhan, accompanied by his nephew, was documenting the site when Dalei objected to the filming and allegedly instigated the assault. Pradhan was tied up, beaten, and paraded through the village before being taken to a temple, where he was threatened not to report the incident. His equipment, including mobile...
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RSF Pushes for Gazan Journalists’ Role in ICC War Crimes Case
May 28, 2025
RSF Pushes for Gazan Journalists’ Role in ICC War Crimes Case
May 28, 2025 - General -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has formally requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow Palestinian journalists affected by the war in Gaza to participate in its war crimes investigation. RSF argues that these journalists, who have suffered devastating personal losses and attacks in the line of duty, should be recognized as victims and allowed to share their testimonies during the proceedings. The move is part of RSF’s ongoing efforts to seek justice for journalists targeted during the Israel-Gaza conflict. The organization submitted two victim participation requests to the ICC...
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Journalists Share Harrowing Experiences of Reporting from War Zones
May 27, 2025
Journalists Share Harrowing Experiences of Reporting from War Zones
May 27, 2025 - General -  In a recent feature by The Guardian, journalists from various conflict zones have shared their accounts of the immense challenges and dangers they face while reporting from war-torn regions. Their stories shed light on the physical threats, psychological trauma, and unwavering commitment to truth that define their profession. Stephen, a journalist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been covering conflicts in North Kivu for years. His work has made him a target for M23 rebels, forcing him to conceal his identity and cease public reporting to protect...
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DRC Journalist Shot by Police While Covering Protest in Haut-Uélé
May 27, 2025
DRC Journalist Shot by Police While Covering Protest in Haut-Uélé
May 27, 2025 - Congo -  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that journalist Samy Kambere Malikidogo was shot by a police officer while covering a public demonstration against crime and violence in Durba, a town in the northeastern province of Haut-Uélé, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The incident occurred as Malikidogo was documenting the protest, highlighting the risks faced by journalists in the region. CPJ has called on DRC authorities to swiftly, thoroughly, and transparently investigate the shooting and hold the responsible officer accountable. Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, emphasized the...
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Beijing Targets U.S.-Based Journalist’s Circle in Global Crackdown on Dissent
May 27, 2025
Beijing Targets U.S.-Based Journalist’s Circle in Global Crackdown on Dissent
May 27, 2025 - China - A recent investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has uncovered that the Chinese government targeted individuals connected to Shohret Hoshur, a U.S.-based journalist for Radio Free Asia (RFA), as part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent among the Uyghur diaspora. Leaked documents from the Tekes County Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang listed 42 individuals labeled as “sensitive and special” due to their association with Hoshur. These individuals, including an author who had been “dealt with by the public security authorities on political suspicion,” were subjected...
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Israeli Forces Injure Two Children and Two Journalists in West Bank Raids
May 27, 2025
Israeli Forces Injure Two Children and Two Journalists in West Bank Raids
May 27, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On May 27, 2025, Israeli forces injured two Palestinian children and two journalists during military operations in the occupied West Bank, specifically in the cities of Qalqilia, Jenin, and Bethlehem. In Qalqilia, soldiers fired rubber-coated steel bullets during a morning raid, injuring a child in the leg. The child was transported to Darwish Nazzal Government Hospital for treatment. Additionally, Israeli forces stormed the Qalqilia Municipality building and nearby commercial shops, detaining several individuals, including Louay Fathi Al-Ashqar, Alaa Ayad Daoud, Muhammad Yasser Amer, and Anhar Muhammad Abdul Jawad. In...
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Azerbaijani Journalist Ulviyya Ali Imprisoned Amid Crackdown on Press Freedom
May 27, 2025
Azerbaijani Journalist Ulviyya Ali Imprisoned Amid Crackdown on Press Freedom
May 27, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Ulviyya Ali (also known as Ulviyya Guliyeva) is an Azerbaijani journalist and human rights activist who was arrested on May 7, 2025, in connection with the "Meydan TV case." She was charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, which pertains to smuggling committed by a group of persons acting in concert. Ali has denied any affiliation with Meydan TV and asserts that her detention is solely due to her journalistic activities. Before her arrest, Ali had been reporting on human rights issues for Voice of America (VOA)...
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Violent Assault on Journalists at Dhaka Reporters Unity Sparks Outrage
May 26, 2025
Violent Assault on Journalists at Dhaka Reporters Unity Sparks Outrage
May 26, 2025 - Bangladesh -  A Dhaka court has denied bail to Zakir Hossain, the main accused in a shocking attack on journalists at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) premises in Segunbagicha on May 21, 2025. The court, however, granted bail to his wife, Beauty Khatun, who is also implicated in the case. The couple was arrested on May 24 and brought before the court the following day, following a swift police investigation that identified them as central figures in the violence. The attack, which unfolded in broad daylight, involved around 50 individuals armed...
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Former Somali President Condemns Government for Cracking Down on Press
May 25, 2025
Former Somali President Condemns Government for Cracking Down on Press
May 25, 2025 - Somalia -  Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has strongly criticized the Somali government for its recent arrests of journalists in Mogadishu, calling it a direct attack on press freedom and democratic principles. His comments come in response to the detention of multiple journalists following their coverage of political unrest and anti-government sentiments. Speaking out on May 24, 2025, the former president labeled the government’s actions as a “blatant violation” of journalists' rights and the country’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression. He warned that the escalating crackdown on media professionals...
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Baloch Journalist Abdul Latif Killed Amid Crackdown on Press in Pakistan
May 25, 2025
Baloch Journalist Abdul Latif Killed Amid Crackdown on Press in Pakistan
May 25, 2025 - Pakistan -  Abdul Latif, a Baloch journalist known for his coverage of human rights issues in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, was shot dead on May 23, 2025, in the town of Turbat. The attack, which occurred in front of his family, has been widely condemned as a targeted killing, further exposing the dangers journalists face in the region. Latif, who worked with local media outlets and contributed to several human rights advocacy platforms, was reportedly ambushed by armed assailants while returning home. Witnesses say he was gunned down at close range...
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Journalist Hassan Abu Warda Killed in Israeli Strike Amid Ongoing Gaza Conflict
May 25, 2025
Journalist Hassan Abu Warda Killed in Israeli Strike Amid Ongoing Gaza Conflict
May 25, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Hassan Abu Warda was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza, marking another grim milestone in the mounting toll on media workers amid the ongoing war. Abu Warda, who worked as a freelance photojournalist, lost his life on May 19, 2025, in the northern Gaza Strip while covering the effects of the Israeli military campaign. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, Abu Warda was killed during a targeted airstrike in Jabalia, a densely populated refugee camp that has faced repeated bombardments. His death was reported...
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Global Advocacy Intensifies for Press and Medical Freedom in Gaza
May 25, 2025
Global Advocacy Intensifies for Press and Medical Freedom in Gaza
May 25, 2025 - Palestine -  As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, international media and human rights organizations are amplifying calls for unrestricted access and protection for journalists and medical personnel operating in the region. On May 29, 2025, the Arab Center, Washington, DC, in collaboration with Brave New Films and the National Writers Union, will host the national premiere of Gaza: Journalists Under Fire. This documentary highlights the stories of journalists Bilal Jadallah, Heba Al-Abadlah, and Ismail Al-Ghoul, who were killed while covering the conflict in Gaza. The film underscores the deliberate targeting...
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Palestinian National Council Urges Protection for Journalists Amid Ongoing Israeli Attacks
May 25, 2025
Palestinian National Council Urges Protection for Journalists Amid Ongoing Israeli Attacks
May 25, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - The Palestinian National Council (PNC), the highest decision-making body of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has issued a fervent appeal for the protection of journalists in the face of escalating Israeli attacks in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. This call comes as the toll on media professionals continues to rise, with at least 211 Palestinian journalists reported killed since October 2023. In a statement released ahead of Arab Media Day, the PNC condemned the deliberate targeting of journalists, asserting that such assaults aim to silence the Palestinian narrative....
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Afghan Women Launch “Journalism Is Not a Crime” Campaign Amid Rising Media Repression
May 25, 2025
Afghan Women Launch “Journalism Is Not a Crime” Campaign Amid Rising Media Repression
May 25, 2025 - Afghanistan -  Amid a deepening crackdown on press freedom in Afghanistan, a group of women’s rights activists has launched the “Journalism Is Not a Crime” campaign. Led by the Afghanistan Women’s Protest Movements Coalition, the initiative calls for the immediate release of detained journalists and urges international attention to the Taliban’s escalating repression of the media. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, journalists across Afghanistan have faced widespread intimidation, detention, and violence. A recent United Nations report highlights 336 cases of harassment against media professionals, including 256 arbitrary...
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Iranian-American Journalist Reza Valizadeh Detained in Iran for Refusing Intelligence Cooperation
May 23, 2025
Iranian-American Journalist Reza Valizadeh Detained in Iran for Refusing Intelligence Cooperation
May 23, 2025 - Iran -  Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist and former employee of Voice of America and Radio Farda, has been detained in Tehran's Evin Prison. Authorities arrested him in September 2024, and he has since been held without access to legal representation. Valizadeh claims that his detention stems from his refusal to collaborate with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence unit. He alleges that the IRGC offered him financial incentives to lure Iranian journalists abroad back to Iran under the guise of contractual work, which he declined. Subsequently, they proposed that...
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Mexican Journalist José Carlos González Herrera, Known as ‘El Guerrero Fénix,’ Shot Dead in Acapulco
May 23, 2025
Mexican Journalist José Carlos González Herrera, Known as ‘El Guerrero Fénix,’ Shot Dead in Acapulco
May 23, 2025 - Mexico - José Carlos González Herrera, a prominent Mexican journalist and social media influencer known as "El Guerrero Fénix," was fatally shot on May 15, 2025, in downtown Acapulco, Guerrero. He was the administrator of the Facebook page El Guerrero, Opinión Ciudadana, which had over 140,000 followers and was recognized for its citizen journalism, political satire, and public accountability reporting. The attack occurred shortly after González Herrera had conducted a live broadcast, underscoring the risks faced by journalists in the region. This incident marks the fourth journalist killed in Mexico in...
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Samoan Journalist Faces Criminal Libel Charge, Sparking Press Freedom Concerns
May 23, 2025
Samoan Journalist Faces Criminal Libel Charge, Sparking Press Freedom Concerns
May 23, 2025 - Samoa -  Lagi Keresoma, a veteran journalist and president of the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS), has been charged with criminal libel under Section 117A of Samoa’s Crimes Act 2013. The charge stems from a May 1 article published by Talamua Media, alleging that a former police officer sought assistance from the Head of State to have charges against him withdrawn. The former officer, currently facing two forgery charges, filed a complaint claiming the article was defamatory. The case has ignited widespread criticism from local and international media organizations. JAWS expressed...
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Vika: The Journalist Who Exposed Russian “Black Sites” and Became a Victim
May 22, 2025
Vika: The Journalist Who Exposed Russian “Black Sites” and Became a Victim
May 22, 2025 - Ukraine/Russia -  Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, known as Vika, dedicated her career to uncovering Russia’s covert detention facilities, often referred to as “black sites,” where civilians were subjected to torture and abuse. In August 2023, while investigating these sites in Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia, she was detained by Russian forces. Her subsequent disappearance and death in captivity have drawn international attention to the plight of journalists and civilians under Russian occupation. In the latest episode of Today in Focus, The Guardian’s investigative team delves into Roshchyna’s final assignment. The podcast, titled “Vika: The...
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Global Outcry Over Detention of Cambodian Environmental Journalist Ouk Mao
May 22, 2025
Global Outcry Over Detention of Cambodian Environmental Journalist Ouk Mao
May 22, 2025 - Cambodia -  Environmental journalist Ouk Mao was arrested without a warrant by Cambodian authorities on May 16, 2025, sparking widespread condemnation from international press freedom and human rights groups. Mao, who reports for Intriplus News, has been a vocal critic of illegal logging and environmental destruction in Cambodia’s protected areas, especially around the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. He now faces charges of “incitement to commit a felony” and “public defamation,” offenses that could result in several years of imprisonment. His arrest follows a pattern of ongoing harassment. In March 2025, Mao...
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Hong Kong’s Independent Media Face Intensified Pressure Through Tax Audits
May 22, 2025
Hong Kong’s Independent Media Face Intensified Pressure Through Tax Audits
May 22, 2025 - Hong Kong -  In May 2025, Hong Kong's independent media sector encountered heightened scrutiny as the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) initiated a series of tax audits targeting at least six media outlets and approximately 20 journalists, including their family members. The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) described these audits as "unreasonable" and "strange," citing instances where individuals were taxed for non-existent companies or periods predating a company's establishment. Prominent outlets such as Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP), InMedia HK, and The Witness reported being subjected to extensive multi-year audits. HKFP's founder,...
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Trump Erupts at NBC Reporter Over Qatari Jet Question During Oval Office Meeting
May 22, 2025
Trump Erupts at NBC Reporter Over Qatari Jet Question During Oval Office Meeting
May 22, 2025 - USA/Qatar -  On May 21, 2025, President Donald Trump had a heated exchange with NBC News reporter Peter Alexander during an Oval Office press event with South African President Cyril Ramaphosa. The confrontation arose when Alexander questioned Trump about the Pentagon's acceptance of a $400 million Qatari Boeing 747 jet, intended as a temporary replacement for the aging Air Force One fleet. Trump dismissed the question as irrelevant, emphasizing the generosity of Qatar’s gift and accusing Alexander and NBC of trying to deflect attention from a video presented moments earlier that...
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Kosovo’s Women Journalists Confront Harassment, Inequality, and Violence
May 22, 2025
Kosovo’s Women Journalists Confront Harassment, Inequality, and Violence
May 22, 2025 - Kosovo -  Women journalists in Kosovo face escalating harassment, threats, and discrimination despite their growing presence in newsrooms. Although women make up the majority of journalists in the country, they often endure verbal abuse, gender-based attacks, and are denied equal treatment and opportunities in the media industry. Online and offline harassment is common. Investigative reporter Qendresa Tershani has received threats and degrading comments for covering topics like femicide. Such abuse frequently targets women’s appearance and private lives, creating a toxic work environment that affects their mental health and professional credibility. The...
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Al Jazeera’s Wael al-Dahdouh to Deliver Keynote at 2025 Amnesty Media Awards
May 21, 2025
Al Jazeera’s Wael al-Dahdouh to Deliver Keynote at 2025 Amnesty Media Awards
May 21, 2025 - General -  Wael al-Dahdouh, the Gaza bureau chief for Al Jazeera, has been announced as the keynote speaker for the 2025 Amnesty Media Awards ceremony, scheduled to take place on June 4, 2025, at the BFI Southbank in London. The event celebrates exemplary journalism that highlights human rights issues worldwide. Al-Dahdouh’s selection for this important role highlights his outstanding courage and dedication to press freedom, especially in the face of devastating personal loss. During the 2023–2024 conflict in Gaza, an Israeli airstrike tragically claimed the lives of his wife, children, and...
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Central African Republic Journalist Landry Ulrich Nguéma Ngokpélé Detained Amid Press Freedom Concerns
May 21, 2025
Central African Republic Journalist Landry Ulrich Nguéma Ngokpélé Detained Amid Press Freedom Concerns
May 21, 2025 - Central Africa -  Landry Ulrich Nguéma Ngokpélé, the editor of Le Quotidien de Bangui, has been detained since May 8, 2025, under charges including “inciting hatred against the government” and “disseminating information tending to cause public disorder.” These charges stem from a report published on April 22, 2025, concerning the alleged return of former President François Bozizé to the capital, Bangui. The journalist is currently held in pre-trial detention at the Ngaragba prison in Bangui, facing potential penalties under the penal code that could result in up to 15 years in...
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Russia Targets Exiled Journalist Galina Timchenko in Ongoing Crackdown on Dissent
May 21, 2025
Russia Targets Exiled Journalist Galina Timchenko in Ongoing Crackdown on Dissent
May 21, 2025 - Russia -  Russian authorities have opened a criminal case against Galina Timchenko, co-founder and CEO of the independent Latvia-based news outlet Meduza, accusing her of involvement with an “undesirable organization” and publishing content designed to provoke protest. The charges, announced on May 20, 2025, are part of an ongoing campaign by the Kremlin to suppress dissent and silence voices critical of the war in Ukraine. Timchenko has lived in exile since 2014, when she launched Meduza after being dismissed from her post at a Russian media outlet under government pressure. In...
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Tommy Robinson Charged with Harassing Journalists Amid Early Prison Release
May 21, 2025
Tommy Robinson Charged with Harassing Journalists Amid Early Prison Release
May 21, 2025 - UK -  Stephen Yaxley-Lennon, widely known as Tommy Robinson, has been charged with two counts of harassment causing fear of violence against two male journalists. The alleged incidents occurred between August 5 and 7, 2024, during a period of nationwide unrest following the murder of three young girls in Southport, northwest England. Robinson is scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates' Court on June 5, 2025. These charges come shortly after a High Court decision to reduce Robinson's 18-month prison sentence for contempt of court by four months, making him eligible for...
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Sudanese Photojournalist Al-Shykh Al-Samany Saadaldyn Killed in Drone Strike
May 20, 2025
Sudanese Photojournalist Al-Shykh Al-Samany Saadaldyn Killed in Drone Strike
May 20, 2025 - Sudan -  On May 18, 2025, Sudanese freelance photojournalist Al-Shykh Al-Samany Saadaldyn Mousa Abdulla, known professionally as "Sheikho," was killed in a drone strike while covering a pro-Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) event organized by the Sudan Shield Forces in the Al-Butna area of central eastern Sudan. The attack, suspected to have been carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), also resulted in the deaths of at least seven SAF soldiers and injuries to 14 others. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called for an immediate and thorough investigation...
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Turkish Journalist İsmail Arı Faces Death Threats After Reporting on Corruption
May 19, 2025
Turkish Journalist İsmail Arı Faces Death Threats After Reporting on Corruption
May 19, 2025 - Turkey - Turkish journalist İsmail Arı, a reporter for the independent outlet BirGün, has been subjected to death threats following his investigative reporting on alleged bribery and corruption involving a public official. His exposé, which scrutinized questionable financial dealings and political connections, sparked backlash that quickly escalated into serious security concerns for both Arı and his family. Shortly after the article was published, Arı began receiving threatening messages warning him to stop his reporting. One chilling message referenced his home address and suggested that Ankara, the capital where he resides, is...
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Veteran Journalist Dharmendra Singh Chauhan Shot Dead in Haryana
May 19, 2025
Veteran Journalist Dharmendra Singh Chauhan Shot Dead in Haryana
May 19, 2025 - India -  Dharmendra Singh Chauhan, a seasoned journalist based in Haryana, was shot dead outside his home in Luhari village, Jhajjar district, on the night of May 18, 2025. The incident has sparked widespread condemnation from journalist unions and press freedom advocates, who are demanding swift justice and increased protections for reporters. According to reports, Chauhan, associated with the regional outlet Fast News India, was taking a routine walk near his home after dinner when unidentified assailants attacked him. Witnesses said they heard multiple gunshots before finding Chauhan critically injured on...
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Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Condemns Targeted Killings of Media Workers
May 19, 2025
Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Condemns Targeted Killings of Media Workers
May 19, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - On December 26, 2024, the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) strongly condemned the Israeli military's killing of five journalists in Gaza, labeling the act a deliberate war crime. The journalists were killed when an Israeli airstrike targeted a broadcast vehicle near Al-Awda Hospital in Al-Nuseirat camp, central Gaza Strip. This incident is part of a broader pattern of violence against Palestinian media workers. Since the onset of the Israeli military campaign in Gaza on October 7, 2023, over 210 journalists have been killed, with many more injured or displaced. The...
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Israeli Army Detains American Journalist Documenting Settler March in Hebron
May 18, 2025
Israeli Army Detains American Journalist Documenting Settler March in Hebron
May 18, 2025 - Palestine/Israel/USA -  On May 17, 2025, American journalist Eric Maddox was detained by the Israeli army while documenting a march organized by illegal Israeli settlers in the Old City of Hebron, located in the southern West Bank. Maddox, an activist and podcaster from California, was filming what was described as a "provocative march" when he was assaulted by settlers and subsequently arrested by Israeli soldiers. Footage shared on social media platforms, including the Quds News Network, shows Maddox surrounded by Israeli soldiers who handcuffed and detained him. Issa Amro, founder of...
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Crimean Journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva Faces Continued Harassment by Russian Authorities
May 18, 2025
Crimean Journalist Lutfiye Zudiyeva Faces Continued Harassment by Russian Authorities
May 18, 2025 - Crimea/Russia -  Lutfiye Zudiyeva, a Crimean Tatar journalist and human rights defender, continues to face sustained harassment and intimidation from Russian authorities in occupied Crimea due to her reporting and activism. Zudiyeva is a key member of the Crimean Solidarity movement and a contributor to the Ukrainian outlet Graty. Her work focuses on documenting politically motivated prosecutions and systemic abuses, especially those targeting the Crimean Tatar population following Russia’s 2014 annexation of the peninsula. On February 22, 2024, Zudiyeva’s home in Dzhankoy was raided by officers from Russia’s Center for Combating...
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Three More Journalists Killed in Gaza as Media Death Toll Reaches 220
May 18, 2025
Three More Journalists Killed in Gaza as Media Death Toll Reaches 220
May 18, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - The ongoing Israeli military offensive in Gaza has claimed the lives of five more Palestinian journalists, pushing the total number of media professionals killed in the Strip since October 7, 2023, to 222. These latest casualties highlight the increasingly perilous conditions for journalists attempting to report on the ground. Among those killed was photojournalist Aziz al-Hajjar, who died alongside his wife and children after Israeli warplanes targeted their home in the Saftawi neighborhood of northern Gaza. Al-Hajjar’s death marks yet another instance of entire families being wiped out in...
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UK Charges Three Iranian Nationals for Plotting Against Journalists
May 17, 2025
UK Charges Three Iranian Nationals for Plotting Against Journalists
May 17, 2025 - Iran/UK -  British authorities have charged three Iranian nationals with planning acts of violence against journalists affiliated with Iran International, a London-based Persian-language media outlet critical of the Iranian government. The suspects—Mostafa Sepahvand, Farhad Javadi Manesh, and Shapoor Qalehali Khani Noori—were arrested on May 3 and charged under the UK’s National Security Act with assisting a foreign intelligence service and conducting surveillance to support potential attacks. According to prosecutors, the trio gathered intelligence between August 2024 and February 2025 in preparation for a possible attack on individuals associated with Iran International....
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Syria Condemns Disappearance of Journalist in Israeli-Controlled Territory
May 17, 2025
Syria Condemns Disappearance of Journalist in Israeli-Controlled Territory
May 17, 2025 - Syria - Syria has strongly condemned the disappearance of a Syrian journalist reportedly abducted in the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, calling it a serious violation of international law and a direct assault on press freedom. The journalist, who was working near the ceasefire line, went missing earlier this month under unclear circumstances. The Syrian Ministry of Information announced that the journalist had been reporting on Israeli activities in the occupied region when contact with him was abruptly lost. His whereabouts remain unknown, raising fears of enforced disappearance. Damascus has accused Israeli forces...
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Swedish Journalist Released After Imprisonment in Turkey Over Erdoğan Criticism
May 17, 2025
Swedish Journalist Released After Imprisonment in Turkey Over Erdoğan Criticism
May 17, 2025 - Sweden/Turkey -  A Swedish journalist has returned home after being released from a Turkish prison, where he had been held for allegedly insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The arrest raised fresh concerns over press freedom and political repression in Turkey, particularly the use of defamation laws to target foreign and domestic journalists alike. The journalist, known for his reporting on human rights and conflicts in the Middle East, was detained in southeastern Turkey earlier this year while covering politically sensitive topics, including Kurdish issues and government policy. He was accused of...
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Telangana Journalists Arrested Over Derogatory Video Against CM Revanth Reddy
May 17, 2025
Telangana Journalists Arrested Over Derogatory Video Against CM Revanth Reddy
May 17, 2025 - India -  In a significant development in Telangana, two women journalists—Revathi Pogadadanda and Thanvi Yadav—were arrested on March 12, 2025, for allegedly circulating a derogatory video targeting Chief Minister Revanth Reddy. The video, featuring an elderly farmer making offensive remarks about the Chief Minister, was reportedly shared on the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) by Revathi, managing director of Pulse Digital News Network, and amplified by Yadav, a reporter with the same organization. The video went viral, leading to public outcry and subsequent legal action. A complaint was filed by...
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Tunisian Journalist’s Health Deteriorates Amid Hunger Strike in Detention
May 16, 2025
Tunisian Journalist’s Health Deteriorates Amid Hunger Strike in Detention
May 16, 2025 - Tunisia -  Concerns are mounting over the rapidly worsening health of a Tunisian journalist currently on hunger strike in prison. After more than 25 days without food, the journalist’s condition has reportedly reached a critical stage, with recent updates indicating hospitalization due to severe health complications. The journalist, who has been in detention on charges widely seen as politically motivated, began the hunger strike in protest against what rights groups have called unjust imprisonment and the erosion of press freedoms in Tunisia. Alongside other political detainees, the journalist is demanding fair...
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Bosnian Journalists Lead Fight Against Gender-Based Violence
May 16, 2025
Bosnian Journalists Lead Fight Against Gender-Based Violence
May 16, 2025 - Bosnia & Herzegovina -  Journalists in Bosnia and Herzegovina are increasingly being recognized as key allies in the fight against gender-based violence (GBV). With rising public awareness and policy efforts still falling short, media professionals are stepping up to raise their voices, challenge harmful narratives, and advocate for change. Recent initiatives across the country have focused on equipping journalists with the skills and tools needed to report responsibly and effectively on issues related to GBV. These efforts include training programs, community forums, and institutional support that aim to strengthen ethical, trauma-informed...
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Zimbabwe’s Repression of Journalist Blessed Mhlanga
May 16, 2025
Zimbabwe’s Repression of Journalist Blessed Mhlanga
May 16, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  The recent arrest and prolonged detention of a journalist in Zimbabwe have sparked growing alarm over the country’s intensifying crackdown on independent media. The journalist was taken into custody in February 2025 after interviewing a war veteran who criticized the president. Authorities charged the reporter with “transmitting data messages inciting violence or property damage” under the Cyber and Data Protection Act—legislation increasingly used to target dissenting voices. Human rights observers have denounced the arrest as arbitrary and politically motivated, arguing that it exemplifies the misuse of legal tools to...
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UK Journalist Richard Medhurst’s Case Highlights Growing Threats to Press Freedom
May 16, 2025
UK Journalist Richard Medhurst’s Case Highlights Growing Threats to Press Freedom
May 16, 2025 - UK/Syria -  British journalist Richard Medhurst’s case has emerged as a significant test for press freedom and the use of anti-terror laws in the UK. Medhurst, known for his critical reporting on Israeli actions in Gaza and Lebanon, was arrested in August 2024 under the Terrorism Act 2000. He faces serious charges, including alleged support for a banned organization, which carries a potential prison sentence of up to 14 years. In addition, Medhurst is being prosecuted for refusing to provide passwords to his electronic devices, a stand he defends as essential...
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Cambodian Environmental Journalist Ouk Mao Arrested Amid Ongoing Crackdown
May 16, 2025
Cambodian Environmental Journalist Ouk Mao Arrested Amid Ongoing Crackdown
May 16, 2025 - Cambodia -  On May 16, 2025, Cambodian environmental journalist Ouk Mao was arrested by plainclothes military officers at his home in Stung Treng province. The officers, arriving in an unmarked vehicle, detained Mao without presenting a warrant, stating only that "their boss wanted to speak to Mao about a piece of land." He was subsequently taken to the Stung Treng Provincial Gendarmerie Headquarters and remains in custody awaiting a court hearing. Mao, 49, has been a prominent figure in exposing illegal logging and land grabs in Cambodia's protected areas. His investigative...
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Journalists Under Siege: A Call for Global Accountability
May 16, 2025
Journalists Under Siege: A Call for Global Accountability
May 16, 2025 - General -  Journalists in conflict zones are increasingly targeted, facing violence, injury, and death. A Lebanese war reporter, who lost a limb while covering frontline battles, has highlighted the growing impunity for attacks on journalists. He emphasizes that such assaults are not only attacks on individuals but on the truth itself. The United Nations has condemned these acts, urging nations to hold perpetrators accountable and ensure journalists can work without fear. In Gaza, the situation is dire. Over 160 journalists have been killed since October 2023, with many targeted despite wearing...
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India Cracks Down on Pakistani YouTube Channels Amid Pahalgam Attack Fallout
May 16, 2025
India Cracks Down on Pakistani YouTube Channels Amid Pahalgam Attack Fallout
May 16, 2025 - Pakistan/India -  Following the April 22, 2025, terror attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which claimed the lives of 26 tourists, the Indian government has intensified its efforts to counter digital misinformation and propaganda. Central to this response is the blocking of 16 Pakistani YouTube channels accused of promoting false narratives and inflaming communal tensions. According to India’s Ministry of Information and Broadcasting, these channels were found spreading disinformation about India’s internal affairs, including the Kashmir conflict and India’s armed forces. The government’s order stated that the content was deemed harmful...
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Palestinian Journalist Ahmed al-Halou Killed in Gaza as Media Death Toll Reaches 242
May 15, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Ahmed al-Halou Killed in Gaza as Media Death Toll Reaches 242
May 15, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On May 15, 2025, Palestinian journalist Ahmed al-Halou was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza, becoming the 242nd journalist to die in the conflict since October 2023. Al-Halou worked with the Al-Quds News Network and was among several civilians killed during intense Israeli bombardment that struck various parts of Gaza, including Gaza City and Khan Younis. The strikes caused multiple civilian casualties. In Khan Younis, three members of the Al-Amour family were killed when their house in Al-Fukhari was hit. A young girl, Mariam Abdul Rahman Hussein Al-Buraim,...
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Niger Detains Three Journalists Over Reporting on Russian Military Cooperation
May 15, 2025
Niger Detains Three Journalists Over Reporting on Russian Military Cooperation
May 15, 2025 - Nigeria -  In May 2025, Nigerien authorities detained three journalists from Sahara FM, a private radio station in Agadez, following their broadcast about the country's military cooperation with Russia. The journalists—Hamid Mahmoud (acting editor-in-chief), Mahaman Sani (news presenter), and Massaouda Jaharou—were initially arrested on May 7 after airing a report based on an article by France-based outlet LSI Africa, which claimed that Niger had discreetly ended its intelligence cooperation with Russia and Turkey due to dissatisfaction with military equipment. After their initial release, the journalists were rearrested on May 10, marking...
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Journalist Evrim Kepenek Receives Suspended Sentence for Reporting on Child Abuse Case
May 15, 2025
Journalist Evrim Kepenek Receives Suspended Sentence for Reporting on Child Abuse Case
May 15, 2025 - Turkey -  On May 14, 2025, Turkish journalist Evrim Kepenek was sentenced to 10 months in prison over a news report concerning the alleged sexual abuse and death of a two-year-old child in Istanbul's Beylikdüzü district. Kepenek, who serves as the Women’s News Editor for the independent outlet Bianet, faced charges of violating the confidentiality of an investigation. The court deferred the announcement of the verdict, meaning the sentence will not be enforced unless she commits a similar offense during the probation period. The case centers on Kepenek’s early reporting on...
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Turkish Journalist Furkan Karabay Arrested Over Investigative Reports and Defamation Case
May 15, 2025
Turkish Journalist Furkan Karabay Arrested Over Investigative Reports and Defamation Case
May 15, 2025 - Turkey - On May 15, 2025, Turkish journalist Furkan Karabay was arrested in Istanbul due to his investigative reporting on government probes into opposition mayors, including Istanbul’s Ekrem İmamoğlu. Karabay, known for his critical stance against the ruling government, has also faced legal repercussions for his outspoken commentary on President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and his family. Karabay was detained after publishing reports related to the investigation of opposition mayors, which included the arrest of İmamoğlu in March. The charges against him include insulting the president and targeting public officials involved in...
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Palestinian Journalist Hassan Samour Killed Alongside Entire Family in Gaza Airstrike
May 15, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Hassan Samour Killed Alongside Entire Family in Gaza Airstrike
May 15, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - On May 15, 2025, Palestinian journalist Hassan Marzouq Samour was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Bani Suhaila, east of Khan Younis, Gaza, along with 13 members of his family. Samour, 45, was a radio presenter and producer for Al-Aqsa Radio. The attack occurred while the family was sheltering in a tent, highlighting the ongoing dangers faced by civilians and journalists amid the intensifying conflict. Samour's death is part of a broader escalation of Israeli military operations in Gaza, which reportedly resulted in at least 70 Palestinian casualties that...
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Kerala Journalist Arrested in Nagpur Over Social Media Posts Criticizing Military Operations
May 15, 2025
Kerala Journalist Arrested in Nagpur Over Social Media Posts Criticizing Military Operations
May 15, 2025 - India -  Rejaz M Sheeba Sydeek, a 26-year-old student activist and independent journalist from Kerala, was arrested in Nagpur, Maharashtra, on May 8, 2025, over Instagram posts critical of the Indian government’s military actions. The arrest, which was carried out by Nagpur police, has stirred debate about freedom of expression and the use of anti-terror laws against dissenting voices. Sydeek has been charged under the stringent Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), along with several provisions of the newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). These include charges for allegedly “preparing to wage...
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Fears Mount for Chinese Journalist Zhang Zhan’s Life After Release Remains Unclear
May 14, 2025
Fears Mount for Chinese Journalist Zhang Zhan’s Life After Release Remains Unclear
May 14, 2025 - China -  Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, known for reporting from Wuhan during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, remains in a critical health condition and under mysterious circumstances following the supposed end of her prison sentence. Human rights groups warn that she is at imminent risk of death due to prolonged health complications from a hunger strike she maintained during her detention in protest of unjust imprisonment. Zhang, a former lawyer, was arrested in May 2020 for publishing video reports from Wuhan, which contradicted the Chinese government’s official narrative...
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Online Abuse of Turkish Women Journalists Persists Amid Climate of Impunity
May 14, 2025
Online Abuse of Turkish Women Journalists Persists Amid Climate of Impunity
May 14, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish women journalists continue to face relentless online abuse, fueled by a persistent culture of impunity and insufficient institutional protection. A recent investigation reveals that coordinated attacks, including sexist slurs, threats of violence, and digital harassment, are increasingly used to silence female voices in journalism. These attacks not only threaten the physical and emotional well-being of journalists but also undermine press freedom in Turkey. A 2025 report by the International Press Institute (IPI) highlights that nearly all women journalists surveyed in Turkey have faced some form of online abuse....
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Palestinian Journalist Abubaker Abed Reflects on Leaving Gaza Amid Crisis
May 14, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Abubaker Abed Reflects on Leaving Gaza Amid Crisis
May 13, 2025 - Palestine -  Abubaker Abed, a 22-year-old Palestinian journalist from Deir al-Balah in Gaza, recently made the painful decision to leave Gaza after enduring extreme hardship during the ongoing conflict. Known for his courageous reporting on the humanitarian crisis in the region, Abed has documented the devastating impact of war, including severe food shortages and the risk of famine affecting millions of Palestinians. In an interview with Democracy Now! on May 13, 2025, Abed described his evacuation as an “agonizing decision.” Despite his deep commitment to his community and work, the dire...
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Growing Threats Against Lawyers Defending Journalists Worldwide
May 14, 2025
Growing Threats Against Lawyers Defending Journalists Worldwide
May 14, 2025 - General -  Lawyers who defend journalists face increasing harassment and legal attacks globally, raising serious concerns about press freedom and the rule of law. A recent study by the American Bar Association’s Center for Human Rights, Media Defence, and the Thomson Reuters Foundation documented over 40 cases in 10 countries—including Turkey, Russia, China, and Guatemala—where lawyers have been targeted for representing journalists or defending media freedoms. These legal professionals often encounter criminal charges such as terrorism, corruption, or spreading “false news” soon after taking on cases related to journalists. Such accusations...
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Palestinian Journalist Hassan Islayeh Killed in Israeli Strike While Being Treated in Gaza Hospital
May 13, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Hassan Islayeh Killed in Israeli Strike While Being Treated in Gaza Hospital
May 13, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Hassan Islayeh, a Palestinian journalist, has been killed in an Israeli airstrike while receiving medical treatment at a hospital in Gaza, marking another grave escalation in the targeting of media workers during the ongoing conflict. The journalist, who had previously been injured in an earlier attack, was reportedly undergoing care at Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah when an Israeli missile struck the facility. The blast killed him and wounded several others, once again raising alarm over Israel's conduct in its military operations and the safety of journalists in...
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Journalist Takudzwa Gift Washaya Abducted and Brutally Assaulted in Harare
May 13, 2025
Journalist Takudzwa Gift Washaya Abducted and Brutally Assaulted in Harare
May 13, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  On May 13, 2025, Takudzwa Gift Washaya, a young journalist from Zimbabwe, was abducted and brutally assaulted in Harare. Washaya, who is affiliated with the opposition party Citizens' Coalition for Change (CCC), was taken from his home in Sunningdale by armed men driving a black Toyota GD6. The assailants injected Washaya with an unknown substance before subjecting him to a violent physical attack. He was later found unconscious, suffering from severe facial swelling and multiple bruises, as shown in disturbing photographs shared by the CCC. The assault has sparked...
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Espionage Row Deepens as Pakistani Operative Posed as Defence Official to Target Indian Journalists
May 12, 2025
Espionage Row Deepens as Pakistani Operative Posed as Defence Official to Target Indian Journalists
May 12, 2025 - India/Pakistan -  Tensions between India and Pakistan have flared once again following the arrest of two individuals in Delhi accused of leaking sensitive information to a Pakistani intelligence official at the country’s High Commission. Indian authorities allege the suspects were part of a broader espionage network aimed at extracting classified defense-related data, including through deceptive contact with Indian journalists. According to Indian law enforcement, the two accused were in regular communication with a Pakistani official who posed as an Indian Army officer. Investigators believe that under the guise of sharing defense...
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Kashmiri and Indian Journalists Targeted in WhatsApp Spy Campaign by Alleged Pakistani Operatives
May 12, 2025
Kashmiri and Indian Journalists Targeted in WhatsApp Spy Campaign by Alleged Pakistani Operatives
May 12, 2025 - India/Pakistan/ Kashmir -  Journalists in Kashmir and across India have been warned about a coordinated cyber-espionage campaign allegedly orchestrated by Pakistani operatives aiming to extract sensitive information through fake WhatsApp profiles. According to Indian police and defense sources, the operation—dubbed “Operation Sindoor”—involves individuals impersonating Indian military officials or high-profile civilians to lure journalists into disclosing confidential data. The Jammu and Kashmir Police issued a public alert on May 12, cautioning local journalists and media professionals about a series of phishing attempts carried out via WhatsApp. These attempts include messages from unknown...
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UK Journalists Criticized for Failing to Cover Gaza Accurately Amid Genocide Claims
May 12, 2025
UK Journalists Criticized for Failing to Cover Gaza Accurately Amid Genocide Claims
May 12, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Independent MPs in the UK have sharply criticized members of the parliamentary press lobby for their perceived failure to adequately report on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza, accusing mainstream journalists of ignoring or downplaying what has been described as a genocide. In a striking act of protest on May 10, a group led by former Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn distributed a handbook titled Journalism in a Genocide to political reporters at Westminster, calling on them to reassess their professional responsibilities. The handbook, created by the media watchdog Declassified UK,...
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Press Under Siege: Journalists in Nigeria Face Mounting Attacks Amid Protests
May 12, 2025
Press Under Siege: Journalists in Nigeria Face Mounting Attacks Amid Protests
May 12, 2025 - Nigeria -  In 2024, press freedom in Nigeria took a troubling downturn as at least 56 journalists were attacked, harassed, or detained while covering protests and unrest across the country, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The sharp rise in violence against the press has drawn international condemnation and raised alarm about the state of media freedom in Africa’s most populous country. The incidents, which were concentrated during waves of protests in the latter half of 2024, included cases of physical assault, arbitrary arrests,...
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Haitian Journalist Hunted Amid Rising Violence Against Media
May 12, 2025
Haitian Journalist Hunted Amid Rising Violence Against Media
May 12, 2025 - Haiti -  In Haiti, journalists are increasingly under siege as gang violence spreads unchecked and state institutions collapse. The story of Velondie Miracle, a young Haitian reporter, captures the urgent crisis facing the country’s press. After surviving an abduction and narrowly escaping execution by gang members, Miracle is now in hiding. Her experience is not unique—dozens of journalists have been threatened, attacked, or killed simply for doing their jobs. Miracle was reporting on community struggles in Port-au-Prince when she was kidnapped. She believes her attackers targeted her for her coverage, which...
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Media Advocacy on World Press Freedom Day Highlights Gender Equality in Journalism
May 12, 2025
Media Advocacy on World Press Freedom Day Highlights Gender Equality in Journalism
May 12, 2025 - General-  On World Press Freedom Day 2025, global institutions and national governments turned attention to the role of women in media, emphasizing equality, inclusion, and safety for female journalists. Events across South Asia and beyond reflected growing concerns about the underrepresentation of women in media leadership and their disproportionate exposure to harassment and violence in the field. In Nepal, government officials, journalists, and human rights activists gathered at an event organized by the Ministry of Communications and Information Technology to celebrate the press's role in strengthening democracy. Speakers stressed the importance...
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Pope Leo XIV Expresses Solidarity with Imprisoned Journalists
May 12, 2025
Pope Leo XIV Expresses Solidarity with Imprisoned Journalists
May 12, 2025 - General -  Pope Leo XIV recently expressed profound solidarity with journalists who are imprisoned worldwide, calling attention to the grave challenges they face. During a public address, he stressed the essential role journalists play in upholding democratic values, defending human rights, and ensuring transparency in governance. The Pope's remarks were a reminder of the critical importance of press freedom in society, emphasizing that it is vital for the public to have access to information that is truthful and unbiased. In his statement, Pope Leo XIV condemned the growing trend of suppressing...
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Cambodian Environmental Journalist Faces Ongoing Threats Amid Shrinking Press Freedom
May 12, 2025
Cambodian Environmental Journalist Faces Ongoing Threats Amid Shrinking Press Freedom
May 12, 2025 - Cambodia -  A Cambodian environmental journalist, Long Kimmarita, has faced a disturbing series of threats and attacks, underscoring the rising dangers faced by reporters in the country. Over recent months, Kimmarita has endured intimidation, surveillance, and verbal harassment, largely due to his reporting on illegal logging and environmental destruction in protected areas. These incidents reflect a growing trend of hostility toward journalists in Cambodia, particularly those who expose corruption or challenge powerful interests. Kimmarita, who writes for the Khmer Times, has reported extensively on land grabs and forest crimes linked to...
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Media Seeks Court Access in Missing Journalist Case as DNA Results Awaited
May 12, 2025
Media Seeks Court Access in Missing Journalist Case as DNA Results Awaited
May 12, 2025 - South Africa -  The case of the missing journalist Canny Maphanga and her partner continues to draw national attention in South Africa, with legal proceedings gaining momentum and media interest intensifying. On Monday, the Johannesburg High Court is scheduled to hear an urgent application from media organizations requesting permission to cover the upcoming bail proceedings of five suspects connected to the couple’s disappearance. The media’s legal push highlights growing public concern and the broader implications for press freedom and transparency. Canny Maphanga, a seasoned journalist, and her partner went missing several...
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Ekaterina Barabash’s Courageous Escape from Russian Repression
May 12, 2025
Ekaterina Barabash’s Courageous Escape from Russian Repression
May 12, 2025 - Russia -  Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash made a daring escape from Moscow to Paris in April 2025, aided by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Barabash, a seasoned film critic and former contributor to Radio France Internationale, had been under house arrest since February 2025 for her outspoken criticism of Russia's invasion of Ukraine. She faced charges of spreading "false information" about the Russian military, which carried a potential sentence of up to ten years in prison. The Russian government had also labeled her a “foreign agent” due to her vocal stance against...
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Austin Tice’s Remains Found in Syria After 12 Years
May 11, 2025
Austin Tice’s Remains Found in Syria After 12 Years
May 11, 2025 - Syria/USA -  The remains of American journalist Austin Tice have been discovered in Syria, more than 12 years after his abduction. Tice, a former U.S. Marine and freelance journalist, was taken hostage in August 2012 while reporting on the Syrian civil war. His disappearance became one of the most prominent cases involving a missing journalist, and despite various reports suggesting he was alive, his remains were only recently confirmed. A joint American-Qatari search team found his remains in a cemetery in Aleppo. While the discovery brings a tragic closure to a...
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Russian Journalist Ekaterina Barabash Escapes House Arrest to Expose Kremlin Repression
May 10, 2025
Russian Journalist Ekaterina Barabash Escapes House Arrest to Expose Kremlin Repression
May 10, 2025 - Russia -  In May 2025, Russian journalist Ekaterina Barabash made headlines after executing a daring escape from house arrest in Moscow, reemerging in Paris with the assistance of Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Barabash, a 64-year-old film critic and former contributor to Radio France Internationale and the independent outlet Republic, faced a potential 10-year prison sentence for social media posts condemning Russia's invasion of Ukraine. Her Facebook posts between 2022 and 2023 criticized the devastation caused by the war, including civilian deaths and the destruction of cities. Detained in February 2025 upon...
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Qatar Leads Search for U.S. Hostages’ Remains in Syria
May 10, 2025
Qatar Leads Search for U.S. Hostages’ Remains in Syria
May 10, 2025 - Qatar/Syria/USA -  A Qatari-led mission has launched a search operation to recover the remains of U.S. hostages killed by the Islamic State (IS) in Syria. The mission, which began on May 7, is being carried out with the support of U.S. personnel and focuses on locating the bodies of hostages who were executed by IS during its control over parts of Syria from 2014 to 2017. Three sets of unidentified remains have been found so far, and the mission's primary goal is to recover the body of aid worker Peter Kassig,...
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Press Freedom in Somalia: A Perilous Landscape for Journalists
May 10, 2025
Press Freedom in Somalia: A Perilous Landscape for Journalists
May 10, 2025 - Somalia -  Somalia remains one of the most dangerous countries for journalists, with a history marked by violence, repression, and systemic threats to media freedom. The National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ) recently released its 14th annual State of the Media Report, highlighting the persistent challenges faced by Somali journalists. Notably, 2024 marked the first year since 2005 without a journalist's death, yet the report underscores ongoing issues such as arbitrary arrests, physical assaults, and online harassment. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that over 50 media professionals have been...
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Niger Junta Detains Three Journalists Over Reports of Rift with Russia and Turkey
May 10, 2025
Niger Junta Detains Three Journalists Over Reports of Rift with Russia and Turkey
May 10, 2025 - Niger -  Three radio journalists have been arrested by military authorities in Niger following their reports on a growing diplomatic rift between Niger's ruling junta and its international allies, specifically Russia and Turkey. The arrests have sparked widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates and civil society organizations, who argue that the detentions are a blatant attempt to suppress media independence and control public discourse. The journalists, working for Radio Anfani, a private media outlet based in Niamey, were reportedly detained by the country’s General Directorate of External Security. Their arrest came...
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Under Siege: The Perils of Journalism in an Age of State Repression
May 9, 2025
Under Siege: The Perils of Journalism in an Age of State Repression
May 09, 2025 - General -  On May 3, 2025, the PEN World Voices Festival concluded with a poignant closing night event titled Under Siege: The Perils of Journalism in an Age of State Repression. Held at Judson Memorial Church in New York City, the discussion spotlighted the escalating threats faced by journalists worldwide as governments intensify efforts to suppress independent reporting. Moderated by Summer Lopez, Interim Co-CEO and Chief Program Officer for Free Expression at PEN America, the panel featured three distinguished journalists: Rana Ayyub – Indian journalist and columnist for The Washington Post,...
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Russian Journalist Veronika Orlova Detained for Filming Anti-Putin Protest
May 9, 2025
Russian Journalist Veronika Orlova Detained for Filming Anti-Putin Protest
May 09, 2025 - Russia -  Russian journalist Veronika Orlova, a correspondent for the independent news channel SOTAvision, was sentenced to 13 days of administrative detention after filming a protest near the Kremlin on May 6, 2025. The protest, led by activist Grigory Saksonov, featured a sign comparing Russian President Vladimir Putin to Adolf Hitler. Orlova was arrested by security forces while she was walking near the Bolshoy Moskvoretsky Bridge in Moscow, where she had been documenting the demonstration. The journalist was charged with disobeying police officers, a common accusation used to detain protestors and...
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Kashmiri Journalist Hilal Mir Detained Over Social Media Post Allegedly Promoting Secessionist Sentiment
May 9, 2025
Kashmiri Journalist Hilal Mir Detained Over Social Media Post Allegedly Promoting Secessionist Sentiment
May 09, 2025 - India/Pakistan-  On May 6, 2025, Hilal Mir, a veteran journalist from Srinagar, was detained by the Counter-Intelligence Kashmir (CIK) wing of the Jammu and Kashmir Police. Authorities allege that Mir disseminated "extremist and distorted content" on social media, aiming to disturb public order and promote secessionist ideology. The detention centers around a Facebook post shared by Mir on May 1, which featured a photograph of an elderly woman amidst debris, reportedly from homes demolished by security forces in south Kashmir. Accompanying the image was a poem reflecting on the suffering of...
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Exile, Censorship, and the Fight for Press Freedom: Insights from Frankfurt’s World Press Freedom Day 2025
May 9, 2025
Exile, Censorship, and the Fight for Press Freedom: Insights from Frankfurt’s World Press Freedom Day 2025
May 09, 2025 - Germany -  On May 3, 2025, journalists, scholars, and artists convened at the Haus am Dom cultural center in Frankfurt to commemorate World Press Freedom Day. The event, titled “Sichtbar verstummt?” (“Visibly Silenced?”), marked the inaugural session of the “Frankfurter Gespräche” (“Frankfurt Talks”) series. Co-hosted by Haus am Dom and the International Journalists Association (IJA)—a press organization established by Turkish journalists in exile in Germany in 2017—the gathering focused on the escalating challenges faced by journalists, particularly those in exile, amidst increasing political repression and digital censorship. The discussions highlighted the...
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Turkish Cypriot Journalist Faces Death Threats After Exposing Corruption; Source Murdered in Netherlands
May 9, 2025
Turkish Cypriot Journalist Faces Death Threats After Exposing Corruption; Source Murdered in Netherlands
May 09, 2025 - Turkey -  Ayşemden Akın, editor-in-chief of the Turkish Cypriot online newspaper Bugün Kıbrıs, is facing serious threats to her life following a series of investigative reports exposing alleged corruption and organized crime involving high-ranking officials in Turkey and the Turkish-occupied north of Cyprus. The situation escalated after her primary source, Cemil Önal, was assassinated in the Netherlands on May 1, 2025. Akın's investigative series, titled "Halil Falyalı Lives," delved into the enduring influence of the late casino tycoon Halil Falyalı, who was murdered in 2022. In her reports, Akın highlighted allegations...
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Columbia Protest Crackdown Raises Alarms Over Free Speech and Media Access
May 9, 2025
Columbia Protest Crackdown Raises Alarms Over Free Speech and Media Access
May 09, 2025 - USA -  At Columbia University, the student-led protests in support of Palestinians in Gaza have not only drawn national attention but also sparked a debate over freedom of the press and student rights on campus. Student journalists from Columbia's own publication, the Columbia Daily Spectator, claim they were blocked from covering key moments of the pro-Palestinian demonstrations, especially when police were called in to dismantle encampments and arrest students. According to the student reporters, the university administration limited press access and forced journalists to leave the protest area or face arrest,...
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Press Freedom in Greece Worsens Amid Surveillance and Political Pressure
May 8, 2025
Press Freedom in Greece Worsens Amid Surveillance and Political Pressure
May 08, 2025 - Greece -  Media freedom in Greece continues to deteriorate, according to a new report by Human Rights Watch and multiple international journalism watchdogs. The findings highlight how systemic government surveillance, lack of transparency, and legal intimidation are undermining the ability of journalists to operate freely in the country historically known as the birthplace of democracy. The Human Rights Watch report, titled “From Bad to Worse”, details how journalists in Greece are subject to increasing levels of harassment, surveillance, and obstruction. Among the most concerning revelations is the use of spyware against...
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Title: Rising Toll of Journalists in Gaza: A Deepening Crisis
May 8, 2025
Title: Rising Toll of Journalists in Gaza: A Deepening Crisis
May 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - The death toll of journalists in Gaza has reached alarming levels, with many media workers caught in the crossfire of the ongoing conflict. Since the start of the conflict, at least 215 journalists have been killed by Israeli forces, marking the situation in Gaza as one of the deadliest for journalists in recent history. The death of journalists is not just a statistic but an attack on press freedom and the right to report the truth. In the most recent incident, Palestinian journalist Hassan Islayeh, a prominent field reporter...
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India’s Operation Sindoor: A Retaliatory Strike and the Elimination of a Key Terrorist Figure
May 8, 2025
India’s Operation Sindoor: A Retaliatory Strike and the Elimination of a Key Terrorist Figure
May 08, 2025 - India/America -  In early May 2025, India launched "Operation Sindoor," a series of precision airstrikes targeting militant infrastructure in Pakistan and Pakistan-administered Kashmir. This military action was in direct response to a terrorist attack on April 22 in Pahalgam, Indian-administered Kashmir, where 26 Hindu pilgrims were killed. The operation aimed to dismantle terrorist networks responsible for the attack and to address longstanding security threats emanating from across the border. One of the most significant outcomes of Operation Sindoor was the reported killing of Abdul Rauf Azhar, a senior commander of the...
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Cameroonian Journalist Fred Vubem Escapes Kidnappers, Recovering After Surgery
May 8, 2025
Cameroonian Journalist Fred Vubem Escapes Kidnappers, Recovering After Surgery
May 08, 2025 - Cameroon -  Cameroonian journalist Fred Vubem, a seasoned reporter with the Cameroon Tribune, is recovering after a harrowing ordeal that saw him kidnapped, injured, and ultimately escape from his captors. Vubem was abducted on May 4, 2025, in Bambui, a locality in Cameroon’s conflict-hit North West Region, while returning from a visit to his native village, Kedjom Keku. According to media reports, Vubem was seized by unknown assailants and held overnight. The following day, he managed a daring escape and endured a three-day trek through dense bush terrain in search of...
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Remains of Missing South African Journalist and Partner Found in Limpopo
May 8, 2025
Remains of Missing South African Journalist and Partner Found in Limpopo
May 08, 2025 - South Africa -  South African journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli, who had been missing for nearly three months, are now believed to be dead after police discovered human remains near Rust de Winter in Limpopo on May 7. The bodies were found buried in a shallow grave in a remote bushy area, following a breakthrough in the case that involved multiple arrests. The couple was last seen on February 18 in Mamelodi, east of Pretoria, sparking a weeks-long investigation and public appeals for information. Ndlovu, a...
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Mexican Journalist Miguel Ángel Anaya Disappears Amid Threats in Veracruz
May 8, 2025
Mexican Journalist Miguel Ángel Anaya Disappears Amid Threats in Veracruz
May 08, 2025 - Mexico -  Miguel Ángel Anaya Castillo, the director of the independent digital outlet Pánuco Online, has been missing since April 13, 2025, in the northern Veracruz municipality of Pánuco. His disappearance, reported on April 19, has raised urgent concerns among press freedom organizations and local journalist protection bodies in Mexico. Anaya, known for his reporting on local politics, public corruption, and crime, had reportedly been under threat in the weeks leading up to his disappearance. According to accounts from his family and colleagues, three unidentified men claiming to represent the municipal...
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Gaza Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrikes: The Stories of Yahya Subaih and Nour al-Din Abdo
May 8, 2025
Gaza Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrikes: The Stories of Yahya Subaih and Nour al-Din Abdo
May 08, 2025 - Palestine -  Two Palestinian journalists, Yahya Subaih and Nour al-Din Abdo, were killed in Israeli airstrikes in Gaza, highlighting the extreme dangers faced by media professionals in the region. Yahya Subaih, 30, was a dedicated reporter and photographer for the Palestine Post Agency, known for documenting civilian suffering, especially among children and displaced families. Tragically, he was killed just hours after the birth of his daughter, making him a father for only a brief time. His death underscores the personal toll of the conflict on journalists who strive to report from...
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New Documentary Identifies Alleged Israeli Sniper Behind Shireen Abu Akleh’s Killing
May 8, 2025
New Documentary Identifies Alleged Israeli Sniper Behind Shireen Abu Akleh’s Killing
May 08, 2025 - General -  A new investigative documentary has reignited global attention on the killing of Palestinian-American journalist Shireen Abu Akleh by naming the Israeli soldier allegedly responsible for her death. The film, titled The Killing of Shireen Abu Akleh, presents fresh evidence and detailed analysis that points to an Israeli sniper as the shooter, contradicting earlier Israeli claims of uncertainty over the source of the fatal bullet. The documentary, co-produced by journalist Sharif Kouddous and directed by Yumna Patel for the outlet Mondoweiss, meticulously reconstructs the events of May 11, 2022, when...
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El Salvador’s Crackdown on El Faro Journalists Sparks Press Freedom Concerns
May 7, 2025
El Salvador’s Crackdown on El Faro Journalists Sparks Press Freedom Concerns
May 07, 2025 - El Salvador - In early May 2025, El Salvador's independent news outlet El Faro reported that at least seven of its journalists are facing imminent arrest following the publication of interviews with former gang leaders alleging longstanding ties between President Nayib Bukele's administration and criminal organizations. The journalists are reportedly being targeted for charges including "unlawful association" and "advocacy of crime," marking a significant escalation in the government's crackdown on press freedom. The controversy centers around a three-part video series released by El Faro, featuring testimonies from ex-leaders of the 18th...
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Defending the Defenders: Upholding Press Freedom Amid Global Conflict
May 7, 2025
Defending the Defenders: Upholding Press Freedom Amid Global Conflict
May 07, 2025 - General -  Journalists operating in conflict zones face escalating threats, with both state and non-state actors undermining their safety and freedom. Despite international laws designed to protect them, the reality on the ground often tells a different story. International humanitarian law (IHL) classifies journalists as civilians, granting them protection during armed conflicts. However, this distinction is frequently ignored, leading to attacks, censorship, and intimidation. The World Association for Christian Communication (WACC) emphasizes that the erosion of press freedom in war zones not only endangers journalists but also deprives societies of critical...
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Azerbaijan’s Media Crackdown Intensifies with Two More Journalists Arrested
May 7, 2025
Azerbaijan’s Media Crackdown Intensifies with Two More Journalists Arrested
May 07, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In early May 2025, Azerbaijani authorities arrested two independent journalists, Ulviyya Ali and Ahmad Mammadli, escalating the ongoing suppression of press freedom in the country. These arrests bring the total number of detained journalists to at least 25 since late 2023, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Ulviyya Ali, a contributor to Voice of America, was detained at her residence and remanded to nearly two months of pre-trial detention. Authorities allege her involvement in a currency smuggling case linked to Meydan TV, a Germany-based independent outlet. However,...
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Veteran Peruvian Journalist Raúl Celis López Assassinated in Iquitos
May 7, 2025
Veteran Peruvian Journalist Raúl Celis López Assassinated in Iquitos
May 07, 2025 - Peru -  On May 7, 2025, veteran Peruvian journalist Raúl Celis López was assassinated in Iquitos, marking the second journalist killing in Peru this year. Celis, 70, was ambushed by two gunmen on a motorcycle while en route to his early-morning radio program, Hora Zero, on Radio La Karibeña. He was shot three times in the back of the head and died at the scene. Celis was renowned for his fearless reporting on corruption, organized crime, and illegal lending practices in Peru’s Amazon region. His broadcasts frequently exposed the activities of...
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Two Journalist Murder Cases in South Asia Prompt Mixed Reactions as One Suspect Killed, Another Detained
May 7, 2025
Two Journalist Murder Cases in South Asia Prompt Mixed Reactions as One Suspect Killed, Another Detained
May 07, 2025 - India -  Recent developments in the investigations of two journalist killings in Pakistan and India have reignited debates over press freedom, accountability, and justice in South Asia. In Pakistan, a key suspect was killed in a police encounter, while in India, the main accused in another case was arrested by authorities. In Sukkur, Sindh province of Pakistan, Sikandar Lanjar—identified as the prime suspect in the 2023 murder of journalist Jan Mohammad Mahar—was killed during a police raid. According to police, Lanjar was involved in organized crime and resisted arrest, prompting an...
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Nepal’s Press Under Siege: Journalists Killed Amid Political Turmoil
May 6, 2025
Nepal’s Press Under Siege: Journalists Killed Amid Political Turmoil
May 06, 2025 - Nepal -  Nepal's media landscape is facing a dire crisis as journalists become casualties in the nation's escalating political unrest. The deaths of photojournalist Suresh Rajak and reporter Suresh Bhul have underscored the increasing dangers faced by media professionals in the country. On March 28, 2025, during a pro-monarchy protest in Kathmandu's Tinkune area, 29-year-old Suresh Rajak, a cameraman for Avenues Television, was tragically killed. He was found dead inside a building set ablaze by demonstrators. The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) has called for a high-level investigation into his death,...
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India Responds to Kashmir Attack with Media Clampdown and Arrests
May 6, 2025
India Responds to Kashmir Attack with Media Clampdown and Arrests
May 06, 2025 - India/Pakistan - Following a deadly attack in Pahalgam, Kashmir, the Indian government has taken swift actions to control the media narrative, blocking several YouTube channels, arresting social media users, and cracking down on independent commentary. The response has raised concerns among press freedom advocates over the shrinking space for dissent and the growing criminalization of speech. The attack, which resulted in multiple casualties, was attributed to Pakistan-based militants. In its aftermath, authorities began targeting what they labeled as “anti-India propaganda.” Several Pakistani YouTube channels were blocked for allegedly spreading misinformation and...
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Outcry Grows Over Journalist Deaths in Gaza Amid Accusations of Targeted Attacks
May 6, 2025
Outcry Grows Over Journalist Deaths in Gaza Amid Accusations of Targeted Attacks
May 06, 2025 - Turkey -  Global outrage is mounting over the deaths of dozens of journalists in Gaza, with international media watchdogs and political leaders accusing Israel of deliberately targeting members of the press during its ongoing military operations. As the conflict continues to escalate, the toll on media professionals has reached unprecedented levels. Media freedom advocates have condemned what they describe as a systematic assault on journalists working in Gaza. According to the International Federation of Journalists and other rights groups, Israel's military actions have led to the deaths of over 60 journalists...
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Sudanese Journalist Fadl Al-Mawla Killed Amid RSF Offensive in Escalating Conflict
May 6, 2025
Sudanese Journalist Fadl Al-Mawla Killed Amid RSF Offensive in Escalating Conflict
May 06, 2025 - Sudan -  Sudanese journalist Hassan Fadl al-Mawla Mousa was killed during a violent assault by the Rapid Support Forces (RSF), as the paramilitary group captured the town of Wad al-Noura in Sudan’s Gezira state. His death marks yet another blow to press freedom in a country where the ongoing civil conflict has created increasingly dangerous conditions for journalists. Mousa, who was also an Islamic scholar, lost his life while documenting the unfolding military operation. He was shot and killed during the RSF’s takeover of the town, part of a broader push...
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Tajikistan Faces Scrutiny Over Continued Jailing of Independent Journalist
May 6, 2025
Tajikistan Faces Scrutiny Over Continued Jailing of Independent Journalist
May 06, 2025 - Tajikistan -  The government of Tajikistan is facing growing condemnation for its prolonged detention of independent journalist Rukhshona Khakimova, whose case has come to symbolize the country’s tightening grip on freedom of expression. Human rights advocates, international watchdogs, and Khakimova’s own family are urging authorities to release her immediately and drop the politically motivated charges. Khakimova, a young reporter known for her critical coverage and ties to independent outlets, has been in custody since September 2023. Initially taken in for questioning, her detention was later extended under accusations of involvement in...
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Calls Grow for U.S. Action as Vietnam Jails Journalists Over Online Speech
May 6, 2025
Calls Grow for U.S. Action as Vietnam Jails Journalists Over Online Speech
May 06, 2025 - Vietnam -  Vietnam’s hardline stance on dissent continues to draw international concern, with several journalists imprisoned for sharing views critical of the government. Human rights advocates and press freedom groups are now urging U.S. officials to push for their release, emphasizing the growing repression in the Southeast Asian nation. A coalition of press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), has formally appealed to U.S. Senator Marco Rubio to address the issue with Vietnamese leaders. The appeal highlights the imprisonment of multiple journalists, arguing that the U.S. has both...
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Iran Intensifies Media Crackdown with Convictions of Six Press Leaders
May 6, 2025
Iran Intensifies Media Crackdown with Convictions of Six Press Leaders
May 06, 2025 - Iran -  Iran has sentenced six senior media professionals in a sweeping campaign that reflects the government’s escalating pressure on independent journalism. The convictions come amid a broader suppression of dissent, with journalists, activists, and political voices facing mounting risks. The six media executives, affiliated with the reformist newspaper Shargh and the Ham Mihan outlet, were found guilty of various charges, including spreading propaganda against the state and collusion to undermine national security. Their trials, held behind closed doors, were widely criticized for lacking transparency and due process. These prosecutions follow...
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Caught in the Crossfire: Cameroon’s Journalists Risk Lives for the Truth
May 5, 2025
Caught in the Crossfire: Cameroon’s Journalists Risk Lives for the Truth
May 05, 2025 - Cameroon -  Journalists in Cameroon’s Anglophone regions are facing escalating threats from both government forces and separatist fighters, caught in a deadly crossfire that has turned reporting into a life-threatening act of bravery. The crisis, rooted in a separatist rebellion that began in 2017, has severely undermined press freedom and placed reporters in an impossible position: serve the truth and risk death, or stay silent and watch injustice unfold. Many journalists report being pressured by both sides to control the narrative. Former Canal 2 International reporter Lambert Kehven shared how separatist...
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Escalating Attacks on Journalists in Gaza: A Global Press Freedom Crisis
May 5, 2025
Escalating Attacks on Journalists in Gaza: A Global Press Freedom Crisis
May 05, 2025 - Palestine/ Israel -  The ongoing conflict in Gaza has led to an unprecedented number of journalist fatalities, with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reporting at least 124 media worker deaths worldwide in 2024—the deadliest year on record. Nearly 70% of these deaths occurred in Gaza, underscoring the region's perilous environment for journalists. The CPJ and other organizations have documented a disturbing pattern of Israeli military forces targeting journalists and their families, raising serious concerns about press freedom and the protection of media personnel in conflict zones. Reports indicate that Israeli...
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On World Press Freedom Day, Gaza Journalists Are Silenced by War
May 5, 2025
On World Press Freedom Day, Gaza Journalists Are Silenced by War
May 03, 2025 - Palestine -  As the world commemorates World Press Freedom Day on May 3rd, a grim truth casts a long shadow over the celebrations: in Gaza, journalism has become a deadly profession. Since Israel launched its military operations in Gaza in October 2023, at least 212 journalists and media workers have been killed, according to reports from The New Arab and Anadolu Agency. This makes Gaza the deadliest conflict zone for journalists ever recorded. In addition, 409 journalists have been injured and 48 detained. Many of those killed were not just casualties...
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World Press Freedom Day 2025: Global Reflections on AI, Gender, and Media Rights
May 5, 2025
World Press Freedom Day 2025: Global Reflections on AI, Gender, and Media Rights
May 05, 2025 - General -  World Press Freedom Day 2025, observed on May 3, brought together global and regional voices to reflect on the evolving challenges facing journalism, with a particular focus on the impact of artificial intelligence (AI), gender-based threats, and the ongoing struggle for press freedom. UNESCO's flagship event, held in Brussels under the theme "Reporting in the Brave New World," examined the transformative role of AI in journalism. Discussions highlighted both the opportunities AI presents for investigative reporting and fact-checking, and the ethical dilemmas it introduces, such as algorithmic bias and...
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Journalists Deserve Trust, Not Suspicion
May 5, 2025
Journalists Deserve Trust, Not Suspicion
May 05, 2025 - General -  In an era dominated by misinformation and digital noise, the role of professional journalists has never been more critical—or more under threat. The Southern Examiner’s article, Journalists Deserve Trust, Not Suspicion, underscores the importance of trusting trained, ethical media professionals, particularly in Nigeria, where journalists often work under immense pressure and risk. The piece highlights a growing challenge: the erosion of public trust in journalism, largely fueled by the unchecked spread of false information on social media. With everyone able to post and share content, the distinction between verified...
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Trump Administration Faces Legal Challenges Over Public Broadcasting Funding Cuts and Press Freedom Concerns
May 5, 2025
Trump Administration Faces Legal Challenges Over Public Broadcasting Funding Cuts and Press Freedom Concerns
May 05, 2025 - USA - In May 2025, President Donald Trump signed an executive order titled "Ending Taxpayer Subsidization of Biased Media," directing the Corporation for Public Broadcasting (CPB) and all federal agencies to cease funding for National Public Radio (NPR) and the Public Broadcasting Service (PBS). The administration justified this move by alleging that these outlets exhibit anti-Trump and radical biases. This action has sparked significant backlash from media organizations, legal experts, and civil liberties advocates who argue that it threatens press freedom and violates the Public Broadcasting Act of 1967. NPR and...
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Justice Demanded After Mexican Journalist Raúl Irán Villarreal Belmont Is Murdered
May 4, 2025
Justice Demanded After Mexican Journalist Raúl Irán Villarreal Belmont Is Murdered
May 04, 2025 - Mexico - The murder of Mexican journalist and activist Raúl Irán Villarreal Belmont in March 2025 has sparked an international outcry, underscoring the escalating danger faced by media workers in Mexico. Villarreal Belmont, a lawyer and the founder of Observatorio Ciudadano—a local news platform—was known for his bold reporting on corruption in his hometown of San Luis de la Paz, Guanajuato. Just days before his death, he publicly called for citizens to take collective legal action over a fraud case implicating a business figure and local officials. On the night of...
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Vanished Voices: Arrests Made in Disappearance of South African Journalist and Partner
May 4, 2025
Vanished Voices: Arrests Made in Disappearance of South African Journalist and Partner
May 04, 2025 - South Africa -  The mysterious disappearance of Pretoria-based journalist Aserie Sibusiso Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Mdhluli, in February 2025 has taken a significant turn with the arrest of four suspects. The couple was last seen on 18 February, with Ndlovu leaving his workplace at Capital Live SA 99.0 FM in Mamelodi, and Mdhluli at their home in KwaMhlanga. Their sudden vanishing sparked widespread concern, and a R50,000 reward was offered by media organizations for information leading to their whereabouts. Recent developments have shifted the case from a missing persons investigation...
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PEC Demands Global Action on Rising Journalist Killings
May 4, 2025
PEC Demands Global Action on Rising Journalist Killings
May 04, 2025 - India -  The Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), an organization advocating for the safety of journalists worldwide, has voiced grave concern over the rising number of journalist fatalities. In 2024, the number of journalists killed reached 179, a sharp 28% increase compared to the previous year. Most of these deaths occurred in conflict zones, with the Middle East, particularly Gaza, seeing a significant rise in casualties. PEC has condemned these killings as blatant breaches of international law, demanding thorough and impartial investigations to hold perpetrators accountable. PEC's annual report highlights the devastating...
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Nepal’s Press Freedom Declines Amid Rising Threats to Journalists
May 4, 2025
Nepal’s Press Freedom Declines Amid Rising Threats to Journalists
May 04, 2024 - Nepal -  Press freedom in Nepal has significantly deteriorated over the past year, with a notable increase in violations against journalists and media professionals. According to the Annual Press Freedom Report 2025 released by Freedom Forum Nepal, there were 88 reported incidents affecting 88 journalists, including two fatalities. This marks a rise from the previous year's 60 incidents. The slain journalists were Suresh Rajak, a photojournalist with Avenues Television, who died after being trapped in a burning building during a protest in Kathmandu, and Suresh Bhul, a reporter for Sudurpati Online...
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Afghan Journalists Face Escalating Repression on World Press Freedom Day 2025
May 4, 2025
Afghan Journalists Face Escalating Repression on World Press Freedom Day 2025
May 04, 2025 - Afghanistan -  On World Press Freedom Day 2025, Afghan journalists highlighted the severe deterioration of media freedoms under Taliban rule, marked by increased censorship, arrests, and gender-based repression. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported a 58% rise in press freedom violations between May 2024 and May 2025, documenting 215 incidents, including 175 threats and 40 journalist arrests. Afghanistan now ranks 175th out of 180 countries in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, reflecting a persistently dire situation for media under Taliban rule. Journalists face economic hardship, limited access to information, and...
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Israeli Settlers Detain Palestinian Journalists and Activist Near Ramallah
May 4, 2025
Israeli Settlers Detain Palestinian Journalists and Activist Near Ramallah
May 04, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On May 3, 2025, in the village of Al-Mughayyir, northeast of Ramallah, a group of armed Israeli settlers detained three Palestinian journalists—Mohamed Turkman, Karim Khmaisah, and Ahmed al-Khatib—and local activist Rabie Abu Naim. The group was documenting settler activities and the demolition of tents in the area when the settlers intercepted them, blocked their vehicle, attempted to seize their car keys and cellphone, and issued death threats should they return. This incident is part of a broader pattern of increasing settler violence and harassment against Palestinians in the occupied...
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R100,000 reward offered as police commissioner urged to act in journalist’s disappearance
May 4, 2025
R100,000 reward offered as police commissioner urged to act in journalist’s disappearance
May 04, 2025 - Zimbabwe - The disappearance of journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner Zodwa Precious Mdhluli has entered its 75th day, prompting renewed efforts and increased pressure on law enforcement to resolve the case. The couple was last seen on February 18, 2025, departing their home in Mpumalanga in a white Volkswagen Citi Golf. Since then, there has been no trace of them or their vehicle. The lack of progress has led to growing frustration among their families and the media community. In response, the National Press Club (NPC) and the African...
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Italian Journalists Targeted by Spyware in Escalating Surveillance Scandal
May 4, 2025
Italian Journalists Targeted by Spyware in Escalating Surveillance Scandal
May 04, 2025 - Italy -  Recent reports have uncovered that multiple Italian journalists and activists have been targeted with advanced spyware, raising serious concerns about press freedom and government surveillance. In May 2025, Ciro Pellegrino, a journalist at the investigative outlet Fanpage, received a notification from Apple indicating his device had been compromised by "mercenary spyware." This follows a similar incident in January involving Fanpage's editor-in-chief, Francesco Cancellato, who WhatsApp informed of an attempted breach using spyware developed by Israeli company Paragon Solutions. The spyware, or Graphite, is a zero-click exploit capable of infiltrating...
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Silenced voices: The treacherous reality for journalists in Iraq
May 4, 2025
Silenced voices: The treacherous reality for journalists in Iraq
May 04, 2025 - Iraq -  As the world marks World Press Freedom Day, the situation in Iraq paints a troubling picture of a profession under threat. Ranked 169th out of 180 countries in the 2024 Press Freedom Index, Iraq has become one of the most perilous places for journalists, especially those investigating corruption, political power, and armed groups. The risks Iraqi journalists face are many: physical violence, online harassment, legal intimidation, and sometimes exile. Many reporters are forced to work anonymously or flee the country entirely, especially when covering sensitive topics like militia operations...
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Journalism Under Siege: The Deadly Reality Of Reporting From Ukraine’s Front Lines
May 3, 2025
Journalism Under Siege: The Deadly Reality Of Reporting From Ukraine’s Front Lines
May 03, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  Since Russia's full-scale invasion of Ukraine in February 2022, Ukrainian journalists have been operating under increasingly perilous conditions. The war has not only claimed the lives of numerous media professionals but has also subjected many to detention, torture, and other forms of repression.  According to the International Federation of Journalists, at least 117 media workers have been killed since the onset of the conflict. Among them was Viktoria Roshchyna, a 27-year-old journalist who died in Russian captivity in 2024. Her body, returned to Ukraine in early 2025, bore signs...
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CHR launches own probe of journalist’s slay
May 3, 2025
CHR launches own probe of journalist’s slay
May 03, 2025 - Philippines -  Veteran journalist and former Kalibo mayor Juan “Johnny” Dayang was fatally shot inside his residence in Barangay Andagao, Kalibo, Aklan, on the evening of April 29, 2025. The 89-year-old, who served as president emeritus of the Publishers Association of the Philippines Inc., was watching television when an unidentified assailant fired three bullets through his living room window. He was rushed to Dr. Rafael Tumbokon Memorial Hospital but was declared dead on arrival. In response to the killing, the Commission on Human Rights (CHR) launched an independent investigation, deploying a...
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In defense of press freedom, we demand an end to Israel’s genocide
May 3, 2025
In defense of press freedom, we demand an end to Israel’s genocide
May 03, 2025 - Palestine -  On World Press Freedom Day, over 50 media organizations worldwide issued a joint statement condemning Israel's ongoing military actions in Gaza and the West Bank, which have resulted in the deaths of more than 200 journalists since October 2023. The statement emphasizes that true press freedom cannot exist amid such violence and calls for an immediate end to what they describe as a genocidal assault on Palestinian territories.  The Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate reported that 210 Palestinian journalists have been killed in the last 17 months, with hundreds more wounded...
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CPJ: 2024 the deadliest year for journalists
May 3, 2025
CPJ: 2024 the deadliest year for journalists
May 03, 2025 - General - In 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recorded the highest number of journalist fatalities since it began tracking such data over three decades ago. At least 124 journalists and media workers were killed across 18 countries, marking a 22% increase from the previous year. The surge in deaths is largely attributed to the Israel-Gaza conflict, where 85 journalists—82 of them Palestinian—were killed by Israeli military actions. Freelance journalists were disproportionately affected, accounting for over one-third of the fatalities. In Gaza alone, 31 freelancers lost their lives, many stepping...
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OPINION: Monument to Cynicism: Russia Celebrates ‘Truth’ While Killing Journalists
May 3, 2025
OPINION: Monument to Cynicism: Russia Celebrates ‘Truth’ While Killing Journalists
May 03, 2025 - Ukraine - Independent journalism in Russia has faced escalating challenges, culminating in the arrest and sentencing of Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich. According to a report by the Shorenstein Center, the evolution of independent media in Russia has been marked by increasing state control and censorship, particularly since the late Soviet era. The report highlights that journalists who resist state narratives risk severe repercussions, including legal action and imprisonment. Gershkovich, a 32-year-old American journalist fluent in Russian, was detained in March 2023 during a reporting trip to Yekaterinburg. He was...
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If authoritarians are scared of journalists, we must be doing something right
May 3, 2025
If authoritarians are scared of journalists, we must be doing something right
May 03, 2025 - Ukraine - On World Press Freedom Day, Olga Rudenko, editor-in-chief of the Kyiv Independent, emphasized the critical role journalists play in challenging authoritarian regimes. She highlighted the tragic case of Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, who was detained and killed in Russian captivity while investigating torture chambers in occupied territories. Roshchyna's death underscores the lengths to which oppressive governments will go to silence those who seek to expose the truth. Rudenko argued that the targeting of journalists by authoritarian states is a testament to the impact and importance of their work. The...
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Sudanese Women Journalists Face Systematic Targeting Amid Ongoing Conflict
May 3, 2025
Sudanese Women Journalists Face Systematic Targeting Amid Ongoing Conflict
May 03, 2025 - Sudan -  Since the eruption of war in Sudan in April 2023, female journalists have been subjected to escalating threats, harassment, and violence, underscoring the perilous conditions for media professionals in conflict zones. Journalists like Samar Suleiman have faced online harassment, including doxxing and threats, after reporting on humanitarian issues. Suleiman received menacing messages via social media, with some accusing her of affiliations with armed groups, endangering her safety and that of her family. Similarly, journalist Al-Khazraji faced online abuse and threats following her coverage of deteriorating conditions in South Kordofan,...
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Journalists’ Union: A free and responsible press is true guarantee for Syria’s future
May 3, 2025
Journalists’ Union: A free and responsible press is true guarantee for Syria’s future
May 03, 2025 - Syria - In the wake of the Assad regime's fall, Syria stands at a pivotal juncture, grappling with the aftermath of mass killings and the imperative to forge a just and inclusive future. The United Nations reports that over 1,000 civilians were killed in recent violence, particularly affecting Alawite-majority areas, raising global concern and prompting calls for accountability. UN Special Envoy Geir O. Pedersen described the situation in Syria as "extremely fragile," emphasizing the necessity for genuine political inclusion, the establishment of the rule of law, and the conduct of free...
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Turkey: Legal control as a weapon against journalists
May 2, 2025
Turkey: Legal control as a weapon against journalists
May 02, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkey has escalated its use of legal mechanisms to suppress journalistic freedom, employing tactics such as house arrests, travel bans, and judicial controls to silence dissenting voices. These measures, initially intended as alternatives to pre-trial detention, have increasingly become punitive tools against journalists, often imposed for activities like social media posts or political commentary. Lawyer Veysel Ok criticizes this trend, noting that such restrictions are frequently applied without meeting the legal conditions for imprisonment, effectively sidelining journalists from their profession for extended periods. In a notable incident, journalists Timur...
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UK lawyer files new appeal at ECtHR for journalist jailed for 9 years over Gülen links
May 2, 2025
UK lawyer files new appeal at ECtHR for journalist jailed for 9 years over Gülen links
May 02, 2025 - Turkey -  A prominent British human rights lawyer has filed an expanded appeal at the European Court of Human Rights (ECtHR) on behalf of Turkish journalist Ali Ünal, who has been imprisoned for nearly nine years on terrorism charges related to alleged links with the Gülen movement. The appeal contends that Ünal's detention, trial, and ongoing incarceration violate multiple provisions of the European Convention on Human Rights. Ünal, 70, was a columnist for the now-defunct Zaman newspaper, which was shut down by the Turkish government following the 2016 coup attempt due...
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Hong Kong publisher tops ‘10 Most Urgent’ list of imprisoned journalists
May 2, 2025
Hong Kong publisher tops ‘10 Most Urgent’ list of imprisoned journalists
May 02, 2025 - Hong Kong -  Coinciding with World Press Freedom Day on May 3, the One Free Press Coalition released its annual "10 Most Urgent" list, spotlighting journalists worldwide who are unjustly imprisoned for their work. The 2025 list underscores a troubling global trend of governments criminalizing journalism, silencing media voices, and restricting public access to information. At the forefront is Jimmy Lai, founder of Hong Kong's pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily. Lai has been held in solitary confinement since 2020, facing charges under the National Security Law. His case exemplifies the erosion of...
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Maxine Peake on Playing Murdered Russian Reporter Anna Politkovskaya in ‘Words of War’ and the Film’s ‘Horrific’ Relevance: ‘2024 Was the Most Dangerous Year to Be a Journalist’
May 2, 2025
Maxine Peake on Playing Murdered Russian Reporter Anna Politkovskaya in ‘Words of War’ and the Film’s ‘Horrific’ Relevance: ‘2024 Was the Most Dangerous Year to Be a Journalist’
May 02, 2025 - General -  British actress Maxine Peake stars as the late Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya in the newly released biographical drama Words of War, directed by James Strong. The film, which premiered on May 2, 2025, coinciding with World Press Freedom Day, offers a poignant portrayal of Politkovskaya's fearless reporting during the Second Chechen War and her unwavering commitment to exposing human rights abuses under President Vladimir Putin's regime. A Tribute to Journalistic Courage Words of War chronicles Politkovskaya's journey as a correspondent for Novaya Gazeta, where she reported extensively on the...
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UN Human Rights Office – OPT: There can be no talk of a free press in the Occupied Palestinian Territory if journalists are being killed, and threatened for their work
May 2, 2025
UN Human Rights Office – OPT: There can be no talk of a free press in the Occupied Palestinian Territory if journalists are being killed, and threatened for their work
May 02, 2025 - General -  The international community is raising urgent alarms over the escalating attacks on journalists in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, particularly in Gaza, where over 170 journalists have been killed since October 2023. The United Nations Human Rights Office confirmed that many of the journalists were identifiable, wearing press vests and helmets, yet were still targeted, suggesting deliberate acts against members of the press. Leading human rights organizations, including Al-Haq and Al Mezan, have filed urgent appeals to the UN, demanding investigations into what they believe are war crimes committed by...
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Akuko Foundation Calls for Journalist Protection, Press Freedom on World Press Freedom Day
May 2, 2025
Akuko Foundation Calls for Journalist Protection, Press Freedom on World Press Freedom Day
May 02, 2025 - Nigeria -  On World Press Freedom Day, the Akuko Foundation, through its Programme Manager Victoria Ukpong, issued a strong call for enhanced protections for journalists in Nigeria and worldwide. In a press release, Ukpong highlighted the growing threats faced by media professionals, including harassment, arbitrary arrests, intimidation, and censorship, particularly in countries like Nigeria. She stressed that such actions not only endanger journalists’ lives but also erode democratic values and weaken public accountability. Ukpong emphasized that journalism is not a crime but a crucial pillar of democracy, essential for exposing corruption,...
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Myanmar journalist Than Htike Myint sentenced to 5 years in prison for terrorism
May 2, 2025
Myanmar journalist Than Htike Myint sentenced to 5 years in prison for terrorism
May 02, 2025 - Myanmar -  On April 3, 2025, journalist Than Htike Myint was sentenced to five years in prison by a court in Myanaung Township, Myanmar, under Section 52(a) of the Counterterrorism Law. The charges stemmed from alleged contacts with members of the rebel People's Defense Force found on his mobile phone—a connection his employer, Myaelatt Athan news agency, asserts was solely for journalistic purposes. This marks the second arrest for Than Htike Myint, who was previously detained briefly in 2021. His recent arrest occurred on February 6, 2025, at his home in...
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Morocco deports 2 journalists trying to enter Western Sahara
May 2, 2025
Morocco deports 2 journalists trying to enter Western Sahara
May 02, 2025 - Morocco -  In late April 2025, Moroccan authorities deported two Italian journalists, Matteo Garavoglia and Giovanni Colmoni, after they attempted to enter Laayoune, the principal city in Western Sahara, without official authorization. The journalists had previously tried to access the city via Hassan I Airport and subsequently by land, actions that Moroccan officials deemed violations of national sovereignty and legal procedures concerning visits to the southern provinces. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the expulsions, describing them as indicative of Morocco's ongoing efforts to suppress independent reporting in the disputed...
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CAIR Urges U.S. Media to Amplify Gaza Journalists’ Voices Amid Escalating Attacks
May 2, 2025
CAIR Urges U.S. Media to Amplify Gaza Journalists’ Voices Amid Escalating Attacks
May 02, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) has intensified its call for U.S. and international media outlets to condemn the systematic targeting of journalists in Gaza by Israeli forces. This plea follows the tragic death of Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna and ten of her family members in an Israeli airstrike on April 16, 2025. Hassouna, renowned for her poignant documentation of civilian life during the Gaza War, was also the subject of a documentary featured at the 2025 Cannes Film Festival.  CAIR asserts that these attacks are not isolated incidents...
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Gaza Declared World’s Deadliest Region for Journalists Amid Escalating Conflict
May 2, 2025
Gaza Declared World’s Deadliest Region for Journalists Amid Escalating Conflict
May 02, 2025 - Palestine -  Palestine has been named the most dangerous region globally for journalists, according to the 2025 World Press Freedom Index from Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The conflict in Gaza has led to a surge in journalist fatalities, with nearly 200 deaths reported over the past 18 months, 42 of which occurred while journalists were on duty. RSF has condemned the Israeli military for deliberately targeting journalists, highlighting the dire conditions media workers face in Gaza, including shortages of food and water, and the constant threat of attack. In addition to...
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Journalist who exposed Hamas link behind BBC Gaza documentary targeted by vandals
May 2, 2025
Journalist who exposed Hamas link behind BBC Gaza documentary targeted by vandals
May 02, 2025 - UK -  British investigative journalist David Collier, known for his work uncovering extremist affiliations, has been subjected to acts of vandalism and threats following his exposure of a BBC documentary's connection to Hamas. While Collier was in Israel, his wife discovered their car had been doused with a chemical substance outside their London home. This incident follows a previous attack where the vehicle was scratched along its side. The Metropolitan Police have classified the latest act as a racially aggravated offense. Collier has reported receiving frequent death threats, with one particularly...
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State-Led Threats Undermine Journalist Safety in Mexico and Honduras
May 2, 2025
State-Led Threats Undermine Journalist Safety in Mexico and Honduras
May 02, 2025 - Latin America -  In Mexico and Honduras, journalists are under constant threat not only from organized crime but increasingly from the state itself. Investigative reporter Humberto Padgett, who was attacked and robbed in September 2024 while reporting on drought in central Mexico, has since quit journalism after enduring years of threats, harassment, and government negligence, even while under an official protection program. Similarly, Wendy Funes, a Honduran journalist, has been subjected to bodyguard protection, cyberattacks, and sexist abuse for exposing corruption and links between officials and criminal gangs. Although both countries...
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Al Jazeera wins two Peabody Awards for documentaries on Gaza war carnage
May 1, 2025
Al Jazeera wins two Peabody Awards for documentaries on Gaza war carnage
May 01, 2025 - General  -  Al Jazeera Media Network has been recognized with two prestigious Peabody Awards for its compelling coverage of the Gaza conflict. The awards were announced on May 1, 2025, ahead of the 85th annual Peabody ceremony scheduled for June 1 in Los Angeles. The first award was bestowed upon the Al Jazeera English Fault Lines documentary "The Night Won’t End" in the News & Documentary category. This film delves into the harrowing realities faced by Palestinian families during the initial 15 months of the war, highlighting the relentless bombing campaigns,...
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Global Community Urges Release of Imprisoned Journalists on World Press Freedom Day
May 1, 2025
Global Community Urges Release of Imprisoned Journalists on World Press Freedom Day
May 01, 2025 - General -  On World Press Freedom Day, May 3, 2025, international organizations and advocacy groups highlighted the alarming rise in journalist imprisonments worldwide, calling for immediate action to protect press freedom. In the United States, press freedom has reached a historic low, now categorized as "problematic" by Reporters Without Borders. This decline reflects broader global trends, with more than half the world’s population living in countries with little or no press freedom, where practicing journalism is increasingly dangerous. In the Middle East, particularly in Gaza and the West Bank, journalists face...
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U.S. Intensifies Efforts to Find Journalist Austin Tice Amid Shifting Syrian Landscape
May 1, 2025
U.S. Intensifies Efforts to Find Journalist Austin Tice Amid Shifting Syrian Landscape
May 01, 2025 - US -  The United States has renewed its search for journalist Austin Tice, who was abducted in Syria in 2012, following recent political changes and new intelligence suggesting he may still be alive. In a notable development, a former high-ranking Syrian security official, once part of the Assad regime, reportedly met with U.S. agents in Beirut. This official, previously in exile, is believed to possess crucial information about Tice’s case and may be cooperating to provide leads regarding his whereabouts. Meanwhile, advocacy groups involved in hostage negotiations have expressed confidence that...
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Jineth Bedoya Ends 25-Year Legal Battle for Justice in Colombia
May 1, 2025
Jineth Bedoya Ends 25-Year Legal Battle for Justice in Colombia
May 01, 2025 - Colombia -  Journalist Jineth Bedoya has ended her 25-year-long legal fight for justice following her abduction, rape, and torture in Colombia in 2000. Despite her efforts to hold those responsible accountable, including a landmark case before the Inter-American Court of Human Rights, Bedoya cited state negligence and failure to protect her as the primary reasons for her decision to walk away from the case. In 2000, Bedoya was abducted by armed men while investigating a story about illegal arms trafficking. She was held captive, raped, and tortured. Despite identifying the perpetrators,...
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Italian Journalist Targeted by Spyware Sparks National and International Outcry
May 1, 2025
Italian Journalist Targeted by Spyware Sparks National and International Outcry
May 01, 2025 - Italy -  In early 2025, Italian investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato, editor-in-chief of Fanpage.it, was notified by WhatsApp that his phone had been compromised by Graphite spyware, developed by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions. This military-grade spyware can infiltrate devices without user interaction, accessing encrypted messages and sensitive data. Cancellato, known for exposing neo-fascist elements within Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s Brothers of Italy party, expressed feeling “violated” but refrained from speculating on the perpetrators. The breach wasn't isolated. Luca Casarini, founder of the migrant rescue NGO Mediterranea Saving Humans, also received a similar...
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Syrian Authorities Confirm Mistaken Detention of Journalists Akram Saleh and Judy Haj Ali
May 1, 2025
Syrian Authorities Confirm Mistaken Detention of Journalists Akram Saleh and Judy Haj Ali
May 01, 2025 - Syria -  Syrian authorities have confirmed the mistaken detention of journalists Akram Saleh and Judy Haj Ali, who were briefly held while covering unrest in Ashrafiyat Sahnaya, a suburb southwest of Damascus. The journalists, affiliated with Iraq-based Channel 8, lost contact with their team on the evening of April 30, 2025, amid ongoing clashes in the area. The Syrian Ministry of Information issued a statement acknowledging the incident, clarifying that the detention was not intentional. The journalists were reportedly released after 24 hours, and their equipment was returned. The Ministry expressed...
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Why Whistleblowers Need Allies Like Lawyers and Journalists to Expose Corruption
May 1, 2025
Why Whistleblowers Need Allies Like Lawyers and Journalists to Expose Corruption
May 01, 2025 - Source: General -  In the ongoing battle against corruption, the collaboration between whistleblowers and journalists has proven to be a formidable force. Whistleblowers, often insiders with access to critical information, rely on journalists to bring their disclosures to the public eye, ensuring transparency and accountability. Organizations like the Government Accountability Project emphasize the importance of this partnership, providing resources and guides to help journalists navigate the complexities of working with whistleblowers. These resources aim to protect both parties, ensuring that whistleblowers can safely share information without fear of retaliation, and journalists...
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Lebanon Honors Fallen Journalists on Press Martyrs’ Day Amid Calls for Justice
May 1, 2025
Lebanon Honors Fallen Journalists on Press Martyrs’ Day Amid Calls for Justice
May 01, 2025 - Lebanon -  On May 6, Lebanon commemorated Press Martyrs' Day, honoring journalists who have lost their lives in the line of duty. President Joseph Aoun emphasized that true loyalty to the sacrifices of fallen journalists lies in preserving national unity and building a strong state that safeguards the dignity of its people. He described journalism's martyrs as symbols of Lebanon's unyielding will that refuses submission and defeat, reaffirming his commitment to pursuing a Lebanon rooted in justice, equality, and honor. Prime Minister Nawaf Salam also paid tribute to the journalists who...
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Maltese Journalists Form Union to Defend Rights and Strengthen Democracy
May 1, 2025
Maltese Journalists Form Union to Defend Rights and Strengthen Democracy
May 01, 2025 - General -  Journalists in Malta have taken a major step toward workplace empowerment and press freedom by officially forming a union through the Institute of Maltese Journalists (IĠM). This marks a turning point in the country's media sector, where concerns about exploitation, low wages, and burnout have been mounting for years. The IĠM, which began in 1989 as The Malta Press Club and rebranded in 2004, has now legally registered as a trade union to provide better protection and representation for media workers. This transformation responds to long-standing issues including long...
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Crackdown on Journalists Intensifies Amid Israel-Gaza Conflict
April 30, 2025
Crackdown on Journalists Intensifies Amid Israel-Gaza Conflict
April 30, 2025 - Palestine/israel -  The Israel-Gaza conflict has escalated into one of the most dangerous situations for journalists in the world, with a surge in violence, censorship, and systematic suppression of the press. Since the start of the war on October 7, 2023, at least 176 journalists and media workers have been killed, the vast majority of them Palestinians reporting from Gaza. This toll represents one of the highest numbers of journalist deaths in a single conflict in modern history. Beyond fatalities, journalists continue to face an environment filled with intimidation, obstruction, and...
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Global Initiatives Intensify to Safeguard Journalists Amid Rising Threats
April 30, 2025
Global Initiatives Intensify to Safeguard Journalists Amid Rising Threats
April 30, 2025 - Nepal -  International efforts to improve journalist safety are expanding, but the scale of threats remains alarming. From physical violence to digital harassment, reporters across the globe face growing dangers while carrying out their work. The United Nations has marked progress through its decade-old Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists, which has been implemented in over 160 countries. Since 2012, more than 50 national mechanisms have been established, training tens of thousands of judges, security officers, and media professionals. These initiatives have led to a slight decline in the...
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EU Officials Recognize Journalism as Pillar of Security and Democratic Resilience
April 30, 2025
EU Officials Recognize Journalism as Pillar of Security and Democratic Resilience
April 30, 2025 - Europe -  On April 27, 2025, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) coalition met with European Commission Executive Vice-President Henna Virkkunen to address mounting threats to journalism across Europe. The discussion underscored the vital role of resilient journalism in the EU’s defense and preparedness agenda, particularly amid rising digital threats, economic pressures, and the disruptive influence of artificial intelligence. Commissioner Virkkunen acknowledged journalism as essential infrastructure for democratic stability and security. She expressed concern over the financial fragility of independent media, exacerbated by declining public funding and the dominance of tech...
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Reporting from exile: Azerbaijani journalists confront new realities and old fears
April 30, 2025
Reporting from exile: Azerbaijani journalists confront new realities and old fears
April 30, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  An increasing number of journalists are being forced into exile due to escalating crackdowns on press freedom in their home countries. Azerbaijani journalists, for instance, continue to report on corruption and human rights abuses from abroad, despite facing surveillance, digital attacks, and threats to their families. Their commitment underscores the resilience of exiled media in the face of authoritarian repression. Globally, the trend is alarming. In 2023 alone, at least 460 journalists from 62 countries received financial assistance to flee their nations, nearly double the number from the previous...
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Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Pakistan’s Most Dangerous Province for Journalists, Reveals Alarming Report Ahead of World Press Freedom Day
April 30, 2025
Khyber Pakhtunkhwa: Pakistan’s Most Dangerous Province for Journalists, Reveals Alarming Report Ahead of World Press Freedom Day
April 30, 2025 - Pakistan -  Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has been identified as the most perilous region for journalists in Pakistan, with a significant number of threats and attacks documented in recent reports. Between May 2024 and April 2025, five journalists were killed nationwide, including two in KP, highlighting the escalating risks faced by media professionals in the province. The Freedom Network's annual report indicates that KP accounted for 22 documented cases of threats and violence against journalists, surpassing other regions such as Islamabad and Punjab. These incidents encompass a range of abuses, including physical...
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Kyrgyz Journalist Kanyshai Mamyrkulova Faces Legal Persecution Amidst Press Freedom Concerns
April 30, 2025
Kyrgyz Journalist Kanyshai Mamyrkulova Faces Legal Persecution Amidst Press Freedom Concerns
April 30, 2025 - Russia -  Kanyshai Mamyrkulova, an independent journalist from Kyrgyzstan, has been subjected to escalating legal actions following her detention on March 20, 2025. Authorities charged her under Article 278 of the Criminal Code for allegedly inciting mass unrest and ethnic discord through her social media posts, which were critical of the government's handling of the Kyrgyz-Tajik border situation. After her arrest, a district court in Bishkek ordered the seizure of her residence, reportedly her only home, raising concerns about potential retaliation against her journalistic activities. Despite calls from international human rights...
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Iranian-French Journalist Shahin Hazamy Detained in France Over Pro-Palestinian Activism
April 30, 2025
Iranian-French Journalist Shahin Hazamy Detained in France Over Pro-Palestinian Activism
April 30, 2025 - Iran/France -  Shahin Hazamy, a French-Iranian freelance journalist known for his pro-Palestinian activism, was detained by French authorities on April 22, 2025. The arrest occurred at his Paris residence, where a team of masked security officers reportedly broke into his home in the early morning hours, arresting him in front of his wife and two young children. Hazamy has been charged with "apologie du terrorisme" (praise of terrorism), a criminal offense in France, due to his social media posts expressing support for Palestinian and Lebanese resistance groups and his condemnation of...
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Israel Detains 49 Palestinian Journalists Since October 2024, Rights Groups Report
April 30, 2025
Israel Detains 49 Palestinian Journalists Since October 2024, Rights Groups Report
April 30, 2025 - Iran -  Israel has detained 49 Palestinian journalists since October 7, 2024, marking a significant escalation in the repression of press freedom in the occupied Palestinian territories. These detentions come amid heightened military operations following the October 7 attack by Hamas, which sparked renewed violence and unrest in Gaza and the West Bank. Rights organizations, including the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have condemned the widespread targeting of journalists, claiming that Israel is using imprisonment and harassment to silence critical reporting. Among the detained journalists, many face...
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Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Sentenced in Turkey Amid Alleged Press Freedom Violations
April 30, 2025
Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Sentenced in Turkey Amid Alleged Press Freedom Violations
April 30, 2025 - Sweden/Turkey -  Swedish journalist Joakim Medin was sentenced to an 11-month suspended prison term by a Turkish court on charges of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. Medin, who works for the Swedish outlet Dagens ETC, was arrested on March 27, 2025, upon arriving in Istanbul to report on protests related to the arrest of Turkish opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The charges against him stem from a 2023 protest in Stockholm, where an effigy of Erdoğan was displayed. Medin denies having participated in the protest, claiming he was in Germany at the...
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Trump’s First 100 Days Mark Escalating Press Freedom Concerns in the U.S.
April 30, 2025
Trump’s First 100 Days Mark Escalating Press Freedom Concerns in the U.S.
April 30, 2025 - USA -  In the first 100 days of President Donald Trump's second term, press freedom in the United States has faced significant challenges, according to multiple reports. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) highlights that the administration's actions have created a chilling effect, threatening the availability of independent, fact-based news for vast swaths of America's population. These measures include targeted attacks against journalists and news organizations, regulatory abuse, and access issues for journalists reporting in the U.S. Additionally, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports that press freedom in the U.S. has reached...
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Journalism in Bangladesh : Ask questions, lose your job
April 30, 2025
Journalism in Bangladesh : Ask questions, lose your job
April 30, 2025 - Bangladesh -  In a concerning escalation of press repression, Bangladesh's interim government has intensified its crackdown on journalists, particularly those questioning official narratives. Recent reports indicate that three prominent television journalists were dismissed after posing critical questions during a government press conference, leading to the indefinite suspension of their news division. Journalists have faced criminal charges, including fabricated accusations of murder. Additionally, press cards have been revoked, bank accounts frozen, and travel bans imposed, with women journalists being particularly vulnerable. The government's response to these developments has been to establish a...
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Veteran Filipino Journalist Johnny Dayang Shot Dead, Sparking Outrage and Demands for Justice
April 30, 2025
Veteran Filipino Journalist Johnny Dayang Shot Dead, Sparking Outrage and Demands for Justice
April 30, 2025 - Philippines -  The killing of veteran Filipino journalist Johnny Dayang in Aklan has sent shockwaves through the media community in the Philippines, reigniting fears over press safety and prompting urgent calls for a thorough investigation. Dayang, aged 75, was gunned down inside his home in Banga, Aklan, on May 7. He died at the scene from multiple gunshot wounds, while his assistant sustained injuries and was rushed to the hospital. Dayang had a long career in media, having served as a publisher, columnist, and former president of the Publishers Association of...
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Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Sentenced in Turkey for “Insulting” President Erdoğan
April 30, 2025
Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Sentenced in Turkey for “Insulting” President Erdoğan
April 30, 2025 - Sweden/Turkey -  Swedish journalist Joakim Medin has been sentenced by a Turkish court to 15 months in prison, suspended for five years, after being found guilty of “insulting the president,” a charge that has been frequently used against critics of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan. The ruling has sparked renewed concern over press freedom and freedom of expression in Turkey, as well as diplomatic unease between Ankara and Stockholm. Medin, a freelance reporter with extensive experience covering Turkish and Kurdish issues, was charged under Article 299 of Turkey’s penal code. The case...
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Bangladeshi Journalists Fired for Asking Critical Questions Amid Growing Press Clampdown
April 30, 2025
Bangladeshi Journalists Fired for Asking Critical Questions Amid Growing Press Clampdown
April 30, 2025 - Bangladesh -  In a stark reminder of the growing threats to media freedom in Bangladesh, at least three journalists have recently been dismissed and another suspended after posing pointed questions at a government press conference regarding the July uprising. The backlash has sparked widespread concern among press freedom advocates and underscored the increasingly hostile climate for critical journalism in the country. The incident occurred during a press briefing in Dhaka, where journalists raised concerns about the government's handling of protests that erupted in July over economic grievances, governance issues, and allegations...
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On World Press Freedom Day 2025, Focus Turns to Journalists in Exile and the Fight for Truth
April 30, 2025
On World Press Freedom Day 2025, Focus Turns to Journalists in Exile and the Fight for Truth
April 30, 2025 - General -  As the world marked World Press Freedom Day 2025, attention turned to the growing number of journalists forced into exile for doing their jobs. Celebrated annually on May 3, this year’s theme—centered on the role of journalism in helping society “see the full picture”—highlighted the essential nature of independent reporting in democratic life, especially as threats against journalists continue to rise globally. Organizations like the Rory Peck Trust and Global Voices spotlighted the struggles of reporters who have had to flee their home countries due to threats, imprisonment, censorship,...
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New Film Rekindles Spotlight on Anna Politkovskaya’s Legacy and Ongoing Dangers for Journalists
April 30, 2025
New Film Rekindles Spotlight on Anna Politkovskaya’s Legacy and Ongoing Dangers for Journalists
April 30, 2025 - General - A renewed focus on the life and death of Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya is emerging nearly two decades after her assassination, driven by a powerful new film and a broader reckoning with the threats faced by journalists worldwide. The film Words of War, set to release in theaters this summer, dramatizes Politkovskaya’s unflinching reporting and the oppressive climate in which she worked, offering both a tribute to her courage and a warning about the current state of global press freedom. Politkovskaya, a renowned war correspondent for Novaya Gazeta, was...
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Veteran Filipino Journalist Johnny Dayang Shot Dead in His Home in Kalibo
April 29, 2025
Veteran Filipino Journalist Johnny Dayang Shot Dead in His Home in Kalibo
April 29, 2025 - Philippines -  Prominent Filipino journalist and former local official Johnny “Juan” Dayang was fatally shot on April 29, 2025, in his home in Kalibo, Aklan, sending shockwaves through the Philippine media community and drawing renewed attention to the persistent danger journalists face in the country. Dayang, 75, was a well-known figure in the journalism scene. He was the longtime publisher of The Bugalion, a regional publication known for its hard-hitting commentary and political coverage. He also served as the president of the Publishers Association of the Philippines and was a former...
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World Press Freedom Day 3 May
April 29, 2025
World Press Freedom Day 3 May
April 29, 2025 - Source: UN -  Freedom of expression in the face of the AI revolution The rapid growth and use of Artificial Intelligence (AI) is changing journalism, the media, and press freedom in big ways. While the principles of free, independent, and pluralistic media remain crucial, AI's impact on information gathering, processing, and dissemination is profound, presenting both innovative opportunities and serious challenges. AI can help support freedom of expression by making information easier to access, allowing more people to communicate across the world, and changing how information flows globally. At the same...
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Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna Dies in Russian Custody After Torture
April 29, 2025
Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna Dies in Russian Custody After Torture
April 29, 2025 - Ukaraine - Viktoriia Roshchyna, a Ukrainian journalist, tragically died in Russian custody after enduring horrific torture. Captured in August 2023 while investigating detention sites in Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia, Roshchyna was held for over a year before her body was returned to Ukraine in February 2025. The 28-year-old journalist, known for her courageous reporting, was tortured in captivity, with forensic examinations revealing numerous signs of electrocution, broken bones, and missing organs. Russian authorities had kept Roshchyna in harsh conditions during her detention, and her body was returned with significant mutilations. The absence of...
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Greece Faces Crisis in Press Freedom Amid Political Control and Threats to Journalists
April 29, 2025
Greece Faces Crisis in Press Freedom Amid Political Control and Threats to Journalists
April 29, 2025 - Greece -  Recent developments in Greece have raised significant concerns regarding press freedom, as the country faces mounting pressure from political control, corrupt funding, and increasing threats to journalists. According to reports, the media landscape in Greece is rapidly deteriorating due to the growing influence of political elites on major media outlets. This influence has led to biased reporting and a lack of critical journalism, further undermining the integrity of the press. In addition to political interference, journalists in Greece are facing direct threats, including harassment, surveillance, and violence. The case...
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Bolivian Journalists Confront Rising Censorship and Threats to Press Freedom
April 29, 2025
Bolivian Journalists Confront Rising Censorship and Threats to Press Freedom
April 29, 2025 - Bolivia -  Bolivian journalists are increasingly facing censorship, self-censorship, and direct threats, raising alarms about the state of press freedom in the country. A study by researcher Virginie Poyetton revealed that over half of Bolivian journalists have experienced censorship or self-censorship during their careers. The primary sources of this suppression include government authorities and private advertisers, with topics such as corruption and government actions being particularly sensitive. Additionally, 85% of journalists reported difficulties accessing official sources, especially the police and armed forces, further hindering their ability to report freely. The National...
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Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Faces Terrorism Charges in Turkey Amid Press Freedom Concerns
April 29, 2025
Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Faces Terrorism Charges in Turkey Amid Press Freedom Concerns
April 29, 2025 - Sweden/Turkey -  Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, known for his reporting on Kurdish issues and conflict zones, was arrested in Turkey on March 27, 2025, upon arrival at Istanbul Airport. He was there to cover nationwide protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Turkish authorities charged Medin with "insulting the president" and "membership in a terrorist organization," citing his alleged involvement in a 2023 protest in Stockholm where an effigy of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan was displayed. Medin denies any participation in the protest, stating he was in Germany at...
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Azerbaijan Faces International Calls to Release Detained Journalists and Activists
April 29, 2025
Azerbaijan Faces International Calls to Release Detained Journalists and Activists
April 29, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijan is under mounting international pressure to release journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society activists detained in a recent crackdown on dissent. Amnesty International and the Council of Europe have both issued urgent appeals, citing politically motivated charges and a deteriorating environment for free expression. According to Amnesty International, the Azerbaijani government has intensified its repression of critical voices, particularly following the announcement that Baku would host the UN Climate Change Conference (COP29). Since then, over a dozen journalists and activists have been arrested or forced into exile,...
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Crackdown on Palestinian Press: Israeli Forces Arrest Veteran Journalist and Obstruct Media Access in Nablus
April 29, 2025
Crackdown on Palestinian Press: Israeli Forces Arrest Veteran Journalist and Obstruct Media Access in Nablus
April 29, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Israeli forces have intensified their clampdown on Palestinian journalists in the occupied West Bank, most recently arresting a prominent Palestinian journalist in the city of Nablus and blocking press access during a military operation. On April 10, journalist Mohammad al-Khatib, a well-known reporter in the region, was arrested by Israeli forces during a raid in Nablus. Al-Khatib, who has covered numerous events in the West Bank over the years, was reportedly detained without charge, sparking concern among human rights groups and media watchdogs. His arrest marks yet another incident...
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Pakistani analysts, journalists banned on Indian TV channels
April 29, 2025
Pakistani analysts, journalists banned on Indian TV channels
April 29, 2025 - Pakistan/India -  In the aftermath of the April 22 terrorist attack in Pahalgam, Jammu and Kashmir, which resulted in the deaths of 26 Hindu civilians, India has implemented a series of stringent measures targeting Pakistani media and analysts. These actions are part of a broader strategy to counter what the Indian government describes as a surge in misinformation and provocative content originating from Pakistan. Ban on Pakistani Analysts and Journalists The Indian government has prohibited the appearance of Pakistani analysts and journalists on Indian television channels. Media outlets have been directed...
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Nigeria’s PenCom Targets ₦1.3bn Pension Debt Owed to Journalists by Newspapers
April 29, 2025
Nigeria’s PenCom Targets ₦1.3bn Pension Debt Owed to Journalists by Newspapers
April 29, 2025 - Nigeria - Nigeria’s National Pension Commission (PenCom) has launched a major enforcement initiative to recover ₦1.3 billion in unpaid pension contributions owed to journalists by various newspaper organisations across the country. This move is in response to persistent non-compliance by media employers with pension remittance obligations, despite statutory requirements under the Pension Reform Act of 2014. According to PenCom, the commission has deployed recovery agents to pursue outstanding remittances from defaulting media houses. These agents are tasked with auditing the records of the defaulting organisations and initiating recovery measures where necessary....
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Debayan Roy’s Aadhaar Sting: A Legal Crossroads for Press Freedom and Public Interest
April 29, 2025
Debayan Roy’s Aadhaar Sting: A Legal Crossroads for Press Freedom and Public Interest
April 29, 2025 - General -  In 2017, journalist Debayan Roy conducted a sting operation to expose vulnerabilities in India's Aadhaar enrollment system. By demonstrating that an individual could obtain multiple Aadhaar numbers using the same biometric data, Roy highlighted significant flaws in the system. However, this act led to criminal charges against him under the Aadhaar Act and sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including impersonation and conspiracy. The case has since become a focal point in debates over journalistic freedom and the legal boundaries of investigative reporting. Roy's defense argues that his...
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Pakistan Condemns India’s Ban on Media and YouTube Channels Over Pahalgam Attack Narrative
April 29, 2025
Pakistan Condemns India’s Ban on Media and YouTube Channels Over Pahalgam Attack Narrative
April 29, 2025 - Pakistan/India -  Pakistan has strongly condemned India's recent decision to block several Pakistani media YouTube channels and ban the appearance of Pakistani journalists and analysts on Indian television. The action was taken following the fallout from coverage related to the Pahalgam attack in India, which Pakistan claims was inaccurately portrayed and misrepresented in Indian media. According to Pakistani authorities, at least 16 YouTube channels and several media outlets were blocked by India for what it claimed was the spread of misinformation. However, Pakistani officials, including Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, argue that...
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Five Afghan Journalists Honored with 2025 ‘Journalist of the Year’ Award
April 29, 2025
Five Afghan Journalists Honored with 2025 ‘Journalist of the Year’ Award
April 29, 2025 - Afghanistan -  In a significant recognition of journalistic courage and excellence, five Afghan journalists have been jointly awarded the 2025 "Journalist of the Year" title by the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC). This accolade acknowledges their unwavering commitment to press freedom and their impactful reporting under challenging circumstances. Award Recipients: Sadaf Haidari: A freelance journalist known for her in-depth investigative pieces highlighting social issues affecting Afghan communities. Arifullah Wahidi: A reporter for Amu TV, Wahidi has been instrumental in covering political developments and providing nuanced analyses of Afghanistan's evolving landscape. Mohammad Yousuf...
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Assault on Kenyan Photojournalist Sparks Outrage and Demands for Reform
April 29, 2025
Assault on Kenyan Photojournalist Sparks Outrage and Demands for Reform
April 29, 2025 - Kenya -  A recent violent attack on seasoned photojournalist Chris Omollo has ignited widespread condemnation from media professionals, sports bodies, and rights advocates across Kenya. Omollo, who works with Nation Media Group, was allegedly assaulted by a police officer at Dandora Stadium on April 27, 2025. He was covering a Football Kenya Federation Premier League match between Gor Mahia and Mara Sugar when he was struck on the back of the head while attempting to access the venue, causing him to collapse and later require hospitalization. The incident has brought renewed...
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BBC’s ‘Blood Parliament’ Documentary Sparks National Debate and Government Backlash in Kenya
April 29, 2025
BBC’s ‘Blood Parliament’ Documentary Sparks National Debate and Government Backlash in Kenya
April 29, 2025 - Kenya -  The release of the BBC Africa Eye documentary Blood Parliament has ignited a national debate in Kenya, exposing alleged police and military involvement in the fatal shootings of unarmed protesters during the June 25, 2024, anti-Finance Bill demonstrations. The 35-minute film, which aired on April 27, 2025, presents detailed evidence, including footage and eyewitness accounts, implicating security forces in the deaths of at least three young demonstrators outside Parliament. The documentary's revelations have been met with a divided response. The Kenya Union of Journalists (KUJ) praised the BBC for...
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Arrest of Veteran Palestinian Journalist Ali al-Samoudi Highlights Press Freedom Concerns
April 29, 2025
Arrest of Veteran Palestinian Journalist Ali al-Samoudi Highlights Press Freedom Concerns
April 29, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The recent arrest of veteran Palestinian journalist Ali al-Samoudi by Israeli forces has intensified concerns over press freedom in the occupied territories. Al-Samoudi, known for his extensive reporting on Israeli military operations in the West Bank, was detained during a pre-dawn raid on his home in Jenin on April 29, 2025. The Israeli military alleges his affiliation with the Palestinian Islamic Jihad and involvement in fund transfers, though no evidence has been publicly presented. His family and colleagues vehemently deny these claims, emphasizing his longstanding commitment to journalism. This...
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Albanian Constitutional Court Upholds Press Freedom in Landmark Ruling for Journalist Elton Qyno
April 29, 2025
Albanian Constitutional Court Upholds Press Freedom in Landmark Ruling for Journalist Elton Qyno
April 29, 2025 - Albania - In a significant victory for press freedom, the Constitutional Court of Albania ruled unanimously on April 22, 2025, in favor of investigative journalist Elton Qyno, overturning previous court decisions that had authorized the seizure of his electronic equipment and data. The Court found that the actions taken by the Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) violated constitutional protections of freedom of expression and the confidentiality of journalistic sources. The case began in December 2023 when SPAK seized Qyno's personal and professional devices following his publication of articles...
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Innovative QR Code Campaign Empowers Public to Support Investigative Journalism
April 29, 2025
Innovative QR Code Campaign Empowers Public to Support Investigative Journalism
April 29, 2025 - General -  In April 2025, Forbidden Stories, a non-profit organization dedicated to continuing the work of journalists silenced by threats or assassination, launched a groundbreaking campaign in collaboration with creative agency VML. The initiative centers around a minimalist yet powerful tool: a QR code designed to mobilize public support for press freedom. The campaign's core message, "Killing the messenger will not kill the message," underscores Forbidden Stories' mission to ensure that the investigations of murdered journalists are not buried with them. By scanning the QR code featured on stark, black-and-white visuals,...
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Russian Heating Scandal and Press Freedom Advocacy Highlight Tensions in the Arctic
April 29, 2025
Russian Heating Scandal and Press Freedom Advocacy Highlight Tensions in the Arctic
April 29, 2025 - Russia -  A heating crisis at a key Russian military base and renewed calls for global press freedom have drawn attention to accountability and transparency issues in the Arctic and beyond. In early 2025, a heating system breakdown at the Sputnik naval infantry base in the Murmansk region left families of Russia’s 61st Naval Infantry Brigade enduring near-freezing indoor temperatures during the harsh Arctic winter. The former head of the military’s utility contractor PromVoenStroy, Armen Arshakyan, was found responsible for the crisis and fined a mere 5,000 rubles (about €54), sparking...
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Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna Tortured and Killed in Russian Captivity
April 29, 2025
Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna Tortured and Killed in Russian Captivity
April 29, 2025 - Ukraine -  Ukrainian investigative journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna has become a tragic symbol of the growing dangers faced by reporters in conflict zones, after confirmation that she was tortured and killed while held in Russian captivity. Roshchyna, who was just 27 years old, had built her reputation by courageously reporting from areas occupied by Russian forces, including Crimea and parts of the Donbas. She was abducted by Russian troops in August 2023 near the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant while investigating conditions in occupied territories. For over a year, her whereabouts remained unknown....
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Sushmita S. Preetha Advocates for Women’s Rights and Safety in Journalism
April 29, 2025
Sushmita S. Preetha Advocates for Women’s Rights and Safety in Journalism
April 29, 2025 - General - At the 69th session of the Commission on the Status of Women (CSW69) in March 2025, a pivotal event called “For ALL Women and Girls: The Beijing+30 Action Agenda” set the stage for a renewed commitment to advancing women’s rights globally. The event, hosted by UN Women, focused on addressing key challenges faced by women worldwide, including the alarming issues of safety, equality, and gender-based violence. One of the key advocates during this event was Sushmita S. Preetha, a prominent journalist from Bangladesh, who emphasized the critical need for...
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Iranian Journalists Face Increased Pressure Following Deadly Port Explosion
April 29, 2025
Iranian Journalists Face Increased Pressure Following Deadly Port Explosion
April 29, 2025 - Iran -  In April 2025, a deadly explosion at a major port in southern Iran escalated concerns about press freedom in the country, with Iranian journalists reporting increasing pressure and censorship from authorities. The explosion, which occurred at the Shahid Rajaei Port, resulted in numerous casualties and extensive damage, triggering a widespread government crackdown on media coverage. Journalists have reported being muzzled by Iranian authorities, who have sought to suppress information surrounding the blast and its aftermath. While initial reports suggested a possible industrial accident, journalists began to raise questions about...
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Colombia Acknowledges State Responsibility for 1991 Murders of El Espectador Journalists
April 29, 2025
Colombia Acknowledges State Responsibility for 1991 Murders of El Espectador Journalists
April 29, 2025 - Colombia -  In a landmark development, the Colombian government has officially acknowledged its responsibility for the 1991 murders of two journalists from El Espectador, Julio Chaparro and Jorge Torres. This recognition marks a significant step in addressing the longstanding issue of impunity in cases involving the deaths of journalists in Colombia. The murders occurred during a period of intense violence and threats against the press, particularly those reporting on drug cartels and organized crime. Chaparro and Torres were known for their investigative journalism, which brought them into conflict with powerful criminal...
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Global Observances of World Press Freedom Day 2025 Highlight Pressing Challenges and Advocacy Efforts
April 29, 2025
Global Observances of World Press Freedom Day 2025 Highlight Pressing Challenges and Advocacy Efforts
April 29, 2025 - Ghana  -  World Press Freedom Day 2025, observed on May 3, underscored the critical need to safeguard press freedom amidst escalating threats to journalists worldwide. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliates organized various events to commemorate the day and address pressing issues affecting the media landscape. In Brussels, the IFJ, in collaboration with the Palestinian Journalists' Syndicate, Saudi Journalists Association, Syrian Journalists Association, and Yemeni Journalists' Syndicate, hosted an event titled "Stop the Killing of Journalists in the World’s Deadliest War Zones." This gathering aimed to draw attention...
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Public Service Media Unite on World Press Freedom Day to Defend Journalism Amid Rising Threats
April 29, 2025
Public Service Media Unite on World Press Freedom Day to Defend Journalism Amid Rising Threats
April 29, 2025 - Geeneral -  On World Press Freedom Day 2025, public service media organizations worldwide united to reaffirm their commitment to independent journalism and press freedom. The European Broadcasting Union (EBU) and the Public Media Alliance (PMA) highlighted the escalating challenges faced by journalists and media institutions globally, emphasizing the critical role of public service media (PSM) in upholding democratic values. The EBU, in its statement, underscored the vital role of public service broadcasters in delivering quality news that matters to audiences. Amidst the growing pressures from misinformation and polarized politics, public service...
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Journalists who have died in 2025 as of April 29
April 29, 2025
Journalists who have died in 2025 as of April 29
April 29, 2025 - Kenya -  As of April 2025, the global journalism community has been struck by a concerning wave of fatalities. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has confirmed the deaths of six journalists worldwide, many of whom were killed in conflict zones. These deaths, driven by targeted violence and the dangerous environment in war-torn regions, highlight the relentless risks journalists face in their efforts to report truthfully from unstable territories. The CPJ meticulously tracks and categorizes these incidents based on the confirmed motives behind each death, providing a vital resource for advocating...
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Taliban Commander Pleads Guilty to 2008 Abduction of U.S. Journalist
April 29, 2025
Taliban Commander Pleads Guilty to 2008 Abduction of U.S. Journalist
April 29, 2025 - USA -  In a long-awaited legal development, former Taliban commander Haji Najibullah has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to orchestrating the 2008 kidnapping of American journalist David Rohde and two Afghan colleagues. Rohde, a reporter for The New York Times at the time, was abducted in Logar Province, Afghanistan, while researching Taliban operations. He was held for over seven months before escaping captivity in Pakistan in June 2009. Najibullah, 49, was extradited to the United States from Ukraine in 2020 and charged with multiple terrorism-related offenses. His guilty plea,...
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Yemeni-Dutch Journalist Musab al-Hattami Killed in Houthi Drone Strike
April 28, 2025
Yemeni-Dutch Journalist Musab al-Hattami Killed in Houthi Drone Strike
April 28, 2025 - Yemen -  On April 26, 2025, Musab al-Hattami, a Yemeni-Dutch journalist and filmmaker, was tragically killed in a Houthi drone strike near Marib, Yemen. Al-Hattami, who had returned to Yemen to document the realities of life in his family’s hometown, was targeted in the attack while working on a documentary. His brother, photographer Suhaib al-Hattami, was also injured in the strike. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the attack, calling attention to the escalating dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones. Al-Hattami’s death highlights the ongoing threats journalists encounter in Yemen,...
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Peru’s New Law Sparks Outcry Over Press Freedom and Civil Society Restrictions
April 28, 2025
Peru’s New Law Sparks Outcry Over Press Freedom and Civil Society Restrictions
April 28, 2025 - Peru -  In April 2025, Peru enacted a controversial law that has drawn widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates and civil society organizations. Critics argue that the legislation, which expands the authority of the Peruvian Agency for International Cooperation (APCI), poses significant threats to freedom of expression and association. The law mandates that nonprofit media outlets and civil society organizations receiving international funding must register their activities with the APCI. This requirement includes disclosing journalistic plans and projects, which many view as a mechanism for governmental oversight and potential censorship. Failure...
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Sri Lankan Journalists Demand Justice on 20th Anniversary of Sivaram’s Assassination
April 28, 2025
Sri Lankan Journalists Demand Justice on 20th Anniversary of Sivaram’s Assassination
April 28, 2025 - Tamil -  On April 28, 2025, journalists and civil society members gathered in Jaffna to commemorate the 20th anniversary of the assassination of renowned Tamil journalist Dharmeratnam "Taraki" Sivaram. The event, organized by the Jaffna Press Club, the Eastern Province Journalists Association, and the Professional Online Journalists Association, took place at the memorial for murdered journalists on Main Street, Jaffna. Sivaram, a former senior editor at TamilNet, was abducted in Colombo on April 28, 2005, and later found murdered near the Parliament. Despite international condemnation and demands for accountability, his killers...
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Croatian Journalists Condemn Funding Cut to Serb Weekly as Censorship
April 28, 2025
Croatian Journalists Condemn Funding Cut to Serb Weekly as Censorship
April 28, 2025 - Croatia -  In April 2025, Croatia's Council for National Minorities reduced funding for Novosti, a weekly newspaper serving the Serbian minority, by 35%. This decision has been widely criticized by journalists and press freedom advocates as a politically motivated act of censorship. Novosti, published by the Serbian National Council (SNV), is known for its investigative journalism and critical reporting on political and social issues in Croatia. The publication operates under the Program for Cultural Autonomy of Minorities, receiving state funds allocated for minority media. The recent funding reduction follows demands from...
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Detention of Macao Journalists Sparks International Outcry Over Press Freedom
April 28, 2025
Detention of Macao Journalists Sparks International Outcry Over Press Freedom
April 28, 2025 - China -  On April 17, 2025, two journalists from the independent media outlet All About Macau (AAM), including editor-in-chief Ian Sio Tou, were detained for 11 hours by Macao police after attempting to cover a Legislative Assembly (AL) session. The journalists were denied access to the chamber and directed to the public gallery, despite available seats. Their refusal to comply led to allegations of "disrupting operations" and potential prosecution under Article 304 of Macao's Penal Code. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the detentions, labeling them a "disturbing escalation" in...
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Journalism’s Enduring Role in Democracy and Society
April 28, 2025
Journalism’s Enduring Role in Democracy and Society
April 28, 2025 - General -  In an era marked by rapid technological advancements and shifting media landscapes, the fundamental role of journalism remains pivotal in upholding democratic values and informing the public. A recent panel discussion in Bermuda, commemorating the fifth anniversary of the Daily Hour talk show, brought together media professionals to emphasize journalism's significance. Panelists, including Jonathan Howes of Bermuda Press Holdings and Jasmine Patterson of Bermuda Broadcasting Company, highlighted the challenges faced by media organizations, such as adapting to evolving technologies and maintaining financial sustainability. Radio broadcaster Nikita Robinson noted the...
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News/Media Alliance Condemns DOJ Policy Reversal on Journalist Subpoenas
April 28, 2025
News/Media Alliance Condemns DOJ Policy Reversal on Journalist Subpoenas
April 28, 2025 - USA -  The News/Media Alliance has expressed strong opposition to the U.S. Department of Justice's (DOJ) recent decision to rescind protections that previously barred prosecutors from subpoenaing journalists to reveal confidential sources in leak investigations. Attorney General Pam Bondi's April 2025 memo reverses the Biden-era policy, allowing the DOJ to compel journalists to disclose sources when reporting on government leaks. Danielle Coffey, President and CEO of the News/Media Alliance, criticized the move, stating that it undermines journalistic integrity and could deter whistleblowers from coming forward. She emphasized that the previous guidelines...
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‘Lamestream’ Podcast Challenges Australia’s Media Landscape
April 28, 2025
‘Lamestream’ Podcast Challenges Australia’s Media Landscape
April 28, 2025 - Australia -  Award-winning journalists Osman Faruqi and Scott Mitchell have launched Lamestream, an independent podcast and newsletter aiming to address the perceived crisis in Australian media. The initiative seeks to provide a bold alternative to legacy outlets by exploring how journalism influences society, culture, and politics. Faruqi, formerly the Culture Editor at The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age, and Mitchell, previously Editor and Executive Producer of the 7 am podcast, bring extensive experience from major Australian media organizations. Their collaboration is driven by a shared concern over declining trust in traditional...
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Turkish Journalist İsmail Saymaz Under House Arrest Over 2013 Gezi Protests
April 28, 2025
Turkish Journalist İsmail Saymaz Under House Arrest Over 2013 Gezi Protests
April 28, 2025 - Turkey -  On March 19, 2025, Turkish journalist İsmail Saymaz was detained by Istanbul police as part of a renewed investigation into the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Two days later, he was released under house arrest, prohibited from leaving the country, and had his passports revoked. Prosecutors accuse Saymaz of "aiding an attempt to overthrow the government," alleging that he played an active role in the protests, disseminated misleading information on social media, and incited public unrest against law enforcement. They are reportedly seeking a prison sentence of 15 to 20...
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U.S. Department of Justice Resumes Seizing Journalists’ Records in Leak Investigations
April 28, 2025
U.S. Department of Justice Resumes Seizing Journalists’ Records in Leak Investigations
April 28, 2025 - USA -  In April 2025, the U.S. Department of Justice, under Attorney General Pam Bondi, reversed a policy that had restricted federal prosecutors from seizing journalists' communications records in leak investigations. The new policy permits the use of subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants to compel testimony and access reporters' information. This change aligns with the Trump administration's broader approach to handling media leaks, which includes employing polygraph tests in internal investigations and pursuing potential prosecutions related to recent leaks. Media advocacy groups have expressed concern that this policy shift could...
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Journalist Émérite Amisi Musada Abducted and Tortured in Eastern DRC
April 28, 2025
Journalist Émérite Amisi Musada Abducted and Tortured in Eastern DRC
April 28, 2025 - Congo -  On April 15, 2025, journalist Émérite Amisi Musada was abducted in Bukavu, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), after receiving threats related to his reporting on the ongoing conflict in the eastern region. He was held captive until April 19, when he was found near Lake Kivu in a severely weakened state. Musada reported being abducted by four individuals in civilian clothing, subjected to physical abuse, and interrogated about his journalistic work. He was released without explanation and is currently recovering from his ordeal. Musada, a reporter for DeboutRDC, has...
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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Reinstates Subpoenas for Journalists in Leak Investigations
April 28, 2025
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Reinstates Subpoenas for Journalists in Leak Investigations
April 28, 2025 - USA -  In April 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi reversed a Biden-era policy that had restricted the Department of Justice (DOJ) from subpoenaing journalists' records in leak investigations. The new policy authorizes prosecutors to issue subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants to compel journalists to disclose information and testify about their sources. Bondi emphasized that these measures would be used cautiously and only when other avenues have been exhausted. The previous policy, established under Attorney General Merrick Garland during President Joe Biden's administration, had significantly limited such actions unless journalists...
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Georgia’s Leading Opposition Broadcaster Mtavari Arkhi Shuts Down Amid Internal Conflict and Political Pressure
April 28, 2025
Georgia’s Leading Opposition Broadcaster Mtavari Arkhi Shuts Down Amid Internal Conflict and Political Pressure
April 28, 2025 - Georgia -  On May 1, 2025, Mtavari Arkhi, Georgia’s most influential opposition-aligned television channel, officially ceased broadcasting after nearly six years on air. The closure follows months of internal disputes, financial instability, and allegations of political interference. The shutdown was announced to staff on April 28 by General Director Giorgi Gabunia, who cited an “artificially triggered financial crisis” allegedly orchestrated by co-founder and major shareholder Zaza Okuashvili. Gabunia accused Okuashvili of withholding payments to service providers and acting in coordination with the ruling Georgian Dream party to undermine the channel’s operations....
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M-A Chronicle Awarded with Prestigious Journalism Honor
April 28, 2025
M-A Chronicle Awarded with Prestigious Journalism Honor
April 28, 2025 - General -  The M-A Chronicle, the student-run online newspaper of Menlo-Atherton High School, has been honored with the 2025 Online Pacemaker Award by the National Scholastic Press Association (NSPA), one of the highest accolades in high school journalism. Announced on April 26, the award recognizes the Chronicle as one of 13 recipients nationwide for its outstanding digital journalism. Co-Editor-in-Chief Celine Chien expressed pride in the team's dedication, stating, "We’ve continuously worked to perfect our grammatical standards, polish our article flow, and make sure our photos look sharp, so it’s gratifying to...
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Punjab Government Launches Landmark Housing Initiative for Journalists
April 28, 2025
Punjab Government Launches Landmark Housing Initiative for Journalists
April 28, 2025 - Pakistan -  In a significant move to support the media community, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif announced the allocation of 3,200 residential plots to journalists across the province. This initiative, described as the largest of its kind in Punjab's history, aims to provide secure housing for media professionals and underscores the government's commitment to journalists' welfare. The decision was formalized through a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signed between the Punjab Information Ministry and the Ravi Urban Development Authority (RUDA), facilitating the land transfer for the Journalist Housing Scheme Phase II...
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U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Reinstates Subpoenas for Journalists in Leak Investigations
April 28, 2025
U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi Reinstates Subpoenas for Journalists in Leak Investigations
April 28, 2025 - USA - In April 2025, U.S. Attorney General Pam Bondi reversed a Biden-era policy that had restricted the Department of Justice (DOJ) from subpoenaing journalists' records in leak investigations. The new policy authorizes prosecutors to issue subpoenas, court orders, and search warrants to compel journalists to disclose information and testify about their sources. Bondi emphasized that these measures would be used cautiously and only when other avenues have been exhausted. The previous policy, established under Attorney General Merrick Garland during President Joe Biden's administration, had significantly limited such actions unless journalists...
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Russia Issues Arrest Warrant for Exiled Journalist Yulia Taratuta Over ‘Foreign Agent’ Law Violations
April 28, 2025
Russia Issues Arrest Warrant for Exiled Journalist Yulia Taratuta Over ‘Foreign Agent’ Law Violations
April 28, 2025 - Russia -  Russian journalist Yulia Taratuta, known for her association with the independent broadcaster TV Rain (Dozhd), is now officially wanted by Russian authorities. An arrest warrant was issued in late April 2025, citing her failure to comply with the country’s stringent “foreign agent” law. Taratuta had been labeled a “foreign agent” in December 2022 by the Justice Ministry—an increasingly common move by the Russian government to stifle dissent and independent reporting. The criminal proceedings against Taratuta stem from her alleged violation of Article 330.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which...
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Strengthening Journalist Welfare in Pakistan: The Role of Legislation and Press Clubs
April 28, 2025
Strengthening Journalist Welfare in Pakistan: The Role of Legislation and Press Clubs
April 28, 2025 - Pakistan -  In Pakistan, journalist welfare is bolstered through legislative measures and the active involvement of press clubs. Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Journalists Welfare Endowment Fund Act, 2014 The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Journalists Welfare Endowment Fund Act, enacted in 2014, established a fund to support journalists and their families in times of need. The Act provides financial assistance for medical expenses, compensation to families of journalists who die in the line of duty, and support during emergencies. The fund is managed by a committee and is maintained in the Bank of Khyber. Role...
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Calls for Global Action Intensify as Journalist Deaths in Gaza Rise
April 28, 2025
Calls for Global Action Intensify as Journalist Deaths in Gaza Rise
April 28, 2025 - Palestine - Global concern is mounting over the escalating dangers faced by journalists, especially in Gaza, where the death toll among media workers continues to climb. Anthony Bellanger, General Secretary of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), has urgently appealed for stronger international protections and accountability mechanisms during armed conflicts. Speaking at a recent event, Bellanger condemned the unprecedented targeting of journalists, noting that over 100 media workers have been killed in Gaza alone since the outbreak of hostilities. He emphasized that such deaths are not collateral damage but direct attacks...
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Morocco’s Expulsion of Italian Journalists in Western Sahara Draws Global Outcry
April 28, 2025
Morocco’s Expulsion of Italian Journalists in Western Sahara Draws Global Outcry
April 28, 2025 -Morocco/Italy - The recent expulsion of two Italian journalists from Western Sahara by Moroccan authorities has sparked international criticism and renewed debate over press freedom in the disputed territory. According to multiple reports, journalists from the Italian outlets Il Manifesto and RaiNews were detained on April 25 in Laayoune, Western Sahara’s largest city, while preparing to report on the ongoing conflict and human rights situation in the region. The journalists, who had been invited by local Sahrawi human rights organizations, were reportedly questioned for several hours before being deported without clear explanation....
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The Silent Struggle: Journalism and Mental Health Challenges in Africa and Beyond
April 28, 2025
The Silent Struggle: Journalism and Mental Health Challenges in Africa and Beyond
April 28, 2025 - General -  Journalism, often viewed as a noble yet high-pressure profession, is taking a toll on the mental health of its practitioners, particularly in Africa and other regions where conflict, repression, and poor institutional support compound the strain. Despite their critical role in shaping public discourse and holding power to account, journalists across the continent are frequently left to silently endure psychological trauma resulting from their work. A report by the Al Jazeera Media Institute highlights a “culture of silence” in African newsrooms, where journalists are expected to remain stoic in...
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Arab Journalists in Limbo After Trump’s Executive Cuts to US-Funded Media
April 28, 2025
Arab Journalists in Limbo After Trump’s Executive Cuts to US-Funded Media
April 28, 2025 - USA -  Hundreds of Arab journalists employed by US-funded broadcasters are facing uncertain futures following a sweeping executive order signed by former President Donald Trump. The move slashes funding to the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), the parent company of channels such as Alhurra and Radio Sawa, which serve Arabic-speaking audiences in the Middle East and North Africa. The abrupt cuts have prompted widespread layoffs, visa complications, and significant disruption to the lives and careers of the journalists affected. The executive order, issued in April 2025, drastically reduced federal support for...
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Hong Kong Journalists Report Steep Decline in Press Freedom, Survey Finds
April 28, 2025
Hong Kong Journalists Report Steep Decline in Press Freedom, Survey Finds
April 28, 2025 - Hong Kong -  Press freedom in Hong Kong has reached alarming new lows, according to a recent survey conducted by the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA). The findings, based on responses from 167 local journalists, reveal a continued erosion of media freedoms and a growing sense of fear and self-censorship among reporters working under increasing political pressure. The annual survey, released in April 2025, highlights a marked drop in perceived press freedom. Respondents ranked the current press environment at an average of 2.45 out of 10—the lowest since the survey began...
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Scam Ads on Facebook Exploit Journalists’ Identities, Raise Alarms Over Platform Safety
April 28, 2025
Scam Ads on Facebook Exploit Journalists’ Identities, Raise Alarms Over Platform Safety
April 28, 2025 - General -  Meta is under intense scrutiny following revelations that Facebook has allowed scam advertisements using the identities of prominent journalists to spread unchecked. These fraudulent ads, often promoting cryptocurrency or get-rich-quick schemes, feature fake endorsements and AI-generated likenesses of journalists to lend them false credibility, misleading users and endangering the reputations of media professionals. A joint investigation by Press Gazette and other media outlets has documented multiple cases where the names and faces of well-known journalists were used without consent. Victims include broadcasters, investigative reporters, and even BBC and Sky...
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Press Freedom in the U.S. Faces Decline, Warns CPJ Report
April 28, 2025
Press Freedom in the U.S. Faces Decline, Warns CPJ Report
April 28, 2025 - USA -  A recent report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has raised alarms about the growing threats to press freedom in the United States. Once regarded as a global standard for journalistic integrity and independence, the U.S. now finds itself grappling with increasing hostility towards journalists and press organizations. The CPJ’s findings highlight a disturbing trend: press freedom in the U.S. has been significantly eroded, particularly under the influence of political pressures and growing state intervention. Historically, the U.S. has served as a beacon of free speech and journalistic...
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World Press Freedom Day Highlights the Challenges Faced by Women Journalists
April 28, 2025
World Press Freedom Day Highlights the Challenges Faced by Women Journalists
April 28, 2025 - General -  World Press Freedom Day, observed annually on May 3, serves as a reminder of the pivotal role journalism plays in democratic societies. However, it also underscores the growing risks faced by journalists, particularly women, around the world. Data on women journalists behind bars reveals alarming trends in the fight for press freedom, with an increasing number of female reporters facing imprisonment, harassment, and violence. According to a report by Women in Journalism, women journalists are often subjected to a double layer of oppression: one based on their profession and...
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U.S. Department of Justice Rescinds Protections for Journalists in Leak Investigations
April 28, 2025
U.S. Department of Justice Rescinds Protections for Journalists in Leak Investigations
April 28, 2025 - USA -  In a significant reversal, the U.S. Department of Justice (DOJ) has rescinded protections for journalists in leak investigations, raising concerns about the future of press freedom in the United States. The change comes after former President Donald Trump’s administration implemented policies that limited the ability of journalists to protect their sources, particularly in investigations related to government leaks. This decision has sparked widespread criticism from press freedom organizations, journalists, and civil liberties groups who warn that it could further undermine the role of the press in holding powerful institutions...
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Press Freedom in the Spotlight Amid Global and Domestic Challenges
April 27, 2025
Press Freedom in the Spotlight Amid Global and Domestic Challenges
April 27, 2025 - General -  The state of press freedom took center stage in recent weeks, both in the United States and globally, highlighting the essential—but increasingly threatened—role journalists play in democratic societies. At the White House Correspondents’ Dinner, President Joe Biden acknowledged the critical function of a free press in holding power accountable. He also took time to remember journalists killed or detained while doing their jobs, including Wall Street Journal reporter Evan Gershkovich, currently imprisoned in Russia. Biden's remarks, while aimed at defending American values, also carried an implicit warning about the...
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Rising Toll on Palestinian Journalists Amid Renewed Gaza Assault
April 27, 2025
Rising Toll on Palestinian Journalists Amid Renewed Gaza Assault
April 27, 2025 - Israel/Palestine -  As Israel resumes its military operations in Gaza, the human cost continues to escalate, particularly for those working to document the conflict. At least 15 Palestinian journalists have been killed over the past three months, according to multiple human rights organizations and news agencies. These journalists, many of whom were working in frontline conditions without protective gear, lost their lives while reporting on airstrikes, evacuations, and the deteriorating humanitarian situation in Gaza. The Arab Organisation for Human Rights (AOHR) has condemned these killings, asserting that they constitute a deliberate...
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Pam Bondi Defends DOJ Subpoenas of Journalists in Trump Leak Probe
April 26, 2025
Pam Bondi Defends DOJ Subpoenas of Journalists in Trump Leak Probe
April 26, 2025 - USA -  Former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi has stepped into the spotlight to defend the Department of Justice’s (DOJ) controversial decision to subpoena journalists as part of a probe into leaked information related to Donald Trump. Acting as the public face of the former president’s legal team, Bondi justified the department’s actions as necessary to address what she called a “national security matter,” despite widespread criticism from press freedom advocates. The issue stems from a DOJ investigation into media leaks concerning classified documents allegedly found at Trump’s Mar-a-Lago estate. The...
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Former Taliban Commander Pleads Guilty in U.S. Journalist Kidnapping Case
April 26, 2025
Former Taliban Commander Pleads Guilty in U.S. Journalist Kidnapping Case
April 26, 2025 - Afghanistan -  Haji Najibullah, a former Taliban commander, has pleaded guilty in a U.S. federal court to charges related to the 2008 abduction of American journalist David Rohde, a case that became a global symbol of press vulnerability in conflict zones. The plea comes as part of a sweeping terrorism case that links Najibullah to multiple hostage incidents and deadly attacks in Afghanistan. Najibullah admitted to organizing the kidnapping of Rohde, who was working for The New York Times at the time. Rohde and two Afghan colleagues were taken at gunpoint...
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Remembering Anna Politkovskaya: A Journalist’s Courage That Still Resonates
April 26, 2025
Remembering Anna Politkovskaya: A Journalist’s Courage That Still Resonates
April 26, 2025 - General -  Nearly two decades after her assassination, Russian journalist Anna Politkovskaya remains a towering figure in the fight for press freedom. Recent reflections by actress Maxine Peake and renewed commentary on Politkovskaya’s life highlight the enduring power—and peril—of speaking truth to power in authoritarian regimes. Politkovskaya, known for her fearless reporting on the Chechen wars and Vladimir Putin’s government, was murdered in 2006 outside her Moscow apartment. She had received death threats and was repeatedly targeted for her relentless investigations into human rights abuses, particularly by the Russian military. Her...
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Palestinian Journalists Say They Are Being Targeted Amid Rising Death Toll in Gaza
April 26, 2025
Palestinian Journalists Say They Are Being Targeted Amid Rising Death Toll in Gaza
April 26, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalists and press freedom organizations are sounding the alarm as the death toll among media workers in Gaza continues to rise at an unprecedented rate. Since the beginning of Israel’s latest military operations in the territory, dozens of Palestinian journalists have been killed, prompting accusations that they are being deliberately targeted. According to recent reports, more than 140 Palestinian media workers have lost their lives since October 2023, a number that far surpasses journalist deaths in any conflict in recent memory. Human rights groups and media watchdogs claim...
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Risking It All: The Growing Dangers for Journalists Reporting from the Amazon
April 26, 2025
Risking It All: The Growing Dangers for Journalists Reporting from the Amazon
April 26, 2025 - General - Covering the Amazon rainforest has become one of the most dangerous assignments for journalists today, especially for those reporting on environmental issues, Indigenous rights, and illegal activity. As pressures on the region increase—from deforestation to mining and land grabs—so too do the threats facing those who seek to expose what’s happening. Journalists working in the Amazon often face physical dangers not only from the challenging terrain but also from the human actors profiting from environmental destruction. Illegal loggers, miners, and drug traffickers, often shielded by corrupt networks, pose serious...
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Journalist Protections Eroded as Trump-Era Tactics Resurface Under DOJ Scrutiny
April 25, 2025
Journalist Protections Eroded as Trump-Era Tactics Resurface Under DOJ Scrutiny
April 25, 2025 - General - A new round of controversy is erupting over press freedom in the U.S., as Trump-era tactics targeting journalists have resurfaced—this time defended by Trump ally Pam Bondi. The heart of the issue involves the Department of Justice’s renewed use of subpoenas to obtain communications from reporters as part of leak investigations, drawing sharp concern from press advocates and civil liberties groups. The controversy dates back to when Donald Trump’s DOJ began aggressively pursuing sources of leaks related to national security, often by subpoenaing journalists’ records. In response to public...
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Student Journalists Face New Pressures Amid Politics, Privacy Fears, and Deportation Risks
April 25, 2025
Student Journalists Face New Pressures Amid Politics, Privacy Fears, and Deportation Risks
April 25, 2025 - USA -  College journalists across the U.S. are finding themselves caught in the crosshairs of political tension, ethical dilemmas, and immigration fears. As student reporters take on increasingly high-stakes stories—often involving protests, campus policies, or national politics—they’re facing growing pressure over what they report and how much they reveal. Recent cases have shown how student journalists are wrestling with whether to name sources, publish photos of demonstrators, or report details that could put peers at risk—especially international students. In some instances, undocumented or visa-holding students participating in protests have begged campus...
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Somalia’s Attack on Press Freedom: Media Ban and Violence Against Journalists Under Scrutiny
April 25, 2025
Somalia’s Attack on Press Freedom: Media Ban and Violence Against Journalists Under Scrutiny
April 25, 2025 - Somalia -  Somalia’s ongoing crackdown on press freedom has reached new heights as the government’s recent ban on media coverage of parliament and the escalating violence against journalists continue to raise alarm among human rights organizations and press advocates. Both local and international bodies are calling for immediate action to protect journalists and restore media freedoms in the country. The Somali government has imposed a sweeping ban on coverage of parliamentary proceedings, which has been condemned by the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) and international press freedom organizations like RFK Human Rights....
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“Journalism Is Not a Crime”: Swedish Reporter’s Arrest in Turkey Sparks Global Outcry
April 25, 2025
“Journalism Is Not a Crime”: Swedish Reporter’s Arrest in Turkey Sparks Global Outcry
April 25, 2025 - Swedem/Turkey -  The recent arrest of Swedish journalist Joakim Medin in Istanbul has ignited international condemnation and renewed debate about press freedom in authoritarian environments. Detained while covering political developments in Turkey, Medin’s first public statement from prison was a defiant message: “Journalism is not a crime in any country.” Medin, a seasoned reporter known for his work on human rights and authoritarianism, was reportedly taken into custody by Turkish authorities while documenting activities involving pro-Kurdish political groups. Details about the charges remain unclear, but press advocates believe his detention is...
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Journalists Added to Witness List in High-Profile Virginia Murder Case
April 25, 2025
Journalists Added to Witness List in High-Profile Virginia Murder Case
April 25, 2025 - USA -  In a striking development in the ongoing murder case of Mamta Kafle Bhatt, prosecutors have added multiple journalists to the witness list, signaling the growing role media coverage is playing in uncovering and documenting key aspects of the investigation. The case, centered on the 2023 disappearance and alleged murder of Bhatt, a Nepalese American woman from Manassas Park, Virginia, continues to draw national attention. Bhatt’s husband, Naresh Bhatt, is accused of killing her and disposing of her body, which remains missing. He has pleaded not guilty and is being...
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Explosive Details Emerge as Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Trial Intensifies
April 25, 2025
Explosive Details Emerge as Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Trial Intensifies
April 25, 2025 - Mexico -  The long-awaited trial over the 2017 car bomb murder of Maltese journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia has entered a critical phase, with graphic evidence and dramatic testimony shedding new light on one of Europe’s most shocking attacks on the press. Alongside the trial for the murder of lawyer Carmel Chircop, the proceedings are centered around the notorious Maksar gang, whose alleged ties to organized crime and political corruption have shaken Malta to its core. On the second day of the trial, forensic experts testified that numerous pieces of shrapnel—including screws...
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Burundi’s Shrinking Press Space Forces Journalists Into Silence or Exile
April 25, 2025
Burundi’s Shrinking Press Space Forces Journalists Into Silence or Exile
April 25, 2025 - Burundi - Press freedom in Burundi continues to deteriorate, pushing many journalists into self-censorship or forcing them to flee the country altogether. As the government tightens its control over independent reporting, media workers are increasingly silenced by fear of surveillance, harassment, or even imprisonment. The current media climate in Burundi, as reported by Global Voices and other sources, is marked by a pervasive culture of intimidation. Journalists face pressure to avoid covering sensitive topics, particularly those related to human rights, corruption, or governance failures. Those who do report critically risk losing...
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Western Media Under Fire for Failing Palestinian Journalists and Stories
April 25, 2025
Western Media Under Fire for Failing Palestinian Journalists and Stories
April 25, 2025 - General -  Western media outlets are facing growing criticism for their coverage of Palestine, with journalists and media watchdogs accusing mainstream platforms of bias, selective reporting, and disregard for the safety and dignity of their Palestinian colleagues. As violence intensifies in Gaza and the occupied territories, many argue that Western journalism is not just falling short—it’s complicit in distorting the reality on the ground. Across several publications, critics point out that Western newsrooms often prioritize official narratives, especially those aligned with U.S. and Israeli perspectives, while minimizing or omitting Palestinian voices...
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Turkish Journalist Özlem Gürses Sentenced for Criticizing Military Operations in Syria
April 25, 2025
Turkish Journalist Özlem Gürses Sentenced for Criticizing Military Operations in Syria
April 25, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish journalist and political commentator Özlem Gürses has been sentenced to prison and placed under house arrest for remarks made during a television broadcast criticizing Turkey's military actions in Syria. Her case has intensified concerns over press freedom in Turkey, where journalists are increasingly criminalized for challenging official narratives, especially on national security and foreign policy. Gürses, a well-known media figure, was convicted of “publicly denigrating the Turkish nation and state institutions” under Article 301 of Turkey’s penal code, a charge often used against dissenting voices. Her comments, made...
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Ukraine Reels After Journalist’s Death Reveals Widespread Torture in Russian Captivity
April 25, 2025
Ukraine Reels After Journalist’s Death Reveals Widespread Torture in Russian Captivity
April 25, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  Ukraine is in mourning and outrage following the shocking revelation that a Ukrainian journalist who died in Russian captivity had been brutally tortured, with his body returned missing vital organs. The case has reignited international concern over the treatment of Ukrainian civilians, particularly media workers, held in Russian prisons amid the ongoing war. The journalist, whose name has not been publicly released at the request of the family, was one of over 30 Ukrainian media professionals currently or previously held by Russian forces. Ukrainian authorities confirmed that an autopsy...
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Russian Journalist Dies from Wounds Suffered in Ukraine Artillery Strike
April 24, 2025
Russian Journalist Dies from Wounds Suffered in Ukraine Artillery Strike
April 24, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  A Russian journalist has died from injuries sustained during an artillery strike in Ukraine, marking another grim loss in the ongoing war that continues to put reporters in peril on both sides of the front lines. The journalist, whose identity was not disclosed in early reports, had been covering military operations when he was caught in shelling attributed to Ukrainian forces in March. He succumbed to his wounds weeks later, according to Russian and international media. The journalist was working in the Zaporizhzhia region at the time of the...
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Ukraine Recovers Body of Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, Confirms Death in Russian Captivity
April 24, 2025
Ukraine Recovers Body of Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, Confirms Death in Russian Captivity
April 24, 2025 - Ukraine -  Ukraine has confirmed the death of investigative journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, whose body was recently returned from Russian captivity. Roshchyna, a widely respected war reporter known for her courageous front-line coverage, vanished in March while working near occupied territories. Weeks of silence were followed by the devastating announcement that she had died while in Russian detention under circumstances now under international scrutiny. Ukrainian authorities received her body in late April and have since begun an investigation into the cause of death. While no official forensic conclusions have been released, early...
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Turkish Government Cracks Down on Legal and Media Figures in Growing Suppression of Dissent
April 24, 2025
Turkish Government Cracks Down on Legal and Media Figures in Growing Suppression of Dissent
April 24, 2025 - Turkey - In recent weeks, Turkey has intensified its crackdown on both the legal and journalistic sectors, underscoring a broader pattern of suppressing dissenting voices and controlling narratives. Two key developments—a government-led dismissal of Istanbul’s Bar Association board and the conviction of a journalist—highlight the increasing risks faced by those who challenge the government’s stance on critical issues. First, Turkey’s government took decisive action against the Istanbul Bar Association, dismissing its board on accusations of “terrorist propaganda.” The dismissal follows allegations that the association had taken positions sympathetic to terrorist organizations,...
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Global Crackdown on Press Freedom: China, Israel, and Myanmar Lead in Jailing Journalists
April 24, 2025
Global Crackdown on Press Freedom: China, Israel, and Myanmar Lead in Jailing Journalists
April 24, 2025 - General -  A new wave of global press repression is becoming increasingly evident, with China, Israel, and Myanmar identified as the top countries imprisoning journalists in 2025. As authoritarian governments across the world intensify their control over the media, journalists continue to face harassment, detention, and even imprisonment for their work. This alarming trend is especially visible in countries with a history of stifling free speech, where the crackdown on press freedom has become more institutionalized and widespread. China remains the world’s largest jailer of journalists, with a record number of...
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Sudanese Journalist Detained and Banned from Travel Amid Growing Press Repression
April 24, 2025
Sudanese Journalist Detained and Banned from Travel Amid Growing Press Repression
April 24, 2025 - Sudan -  Sudanese journalist Emtithal Abdel Fadil has been detained for three days and banned from traveling following her coverage of protests and sensitive political issues in Sudan. Fadil, a prominent reporter known for her investigative work, was arrested on April 22, 2025, by Sudanese authorities, who accused her of spreading false information and inciting unrest. Her detention highlights the increasingly hostile environment for journalists in Sudan, where press freedom has been severely curtailed in recent years. Fadil’s arrest and the travel ban come amidst a broader clampdown on independent media...
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French Authorities Target Iranian Activist and Musician in Alleged Effort to Silence Dissent
April 24, 2025
French Authorities Target Iranian Activist and Musician in Alleged Effort to Silence Dissent
April 24, 2025 - France -  French police have arrested Iranian musician and activist Bashir Biazar, sparking controversy over the international ramifications of the French government's handling of Iranian dissidents. Biazar, a well-known figure for his vocal criticism of the Iranian regime, was detained amid allegations that his arrest is part of a broader strategy to silence critics of Israel and the Iranian government abroad. Biazar’s arrest followed his participation in protests and advocacy for free speech, where he accused the French government of suppressing opposition voices for political convenience. His detention comes amid a...
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Journalist Assaulted by BJP Workers While Covering Protest Over Pahalgam Attack
April 24, 2025
Journalist Assaulted by BJP Workers While Covering Protest Over Pahalgam Attack
April 24, 2025 - India -  A journalist in Jammu and Kashmir was recently assaulted by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) workers while covering a protest in Kathua over a terror attack in Pahalgam. The attack, which occurred on April 24, 2025, took place during a BJP rally where party members were voicing their concerns over security lapses following the Pahalgam incident. The journalist, who was covering the event, was reportedly beaten by BJP workers after he questioned the party’s response to the attack and the security measures in place in the region. The journalist recounted...
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Saeed Abu Hassanein: Another Palestinian Journalist Killed by Israeli Forces
April 24, 2025
Saeed Abu Hassanein: Another Palestinian Journalist Killed by Israeli Forces
April 24, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Saeed Abu Hassanein, a Palestinian journalist, was tragically killed by Israeli forces during their ongoing military operations in Gaza. His death, along with that of his family, has added to the growing list of Palestinian journalists targeted in the conflict. Abu Hassanein, who had been reporting on the situation in Gaza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike, a part of Israel’s continued offensive against Palestinian territories since October 2023. His death underscores the extreme risks faced by journalists in Gaza, who are increasingly caught in the crossfire of military...
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Belarusian Journalist Pressured to Appear in State Propaganda Film
April 24, 2025
Belarusian Journalist Pressured to Appear in State Propaganda Film
April 24, 2025 - Belarus -  In Belarus, imprisoned journalist Andrey Kuznechyk has reportedly been pressured by the authorities to appear in a state-sponsored propaganda film, showcasing the government’s efforts to silence independent journalism and control the narrative. Kuznechyk, a reporter for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was arrested and imprisoned for his critical reporting, which exposed the Belarusian government's suppression of dissent and violations of human rights. While incarcerated, he has faced intense pressure to appear in a propaganda video aimed at painting a misleading image of the regime’s treatment of journalists and dissent....
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RSF Files ICC Complaint Over Israel’s Alleged War Crimes Against Journalists in Gaza
April 24, 2025
RSF Files ICC Complaint Over Israel’s Alleged War Crimes Against Journalists in Gaza
April 24, 2025 - General -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has submitted a new complaint to the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing Israel of committing war crimes by deliberately targeting journalists in Gaza. This marks RSF’s fourth such filing to the ICC this year, underscoring growing concerns over the unprecedented toll the ongoing war has taken on members of the press. RSF’s complaint focuses on recent cases where journalists have been killed or injured, and media offices destroyed, in what the organization believes are systematic and deliberate attacks. According to RSF, at least 100 journalists...
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Journalist Antoinette Lattouf Wins Court Case Over Online Racist Abuse
April 24, 2025
Journalist Antoinette Lattouf Wins Court Case Over Online Racist Abuse
April 24, 2025 - Australia  -  Australian journalist Antoinette Lattouf has won a landmark court case against a 61-year-old man who racially abused her online, marking a significant victory against digital hate speech. The case stemmed from a series of threatening and racist messages Lattouf received in late 2023, including disturbing comments referencing her background and appearance, alongside explicit threats of violence and death. The man behind the abuse, whose identity was not publicly disclosed, was found guilty of using a carriage service to menace and harass. He had admitted to sending the offensive messages...
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‘60 Minutes’ Executive Producer Bill Owens Resigns Amid Trump-Driven Backlash
April 23, 2025
‘60 Minutes’ Executive Producer Bill Owens Resigns Amid Trump-Driven Backlash
April 23, 2025 - USA -  Bill Owens, executive producer of the long-running CBS news program 60 Minutes, has announced his resignation following intense political backlash spurred by former U.S. President Donald Trump. Owens, who has led the program since 2019, revealed his departure on April 22, 2025, amid mounting pressure and controversy after the show aired an investigative report scrutinizing Trump’s legal entanglements and campaign operations. The report, which aired earlier this year, drew harsh criticism from Trump and his supporters. Trump publicly accused 60 Minutes of bias and dishonesty, calling for boycotts and...
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Media Watchdogs Condemn Detention of Journalists in Ethiopia
April 23, 2025
Media Watchdogs Condemn Detention of Journalists in Ethiopia
April 23, 2025 - Ethiopia -  International media rights groups have condemned the detention of multiple journalists in Ethiopia, raising serious concerns about press freedom in the country. The latest incident involves the arrest of three reporters affiliated with the YouTube-based media outlet “Ethio News.” The journalists—Yemane Dar, Kibrom Aregawi, and Getachew Assefa—were taken into custody in the capital, Addis Ababa, on April 26, 2025, and have since been held without formal charges. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the arrests are part of a broader pattern of...
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Workshops Equip Nigerian Journalists with Safety and Security Training
April 23, 2025
Workshops Equip Nigerian Journalists with Safety and Security Training
April 23, 2025 - Nigeria - In response to growing threats against press freedom and the safety of media workers, several organizations in Nigeria have launched training programs aimed at equipping journalists with tools to navigate hostile environments. This April, three major initiatives kicked off in different parts of the country, targeting early-career and regional reporters who often face the highest risks. In Abuja, the HumAngle Foundation began its Advancing Peace and Security in the Lake Chad Basin workshop, focused on strengthening conflict-sensitive reporting. Journalists participating in the program are learning how to safely cover...
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GJA Demands Justice After Attacks on Journalists by Illegal Miners
April 23, 2025
GJA Demands Justice After Attacks on Journalists by Illegal Miners
April 23, 2025 - Ghana -  The Ghana Journalists Association (GJA) has strongly condemned recent violent attacks on journalists by illegal miners, known locally as "galamsey" operators, and is urging the Inspector General of Police (IGP) to take immediate action. The incidents, which occurred in the Breman Adomanya Forest area, involved journalists who were assaulted while reporting on the environmental destruction caused by illegal mining operations. The GJA has labeled the attacks as a serious threat to press freedom and the safety of journalists in Ghana. In a public statement, GJA President Albert Dwumfour emphasized...
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Independent Journalist Shahin Hazamy Arrested in France Amid Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian Voices
April 23, 2025
Independent Journalist Shahin Hazamy Arrested in France Amid Crackdown on Pro-Palestinian Voices
April 23, 2025 - Iran/France - French security forces have arrested freelance reporter Shahin Hazamy as part of a crackdown on pro-Palestinian voices. Independent Iranian journalist Shahin Hazamy was arrested in France in late April during what critics describe as a broader crackdown on pro-Palestinian expression. Hazamy, known for his reporting on Middle Eastern affairs and critical coverage of Western policy in the region, was reportedly detained by French authorities without a formal public charge. His arrest has drawn significant backlash from human rights advocates and press freedom organizations who argue that it represents a growing...
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Cannes Film Festival to Honor Slain Gaza Photojournalist
April 23, 2025
Cannes Film Festival to Honor Slain Gaza Photojournalist
April 23, 2025 - General - The Cannes Film Festival will pay tribute to slain Gaza-based photojournalist Shireen Abu Akleh during its upcoming edition in May 2025. Abu Akleh, who was killed in May 2022 while covering Israeli military operations in the West Bank, was a well-known journalist with Al Jazeera. Her death sparked widespread outrage and calls for justice, with international organizations, including the United Nations, urging an independent investigation into her killing. The Cannes tribute will focus on her courageous work as a journalist in conflict zones, where she spent over two decades...
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Swedish Journalist Facing 12 Years in Prison in Turkey
April 23, 2025
Swedish Journalist Facing 12 Years in Prison in Turkey
April 23, 2025 - Sweden/Turkey -  A Swedish journalist has been charged in Turkey, facing a potential 12-year prison sentence, according to her employer. The journalist, identified as a reporter for a Swedish outlet, was accused of "spreading terrorist propaganda" following her reporting on sensitive political issues. The charges are part of a broader crackdown on press freedom in Turkey, where journalists have increasingly faced legal action for their work. This case highlights ongoing concerns about press freedoms in Turkey, where journalists and media workers often find themselves targeted for their coverage of government actions,...
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Press Freedom Center Hosts Event in Support of Detained Journalist Austin Tice
April 23, 2025
Press Freedom Center Hosts Event in Support of Detained Journalist Austin Tice
April 23, 2025 - General -  In honor of World Press Freedom Day, the Press Freedom Center will host a special lunch to raise awareness and show support for Austin Tice, an American journalist who has been detained in Syria since 2012. The event is part of a broader slate of activities organized to spotlight the challenges faced by journalists around the world, especially those who have been imprisoned or gone missing while covering conflicts. Austin Tice, a freelance journalist, was reporting on the Syrian civil war when he was captured by forces in Syria....
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Justice Delayed: Trial for Murder of Dutch Journalists in El Salvador Postponed Again
April 23, 2025
Justice Delayed: Trial for Murder of Dutch Journalists in El Salvador Postponed Again
April 23, 2025 - Netherlands -  Over four decades after four Dutch journalists were murdered in El Salvador, the long-awaited trial meant to deliver justice has been delayed once more. The trial, initially scheduled to begin on April 23, 2025, has been postponed due to procedural issues, including unresolved legal motions. As of mid-May, a new date has not been confirmed, prolonging the search for accountability in one of the most emblematic cases of wartime impunity in El Salvador. The journalists—Koos Koster, Jan Kuiper, Hans ter Laag, and Joop Willemsen—were killed on March 17, 1982,...
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Sudanese Journalists Risk Lives to Report War Amidst Escalating Dangers
April 23, 2025
Sudanese Journalists Risk Lives to Report War Amidst Escalating Dangers
April 23, 2025 - Sudan -  As Sudan's civil war enters its third year, local journalists are confronting extreme risks to document the ongoing conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF). Despite facing violence, censorship, and a near-total communications blackout, many reporters persist in their efforts to shed light on the humanitarian crisis engulfing the nation. Since the conflict's onset in April 2023, at least 28 journalists have been killed, with numerous others detained, tortured, or forced into exile. Over 400 journalists have fled the country, yet some continue...
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Iran’s War on Journalists: Censorship, Intimidation, and the Fight for Press Freedom
April 23, 2025
Iran’s War on Journalists: Censorship, Intimidation, and the Fight for Press Freedom
April 23, 2025 - Iran -  Iran's journalists are facing an intensified crackdown as the regime escalates its efforts to silence independent reporting both within the country and abroad. This campaign includes censorship, legal harassment, and threats against journalists and their families. Domestically, the Iranian government maintains strict control over the media. Publications require licenses from the Ministry of Culture, and a supervisory committee monitors content to ensure compliance with state narratives. Topics such as the morality police's actions, the nuclear program, and government corruption are heavily censored. Journalists who cross these "red lines" risk...
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Crackdown on Campus: U.S. Universities and Government Target Pro-Palestinian Student Protests
April 21, 2025
Crackdown on Campus: U.S. Universities and Government Target Pro-Palestinian Student Protests
April 21, 2025 - General -  In the wake of ongoing protests over the Gaza conflict, U.S. universities and the federal government have intensified actions against pro-Palestinian student activists, raising significant concerns about free speech and academic freedom. At Columbia University, a pro-Palestinian protest in Butler Library led to the arrest of approximately 75 individuals after the university called in the New York Police Department. The demonstration, organized by Columbia University Apartheid Divest (CUAD), aimed to pressure the university to divest from organizations profiting from Israel’s actions in Gaza. The Trump administration responded by cutting...
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Afghan Journalists Face Intensifying Repression Amid Pakistan’s Deportation Campaign
April 21, 2025
Afghan Journalists Face Intensifying Repression Amid Pakistan’s Deportation Campaign
April 21, 2025 - Afghanistan -  In recent months, Afghan journalists have encountered escalating repression under Taliban rule, coinciding with Pakistan's mass deportation of Afghan refugees, including media professionals and rights activists. Taliban's Crackdown on Press Freedom The Taliban's suppression of independent journalism has intensified, with recent detentions highlighting the regime's intolerance for dissent. On May 5, journalist Sulaiman Rahil was arrested in Ghazni Province by Taliban intelligence agents, reportedly due to critical Facebook posts. Similarly, in April, freelance journalist Sayed Rashid Kashifi was detained in Kabul over alleged ties to exiled media outlets. In...
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Under Fire: The Deadly Toll on Palestinian Journalists in Gaza
April 21, 2025
Under Fire: The Deadly Toll on Palestinian Journalists in Gaza
April 21, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Since the onset of the Israel-Gaza conflict in October 2023, Palestinian journalists have faced unprecedented dangers, with over 160 media workers killed, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists in recent history. The International Federation of Journalists reports that more than 160 journalists have been killed since the war began. The United Nations has condemned these actions, highlighting that journalists, clearly identified by press markings, have been targeted, suggesting a deliberate strategy to silence critical reporting. Notable incidents include the killing of journalist Ibrahim Muhareb by an Israeli tank...
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Russian Journalist Ekaterina Barabash Escapes House Arrest, Seeks Asylum in France
April 21, 2025
Russian Journalist Ekaterina Barabash Escapes House Arrest, Seeks Asylum in France
April 21, 2025 - Russia -  Ekaterina Barabash, a Russian journalist who had been under house arrest for her anti-war reporting, has successfully escaped to France, where she is now seeking asylum. Barabash, who faced up to 10 years in prison for spreading "false information" about Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, fled Moscow in a daring escape orchestrated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). She removed her electronic monitoring tag and covertly traveled over 2,800 kilometers, reaching Paris on April 26, 2025. In France, Barabash intends to apply for asylum and continue her journalistic work with exiled...
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Seven Journalists Attacked in Syria: RSF Urges Authorities to Protect Press Freedom
April 21, 2025
Seven Journalists Attacked in Syria: RSF Urges Authorities to Protect Press Freedom
April 21, 2025 - Syria -  Seven journalists were attacked in Sweida, Syria, on May 6, 2025, while covering a political agreement involving local factions, government officials, and religious leaders. The journalists were assaulted by armed members of a local group, underscoring the ongoing dangers faced by media workers in the region. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) strongly condemned the attack and called on Syrian authorities to ensure the protection of journalists and to uphold press freedom. RSF emphasized the need for the government to provide a secure environment for reporters, allowing them to do their...
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U.S. Layoffs Leave Alhurra Journalists in Legal and Financial Limbo
April 21, 2025
U.S. Layoffs Leave Alhurra Journalists in Legal and Financial Limbo
April 21, 2025 - USA -  In April 2025, the Middle East Broadcasting Networks (MBN), the U.S.-funded Arabic-language media organization that operates Alhurra TV and Radio Sawa, laid off around 90% of its staff following significant budget cuts. These cuts, mandated by the U.S. government, have left many Arab journalists in a state of uncertainty, with approximately 300 U.S.-based employees now facing the loss of their jobs and legal status. Around 60 journalists, many of whom were on temporary work visas, are at risk of deportation, while others are caught in legal limbo, unable to...
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Congolese Journalist Émérite Amisi Musada Abducted and Tortured Over War Reporting
April 21, 2025
Congolese Journalist Émérite Amisi Musada Abducted and Tortured Over War Reporting
April 21, 2025 - Congo -  On April 15, 2025, Congolese journalist Émérite Amisi Musada, a reporter for DeboutRDC.net, was abducted by unidentified men after receiving threats related to his coverage of the ongoing conflict in eastern Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The abduction occurred in Bukavu, South Kivu, a region heavily affected by violence. Amisi was taken from his home and subjected to severe physical abuse, being held captive for four days. He was found near Lake Kivu, disoriented and naked, after enduring significant torture during his captivity. Amisi reported that his captors...
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Palestinian National Council Urges Protection of Journalists Amid Israeli Attacks
April 20, 2025
Palestinian National Council Urges Protection of Journalists Amid Israeli Attacks
April 20, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On April 20, 2025, the Palestinian National Council, the highest decision-making body of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), issued a statement calling for the protection of journalists amid ongoing Israeli attacks on reporters in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. The council held the Israeli occupation fully responsible for its crimes against journalists, emphasizing the need for international accountability and support for media professionals working in these regions. This appeal coincided with Arab Media Day, highlighting the critical role of journalists in conflict zones and the increasing dangers they...
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Baloch Journalist Niaz Baloch Faces Death Threats Amid Calls for Global Action
April 20, 2025
Baloch Journalist Niaz Baloch Faces Death Threats Amid Calls for Global Action
April 20, 2025 - Pakistan -  Renowned Baloch journalist Niaz Baloch has reported receiving serious threats from individuals linked to Pakistani intelligence agencies. These threats include warnings of enforced disappearance, a tactic reportedly used to silence dissent in Balochistan. In a public statement, Baloch condemned the escalating dangers faced by professionals in the region, asserting that journalists, educators, healthcare workers, legal professionals, writers, artists, students, and activists are being targeted simply for speaking out against systemic injustice. Baloch highlighted the growing risks faced by professionals in Balochistan, stating that no segment of society is safe....
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Belarus Intensifies Crackdown on Independent Journalists
April 19, 2025
Belarus Intensifies Crackdown on Independent Journalists
April 19, 2025 - Belarus -  Since the disputed 2020 election, which extended President Alexander Lukashenko's rule, Belarus has seen a dramatic rise in the suppression of independent journalism. The government has relentlessly targeted journalists with arrests, harsh prison sentences, and heavy fines, under charges such as extremism and conspiracy to overthrow the government. The Belarusian Association of Journalists reports that nearly 40 journalists remain imprisoned, and more than 397 have been detained since the election. Media outlets critical of the regime have been labeled extremist, and accessing their content can result in arrest, contributing...
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Trump Administration Intensifies Pressure on Harvard and Student Journalism
April 19, 2025
Trump Administration Intensifies Pressure on Harvard and Student Journalism
April 19, 2025 - USA -  The Trump administration has escalated its campaign against elite universities, particularly targeting Harvard University, over allegations of antisemitism and ideological bias. In May 2025, the administration cut an additional $450 million in federal grants to Harvard, adding to the $2.2 billion previously revoked. The administration accuses Harvard of failing to address antisemitic incidents and fostering a discriminatory environment. A federal task force on antisemitism, established by President Trump, has criticized Harvard's leadership and campus culture, asserting that the university has forfeited its entitlement to taxpayer support. In response, Harvard...
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Fatima Hassouna: The Silenced Lens of Gaza
April 19, 2025
Fatima Hassouna: The Silenced Lens of Gaza
April 19, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Fatima Hassouna, a 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist, has become a powerful symbol of the risks journalists face in Gaza, and of the devastating human cost of the conflict. On April 16, 2025, Hassouna was killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck her family home in Gaza City, also claiming the lives of ten of her family members, including her pregnant sister. The tragedy underscores the increasingly dangerous reality for media workers in Gaza, where more than 230 journalists have been killed since October 2023, making it the deadliest conflict for...
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Fatima Hassouna: The Voice Behind the Lens, Silenced Too Soon
April 19, 2025
Fatima Hassouna: The Voice Behind the Lens, Silenced Too Soon
April 19, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Fatima Hassouna was not just a photojournalist — she was a witness, a daughter of Gaza, and a voice for the voiceless. At only 25 years old, she carried her camera into the heart of one of the world’s most dangerous war zones, not for fame or recognition, but to show the world what it often refused to see. On April 16, 2025, Fatima was killed in an Israeli airstrike that obliterated her family home in Gaza City. Along with her, ten members of her family, including her pregnant...
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Tamer Mekdad: A Journalist’s Life Cut Short in Gaza
April 19, 2025
Tamer Mekdad: A Journalist’s Life Cut Short in Gaza
April 19, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On April 17, 2025, Palestinian journalist and writer Tamer Mekdad was killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck his home in the Tel al-Zaatar neighborhood of northern Gaza. The attack also claimed the lives of several of his family members, including his young daughter. Mekdad's death is part of a broader pattern of violence against journalists in Gaza, where over 200 media workers have been killed since October 2023, making it one of the deadliest conflicts for journalists in recent history. Mekdad was known for his dedication to reporting...
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Hüseyin Dogru: Facing Prison for Criticizing an Israeli Journalist
April 18, 2025
Hüseyin Dogru: Facing Prison for Criticizing an Israeli Journalist
April 18, 2025 - Germany -  Hüseyin Dogru, founder of the independent media outlet red. media, is facing up to three years in prison in Germany on defamation charges stemming from a dispute with Nicholas Potter, a German journalist affiliated with The Jerusalem Post. The conflict began after Potter published an exposé alleging that red. media, along with other outlets like MintPress News and The Grayzone, were part of a network promoting extremism and anti-Semitic conspiracy theories, purportedly funded by Russia, Syria, and Iran. In response, red. The media criticized Potter's affiliations, highlighting his funding...
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Grenade Attack Targets Journalist’s Home in Dara Adam Khel Amid Local Feud
April 18, 2025
Grenade Attack Targets Journalist’s Home in Dara Adam Khel Amid Local Feud
April 18, 2025 - Pakistan -  On April 17, 2025, a grenade was hurled into the home of local journalist Nisar Afridi in Bazi Khel village, located in Dara Adam Khel, Pakistan, triggering fresh fears for the safety of media workers in volatile tribal regions. Although no one was physically harmed in the explosion, the attack caused damage to the roof and destroyed a solar panel system that had been installed for household use. Afridi, who reports for Roznama Khabrain, believes the incident was a consequence of escalating tensions between two rival local factions —...
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Journalist Sayed Rashed Kashefi Detained by Taliban Intelligence in Kabul
April 18, 2025
Journalist Sayed Rashed Kashefi Detained by Taliban Intelligence in Kabul
April 18, 2025 - Afghanistan -  On April 14, 2025, freelance journalist Sayed Rashed Kashefi was detained by agents of the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI) in Kabul. The arrest occurred after Kashefi was summoned under the pretense of retrieving his previously confiscated equipment, including his mobile phone, camera, and voice recorder, which had been seized in mid-March during an investigation into his alleged collaboration with exiled media outlets. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) has expressed grave concern over Kashefi’s detention, emphasizing that such actions violate Afghanistan’s media laws and international standards for press...
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Yemeni Journalist Awad Kashmeem Arbitrarily Detained in Hadhramaut
April 18, 2025
Yemeni Journalist Awad Kashmeem Arbitrarily Detained in Hadhramaut
April 18, 2025 - Yemen -  On April 15, 2025, Yemeni journalist and union activist Awad Kashmeem was arrested by security forces in the Haridah district of Hadhramaut province, eastern Yemen. Kashmeem, who serves as the head of the Freedoms Committee at the Yemeni Journalists Syndicate's Hadhramaut branch, was apprehended without any formal charges being announced, and his current whereabouts remain undisclosed. The arrest followed a series of events where Kashmeem's home was reportedly raided, and his family faced intimidation actions perceived as retaliation for his journalistic endeavors. This incident is not isolated; in February...
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Belgian Journalist Arrested While Reporting Sparks Press Freedom Concerns
April 17, 2025
Belgian Journalist Arrested While Reporting Sparks Press Freedom Concerns
April 17, 2025 - Belgium -  On April 13, 2025, freelance journalist Thomas Haulotte was arrested by Brussels-Capital/Ixelles police while covering a civil disobedience protest near the European institutions. Despite presenting his official press card, Haulotte was detained alongside activists putting up anti-far-right posters. The police claimed he was part of the activist group, even though he identified himself as a journalist on assignment. Haulotte recounted that during the nighttime action, activists were surrounded by two police vans. “About ten officers got out and asked us to stand aside,” he said. Haulotte immediately explained to...
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Exiled Turkish Journalist Cevheri Güven Faces Ongoing Threats in Germany
April 17, 2025
Exiled Turkish Journalist Cevheri Güven Faces Ongoing Threats in Germany
April 17, 2025 - Turkey -  Cevheri Güven, a Turkish investigative journalist now living in exile in Germany, continues to face persistent threats to his life despite seeking asylum. Since relocating in 2017, Güven has been under constant police protection, required to inform authorities whenever he leaves his residence. He also wears a wrist device resembling a watch, which serves as a security bracelet allowing him to send an alarm in case of danger. Güven's troubles began in Turkey, where he served as editor-in-chief of Nokta, a political news weekly. In November 2015, he and...
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Palestinian Journalist Mujahed al-Saadi Detained Without Charge Amid Ongoing Press Crackdown
April 17, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Mujahed al-Saadi Detained Without Charge Amid Ongoing Press Crackdown
April 17, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On September 19, 2024, Palestinian journalist Mujahed al-Saadi was forcibly arrested by Israeli forces during a pre-dawn raid on his home in Jenin, located in the occupied West Bank. The operation was marked by violence, with reports indicating that al-Saadi and his wife were physically assaulted during the arrest. Al-Saadi was taken barefoot and in his sleepwear, and his mobile phones were confiscated by the soldiers. Al-Saadi, a freelance journalist contributing to outlets such as Al-Araby al-Jadeed and Palestine Today TV, has a history of reporting on Israeli military...
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Kazakh Satirist Temirlan Yensebek Sentenced to Five Years of Restricted Freedom
April 17, 2025
Kazakh Satirist Temirlan Yensebek Sentenced to Five Years of Restricted Freedom
April 17, 2025 - Kazakhstan -  On April 11, 2025, a court in Almaty sentenced Temirlan Yensebek, founder of the satirical Instagram outlet Qaznews24, to five years of restricted freedom on charges of inciting ethnic and religious hatred. This non-custodial sentence prohibits Yensebek from engaging in journalism, participating in public activities, or giving interviews. Additionally, his phone and laptop were confiscated, and he was ordered to pay a fine of 78,000 tenge (approximately USD 150) into the victims' compensation fund. The charges stem from a January 2024 post on Qaznews24 that featured the rap track...
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Cuba’s Crackdown on Independent Journalism: The Cases of Yadiel Hernández and José Gabriel Barrenechea
April 17, 2025
Cuba’s Crackdown on Independent Journalism: The Cases of Yadiel Hernández and José Gabriel Barrenechea
April 17, 2025 - Cuba -  In a stark illustration of Cuba's escalating repression of independent media, freelance journalists Yadiel Hernández and José Gabriel Barrenechea have been detained without trial, highlighting the perilous environment for press freedom on the island. Hernández, 33, was arrested on January 24, 2025, while investigating drug trafficking in a school in Matanzas for the independent outlet 14ymedio. He is currently held at Combinado del Sur prison, facing charges of "propaganda against the constitutional order," a vague accusation often employed to silence dissenting voices. Barrenechea, 53, a physicist and writer, was...
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“A Loud Death”: The Life and Loss of Gaza’s Eye, Fatima Hassouna
April 16, 2025
“A Loud Death”: The Life and Loss of Gaza’s Eye, Fatima Hassouna
April 16, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On April 16, 2025, an Israeli airstrike obliterated a home in Gaza City's Al-Tuffah neighborhood, killing 25-year-old Palestinian photojournalist Fatima Hassouna and ten members of her family, including her pregnant sister. The attack came just one day after the announcement that a documentary featuring Hassouna, Put Your Soul on Your Hand and Walk, had been selected for the Cannes Film Festival. Born in Gaza City in 1999, Hassouna graduated with a multimedia degree from the University College of Applied Sciences. She began documenting life in Gaza following the escalation...
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Russian Journalists Sentenced to 5.5 Years for Alleged Ties to Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation
April 16, 2025
Russian Journalists Sentenced to 5.5 Years for Alleged Ties to Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation
April 16, 2025 - Russia -  On April 15, 2025, the Nagatinsky District Court in Moscow sentenced four journalists—Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, and Artem Kriger—to five and a half years in prison each. They were convicted of participating in an "extremist community" linked to the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which Russian authorities designated as extremist in 2021. The trial, conducted behind closed doors since October 2024, centered on allegations that the journalists produced content for FBK's YouTube channel. Favorskaya and Kriger were affiliated with SotaVision, an independent outlet known...
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Breakthrough in De Vries Murder Case: Key Suspect Extradited from Curaçao
April 16, 2025
Breakthrough in De Vries Murder Case: Key Suspect Extradited from Curaçao
April 16, 2025 - Netherlands -  In April 2025, Dutch authorities made a significant breakthrough in the investigation into the 2021 assassination of renowned crime journalist Peter R. de Vries. A 39-year-old man, identified as Raily B., was arrested in Willemstad, Curaçao, on suspicion of playing a leading role in the criminal organization responsible for de Vries's murder. At the time of his arrest, Raily B. had been incarcerated in Curaçao since 2014 for unrelated offenses. Following his apprehension, he was extradited to the Netherlands to face charges. Peter R. de Vries was a prominent...
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Journalist Freshta Sadeed Detained and Released Amid Pakistan’s Crackdown on Afghans
April 16, 2025
Journalist Freshta Sadeed Detained and Released Amid Pakistan’s Crackdown on Afghans
April 16, 2025 -Afghanistan/Pakistan -  Afghan journalist Freshta Sadeed was briefly detained in Islamabad by Pakistani police on April 14, 2025, as part of the country’s intensified crackdown on undocumented Afghan nationals. Sadeed, who had worked for Radio Bahar in Kapisa province, fled Afghanistan after the Taliban’s return to power due to threats against her life as a female journalist. Her detention sparked outrage among press freedom advocates and human rights groups, who feared for her safety and potential deportation. Held for 72 hours at the Haji Camp detention facility, Sadeed was released on April...
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Senegal Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists Under ‘Zero Tolerance’ Policy
April 16, 2025
Senegal Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists Under ‘Zero Tolerance’ Policy
April 16, 2024 - Senegal -  In April 2025, Senegalese authorities escalated their crackdown on journalists under a new "zero tolerance" policy targeting the dissemination of so-called "false news." This move has raised serious concerns among press freedom advocates, who view it as a significant step backward for media rights in the country. On April 14, Zik FM editor-in-chief Simon Pierre Faye was charged with spreading false news after his outlet republished an article questioning public trust in President Bassirou Diomaye Diakhar Faye's leadership. Faye was released under judicial control but remains under investigation. His...
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France Demands Release of Russian Journalists Jailed Over Navalny Coverage
April 16, 2025
France Demands Release of Russian Journalists Jailed Over Navalny Coverage
April 16, 2025 - France/Russia -  In April 2025, France called on Russia to immediately and unconditionally release four journalists sentenced to five and a half years in prison for their alleged association with the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The journalists—Antonina Kravtsova (also known as Antonina Favorskaya), Konstantin Gabov, Sergei Karelin, and Artem Kriger—were convicted of "participation in an extremist organization," referencing Navalny’s banned anti-corruption network. French Foreign Ministry spokesperson Christophe Lemoine condemned the verdicts, stating that the trial exemplified the Russian government's efforts to suppress dissent and intimidate those documenting human rights violations....
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France Condemns Sentencing of Russian Journalists Covering Navalny
April 15, 2025
France Condemns Sentencing of Russian Journalists Covering Navalny
April 15, 2025 - Russia-  On April 15, 2025, a Moscow court sentenced four Russian journalists—Antonina Favorskaya, Artyom Kriger, Konstantin Gabov, and Sergey Karelin—to five and a half years in prison each on charges of "participation in an extremist organization." The charges stemmed from their alleged association with the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny's Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which Russian authorities designated as extremist in 2021. The journalists were accused of producing content for FBK-affiliated platforms. Favorskaya and Kriger were affiliated with the independent outlet SOTAvision, while Gabov and Karelin worked as freelancers for international media...
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Canadian Journalist Requests Russian Citizenship Amid Global Uncertainty
April 15, 2025
Canadian Journalist Requests Russian Citizenship Amid Global Uncertainty
April 15, 2025 - Russia -  Canadian journalist Eva Bartlett has formally requested Russian citizenship from President Vladimir Putin, citing increasing instability in Western countries and her desire to present a Russian perspective on global events, especially concerning Ukraine. Bartlett, who holds both Canadian and U.S. citizenship, has been residing in Russia since 2021. In her appeal, she emphasized her deep appreciation for Russian culture, traditions, and language. She also expressed that she no longer feels safe in her home countries due to growing political tensions and societal instability. Bartlett's decision to seek Russian citizenship...
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Albania’s SPAK Faces Scrutiny Over Media Leaks and Pressures on Journalists
April 15, 2025
Albania’s SPAK Faces Scrutiny Over Media Leaks and Pressures on Journalists
April 15, 2025 - Albania -  Albania's Special Prosecution Against Corruption and Organized Crime (SPAK) is under increasing scrutiny following allegations of media leaks and undue pressures on journalists. Media Leaks and Alleged Manipulation A significant controversy erupted when a SPAK prosecutor admitted that journalists had sought permission to publish confidential case files. This admission has led to concerns that SPAK may be using the media to influence public opinion and control narratives, especially regarding politically sensitive cases. Critics argue that this practice could undermine the independence of the judiciary and the media's role as...
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Women Journalists Defy Repression and Amplify Voices Amidst Challenges
April 15, 2025
Women Journalists Defy Repression and Amplify Voices Amidst Challenges
April 15. 2025 - Turkey -  Across the globe, women journalists are confronting systemic repression, yet they persist in amplifying marginalized voices and advocating for press freedom. Turkey: Journalists Defy Detention In Istanbul, journalists Elif Bayburt and Nisa Sude Demirel were detained during raids and later released. Their detention was part of a broader crackdown on journalists and activists, highlighting ongoing concerns about press freedom in Turkey. Journalist Eylem Babayiğit, previously imprisoned, declared, “No matter where we are, we will continue to write, both inside and outside of prisons. The free press cannot be silenced.”...
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Global Surge in Journalist Fatalities in 2024: A Stark Reality
April 15, 2025
Global Surge in Journalist Fatalities in 2024: A Stark Reality
April 15, 2025 - Palestine/Israel- In 2024, the toll of journalists' lives lost worldwide has reached disturbing levels, marking the second consecutive year of devastating fatalities. Conflict zones have emerged as the deadliest locations for journalists, with 68 media professionals killed, according to UNESCO. The trend reveals an ongoing pattern of increasing violence against those who risk their lives to inform the public in war-torn regions. A significant proportion of these casualties occurred in the Gaza Strip, where over half of the deaths took place. UNESCO’s report highlights the fact that more than 60% of...
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Nicaraguan Journalists in Exile: Navigating Statelessness and Upholding Press Freedom
April 15, 2025
Nicaraguan Journalists in Exile: Navigating Statelessness and Upholding Press Freedom
April 15, 2025 - Nicaragua -  Nicaragua's escalating repression under President Daniel Ortega has forced numerous journalists into exile, stripping them of citizenship and subjecting them to statelessness. This dire situation has transformed exile into a defining feature of Nicaraguan journalism. As of September 2023, at least 223 journalists had been exiled, with many facing the added hardship of losing their Nicaraguan nationality, rendering them stateless and unable to access basic services like healthcare, education, or employment. This deliberate targeting of media professionals has decimated the independent press, leaving a significant void in the country's...
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Sudanese Journalist Ahmed Mohamed Saleh Sayyidna Killed Amid Ongoing Conflict
April 14, 2025
Sudanese Journalist Ahmed Mohamed Saleh Sayyidna Killed Amid Ongoing Conflict
April 14, 2025 - Sudan -  In a tragic reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones, Sudanese journalist Ahmed Mohamed Saleh Sayyidna was killed by shelling in El Fasher, Darfur, on April 2025. Sayyidna, a reporter for Sudanese media outlet Al-Watan, was caught in the crossfire of ongoing clashes between Sudanese government forces and rebel groups. His death marks yet another loss in a wave of attacks on journalists covering the devastating conflict that has gripped Sudan since the beginning of the year. Sayyidna's death is part of a broader trend of...
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Justice Demanded in Brutal Murder of North Sumatra Journalist and His Family
April 14, 2025
Justice Demanded in Brutal Murder of North Sumatra Journalist and His Family
April 14, 2025 - Indonesia -  The harrowing murder of Indonesian journalist Rico Sempurna Pasaribu and his family in June 2024 continues to spark outrage and calls for justice. Pasaribu, a reporter for Tribrata TV known for covering illegal gambling and drug trafficking, was killed in a targeted arson attack in Karo Regency, North Sumatra. The attack also claimed the lives of his wife and three young children, prompting national condemnation and raising grave concerns over press freedom and journalist safety in Indonesia. Three suspects were found guilty in March 2025 by the Kabanjahe District...
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Kenyan Journalist Silas Apollo Dies After Tragic Road Accident
April 14, 2025
Kenyan Journalist Silas Apollo Dies After Tragic Road Accident
April 14, 2025 - Kenya -  Silas Ochieng’ Apollo, a respected Kenyan journalist formerly with NTV and most recently with The Nairobi Law Monthly, tragically passed away following a road accident on April 9, 2025. The incident occurred along Kiambu Road in Nairobi, where Apollo was struck by a speeding motorcycle while attempting to cross the road. He was initially taken to St. Teresa's Hospital and later transferred to Kiambu Level 6 Hospital, where he was pronounced dead upon arrival. An autopsy conducted at City Mortuary revealed that Apollo succumbed to severe head injuries caused...
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Lebanese Authorities Target Independent Media Amid Press Freedom Concerns
April 14, 2025
Lebanese Authorities Target Independent Media Amid Press Freedom Concerns
April 14, 2025 - Lebanon -  In April 2025, Lebanese authorities summoned journalists from independent media outlets Daraj Media and Megaphone News, along with Diana Menhem, executive director of the advocacy group Kulluna Irada, for interrogation by the Cassation Public Prosecution Office. The summonses were issued via phone calls without written notices or detailed explanations, raising concerns about due process and legal transparency. The legal actions stem from a criminal complaint filed in March by three private lawyers, reportedly in response to the outlets' critical coverage of candidates for the Central Bank governorship and their...
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Journalists Under Threat Amid Political Shift in Bangladesh
April 14, 2025
Journalists Under Threat Amid Political Shift in Bangladesh
April 14, 2025 - Bangladesh -  Amid Bangladesh’s ongoing political transformation, journalists remain under severe threat despite a change in leadership. The ousting of longtime Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in 2024 and the rise of a transitional government led by Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus brought hopes for improved press freedom. However, recent developments suggest that repression of the media continues, with journalists facing violence, legal harassment, and intimidation. Since early 2025, attacks on journalists have escalated. Several reporters have been beaten by law enforcement and political operatives during protests. Newsrooms have been raided, and journalists...
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BBC Edits Headline After Criticism Over Gaza Hospital Coverage
April 14, 2025
BBC Edits Headline After Criticism Over Gaza Hospital Coverage
April 14, 2025 - Gaza -  In October 2023, the BBC faced significant backlash over its initial reporting of a deadly explosion at the al-Ahli Arab Hospital in Gaza. The broadcaster was criticized not only for speculative on-air commentary but also for how it framed the story in its online headline. The original headline, which suggested Israeli responsibility for the blast based on claims from Hamas, drew widespread condemnation for presenting unverified information as fact. The BBC’s initial headline read along the lines of: “Israeli airstrike hits Gaza hospital, killing hundreds – Hamas”. Critics argued...
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Lebanese Journalists and Activists Targeted in Escalating Crackdown
April 14, 2025
Lebanese Journalists and Activists Targeted in Escalating Crackdown
April 14, 2025 - Lebanon -  In April 2025, Lebanese authorities intensified their pressure on independent media and civil society by summoning journalists and an activist for investigation over reports alleging corruption and misconduct within the country’s financial and political institutions. Journalists from Daraj Media and Megaphone News, along with the executive director of the advocacy group Kulluna Irada, were called in by the Cassation Public Prosecution Office following their involvement in investigative reporting about questionable appointments and financial practices within Lebanon’s central banking sector. The charges against them include “undermining the financial standing of...
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Pig’s Head Terror and New Rules: Indonesia’s Press Freedom Under Siege
April 14, 2025
Pig’s Head Terror and New Rules: Indonesia’s Press Freedom Under Siege
April 14, 2025 - Indonesia -  In a chilling act of intimidation, Tempo journalist Francisca Christy Rosana became the target of a grotesque threat in Jakarta. A severed pig’s head, along with six decapitated rats, was delivered to her office in March 2025—an unmistakable warning. Rosana had been investigating government-linked corruption, and the attack seemed designed to silence her. Shortly afterward, she and her family endured online harassment and personal data leaks, escalating the danger. Recognizing the severity, Indonesia’s Witness and Victim Protection Agency (LPSK) stepped in to offer Rosana protection, while press freedom advocates...
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Rwanda to Build Monument Honoring Journalists Killed in 1994 Genocide
April 13, 2025
Rwanda to Build Monument Honoring Journalists Killed in 1994 Genocide
April 13, 2025 - Rwanda -  Rwanda is taking a significant step to honor the memory of journalists killed during the 1994 Genocide against the Tutsi. The government has announced plans to build a monument dedicated to more than 60 journalists who lost their lives while working to inform the public during one of the darkest chapters in the nation’s history. The announcement was made during a Kwibuka (remembrance) event in Kigali, held at the Rwanda Broadcasting Agency (RBA) headquarters in April 2025. Government officials, media representatives, and families of the victims came together to...
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Hope from Behind Bars: Joakim Medin’s Fight for Press Freedom in Turkey
April 13, 2025
Hope from Behind Bars: Joakim Medin’s Fight for Press Freedom in Turkey
April 13, 2025 - Soweden/Turkey -  Swedish journalist Joakim Medin, renowned for covering global conflict zones and human rights issues, now finds himself the subject of the very injustices he has long reported on. Detained by Turkish authorities in late March 2025 upon arriving in Istanbul, Medin’s arrest sparked widespread concern across Europe and the journalistic community. Turkish prosecutors accuse Medin of "insulting the president" and "being a member of a terrorist organization," linking him to a controversial 2023 protest in Sweden where an effigy of President Erdoğan was burned. Medin has firmly denied involvement,...
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Khairpur Police Arrest Five Suspects in Journalist’s Murder
April 13, 2025
Khairpur Police Arrest Five Suspects in Journalist’s Murder
April 13, 2025 - Pakistan -  In a significant development, Khairpur police have arrested five individuals in connection with the murder of journalist Allah Dino Shar, also known as A.D. Shar, who worked for an Urdu news channel. The incident occurred in Aliabad, within the jurisdiction of Thari Mirwah police station, leading to protests by the local community and media workers across Khairpur district. The arrested suspects include Niaz Badami (the main accused), Waqas Channa, Fahim Channa, Ahad Channa, and Naeem Channa. During initial interrogations, the suspects reportedly confessed to the crime. Fahim Channa allegedly...
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Ukraine Urges OSCE Action as Journalists and Civilians Targeted Amid Ongoing Conflict
April 13, 2025
Ukraine Urges OSCE Action as Journalists and Civilians Targeted Amid Ongoing Conflict
April 13, 2025 - Ukraine -  In April 2025, Ukraine intensified its appeals to the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) to address the dire situation of journalists and civilians affected by the ongoing conflict with Russia. Ukrainian officials reported that 33 journalists remain detained in Russian-controlled territories, facing fabricated charges and inhumane conditions. The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Teresa Ribeiro, was urged to utilize all available mechanisms to secure their release and uphold press freedom. Among the detained are two Ukrainian OSCE staff members, Maksym Petrov and Dmytro Shabanov,...
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“We Are Not Numbers”: Amplifying Gaza’s Youth Voices Through Storytelling
April 13, 2025
“We Are Not Numbers”: Amplifying Gaza’s Youth Voices Through Storytelling
April 13, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Amid ongoing conflict and humanitarian crises in Gaza, the initiative "We Are Not Numbers" (WANN) stands as a testament to the resilience and determination of Palestinian youth to share their narratives with the world. Co-founded in 2015 by Palestinian journalist Ahmed Alnaouq and American activist Pam Bailey, WANN aims to provide young Palestinians with the tools and platforms to articulate their experiences in English, thereby reaching a global audience. The inception of WANN was deeply personal. Alnaouq, grieving the loss of his brother in the 2014 Gaza war, found...
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Tofig Yagublu’s Imprisonment and Hunger Strike Spark International Outcry
April 12, 2025
Tofig Yagublu’s Imprisonment and Hunger Strike Spark International Outcry
April 12, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In March 2025, Azerbaijani opposition leader Tofig Yagublu was sentenced to nine years in prison on charges of fraud and document forgery. Human rights organizations, including Amnesty International, have denounced the trial as politically motivated and lacking due process. Yagublu, a prominent member of the Musavat Party and the National Council of Democratic Forces, has faced repeated persecution for his outspoken criticism of the government. On April 1, Yagublu commenced a hunger strike to protest his imprisonment. His health, already compromised by chronic asthma and years of alleged mistreatment,...
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India’s Swift Action in Journalist Murder Cases Garners Public Praise
April 12, 2025
India’s Swift Action in Journalist Murder Cases Garners Public Praise
April 12, 2025 - India - In recent months, Indian authorities have taken prompt action in several journalist murder cases, earning commendation from the public and media rights organizations. This proactive approach marks a significant shift in addressing crimes against journalists, a profession that has often faced threats and violence. One notable case is that of journalist Mukesh Chandrakar, who went missing on January 1, 2025. His body was discovered two days later in a septic tank at a property owned by a contractor in Bijapur town, Chhattisgarh. Chandrakar was known for his investigative reporting...
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Azerbaijan’s Intensifying Crackdown on Independent Media and Civil Society
April 11, 2025
Azerbaijan’s Intensifying Crackdown on Independent Media and Civil Society
April 11, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In 2025, Azerbaijan escalated its suppression of independent media and civil society, drawing sharp criticism from international human rights organizations. The government's actions, including arrests and legal actions against journalists and activists, have raised concerns about the erosion of press freedom and democratic principles in the country. Recent months have seen a surge in arrests of journalists and media workers. Notably, Ulviyya Ali, associated with Meydan TV, was detained on smuggling charges, a move widely perceived as politically motivated. Similarly, seven staff members from Abzas Media and Radio Free...
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Georgia Blocks French Journalists as Press Freedom Deteriorates
April 11, 2025
Georgia Blocks French Journalists as Press Freedom Deteriorates
April 11, 2025 - France/Georgia -  In April 2025, two French journalists were denied entry into Georgia after reporting on anti-government protests. This incident has sparked concern among press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), which called it a disturbing sign of Georgia’s growing authoritarianism. The journalists had previously covered demonstrations opposing a controversial "foreign agents" bill that critics say is aimed at silencing dissent and restricting civil society. The "foreign agents" bill requires media outlets and NGOs that receive more than 20% of their funding from foreign sources to register as organizations acting...
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Turkish Journalist Detained After Reporting on Nationalist Party Official
April 11, 2025
Turkish Journalist Detained After Reporting on Nationalist Party Official
April 11, 2025 - Turkey - In April 2025, Turkish journalist Furkan Karabay was detained after publishing a report alleging that a judiciary official from the far-right Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) was involved in an assault. Karabay, known for his investigative work, had recently written about alleged misconduct involving state officials. His arrest has drawn criticism from press freedom groups, who see it as another alarming step in Turkey’s ongoing crackdown on journalists. Karabay’s case is not isolated. In recent months, Turkish authorities have escalated pressure on media professionals, particularly those reporting on government corruption,...
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Russian Journalist Artyom Kriger Sentenced Amid Media Crackdown
April 11, 2025
Russian Journalist Artyom Kriger Sentenced Amid Media Crackdown
April 11, 2025 - Russia -  In April 2025, Russian journalist Artyom Kriger was sentenced to five and a half years in prison for allegedly participating in an extremist organization. The charges are tied to his supposed association with Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which Russian authorities have labeled as extremist. Kriger’s sentencing, along with three other journalists—Antonina Favorskaya, Konstantin Gabov, and Sergei Karelin—has drawn widespread condemnation from press freedom organizations worldwide. Kriger, known for his work with the independent media outlet SOTAvision, had reported extensively on anti-Kremlin protests and the imprisonment and death of...
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Turkey’s Student and Journalist Trials Spark Outrage Over Freedoms
April 11, 2025
Turkey’s Student and Journalist Trials Spark Outrage Over Freedoms
April 11, 2025, Iraq/Turkey - In April 2025, Turkish courts began prosecuting 189 individuals—mostly university students and journalists—arrested during mass protests sparked by the detention of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem Imamoglu. The protests, held on March 19, were some of the largest in Turkey in recent years, drawing thousands of participants across the country. Over 2,000 people were detained nationwide, with Istanbul seeing the highest number of arrests. Those on trial face charges of participating in unauthorized demonstrations and resisting police orders. If convicted, sentences could range from six months to four years in prison....
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Sudanese Journalists Killed as RSF Escalates Drone Warfare
April 11, 2025
Sudanese Journalists Killed as RSF Escalates Drone Warfare
April 11, 2025 - Sudan -  The ongoing conflict in Sudan took a deadly turn for press freedom and civilian life as the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) intensified their use of drone strikes. In March 2025, a drone attack by the RSF killed four members of a Sudanese state television crew along with two military-affiliated journalists. The group was reporting near the presidential palace in Khartoum, shortly after the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) reclaimed the area from RSF control. The attack marked a direct blow to journalists covering the war on the ground. The RSF’s...
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Calls for Justice Intensify After Nepali Journalists’ Deaths
April 11, 2025
Calls for Justice Intensify After Nepali Journalists’ Deaths
April 11, 2025 - Nepal -  Nepal’s press freedom is under scrutiny following the deaths of two journalists—Suresh Rajak and Suresh Bhul—in separate incidents, with investigations into both cases facing significant delays. On March 28, 2025, Avenues Television cameraman Suresh Rajak was killed while covering a pro-monarchy protest in Kathmandu. Trapped inside a building set ablaze by demonstrators, Rajak was unable to escape as protestors reportedly hindered rescue efforts by pelting stones at firefighters. The Federation of Nepali Journalists (FNJ) condemned the incident as a targeted attack on press freedom and has demanded a high-level,...
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Acquittal in Slavko Ćuruvija Murder Case Sparks Outrage
April 11, 2025
Acquittal in Slavko Ćuruvija Murder Case Sparks Outrage
April 11, 2025 - Serbia -  The long-running case of Slavko Ćuruvija, a Serbian journalist murdered in 1999, reached a controversial conclusion in February 2024 when a Belgrade appeals court acquitted all four men previously convicted of orchestrating his killing. Ćuruvija, a fierce critic of then-President Slobodan Milošević, was gunned down outside his apartment during the NATO bombing of Yugoslavia. His death became one of the most emblematic cases of violence against journalists in post-war Europe. In 2019, a special court found four former members of Serbia’s State Security Service guilty of organizing and executing...
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Journalist Barred from War Crime Hearing Amid Legal Tensions
April 11, 2025
Journalist Barred from War Crime Hearing Amid Legal Tensions
April 11, 2025 - Afghanistan/Australia -  In April 2025, Australian photojournalist Andrew Quilty was unexpectedly barred from attending a committal hearing at Sydney’s Downing Centre Local Court. The hearing concerned former SAS soldier Oliver Schulz, who faces a war crime charge for allegedly murdering an Afghan man, Dad Mohammad, during a 2012 mission in Uruzgan province. Quilty, a prosecution witness, had been advised by both prosecution and defence lawyers to avoid attending due to his status as a witness. Despite this, he arrived at the court to cover the proceedings for The Monthly. Magistrate Greg...
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Journalist Murdered in Sindh: Protests Erupt Over Brutal Killing
April 11, 2025
Journalist Murdered in Sindh: Protests Erupt Over Brutal Killing
April 11, 2025 - Pakistan -  The killing of journalist Allah Dino Shar in Thari Mirwah, Khairpur district, Sindh, has sparked widespread outrage and protests across the region. Shar, who worked for Hum News, was found dead on April 10, 2025, in an open field, bearing multiple wounds caused by a sharp weapon. His murder has been described by colleagues and rights advocates as a targeted attack, highlighting the persistent dangers faced by journalists in Pakistan. Soon after the discovery of Shar's body, journalists in Khairpur and surrounding towns, including Kumb, Gambat, Ranipur, and Pir-Jo-Got,...
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Ethiopia Detains Seven Journalists Amid Alarming Press Crackdown
April 10, 2025
Ethiopia Detains Seven Journalists Amid Alarming Press Crackdown
April 10, 2025 - Ethiopia -  In March 2025, Ethiopian authorities detained seven journalists from the Ethiopian Broadcasting Service (EBS), accusing them of terrorism. The arrests followed the broadcast of a controversial episode of the program Addis Meiraf, which aired on March 23. The show featured Birtukan Temesgen, a woman who alleged she had been abducted and raped by men in military uniforms in 2020. Days after the broadcast, Temesgen appeared on state television and retracted her statement, prompting EBS to issue a public apology and remove the episode. The journalists, who included editors, producers,...
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Journalist Detained Amid Environmental Protests at Hyderabad University
April 10, 2025
Journalist Detained Amid Environmental Protests at Hyderabad University
April 10, 2025 - India -  On March 30, 2025, journalist Sumit Jha from the news outlet South First was detained by Hyderabad police while covering student-led environmental protests at the University of Hyderabad. The demonstrations were in response to the Telangana government's decision to clear 400 acres of forested land adjacent to the university campus for auction, potentially for IT development. The protests intensified when bulldozers arrived on campus to commence land clearing. Students, fearing irreversible environmental damage, attempted to halt the machinery and were met with police intervention. During the confrontation, Jha, despite...
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Leading Turkish Journalists Arrested Over Alleged Blackmail Amid Political Tensions
April 10, 2025
Leading Turkish Journalists Arrested Over Alleged Blackmail Amid Political Tensions
April 10, 2025 - Turkey -  On April 10, 2025, two high-profile Turkish investigative journalists, Timur Soykan of BirGün and Murat Ağırel of Cumhuriyet, were detained by police in Istanbul. Authorities charged them with blackmail and threats, claims their newspapers argue are retaliation for critical reporting. The arrests were based on a complaint filed by a jailed media executive, who alleged the journalists attempted to extort him over the sale of Flash Haber TV. Both Soykan and Ağırel are known for exposing corruption, organized crime, and government scandals. Their detention sparked outcry across Turkey’s media...
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Global Media Body Stands in Solidarity with Journalists Facing Oppression
April 10, 2025
Global Media Body Stands in Solidarity with Journalists Facing Oppression
April 10, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  In May 2025, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) publicly expressed solidarity with journalists worldwide who are facing oppression, censorship, and violence. This move came amid growing concerns over the safety and freedom of the press in many countries, where journalists face harassment, arbitrary arrests, and even killings for doing their work. PFUJ highlighted cases from various parts of the world where journalists continue to suffer under authoritarian regimes, conflict zones, and politically sensitive environments. They condemned attacks on press freedom as an attack on democracy itself and...
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Iranian Journalist Vida Rabbani Released on Conditional Parole After 32 Months in Evin Prison
April 10, 2025
Iranian Journalist Vida Rabbani Released on Conditional Parole After 32 Months in Evin Prison
April 10, 2025 - Iran -  On April 9, 2025, Iranian journalist and human rights defender Vida Rabbani was conditionally released from Tehran’s Evin Prison after serving 32 months of a five-year sentence. Her release was granted under a provisional suspension of two years of her sentence by Branch 26 of the Revolutionary Court. Rabbani was initially detained in January 2020 while reporting on protests following the downing of a Ukrainian passenger plane by the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Although her sentence was later suspended, she was rearrested during the 2022 protests over the...
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“Imprisoned Freedom” Exhibition in Brussels Highlights Plight of Ukrainian Journalists in Russian Captivity
April 10, 2025
“Imprisoned Freedom” Exhibition in Brussels Highlights Plight of Ukrainian Journalists in Russian Captivity
April 10, 2025 - Belgium/Ukraine -  From April 9 to 11, 2025, the European Parliament’s Info Hub in Brussels hosted a poignant photo exhibition titled Imprisoned Freedom, dedicated to Ukrainian journalists unlawfully detained by Russian authorities. Organized by NGO Integrity UA, the Mission of Ukraine to the EU, the Institute of Mass Information, and media platform Promote Ukraine, with support from the International Renaissance Foundation, the exhibition aimed to shed light on the challenges faced by media professionals in occupied territories. The exhibition featured powerful narratives and images of at least 30 Ukrainian journalists currently...
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Indian Journalist Raghvendra Bajpai Killed After Threatening to Expose Temple Priest’s Crimes
April 10, 2025
Indian Journalist Raghvendra Bajpai Killed After Threatening to Expose Temple Priest’s Crimes
April 10, 2025 - India -  On April 10, 2025, journalist and Right to Information (RTI) activist Raghvendra Bajpai was shot dead in Sitapur, Uttar Pradesh. Bajpai, a correspondent for the Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, was ambushed while crossing the Hempur railway overbridge along the Lucknow-Delhi National Highway. His assassination was the result of a murder plot allegedly orchestrated by a local temple priest, Vikas Rathore, also known as Shivanand Baba. According to police investigations, Bajpai had threatened to expose Rathore after witnessing him sexually assaulting a minor boy at his temple. Fearing public scandal...
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Russian Journalists Sentenced to 5.5 Years for Alleged Extremism Tied to Navalny
April 10, 2025
Russian Journalists Sentenced to 5.5 Years for Alleged Extremism Tied to Navalny
April 10, 2025 - Russia -  On April 10, 2025, a Moscow court sentenced four journalists—Antonina Favorskaya, Artyom Kriger, Sergey Karelin, and Konstantin Gabov—to five and a half years in prison for alleged involvement with the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), which was designated as an extremist organization by Russian authorities in 2021. Favorskaya and Kriger were affiliated with the independent outlet SotaVision, known for covering protests and political trials. Gabov and Karelin worked as freelance journalists for international media organizations, including Reuters and the Associated Press. The journalists were accused of...
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Haitian Journalist Roger Claudy Israël Freed After Abduction by Armed Gang
April 10, 2025
Haitian Journalist Roger Claudy Israël Freed After Abduction by Armed Gang
April 10, 2025 - Haiti -  On March 31, 2025, Haitian journalist Roger Claudy Israël and his brother Marco were abducted in Mirebalais during a violent offensive by the armed gang coalition Viv Ansanm. Israël, founder of local radio station RC FM and former correspondent for Radio Ginen, was targeted amid escalating violence against journalists in the region. A video released by the gang showed the brothers handcuffed and threatened with execution, highlighting the severe risks faced by media professionals in Haiti. The abduction prompted urgent calls for their release from organizations including Reporters Without...
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Belgian Photojournalist Simon Clément Faces Legal Challenges in Mizoram
April 9, 2025
Belgian Photojournalist Simon Clément Faces Legal Challenges in Mizoram
April 09, 2025 - Belgium -  On March 6, 2025, Belgian freelance photojournalist Simon Clément was arrested at Lengpui Airport in Aizawl, Mizoram, after two empty bullet cartridges were discovered in his luggage during a routine security check. Clément, who had recently returned from Myanmar, claimed the spent casings were souvenirs from his time documenting conflict zones in Chin State. Authorities charged Clément under Section 25(1-B) of the Indian Arms Act, 1959, for possession of ammunition, and Section 14 of the Foreigners Act, 1946, for allegedly crossing into Myanmar without valid documentation. He was initially...
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Journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh Marks 1,000 Days in Jail Amid Calls for Release
April 9, 2025
Journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh Marks 1,000 Days in Jail Amid Calls for Release
April 09, 2025 - India -  On April 11, 2025, freelance journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh completed 1,000 days of incarceration under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Singh was arrested on July 17, 2022, in Jharkhand on charges of alleged links to Maoist groups, a claim he and his supporters vehemently deny. His arrest followed a raid on his residence, during which electronic devices were seized. Subsequently, he was implicated in multiple UAPA cases, raising concerns about the misuse of anti-terror laws to stifle dissent. Singh is renowned for his investigative reporting on issues affecting...
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Journalists Assaulted During ‘Take It Back’ Protest in Rivers State
April 9, 2025
Journalists Assaulted During ‘Take It Back’ Protest in Rivers State
April 09, 2025 - Nigeria -  On April 7, 2025, a peaceful demonstration organized by the 'Take It Back' Movement in Port Harcourt, Rivers State, escalated into violence when police officers allegedly assaulted journalists covering the event. The protest aimed to oppose the federal government's declaration of a state of emergency in Rivers State and the suspension of Governor Siminalayi Fubara, his deputy, and 27 state lawmakers. Journalists from various media outlets, including Channels Television, AIT, Classic FM, and Nigeria Info, reported being targeted by police while performing their duties. Charles Opurum of Channels TV...
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Israeli Airstrike on Journalist Sparks Outcry Over Press Freedom Violations
April 9, 2025
Israeli Airstrike on Journalist Sparks Outcry Over Press Freedom Violations
April 09, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  In an April 2025 article, Palestinian journalist Tareq S. Hajjaj strongly refuted Israeli military claims that his colleague, journalist Hassan Eslayeh, was a Hamas operative. Eslayeh was severely injured in an Israeli airstrike, losing two fingers. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) alleged that Eslayeh had taken part in the October 7, 2023, attacks on southern Israel, but Hajjaj maintains these claims are false and unsubstantiated. Eslayeh has worked extensively with both local and international media, providing frontline coverage of the Gaza conflict. According to Hajjaj, on October 7, Eslayeh...
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Journalist Burned Alive in Israeli Strike as Gaza Becomes Deadliest Zone for Press
April 9, 2025
Journalist Burned Alive in Israeli Strike as Gaza Becomes Deadliest Zone for Press
April 09, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On April 7, 2025, an Israeli airstrike struck a tent sheltering journalists near the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing two Palestinian journalists and injuring at least eight others. Among the victims was Ahmed Mansour, a reporter for Palestine Today, who suffered severe burns and died the next day after being filmed engulfed in flames. The tent had been used as a makeshift media workspace and was located in an area that journalists say was clearly identified and regularly used by members of the press. Mansour’s...
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Turkish Courts Uphold Detention of Journalists Over Erdoğan Insult Charges
April 9, 2025
Turkish Courts Uphold Detention of Journalists Over Erdoğan Insult Charges
April 09, 2025 - Sweden/Turkey -  In April 2025, Turkish courts upheld the pretrial detention of two journalists—Swedish reporter Kaj Joakim Medin and Turkish broadcaster Sedef Kabaş—fueling renewed concerns about press freedom in the country. Both journalists were charged under Turkey’s controversial laws on “insulting the president,” which critics say are increasingly used to stifle dissent. Kaj Joakim Medin was arrested on March 27, 2025, after landing in Istanbul to report on large-scale protests triggered by the detention of opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Turkish authorities accused Medin of insulting President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and being...
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Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Journalist Tent Kills Two, Injures Others
April 8, 2025
Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Journalist Tent Kills Two, Injures Others
April 08, 2025 - Israel/Palestine -  On April 7, 2025, an Israeli airstrike hit a tent used by journalists near the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing two journalists and injuring at least eight others. The targeted tent was part of a press camp set up by local and international journalists reporting on the ongoing conflict. Witnesses said the area was marked and known to host media workers, making the strike especially alarming. Journalist Hilmi al-Faqawi, who worked for Palestine Today TV, was killed instantly in the blast. His colleague, Ahmed Mansour,...
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Over 211 Journalists Killed in Gaza: Press Freedom Under Siege
April 8, 2025
Over 211 Journalists Killed in Gaza: Press Freedom Under Siege
April 08, 2025 - Source: MEHR News Agency - Since the onset of Israel's military campaign in Gaza in October 2023, at least 211 journalists have lost their lives, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. This alarming figure underscores the escalating dangers faced by media professionals in the region. The recent death of journalist Ahmed Mansour, who succumbed to severe burns sustained during an Israeli airstrike on a media tent, marked the 211th casualty among journalists in the conflict. The Palestinian National Council (PNC), the highest decision-making body of the Palestine Liberation Organization, has...
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Journalist Burned Alive in Gaza Airstrike as Death Toll Among Press Reaches 211
April 8, 2025
Journalist Burned Alive in Gaza Airstrike as Death Toll Among Press Reaches 211
April 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - On April 7, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted a tent near the Nasser Medical Complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, killing two journalists and injuring several others. The tent, clearly marked and known to host media personnel, was engulfed in flames following the strike. Journalist Ahmed Mansour, a reporter for Palestine Today, suffered severe burns and succumbed to his injuries the following day. His death brought the total number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023 to at least 211, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. The...
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Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna: A Legacy of Courage and Tragedy
April 8, 2025
Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna: A Legacy of Courage and Tragedy
April 08, 2025 - Ukraine -  Viktoriia Roshchyna, a 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist, dedicated her career to exposing the harsh realities of Russia's occupation of Ukrainian territories. Her fearless reporting, particularly on the systemic torture and unlawful detention of civilians, led her to the occupied regions of Zaporizhzhia in August 2023. During this trip, she vanished, and her fate remained unknown until April 2024, when Russia confirmed her detention. In October 2024, the Russian Ministry of Defence informed her family of her death in captivity. Roshchyna's body was returned to Ukraine in February 2025 as part...
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Sudan’s War: Journalists Under Siege Amid Escalating Conflict
April 8, 2025
Sudan’s War: Journalists Under Siege Amid Escalating Conflict
April 08, 2025 - Sudan -  Since the outbreak of civil war in Sudan in April 2023, at least seven journalists have been killed, with one reported missing and several others detained, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). The conflict between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) has severely compromised press freedom, with both factions accused of deliberately targeting media professionals. Among the notable casualties is Halima Idris Salim, a journalist for Sudan Bokra, who was fatally struck by an RSF vehicle while reporting in Omdurman on October 10,...
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Guatemalan Journalist Nelton Rivera Targeted by Coordinated Smear Campaign
April 8, 2025
Guatemalan Journalist Nelton Rivera Targeted by Coordinated Smear Campaign
April 08, 2025 - Guatemala -  Nelton Rivera, a prominent Guatemalan journalist and co-founder of Prensa Comunitaria, is facing a concerted online smear and threat campaign aimed at discrediting his investigative reporting on corruption. Since February 2025, social media accounts known as “net centers” have been disseminating manipulated images and false narratives about Rivera, including doctored photos depicting him behind bars alongside imprisoned journalist José Rubén Zamora. These posts falsely accuse Rivera of collaborating with organized crime and call for his arrest, escalating in frequency and intensity through March and April. The smear campaign coincides...
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Targeted and Silenced: Israeli Airstrike Kills Journalist in Gaza, Sparking Global Outcry
April 8, 2025
Targeted and Silenced: Israeli Airstrike Kills Journalist in Gaza, Sparking Global Outcry
April 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On April 7, 2025, an Israeli airstrike deliberately targeted a tent sheltering journalists near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, resulting in the death of Palestinian journalist Helmi Al-Faqaawi and another individual. Several other journalists were injured, with some sustaining serious wounds. This attack sparked immediate condemnation from human rights groups and press freedom organizations worldwide. The Euro-Mediterranean Human Rights Monitor denounced the strike as a calculated assault on the press, carried out with full awareness of its consequences. The organization emphasized that such attacks aim to silence...
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Azerbaijani Authorities Clamp Down on Journalists with New Criminal Charges
April 8, 2025
Azerbaijani Authorities Clamp Down on Journalists with New Criminal Charges
April 08, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In a further blow to media freedom in Azerbaijan, authorities have recently initiated legal actions against independent journalists, underscoring a widening campaign to suppress critical voices. Three separate cases spotlight the tactics used to intimidate and penalize reporters who challenge official narratives. The first case involves an investigative journalist who was summoned for questioning under charges of “illicit funding of non-governmental organizations.” Prosecutors allege that his reporting on alleged financial irregularities within civil society groups amounted to collusion with foreign entities—a charge that carries severe penalties. Colleagues say the...
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Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga denied bail for 3rd time
April 8, 2025
Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga denied bail for 3rd time
April 08, 2025 - Source: CPJ -  Zimbabwean authorities should stop their victimization of broadcast journalist Blessed Mhlanga, who, after 43 days in jail, was denied bail for the third time on Monday, and must ensure that charges against him are dropped immediately, the Committee to Protect Journalists said. Mhlanga, a journalist for privately owned Heart and Soul Television, has been detained since February 24 on incitement charges for interviewing a war veteran who called for President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation. “The repeated denial of bail is yet another example of the injustice that Blessed Mhlanga has been forced to endure for simply...
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Journalists kidnapped, threatened with lynching as chaos worsens in Haiti
April 8, 2025
Journalists kidnapped, threatened with lynching as chaos worsens in Haiti
April 08, 2025 - Source: CPJ -  The Committee to Protect Journalists is concerned about deteriorating media safety amid surging violence in Haiti, in which at least one journalist was kidnapped and two were almost lynched. Roger Claudy Israël, owner of local radio station RC FM, and his brother were kidnapped in the central city of Mirebalais by Viv Ansanm gang members who threatened to execute their captives in an April 4 video. Viv Ansanm, or Living Together in Creole, is an alliance of former rival gangs who joined forces in 2023 and took control of most of the capital Port-au-Prince. Gangs attacked Mirebalais on March 31,...
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Georgian journalist released from administrative detention after 48 hours
April 8, 2025
Georgian journalist released from administrative detention after 48 hours
April 08, 2025 - Source: OC Media -  Saba Sordia, a journalist for the online magazine Indigo, who was arrested on charges of disobeying police orders, has been released from administrative detention.  The prosecution, however, is still seeking to issue an administrative fine against him. Tbilisi City Court judge Zviad Tsekvava announced at Tuesday’s hearing that the final decision in the case will be delivered on 17 April. Sordia was detained on Sunday in the street in Tbilisi by law enforcement officers after they checked his identity and searched his bag. On Monday, his detention was...
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Detained Azerbaijani Journalist Farid Mehralizada Says Trial Is Politically Motivated
April 8, 2025
Detained Azerbaijani Journalist Farid Mehralizada Says Trial Is Politically Motivated
April 08, 2025 - Source: RFERL -  Detained Azerbaijani journalist and economist Farid Mehralizada testified in court on April 8 that his imprisonment was politically motivated, tied directly to his critical reporting for RFE/RL’s Azerbaijani Service, known locally as Azadliq Radiosu. During his appearance at the Baku Court of Serious Crimes, Mehralizada, 30, detailed the events surrounding his arrest on smuggling charges in late May 2024. He described being blindfolded and taken to an unknown location before ending up at the Baku City Police Department, where he said he faced physical and psychological pressure to unlock his...
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Georgian Journalist Fined After Detention Over Police Dispute
April 8, 2025
Georgian Journalist Fined After Detention Over Police Dispute
April 8, 2025 - Georgia - In April 2025, Georgian journalist Saba Sordia, affiliated with the online magazine Indigo, was detained by police near the Marjanishvili metro station in Tbilisi. The incident began when officers stopped Sordia for an identity check and proceeded to search his bag. Sordia complied with the request but objected when officers attempted to open a specific pocket, insisting he would do it himself. This disagreement led to his arrest on charges of disobeying a lawful police order under Article 173 of the Administrative Offenses Code. Following his arrest on April...
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Photojournalist Suresh Rajak Killed During Pro-Monarchy Protest in Nepal
April 8, 2025
Photojournalist Suresh Rajak Killed During Pro-Monarchy Protest in Nepal
April 08, 2025 - Nepal -  On March 28, 2025, photojournalist Suresh Rajak tragically lost his life while covering a pro-monarchy protest in the Tinkune area of Kathmandu, Nepal. Rajak, who served as the head of the camera and video division at Avenues Television, was reporting from a building that was set ablaze by demonstrators. Trapped inside, he was unable to escape the flames, leading to his untimely death. The violent protest, organized by supporters of Nepal's former royal family, escalated into chaos, resulting in multiple casualties and significant property damage, including targeted attacks on...
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Palestinians Mourn Journalist Burned Alive in Gaza Airstrike
April 8, 2025
Palestinians Mourn Journalist Burned Alive in Gaza Airstrike
April 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  In the wake of a devastating Israeli airstrike on April 7, 2025, Palestinians across Gaza and beyond are mourning the loss of Ahmed Mansour, a journalist who was burned alive while reporting from a makeshift press tent near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The tent, a known site for journalists covering the war, became the scene of tragedy as flames engulfed Mansour, who later succumbed to his injuries despite efforts by colleagues to save him. The news of Mansour’s death sparked a wave of grief and outrage. Vigils and...
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Journalist Roger Claudy Israël Abducted Amid Escalating Gang Violence in Haiti
April 8, 2025
Journalist Roger Claudy Israël Abducted Amid Escalating Gang Violence in Haiti
April 08, 2025 - Haiti -  Roger Claudy Israël, a prominent Haitian journalist and the owner of RC FM radio station in Mirebalais, was abducted along with his brother Marco during a wave of gang violence that struck the town in late March 2025. The incident occurred amid a series of coordinated attacks by the Viv Ansanm gang coalition, which has intensified its campaign of terror in central Haiti, taking advantage of the country's deteriorating security situation. In a disturbing video shared by the kidnappers, Israël and his brother were shown handcuffed and threatened with...
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Israeli airstrike targeted a journalists’ tent at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip
April 7, 2025
Israeli airstrike targeted a journalists’ tent at Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza Strip
April 7, 2025 - Palestine - The tweet from Quds News Network (QNN) reports that Israeli forces targeted the family of Mohammad Abu Nasser, the English editor-in-chief of QNN, in northern Gaza. The attack resulted in casualties among his family members. This incident highlights the ongoing risks faced by journalists and their families in conflict zones. Quds News Network is a Palestinian youth news agency founded in 2011, staffed with volunteer correspondents across Palestine. The network gained widespread following on social media around 2015 through its rapid video coverage of escalations in the Israeli–Palestinian conflict,...
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Palestinian journalist burned alive as result of Israeli strikes in Khan Younis
April 7, 2025
Palestinian journalist burned alive as result of Israeli strikes in Khan Younis
April 7, 2025 - Source: TRT Global - The journalist is reportedly Ahmed Mansour, a reporter for Palestine Today who was consumed by fire as a result of Israeli strikes. Israel has struck areas near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern besieged Gaza, causing casualties, including a Palestinian journalist who was burned alive after Tel Aviv targeted a journalist tent near the hospital. In the disturbing footage circulating the internet on Sunday, the journalist can be seen consumed by fire as Palestinians and rescue workers tried desperately to put it out. Reports suggest the journalist is Ahmed...
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Journalist Hassan Eslaiah Killed in Israeli Airstrike Amid Accusations and Controversy
April 7, 2025
Journalist Hassan Eslaiah Killed in Israeli Airstrike Amid Accusations and Controversy
April 7, 2025 - Palestine - On May 13, 2025, Palestinian journalist Hassan Eslaiah was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza, where he was receiving treatment for injuries sustained in a previous attack. Eslaiah, a prominent photojournalist and director of the Gaza-based Alam24 news agency, had collaborated with international outlets, including the Associated Press and CNN. Before his death, Eslaiah was the subject of a months-long incitement campaign. Israeli media and online platforms accused him of ties to Hamas, citing a photo with Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar and alleging...
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Palestinian Journalists Call for ICC Action Amid Rising Death Toll in Gaza
April 7, 2025
Palestinian Journalists Call for ICC Action Amid Rising Death Toll in Gaza
April 7, 2025 - Palestine - The death toll of journalists in Gaza continues to rise, sparking renewed demands for justice and accountability. According to press advocacy groups, more than 220 journalists have been killed since the start of the war in October 2023. The latest incident involved the death of journalist Hilmi al-Faqawi, who was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a tent used by journalists near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis. The strike also injured at least nine other media workers. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate condemned the attack, calling it a deliberate and...
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Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Media Tent Sparks Outcry Over Journalist Deaths
April 7, 2025
Israeli Airstrike on Gaza Media Tent Sparks Outcry Over Journalist Deaths
April 7, 2025 - Palestine - On April 7, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted a media tent near Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals, including journalist Helmi al-Faqawi, and injuring several others. The tent, used by journalists covering the ongoing conflict, was set ablaze during the early morning attack. Footage shared by Quds News Network depicted the tent engulfed in flames, with bystanders attempting to extinguish the fire. Among the injured were journalists Hassan Eslaih and Ihab al-Bardini, with al-Bardini sustaining a shrapnel injury to...
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Israeli strike on hospital camp used by Gaza journalists kills 10 people
April 7, 2025
Israeli strike on hospital camp used by Gaza journalists kills 10 people
March 07, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On April 7, 2025, an Israeli airstrike targeted a media tent situated within the Nasser Hospital complex in Khan Younis, southern Gaza, resulting in the deaths of at least two individuals, including journalist Helmi al-Faqawi, and injuring several others. The tent, utilized by journalists covering the ongoing conflict, was set ablaze during the early morning attack. Footage shared by Quds News Network depicted the tent engulfed in flames, with bystanders attempting to extinguish the fire. Among the injured were journalists Hassan Eslaih and Ihab al-Bardini, with al-Bardini sustaining a...
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Palestinian Journalist Killed in Gaza Media Tent Strike as Toll on Press Mounts
April 7, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Killed in Gaza Media Tent Strike as Toll on Press Mounts
April 07, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Hilmi al-Faqawi was killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted a tent used by media workers outside Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis, Gaza. Al-Faqawi, who reported for the Palestine Today news agency, was among at least two people killed in the early morning strike, which also injured several other journalists, deepening the crisis for press workers in the region. The tent, a designated space for journalists covering the humanitarian situation near the hospital, caught fire during the attack, engulfing equipment and trapping individuals inside. Footage from the...
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Palestinian Foreign Ministry Condemns Targeted Killings of Journalists in Gaza
April 7, 2025
Palestinian Foreign Ministry Condemns Targeted Killings of Journalists in Gaza
April 07, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The Palestinian Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates has issued a sharp condemnation of what it calls Israel’s "deliberate targeting" of journalists in Gaza. In recent statements, the ministry accused Israel of systematically attacking members of the press in an attempt to obscure what it describes as a "war of annihilation" against Palestinians. The Ministry highlighted that the unprecedented death toll among journalists in Gaza, now exceeding 200, cannot be seen as collateral damage. Instead, it argued that these killings form part of a broader strategy to suppress media...
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Death of Indonesian Journalist Situr Wijaya Sparks Questions Amid Autopsy Findings
April 7, 2025
Death of Indonesian Journalist Situr Wijaya Sparks Questions Amid Autopsy Findings
April 07, 2025 - Indonesia -  On April 4, 2025, Indonesian journalist Situr Wijaya, 33, was found dead in his hotel room at D’Paragon Hotel in Kebon Jeruk, West Jakarta. Known as the founder and editor-in-chief of the online news outlet iN Sulteng, Situr’s sudden death has raised serious concerns among press freedom advocates and his family, who suspect foul play. According to initial reports, Situr’s body showed signs of bruising on his face and chest, along with injuries to his lips. These visible marks of trauma led his family to file a police report...
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Denys Matsola: Ukrainian Journalist and POW Facing Harsh Conditions in Russian Captivity
April 7, 2025
Denys Matsola: Ukrainian Journalist and POW Facing Harsh Conditions in Russian Captivity
April 07, 2025 - Crimea/Russia -  Denys Matsola, a Ukrainian journalist, human rights activist, and former soldier, has been imprisoned in Russia for over three years. Captured on April 4, 2022, while defending Mariupol as part of the 501st Separate Marine Battalion of the Ukrainian Navy, Matsola's situation has drawn international concern. His captivity is attributed to his pro-Ukrainian stance and activism, including his support for the Crimean Tatar national movement and opposition to Russia's annexation of Crimea in 2014. Matsola's supporters, including human rights organizations and media workers, have launched campaigns to raise awareness...
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Jailed Journalist Elif Akgül Denounces Charges as Punishment for Civic Duty
April 7, 2025
Jailed Journalist Elif Akgül Denounces Charges as Punishment for Civic Duty
April 7, 2025 - Turkey - Elif Akgül, a freelance journalist and former editor at bianet, has been in pretrial detention in Turkey since February 21, 2025. Her arrest came amid a wide-ranging investigation into the People’s Democratic Congress (HDK), a legal coalition of leftist and pro-Kurdish groups. Authorities accuse Akgül of “membership in a terrorist organization,” citing her attendance at HDK meetings from years ago and wiretapped interviews conducted as part of her journalistic work. Akgül insists the charges criminalize both her reporting and civic participation. In letters from prison, Akgül has described her...
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Palestinian Journalist Killed in Israeli Airstrike Amid Growing Death Toll on Media Workers
April 6, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Killed in Israeli Airstrike Amid Growing Death Toll on Media Workers
April 6, 2025 - Palestine - On April 6, 2025, Palestinian journalist Islam Nasr al-Din Muqaddad was killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck her home in Khan Younis, southern Gaza. Her husband and son also lost their lives in the same attack. Muqaddad’s death adds to a growing number of journalists who have been killed during Israel’s ongoing military campaign in Gaza, which began in October 2023. She became the 254th journalist or media worker reported dead since the conflict started, and the 127th killed in their own home. The day following Muqaddad’s death,...
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Palestinian Journalist Saeed Hasanein Faces Charges Over TV Interview
April 6, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Saeed Hasanein Faces Charges Over TV Interview
April 6 , 2025 - Palestine/Israel - In February 2025, Palestinian journalist and sports announcer Saeed Hasanein was arrested by Israeli authorities following his appearance on Al-Aqsa TV, a channel affiliated with Hamas. The 62-year-old from Shefa-Amr faces charges of "contact with a foreign agent," "expressing solidarity with a terrorist organization," and "destroying evidence." Israeli prosecutors allege that his interview, which included praise for Hamas and Hezbollah figures, constituted support for terrorist organizations and dissemination of their narratives within Israel. Hasanein's legal team contends that the charges are politically motivated and part of a broader...
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Martin O’Hagan Murder: Family Welcomes Recent Arrest but Emphasizes Ongoing Search for Killers
April 6, 2025
Martin O’Hagan Murder: Family Welcomes Recent Arrest but Emphasizes Ongoing Search for Killers
April 6, 2025 - UK - In April 2025, a 42-year-old man was arrested in Sheffield, England, and charged with fraud by false representation in connection with the 2001 murder of journalist Martin O’Hagan. O’Hagan, a reporter for the Sunday World, was fatally shot by loyalist paramilitaries while walking home with his wife in Lurgan, County Armagh. Despite this arrest, no one has been successfully prosecuted for his murder. The O’Hagan family has expressed cautious optimism regarding the recent arrest but emphasized that the fraud charge is unrelated to Martin's killing. In a statement, his...
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Ojinika Okpe Honored as Investigative Journalist of the Year by Verbatim Media Group
April 6, 2025
Ojinika Okpe Honored as Investigative Journalist of the Year by Verbatim Media Group
April 06, 2025 - Africa -  Ojinika Okpe, renowned broadcast journalist and anchor of "What’s Trending" on ARISE News, has been awarded the 2025 Investigative Journalist of the Year by the Verbatim Media Group. The accolade was presented during the Verbatim Media Awards (VMA) ceremony on April 3, 2025, at the Shehu Musa Yar’Adua Centre in Abuja, coinciding with Verbatim’s 13th anniversary celebration. The Verbatim Board of Editors recognized Okpe for her "outstanding commitment to investigative journalism," highlighting her fearless reporting, depth of analysis, and dedication to uncovering hard truths. Her segment, "What’s Trending," was...
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Lebanese Journalist Zeina Yassine Resigns from State TV Over Hijab Discrimination
April 6, 2025
Lebanese Journalist Zeina Yassine Resigns from State TV Over Hijab Discrimination
April 06, 2025 - Lebanon -  Zeina Yassine, a pioneering journalist at Lebanon's state-run broadcaster Tele Liban (TL), has resigned, citing institutional bias against her for wearing a hijab. Yassine, who joined TL three years ago, was the first hijab-wearing reporter to appear on the channel and contributed to coverage during the 2023 Israeli assault on Lebanon. In her resignation letter addressed to Information Minister Paul Morcos, Yassine expressed gratitude for her professional experience but highlighted the challenges she faced due to her hijab. She noted that while veiled women are celebrated abroad, they are...
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Peter Greste’s Ordeal Brought to Life in ‘The Correspondent’
April 6, 2025
Peter Greste’s Ordeal Brought to Life in ‘The Correspondent’
April 06, 2025 - General -  The Correspondent, a 2024 Australian biographical legal thriller directed by Kriv Stenders and written by Peter Duncan, dramatizes the harrowing experience of journalist Peter Greste, who was unjustly imprisoned in Egypt for 400 days on terrorism charges while reporting for Al Jazeera during the Arab Spring. The film stars Richard Roxburgh as Greste, delivering a restrained yet powerful performance that captures the psychological trauma and resilience of a journalist caught in a Kafkaesque legal nightmare. The narrative focuses on Greste's arrest in Cairo, his subsequent trial, and the international...
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MKG Reports Highlight Escalating Press Freedom Violations in Turkey
April 5, 2025
MKG Reports Highlight Escalating Press Freedom Violations in Turkey
April 05, 2025 - Iraq -  The Mesopotamia Women Journalists Association (MKG) has released a series of reports detailing a significant increase in violations against journalists in Turkey, particularly targeting women journalists. In March 2025, MKG documented at least 54 violations against journalists, including physical violence, detentions, and digital harassment. These incidents intensified following the March 8 International Women's Day protests and operations against the Istanbul Metropolitan Municipality. The report emphasized that journalists are being systematically targeted for simply reporting news. The April 2025 report indicated that nine women journalists remained imprisoned, with 17 others...
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Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Released from Turkish Custody Amid Ongoing Press Freedom Concerns
April 5, 2025
Swedish Journalist Joakim Medin Released from Turkish Custody Amid Ongoing Press Freedom Concerns
April 05, 2025 - Sweden/Turkey -  Swedish journalist Joakim Medin has been released from Turkish custody and returned to Sweden after nearly two months of detention on charges of "insulting the president" and alleged links to terrorism. His release follows sustained diplomatic efforts by Swedish and European officials, highlighting ongoing concerns over press freedom in Turkey. Medin, a correspondent for Sweden’s Dagens ETC, was arrested on March 27, 2025, upon arrival at Istanbul Airport, where he intended to cover protests sparked by the detention of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Turkish authorities accused him of participating...
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Burkina Faso: Journalists Forcibly Conscripted Amid Crackdown on Press Freedom
April 4, 2025
Burkina Faso: Journalists Forcibly Conscripted Amid Crackdown on Press Freedom
April 04, 2025 - Burkina Faso -  In April 2025, three prominent Burkinabè journalists—Guézouma Sanogo, Boukari Ouoba, and Luc Pagbelguem—reappeared in a video wearing military uniforms after being detained by the country's military junta. The footage, widely circulated on social media, showed the journalists in an undisclosed location, raising serious concerns about forced conscription and the suppression of press freedom in Burkina Faso. Sanogo and Ouoba, serving as president and vice president of the Burkina Faso Journalists Association (AJB), were arrested on March 24, 2025, following their criticism of increasing restrictions on media freedom. Pagbelguem,...
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Jerusalem Post Editor Denies Wrongdoing After Arrest in ‘Qatargate’ Probe
April 4, 2025
Jerusalem Post Editor Denies Wrongdoing After Arrest in ‘Qatargate’ Probe
April 04, 2025 - Qatar/Palestine/Israel-  Zvika Klein, editor-in-chief of The Jerusalem Post, has spoken out following his brief arrest and interrogation in early April 2025, claiming he was targeted unfairly due to his reporting. His detainment is linked to the broader “Qatargate” scandal, which alleges that aides to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu received illegal benefits from the Qatari government to improve its image in Israeli media. Klein, a respected journalist, became the first Israeli media figure to visit Qatar in 2024 and interview its prime minister. That high-profile reporting trip, he insists, was cleared...
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Haitian Journalists Risk Lives to Report Amid Gang Violence and Collapse
April 3, 2025
Haitian Journalists Risk Lives to Report Amid Gang Violence and Collapse
April 03, 2025 - Haiti -  As Haiti descends further into chaos, journalists on the ground are risking their lives to continue reporting in a country plagued by unprecedented violence and deepening lawlessness. With heavily armed gangs now controlling around 85% of Port-au-Prince, even basic newsgathering has become a life-threatening act. Journalists like Jean-Jacques Asperges exemplify this resilience. After gangs raided his neighborhood and forced his family from their home, he now lives in a temporary shelter and reports using only his phone, having lost all his professional equipment. Despite the loss and trauma, Asperges...
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Ghanaian Man Convicted for Assaulting Journalists Investigating Illegal Mining
April 2, 2025
Ghanaian Man Convicted for Assaulting Journalists Investigating Illegal Mining
April 02, 2025 - Ghana -  In a landmark ruling on March 26, 2025, the Asankragwa District Court in Ghana convicted Daniel Baidoo for assaulting a group of journalists documenting illegal mining activities, known locally as "galamsey," near Adumanya, close to Asankran Breman in the Western Region. The attack occurred on February 21, 2025, when Baidoo forcibly confiscated equipment, including a Panasonic Lumix camera and an iPhone, from the journalists and demanded the deletion of captured footage. The court sentenced Baidoo to a fine of 300 penalty units, equivalent to GH₵3,600.00. Failure to pay the...
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Kashmiri Journalist Irfan Mehraj’s Ongoing Detention Highlights UAPA’s Abuse
April 2, 2025
Kashmiri Journalist Irfan Mehraj’s Ongoing Detention Highlights UAPA’s Abuse
April 02, 2025 - Kashmir -  Kashmiri journalist Irfan Mehraj has been detained without trial for over two years under India's Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), a law criticized for its broad and vague provisions that facilitate the suppression of dissent. Arrested on March 20, 2023, by India's National Investigation Agency (NIA), Mehraj faces charges related to alleged support for secessionist activities. He is accused of collaborating with the Jammu Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS), a human rights organization led by activist Khurram Parvez, who has also been detained under similar charges. Despite his...
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Daniel Koranteng Charged in Ahmed Suale Murder Case
April 2, 2025
Daniel Koranteng Charged in Ahmed Suale Murder Case
April 02, 2025 - Ghana -  Daniel Owusu Koranteng, a 35-year-old businessman and former associate of slain investigative journalist Ahmed Suale, has been formally charged with murder and abetment in connection with Suale’s assassination in January 2019. Koranteng, also known as Nana Amakye, appeared before the Madina District Court on April 2, 2025, where prosecutors amended the initial charges to include abetment to commit murder. The court remanded him into custody, with his next appearance scheduled for April 17. The prosecution alleges that Koranteng provided photographs of Suale to former Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong,...
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Indian Journalist Shahdeb Dey Found Dead in Andaman Islands
April 2, 2025
Indian Journalist Shahdeb Dey Found Dead in Andaman Islands
April 02, 2025 - India -  On April 1, 2025, the charred body of 38-year-old journalist Shahdeb Dey was discovered in a field in Deshbandhu Nagar, Diglipur, North Andaman district. Dey, known for his investigative reporting on illegal activities such as timber smuggling, soil excavation, illicit liquor trade, and gambling, had been missing since March 29. His last communication was a phone call to his wife at 8:11 PM on March 29, stating he was in Madhupur and would return home shortly. He never made it back, and his phone was subsequently turned off. The...
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Gaza War: Deadliest Conflict for Journalists in History
April 1, 2025
Gaza War: Deadliest Conflict for Journalists in History
April 01, 2025 - Palestine/Israel-  The ongoing war in Gaza has become the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded. As of May 2025, at least 232 journalists have been killed since October 2023, surpassing the combined death toll of media workers in World War I, World War II, the Korean War, the Vietnam War, the Yugoslav Wars, and the Afghanistan War. This unprecedented loss underscores the extreme dangers faced by journalists in Gaza, where many have been directly targeted by Israeli forces. For instance, 23-year-old journalist Hossam Shabat was killed in an Israeli airstrike on...
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Press Freedom at Risk: Urgent Call to Protect USAGM Journalists
April 1, 2025
Press Freedom at Risk: Urgent Call to Protect USAGM Journalists
April 01, 2025 - USA -  In March 2025, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and a coalition of 36 human rights organizations urged the U.S. Congress to take immediate action to protect journalists affiliated with the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM). This call to action follows a presidential executive order dismantling USAGM, which oversees outlets like Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). The coalition's letter highlights the grave risks faced by USAGM-affiliated journalists, including threats of deportation to countries where they could face imprisonment or worse due...
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Bolivia’s Press Freedom Under Siege: Journalists Face Escalating Threats
April 1, 2025
Bolivia’s Press Freedom Under Siege: Journalists Face Escalating Threats
April 01, 2025 - Bolivia -  In Bolivia, the safety of journalists has become a pressing concern, with increasing attacks and harassment against media professionals. A recent report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) highlights over 30 incidents of press freedom violations since the presidential election on October 20, 2024. These include physical assaults, equipment theft, and threats, particularly targeting journalists covering protests and road blockades. Notably, both pro-Morales and opposition media outlets have been caught in the crossfire, facing aggression from various factions. The National Journalists Association of Bolivia has expressed grave concern over these...
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White House Journalists Threaten Sit-In Protest Over Seating Chart Changes
April 1, 2025
White House Journalists Threaten Sit-In Protest Over Seating Chart Changes
April 01, 2025 - USA -  In early 2025, journalists covering the White House raised an alarm after the Trump administration proposed a major change to the press briefing room seating arrangements. Traditionally, the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) has managed the seating chart, allocating spots to media outlets based on established criteria and seniority. However, the administration’s plan to take over control of the seating and revise it sparked significant backlash from reporters and media organizations. The WHCA expressed strong opposition, viewing the move as an attempt to undermine press freedom and control access...
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Israeli Airstrike Kills Palestinian Journalist and Family in Gaza
April 1, 2025
Israeli Airstrike Kills Palestinian Journalist and Family in Gaza
April 01, 2025 - Palestine/israel - On April 1, 2025, Palestinian journalist Mohammed Saleh Al-Bardawil was killed along with his wife and three children when Israeli forces bombed their home in Khan Yunis, southern Gaza. Al-Bardawil was a veteran broadcaster with Al-Aqsa Radio and had worked in journalism for over 15 years. His death has added to the growing toll of media workers killed in the ongoing conflict between Israel and Hamas. According to the Palestinian Journalists Protection Committee, this attack represents yet another deliberate assault on press freedom. The group condemned the killing, emphasizing...
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Turkey’s Press Freedom Crisis Deepens as Journalists Face Mass Arrests and Intimidation
March 31, 2025
Turkey’s Press Freedom Crisis Deepens as Journalists Face Mass Arrests and Intimidation
March 31, 2025 - Turkey -  As of May 2025, Turkey's press freedom continues to deteriorate, with at least 42 journalists, including 10 women, imprisoned during Eid al-Fitr, according to the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and the Mezopotamya Women Journalists Association (MKG) . The arrests are part of a broader crackdown on media professionals covering protests and political events, particularly those related to the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Between March 19 and 23, police raided the homes of 13 journalists, detaining 12, with seven remanded in custody. These actions reflect a pattern...
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Libyan Journalist Faces Military Trial Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 31, 2025
Libyan Journalist Faces Military Trial Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 31, 2025 - Libya -  In May 2024, Libyan journalist Salhine Zerouali was violently arrested in Ajdabiya while in his car with his nine-year-old son. Masked men, identified as security forces, assaulted him in front of his child before detaining him. He was subsequently transferred to a military prison in Benghazi, where he has been held for over ten months. Zerouali, known for his work with several media outlets, including the Al Ghaïma news agency, faces charges of collaborating with media deemed hostile by the authorities. Although some charges, such as possession of weapons...
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“The Shooting”: A Stark Portrayal of Violence Against Journalists in Mexico
March 31, 2025
“The Shooting”: A Stark Portrayal of Violence Against Journalists in Mexico
March 31, 2025 - Mexico -  The human rights organization Artículo 19, in collaboration with Grey México and Oriental Films, released a poignant short film titled The Shooting to commemorate the International Day for the Right to the Truth. This four-minute film serves as a powerful metaphor for the perilous conditions journalists face in Mexico, one of the most dangerous countries for media professionals. Directed by Yupi Segura and Charlie Gutiérrez, The Shooting depicts a symbolic confrontation: on one side, members of organized crime wield firearms to instill fear and suppress truth; on the other,...
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Investigative Journalist Watson Flexy Munyaka Murdered in Zimbabwe
March 31, 2025
Investigative Journalist Watson Flexy Munyaka Murdered in Zimbabwe
March 31, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  On March 17, 2025, Zimbabwean investigative journalist Watson Flexy Munyaka was murdered in Marondera, southeast of Harare. According to reports, Munyaka was violently thrown from a moving Toyota Fortuner in broad daylight along Fifth Street near the Chicken Inn drive-through. He was rushed to Marondera Provincial Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Munyaka, 38, was a co-founder of "Dug Up," an investigative journalism collective established in September 2024 to expose corruption and crime in Zimbabwe. He was known for his in-depth reporting and had recently been involved in high-profile...
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Gaza Journalists Targeted: The Case of Hossam Shabat and the Israeli ‘Hit List’
March 31, 2025
Gaza Journalists Targeted: The Case of Hossam Shabat and the Israeli ‘Hit List’
March 31, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On March 24, 2025, Palestinian journalist Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old correspondent for Al Jazeera Mubasher and contributor to Drop Site News, was killed in an Israeli airstrike while driving in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. The Israeli military confirmed the targeted killing, alleging Shabat was affiliated with Hamas, a claim he had previously denied, asserting it was a pretext to justify attacks on journalists. This incident is part of a broader pattern where Israel has accused Palestinian journalists of militant affiliations without providing verifiable evidence. In October 2024, the Israeli...
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Nepali Journalist Burned Alive Amid Pro-Monarchy Protests
March 31, 2025
Nepali Journalist Burned Alive Amid Pro-Monarchy Protests
March 31, 2025 - Nepal -  On March 28, 2025, veteran photojournalist Suresh Rajak was tragically killed while covering a pro-monarchy protest in Tinkune, Kathmandu. Rajak, head of the camera division at Avenues Television, was documenting the demonstration when protesters set fire to a building he had entered. Trapped inside, he was unable to escape and succumbed to the flames. The protest, organized by royalist supporters, escalated into violence, with demonstrators clashing with police and targeting media outlets. Protesters accused occupants of the building of being police officers, leading to the arson attack that claimed...
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Violent Pro-Monarchy Rally in Kathmandu Results in Deaths of Journalist and Protester
March 29, 2025
Violent Pro-Monarchy Rally in Kathmandu Results in Deaths of Journalist and Protester
March 29, 2025 - Nepal -  On March 28, 2025, a pro-monarchy rally in Kathmandu, Nepal, turned violent, leading to the deaths of journalist Suresh Rajak and protester Sabin Maharjan. The demonstration, organized by supporters of former King Gyanendra Shah, escalated into clashes with police, resulting in widespread chaos and destruction. Thousands gathered in the Tinkune area, demanding the restoration of the monarchy and Nepal's status as a Hindu state. Tensions rose when protesters breached police barricades, prompting security forces to deploy tear gas, water cannons, and rubber bullets to disperse the crowd. In response,...
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Guatemalan Journalist Ismael Alonzo González Murdered Amid Rising Threats to Press Freedom
March 28, 2025
Guatemalan Journalist Ismael Alonzo González Murdered Amid Rising Threats to Press Freedom
March 28, 2025 - Guatemala -  On March 21, 2025, community journalist Ismael Alonzo González was fatally shot outside his home in the village of Santa Fe, Coatepeque, Quetzaltenango, Guatemala. Two unidentified assailants dressed in black approached González and shot him in the head before fleeing into a nearby wooded area. González, 27, was the general manager of Producciones Alonzo, a Facebook page dedicated to local and community news, and had previously worked with the digital media outlet Despertar Occidental. He was also an active member of the Association of Journalists and Communicators of the...
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Moroccan Rights Activist Faces Prison Over Social Media Post Amid Growing Repression
March 28, 2025
Moroccan Rights Activist Faces Prison Over Social Media Post Amid Growing Repression
March 28, 2025 - Morocco -  In late 2024, Fouad Abdelmoumni, a prominent Moroccan human rights activist and economist, was arrested after posting on Facebook alleging that Morocco had employed Israeli-made Pegasus spyware to monitor French officials. Although released two days later, Abdelmoumni faced serious charges of “spreading false claims” and “reporting a knowingly fictitious crime.” In March 2025, a Casablanca court sentenced him to six months in prison—a ruling that may be enforced depending on the outcome of his appeal. Abdelmoumni is well-known as the former head of Transparency Morocco and a member of...
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Crackdown on Foreign Journalists Amid Turkey’s Unrest
March 28, 2025
Crackdown on Foreign Journalists Amid Turkey’s Unrest
March 28, 2025 - Sweden/Turkey -  In March 2025, Turkey witnessed its most significant anti-government protests in over a decade, ignited by the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The demonstrations, which spanned 55 provinces, were met with a stringent government response, including the detention and deportation of several foreign journalists. BBC News correspondent Mark Lowen was detained in Istanbul on March 26 while covering the protests. After 17 hours in custody, he was deported the following day. Turkish authorities cited his presence as a "threat to public order". Lowen condemned the action, highlighting the...
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Press Freedom Under Siege: Journalists Targeted Amid Turkey’s Political Turmoil
March 28, 2025
Press Freedom Under Siege: Journalists Targeted Amid Turkey’s Political Turmoil
March 28, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkey experienced its most significant anti-government protests in over a decade, following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu on corruption charges widely perceived as politically motivated. The government's response included a sweeping crackdown on journalists covering the unrest, raising serious concerns about press freedom and democratic rights. At least 11 journalists were detained in Istanbul during early morning raids, accused of participating in unauthorized demonstrations. While some were later released, they still face charges that could lead to imprisonment. Among those arrested was AFP photographer Yasin Akgul, who...
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Pakistani Journalists Face Arrests Amid Crackdown
March 28, 2025
Pakistani Journalists Face Arrests Amid Crackdown
March 28, 2025 - Pakistan-  Pakistan witnessed a concerning escalation in its crackdown on press freedom, marked by the arrests of journalists Muhammad Waheed Murad and Farhan Mallick under the country's cybercrime laws. Murad, a multimedia journalist for Saudi-owned Urdu News, was forcibly taken from his Islamabad home on March 25 by individuals without a warrant. He was charged with "cyber terrorism" and spreading "false and fake information" after sharing an investigation into a military general on social media. Murad was granted bail on March 28, but his detention drew criticism from press freedom advocates...
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Serbia’s Digital Crackdown: Surveillance of Journalists and Activists
March 28, 2025
Serbia’s Digital Crackdown: Surveillance of Journalists and Activists
March 28, 2025 - Serbia -  In December 2024, Amnesty International released a report titled A Digital Prison, revealing that Serbian authorities have been employing sophisticated surveillance tools to monitor journalists, environmental activists, and civil society members. The report details the use of Israeli-made Cellebrite forensic extraction devices alongside a domestically developed spyware known as "NoviSpy." Cellebrite's Universal Forensic Extraction Devices (UFEDs), initially provided to Serbia as part of international aid for combating organized crime, were reportedly misused to unlock and extract data from mobile devices without proper legal authorization. Once accessed, NoviSpy was installed,...
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Christo Grozev: Investigative Journalist Targeted by Russian Authorities
March 28, 2025
Christo Grozev: Investigative Journalist Targeted by Russian Authorities
March 28, 2025 - Russia -  Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian investigative journalist affiliated with Bellingcat, has been a prominent figure in uncovering Russian intelligence operations. His work includes exposing the identities of agents involved in the 2018 Salisbury poisoning and the attempted assassination of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. These investigations have placed him in the crosshairs of Russian authorities. In April 2023, a Moscow court issued an arrest warrant for Grozev in absentia, accusing him of illegally crossing the Russian border. This move followed his inclusion on Russia's federal wanted list in December 2022. The...
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Indonesia Mourns Journalist Juwita Amid Allegations of Premeditated Murder by Navy Serviceman
March 27, 2025
Indonesia Mourns Journalist Juwita Amid Allegations of Premeditated Murder by Navy Serviceman
March 27, 2025 - Indonesia - In March 2025, the tragic death of 23-year-old journalist Juwita from Banjarbaru, South Kalimantan, sent shockwaves across Indonesia. Her body was discovered on March 22 in a parked car along Jalan Gunung Kupang, Cempaka District, Banjarbaru. The primary suspect is her former partner, First-Class Navy Seaman Jumran, stationed at the Balikpapan Naval Base in East Kalimantan. Investigations suggest that Jumran meticulously planned the murder. Evidence indicates he used gloves, destroyed Juwita's mobile phone, and attempted to stage the scene as an accident. He also allegedly used another person's identity...
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BBC Journalist Mark Lowen Deported from Turkey
March 27, 2025
BBC Journalist Mark Lowen Deported from Turkey
March 27, 2025 - Turkey -  BBC correspondent Mark Lowen was arrested and deported from Turkey after reporting on widespread anti-government protests following the arrest of Istanbul Mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. Lowen was detained for 17 hours and labeled a "threat to public order" by Turkish authorities. The Turkish Directorate of Communications stated that Lowen had not applied for the required press accreditation, leading to administrative action. The BBC condemned the deportation, with CEO Deborah Turness calling it "extremely troubling." Lowen, who previously lived in Turkey for five years, described the experience as "extremely distressing," emphasizing...
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Serbian Journalists Targeted with Pegasus Spyware Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 27, 2025
Serbian Journalists Targeted with Pegasus Spyware Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 27, 2025 - Serbia -  In February 2025, two investigative journalists from the Balkan Investigative Reporting Network (BIRN) in Serbia were targeted with NSO Group's Pegasus spyware, according to a forensic investigation by Amnesty International's Security Lab. The journalists, Jelena Veljković and a colleague referred to as "Bogdana" for privacy reasons, received suspicious messages via the Viber messaging app on February 14. These messages contained links to a fake news article, which, if clicked, would have installed the spyware on their devices. The messages originated from a Serbian number registered with the state-owned operator...
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Russian War Correspondent Anna Prokofieva Killed by Landmine Near Ukraine Border
March 27, 2025
Russian War Correspondent Anna Prokofieva Killed by Landmine Near Ukraine Border
March 27, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  On March 26, 2025, Anna Prokofieva, a 35-year-old war correspondent for Russia's state-run Channel One, was killed when her vehicle struck a landmine in the Belgorod region near the Ukrainian border. Her cameraman, Dmitry Volkov, sustained serious injuries in the incident. Prokofieva had been covering the conflict in Ukraine since 2023, often reporting from high-risk areas alongside Russian troops. She was known for her strong support of the Russian Armed Forces and frequently shared images of herself in military attire, sometimes featuring the "Z" symbol associated with Russia's military...
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Turkey deports BBC journalist over ‘public order’ threat, fines TV channels
March 27, 2025
Turkey deports BBC journalist over ‘public order’ threat, fines TV channels
March 27, 2025 - Source: Reuters -  Turkish authorities deported a BBC News correspondent on Thursday after detaining him for 17 hours and branding him a "threat to public order". Mark Lowen had been in Turkey to cover mass street protests triggered by the arrest and jailing of Istanbul's Mayor Ekrem Imamoglu. https://www.reuters.com/world/middle-east/turkey-deports-bbc-journalist-over-public-order-threat-fines-tv-channels-2025-03-27/
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Pakistani journalist Waheed Murad seized from home in the night
March 27, 2025
Pakistani journalist Waheed Murad seized from home in the night
March 27, 2025 - Source: CPJ -  Pakistani authorities must immediately and unconditionally release journalist Waheed Murad, who was taken away by masked men who broke into his home in the capital Islamabad before dawn on Wednesday, and stop using such brutal tactics to intimidate the press, the Committee to Protect Journalists said. Murad, who works as a reporter for Urdu News and runs the independent news site Pakistani24, later appeared  before the Judicial Magistrate Islamabad (West) court, where he was placed in the custody of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for two days under Pakistan’s cybercrime laws for allegedly posting “intimidating...
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CJP orders AGP to review cases of journalists’ detention under PECA
March 27, 2025
CJP orders AGP to review cases of journalists’ detention under PECA
March 27, 2025 - Source: 24 News HD -  Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Yahya Afridi has taken notice of the crackdown on journalists under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) after receiving a formal complaint from the President of the Press Association of the Supreme Court (PASC). According to the 24NewsHD TV channel, the CJP forwarded the letter to the Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP), directing him to review the facts and address journalists’ grievances. The letter raised concerns over the arrests of journalists Farhan Mallick and Waheed Murad, urging the top judge...
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Jailed Journalist Ponomarenko Receives New Sentence for Alleged Assault on Prison Guards
March 27, 2025
Jailed Journalist Ponomarenko Receives New Sentence for Alleged Assault on Prison Guards
March 27, 2025 - Source: The Moscow Times -  Siberian journalist and activist Maria Ponomarenko, who is serving a six-year jail sentence for speaking out against the war in Ukraine, was sentenced Thursday to an additional year and 10 months for allegedly assaulting prison guards. Ponomarenko, 46, was convicted in 2023 for publishing reports on Russia’s bombing of a theater in Mariupol, Ukraine. She denies both that charge and the latest assault accusation, calling the case politically motivated and accusing prison authorities of abuse. A judge in the Altai region found her guilty of “disrupting the work of a penal colony,” according to her...
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Russian court extends sentence of imprisoned Siberian journalist
March 27, 2025
Russian court extends sentence of imprisoned Siberian journalist
March 27, 2025 - Source: Reuters -  Russian journalist Maria Ponomarenko, imprisoned for spreading "fake news" about the war in Ukraine, was handed an additional sentence on Thursday on charges of attacking prison staff, her employer said. Rusnews said Ponomarenko, who has complained of being beaten in prison and injected with anti-psychotic drugs, was given another year and 10 months in jail and ordered to undergo further compulsory psychiatric treatment. https://www.reuters.com/world/europe/russian-court-extends-sentence-imprisoned-siberian-journalist-2025-03-27/
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Turkish Court Frees Journalists Arrested During Protest Coverage
March 27, 2025
Turkish Court Frees Journalists Arrested During Protest Coverage
March 27, 2025 - Turkey -  Seven journalists who were detained while covering widespread protests in Turkey have been released following a court order on March 27, 2025. Among them was Agence France-Presse (AFP) photojournalist Yasin Akgül, who had been arrested during a police crackdown on demonstrations related to the jailing of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu. The journalists were taken into custody during early morning raids on March 24, accused of participating in unauthorized rallies and failing to disperse when ordered. These protests were sparked by İmamoğlu’s conviction on corruption charges, which many domestic...
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Global Investigation Reveals Systematic Targeting of Journalists in Gaza
March 27, 2025
Global Investigation Reveals Systematic Targeting of Journalists in Gaza
March 27, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  A sweeping investigation by Forbidden Stories and 12 international media outlets has revealed what appears to be a systematic pattern of attacks on journalists in Gaza by Israeli forces. Since October 7, 2023, at least 170 journalists have been killed, making the current Israel-Gaza conflict the deadliest for media workers in recent history. This joint effort, dubbed the Gaza Project, involved more than 40 journalists who examined over 100 cases of media workers killed or injured in Gaza. The investigation uncovered evidence that at least 18 journalists were killed...
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Systematic Targeting: Gaza Journalists Under Fire in Israel’s Deadly War
March 27, 2025
Systematic Targeting: Gaza Journalists Under Fire in Israel’s Deadly War
March 27, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  A detailed investigation by The Intercept has exposed a disturbing pattern in which Israel has been systematically targeting Palestinian journalists during its ongoing assault on Gaza. This revelation comes amid what press freedom advocates are calling the deadliest period for journalists in modern history, with over 200 reporters killed since October 2023. The report details how journalists, even when marked with press gear or working in known media locations, have been directly targeted by Israeli forces. Among the cases examined is that of Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old Al Jazeera...
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RTS Reinstates Gaza Journalism Award After Public Outcry
March 26, 2025
RTS Reinstates Gaza Journalism Award After Public Outcry
March 26, 2025 - Palestine/Israel/UK -  In March 2025, the UK's Royal Television Society (RTS) reversed its decision to cancel a special award recognizing the work of Palestinian journalists covering the Gaza conflict. The initial cancellation, announced just before the RTS Television Journalism Awards on March 5, sparked widespread criticism from media professionals and press freedom advocates. Critics accused the RTS of political bias and censorship, arguing that the decision undermined the sacrifices made by journalists reporting under perilous conditions in Gaza. The controversy was further fueled by the RTS's concern that the award could...
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Biden Acknowledges Journalist Deaths in Israel-Gaza Conflict Amid Criticism
March 26, 2025
Biden Acknowledges Journalist Deaths in Israel-Gaza Conflict Amid Criticism
March 26, 2025 - USA/Palestine/Israel -  In January 2024, U.S. President Joe Biden publicly recognized the troubling number of journalists killed during the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, stating that "far too many" had lost their lives while covering the war. This admission came as the world closely watched the deteriorating situation for press freedom in the region, where reporters face extreme risks to report on the conflict. Despite Biden’s acknowledgment, many press freedom advocates and human rights organizations criticized the U.S. government for its continued support of Israel and what they saw as insufficient measures to...
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Jeremy Bowen Accuses Israel of Blocking Journalists from Gaza
March 26, 2025
Jeremy Bowen Accuses Israel of Blocking Journalists from Gaza
March 26, 2025 - General -  BBC International Editor Jeremy Bowen has accused Israel of deliberately preventing journalists from entering Gaza to obscure the realities of the ongoing conflict. In a recent interview, Bowen stated that in the past 18 months, he was granted only half a day with the Israeli army within Gaza, suggesting a strategy to "obfuscate what's going on" and introduce doubt into the information emerging from the region. Bowen highlighted the contrast between the Israeli military's willingness to allow journalists into areas like Kfar Aza, where they were shown scenes of...
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Omar El Akkad on Gaza, Journalism, and Western Liberalism’s Failures
March 26, 2025
Omar El Akkad on Gaza, Journalism, and Western Liberalism’s Failures
March 26, 2025 - General -  Omar El Akkad, acclaimed author and journalist, provides a powerful critique of the international and Western liberal response to the Gaza conflict. In recent interviews with The Columbia Journalism Review, Democracy Now!, and Al Jazeera’s UpFront, El Akkad sheds light on the devastating humanitarian crisis in Gaza and the severe challenges faced by journalists trying to report from the region. El Akkad emphasizes that the Gaza war is not only a military conflict but also a profound moral crisis that exposes the failures of Western liberalism. He argues that...
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International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members – March 25, 2025
March 26, 2025
International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members – March 25, 2025
March 26, 2025 - General -  The International Day of Solidarity with Detained and Missing Staff Members is observed annually on March 25 to honor and advocate for the protection of United Nations personnel, humanitarian workers, journalists, and other staff members who have been detained, abducted, or gone missing while carrying out their duties in conflict zones and high-risk areas. Significance of the Day This observance commemorates the anniversary of the abduction of Alec Collett, a former journalist working for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA)....
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Vigil in Australia Honors Over 200 Journalists Killed in Gaza Conflict
March 26, 2025
Vigil in Australia Honors Over 200 Journalists Killed in Gaza Conflict
March 26, 2025 - Australia/Palestine/Israel -  On March 26, 2025, a solemn vigil was held outside the ABC News Agency building in Sydney, Australia, to mourn the loss of over 200 journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023. Organized by Australian journalist David Milner, the gathering aimed to honor the lives of these media workers and raise awareness about the dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones. The vigil served as a poignant reminder of the high cost of reporting from war-torn regions. Milner highlighted the profound impact of these deaths, stating that the stories...
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China Sentences Taiwan-Based Publisher Li Yanhe to Three Years for ‘Inciting Separatism’
March 26, 2025
China Sentences Taiwan-Based Publisher Li Yanhe to Three Years for ‘Inciting Separatism’
March 26, 2025 - China -  In a move drawing international condemnation, Chinese authorities have sentenced Li Yanhe, a Taiwan-based publisher and radio host known by his pen name Fucha, to three years in prison on charges of “inciting separatism.” Li was also fined 50,000 yuan (about $6,900) following a trial held after nearly two years of incommunicado detention. This verdict was announced on March 26, 2025. Li Yanhe is the founder of Gusa Press in Taiwan and has been a vocal critic of the Chinese government’s policies. His arrest occurred in March 2023 during...
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Pakistani Journalist Waheed Murad Forcibly Disappeared in Islamabad, Sparks Outcry
March 26, 2025
Pakistani Journalist Waheed Murad Forcibly Disappeared in Islamabad, Sparks Outcry
March 26, 2025 - Pakistan -  Pakistani journalist Waheed Murad was forcibly taken from his home in Islamabad on March 26, 2025, by masked men in black uniforms who arrived in vehicles including police cars. According to Murad’s family, the men accused him of being Afghan and, despite showing his identity card, forcibly entered his home, confiscated his and his mother-in-law’s phones, and abducted him in a black vehicle. This alarming incident has raised serious concerns about the safety of journalists in Pakistan. Following the abduction, Murad’s mother-in-law petitioned the Islamabad High Court, naming several...
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Azerbaijani Journalist Afgan Sadigov Faces Inhumane Treatment in Tbilisi Prison Amid Extradition Threat
March 25, 2025
Azerbaijani Journalist Afgan Sadigov Faces Inhumane Treatment in Tbilisi Prison Amid Extradition Threat
March 25, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Afgan Sadigov, an Azerbaijani journalist and editor-in-chief of the independent outlet Azel.TV has been detained in Tbilisi, Georgia, since August 2024. He faces extradition to Azerbaijan on charges of extortion and threats, which international human rights organizations deem politically motivated. Sadigov's detention has raised serious concerns about his well-being and the potential violation of his rights. In March 2025, Sadigov's wife, Sevinj Sadigova, reported that her husband had been subjected to inhumane treatment in pre-trial detention. She stated that since March 18, he has been unable to eat anything...
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Somali Journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow Detained Amid Rising Crackdown on Press Freedom
March 25, 2025
Somali Journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow Detained Amid Rising Crackdown on Press Freedom
March 25, 2025 - Somalia -  Press freedom in Somalia faces escalating threats, as journalists endure abductions and harassment by state forces. Notably, journalist Ibrahim Mohamed Mayow was abducted by Somali police on March 24, 2025, in Afgooye while reporting on an Al-Shabaab attack. Despite inquiries, his whereabouts remain unknown. Simultaneously, Mohamed Ibrahim Bulbul, Secretary of Information and Human Rights for the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS), experienced a police raid on his residence on March 26. Officers questioned his family about his location and lingered outside for hours. This follows Bulbul's investigative reporting on alleged...
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Oscar-Winning Palestinian Director Hamdan Ballal Released from Israeli Detention
March 25, 2025
Oscar-Winning Palestinian Director Hamdan Ballal Released from Israeli Detention
March 25, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian filmmaker Hamdan Ballal, acclaimed for his Oscar-winning work, was released from Israeli detention on March 25, 2025, after spending nearly two weeks in custody. Ballal was initially detained on March 12 at the Qalandia checkpoint near Jerusalem, where Israeli authorities accused him of security-related offenses. The filmmaker denies the charges, and his detention sparked widespread concern among international human rights groups and artistic communities. Ballal’s release came after he provided a personal guarantee and was ordered to remain under certain restrictions, including a ban on travel outside the...
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Court Orders Arrest of AFP Journalist Over Istanbul Protests Coverage
March 25, 2025
Court Orders Arrest of AFP Journalist Over Istanbul Protests Coverage
March 25, 2025 - Turkey -  A Turkish court has issued an arrest order against a journalist working for the international news agency AFP, in connection with their coverage of recent protests in Istanbul. The journalist faces accusations of allegedly participating in and inciting public demonstrations that opposed the Istanbul mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu, and criticized his administration. The charges reportedly arise from the journalist’s reporting on politically sensitive protests, which have raised alarm among press freedom advocates. According to the journalist’s lawyer, the accusations are unfounded and are aimed at punishing the journalist for exercising...
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Israeli Forces Detain German Journalists in West Bank, Sparking International Concern
March 25, 2025
Israeli Forces Detain German Journalists in West Bank, Sparking International Concern
March 25, 2025 - Germany/Israel -  Israeli occupation forces detained two German journalists while they were reporting in the West Bank, raising fresh concerns about press freedom and the safety of foreign correspondents covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. The journalists were stopped at a checkpoint near the city of Hebron and held for several hours before being released without formal charges. According to eyewitnesses and reports from the journalists themselves, Israeli soldiers confiscated their equipment and questioned them aggressively during the detention. The journalists described feeling threatened and intimidated, with the soldiers demanding to see their...
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Assam Journalist Detained After Investigating Financial Irregularities in Local Bank
March 25, 2025
Assam Journalist Detained After Investigating Financial Irregularities in Local Bank
March 25, 2025 - India -  A journalist in Assam was detained by police following his investigation and reporting on alleged financial irregularities in a regional bank, sparking protests and raising concerns about press freedom in the northeastern Indian state. The journalist had recently questioned senior bank officials regarding suspicious transactions and alleged mismanagement, which triggered local public outrage. The detention occurred amid growing protests by bank employees and customers demanding transparency and accountability. Demonstrators gathered outside police stations and bank offices, calling for a thorough probe into the financial irregularities and the immediate release...
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Palestinian Journalists Hassan Shabat and Mohammed Mansour Killed in Israeli Air Strikes
March 25, 2025
Palestinian Journalists Hassan Shabat and Mohammed Mansour Killed in Israeli Air Strikes
March 25, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Two Palestinian journalists, Hassan Shabat and Mohammed Mansour, lost their lives on March 24, 2025, during Israeli air strikes in the Gaza Strip. Mansour, a prominent reporter for Al Jazeera, was killed alongside a cameraman while covering the escalating conflict. Shabat, a journalist for local media, also died amid the heavy bombardment. Their deaths mark some of the most recent and tragic losses among media professionals reporting from the frontlines. Mohammed Mansour was a respected figure known for his dedication to documenting the realities of life under conflict. His...
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RFE/RL Journalist Detained in Crimea Amid Funding Crisis for Ukraine Service
March 25, 2025
RFE/RL Journalist Detained in Crimea Amid Funding Crisis for Ukraine Service
March 24, 2025 - Russie/Crimea -  Artem Lysak, an investigative journalist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty’s (RFE/RL) Crimea. The Realities project was detained by Russian authorities while working undercover in Russian-occupied Crimea. Lysak, who previously reported under the pseudonym Nazar Sytnyk from 2016 to 2020, focused on exposing human rights abuses and documenting the daily realities faced by Crimean residents after Russia’s annexation in 2014. His arrest highlights the dangerous conditions journalists endure when reporting in authoritarian and conflict-affected regions where freedom of the press is severely restricted. Lysak’s work involved considerable risk, including constant...
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Western Media’s Silence on Palestinian Journalists’ Killings Draws Sharp Criticism
March 25, 2025
Western Media’s Silence on Palestinian Journalists’ Killings Draws Sharp Criticism
March 25, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Recent years have seen a tragic increase in the killing and targeting of Palestinian journalists covering the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Yet, many critics argue that Western media outlets have largely failed to adequately report on these incidents, enabling a climate of impunity and contributing to the ongoing violence against press workers. Several high-profile Palestinian journalists have lost their lives while reporting on hostilities, including during Israeli military operations in Gaza and the West Bank. These deaths often go underreported or are framed in ways that obscure the systemic risks Palestinian...
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Over 1,100 Detained in Turkey Amid Istanbul Protests; Journalists Among Those Targeted
March 25, 2025
Over 1,100 Detained in Turkey Amid Istanbul Protests; Journalists Among Those Targeted
March 25, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish authorities detained more than 1,100 people across the country amid widespread protests sparked by political and economic grievances. The demonstrations intensified in Istanbul, where security forces cracked down heavily, including the arrest of journalists covering the events. These developments highlight escalating repression under President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan’s government. The protests initially arose in response to rising inflation, unemployment, and perceived government corruption, but quickly took on a broader political dimension. Erdoğan blamed the opposition parties for stirring unrest, labeling them as “evil” forces attempting to destabilize the country....
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Russian War Correspondent Killed in Ukraine Amid Intensifying Conflict
March 25, 2025
Russian War Correspondent Killed in Ukraine Amid Intensifying Conflict
March 25, 2024 -Russia -  On March 25, 2025, Russian journalist Vladislav Vinogradov, a war correspondent for the Izvestia newspaper, was killed in a rocket attack in eastern Ukraine. The attack, which targeted a convoy near the Luhansk region, also claimed the lives of five others, including a Russian-appointed local governor. This tragic incident marks a significant loss for Russian media covering the ongoing war in Ukraine. Vinogradov was known for his frontline reporting and coverage of military operations in the contested Donbas area. His death underscores the heightened dangers journalists face amid the escalating...
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Burkina Faso Journalists Detained After Defending Freedom of Expression
March 25, 2025
Burkina Faso Journalists Detained After Defending Freedom of Expression
March 23, 2025 - Burkina Faso -  In March 2025, several journalists in Burkina Faso were detained by authorities following their outspoken defense of press freedom and criticism of government restrictions on the media. The arrests highlight growing concerns about the shrinking space for independent journalism in the West African nation amid political instability and security challenges. The journalists were reportedly taken into custody after participating in a public campaign organized by local media bodies advocating for the protection of freedom of expression. They criticized recent government actions that curtailed press activities, including censorship, intimidation,...
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Gaza Mourns Journalist Hossam Shabat After Targeted Strike
March 24, 2025
Gaza Mourns Journalist Hossam Shabat After Targeted Strike
March 24, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Hossam Shabat, a 23-year-old Palestinian journalist, was killed on March 24, 2025, in an Israeli drone strike in northern Gaza. The airstrike hit his vehicle near the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, ending the life of a young reporter committed to documenting the horrors of war in his homeland. He was working with Al Jazeera Mubasher and Drop Site News, reporting from some of the most dangerous areas of the conflict. In a message prepared before his death and later posted by his colleagues, Shabat wrote, “If you're reading...
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Pakistan Court Probes Abduction of Journalist Ahmad Noorani’s Brothers
March 24, 2025
Pakistan Court Probes Abduction of Journalist Ahmad Noorani’s Brothers
March 24, 2025 - Pakistan -  The Islamabad High Court is investigating the disappearance of two brothers of exiled investigative journalist Ahmad Noorani, following their abduction on March 19, 2025. Around 20 armed men—some in uniform—stormed the Noorani family home in Islamabad during the early hours, forcibly taking Muhammad Saifur Rehman Haider and Muhammad Ali, both engineers, to an undisclosed location. Phones were seized, and surveillance footage was reportedly deleted by the assailants. Ahmad Noorani, now based in the United States, is known for high-profile investigations into Pakistan’s military elite through his platform FactFocus. He...
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Global Outcry Over Killing of Journalist Hossam Shabat in Gaza
March 24, 2025
Global Outcry Over Killing of Journalist Hossam Shabat in Gaza
March 24, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The death of 23-year-old Palestinian journalist Hossam Shabat in an Israeli airstrike on March 24, 2025, has triggered widespread condemnation from human rights groups, press freedom advocates, and international bodies. Shabat, who worked for Al Jazeera Mubasher, was reportedly targeted while reporting near the Indonesian Hospital in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. His colleague, Mohammed Mansour from Palestine Today, was also killed the same day in a separate strike in Khan Younis. Shabat’s death has become a symbol of the dangers faced by journalists working in war zones, especially in...
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Russian Journalist Maria Ponomarenko’s Sentence Extended Amid Allegations of Prison Abuse
March 24, 2025
Russian Journalist Maria Ponomarenko’s Sentence Extended Amid Allegations of Prison Abuse
March 24, 2025 - Russia -  Maria Ponomarenko, a Russian journalist and anti-war activist, has had her prison sentence extended by an additional 22 months, bringing her total incarceration to nearly eight years. The extension stems from charges of allegedly assaulting prison staff, which she denies. Ponomarenko was initially sentenced in February 2023 to six years for disseminating "knowingly false information" about the Russian military, specifically regarding the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theater in Ukraine. During her recent court appearance, Ponomarenko delivered a poignant statement detailing the abuse she has endured in prison. She...
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White House Faces Fallout After Journalist Receives Classified War Plans by Mistake
March 24, 2025
White House Faces Fallout After Journalist Receives Classified War Plans by Mistake
March 24, 2025 - USA -  A major security breach has rocked the Trump administration after it was confirmed that journalist Jeffrey Goldberg, editor-in-chief of The Atlantic, was accidentally added to a Signal group chat containing classified military plans. The group, named “Houthi PC Small Group,” included Vice President JD Vance, National Security Adviser Mike Waltz, Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, and CIA Director John Ratcliffe. Goldberg received detailed operational information just hours before the U.S. launched airstrikes on Houthi targets in Yemen on March 15, 2025. The White House admitted the mistake, stating that Goldberg’s...
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Testimony Reveals Serbian Journalists Detained by Kosovo Liberation Army During 1998 Conflict
March 24, 2025
Testimony Reveals Serbian Journalists Detained by Kosovo Liberation Army During 1998 Conflict
March 24, 2025 - Serbia/Albania -  In March 2025, during the ongoing war crimes trial of former Kosovo Liberation Army (KLA) leader Hashim Thaçi at The Hague, new testimony shed light on the fate of Serbian journalists during the Kosovo conflict. Naim Maljoku, a former KLA commander and head of the KLA’s operational directorate in 1998, testified that two Serbian journalists were abducted and held at the KLA’s main headquarters near Lipljan, Kosovo, in the autumn of 1998. Maljoku identified the “White House,” the KLA’s central command facility in the village of Divljane, as the...
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Turkey Seeks to Block Over 700 X Accounts Amid Crackdown on Dissent
March 24, 2025
Turkey Seeks to Block Over 700 X Accounts Amid Crackdown on Dissent
March 24, 2025 - Turkey -  In March 2025, the Turkish government formally requested that the social media platform X (formerly Twitter) block access to more than 700 user accounts, sparking renewed controversy over digital censorship and political repression. The accounts targeted reportedly include journalists, news organizations, activists, students, and political dissidents—many of whom were involved in or voiced support for recent protests against the arrest of Istanbul’s opposition mayor, Ekrem İmamoğlu. İmamoğlu’s detention on corruption charges has triggered widespread demonstrations across Turkey, with over 1,100 people reportedly arrested, including several members of the press....
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Al Jazeera Journalist Hossam Shabat Killed in Israeli Airstrike Amid Controversy
March 24, 2025
Al Jazeera Journalist Hossam Shabat Killed in Israeli Airstrike Amid Controversy
March 24, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - On March 24, 2025, 23-year-old Al Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Hossam Shabat was killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting his vehicle in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza. Shabat was en route to the Indonesian Hospital for a live broadcast when the strike occurred. The Israel Defense Forces (IDF) claimed that Shabat was a Hamas sniper operating under the guise of a journalist, alleging his affiliation with the Beit Hanoun Battalion. However, Al Jazeera and press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), have vehemently denied these accusations. RSF condemned the strike...
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Eight Journalists Detained in Istanbul Amid Government Crackdown on Protests
March 24, 2025
Eight Journalists Detained in Istanbul Amid Government Crackdown on Protests
March 24, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish police detained eight journalists in Istanbul as they covered protests sparked by the arrest of opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. The journalists, who were reporting on demonstrations in support of the imprisoned mayor, were taken into custody under charges that authorities have not publicly clarified. The incident comes amid a sweeping crackdown by the Turkish government, which has arrested more than 1,100 people nationwide since protests erupted. The journalists worked for a range of media outlets, including Mezopotamya Agency and JINNEWS, both of which focus on Kurdish and human...
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Sara Netanyahu’s Legal Actions Against Journalist and Activist Spark Debate on Press Freedom
March 23, 2025
Sara Netanyahu’s Legal Actions Against Journalist and Activist Spark Debate on Press Freedom
March 23, 2025 - Israel -  In March 2025, Sara Netanyahu, wife of Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, filed for restraining orders against Haaretz journalist Uri Misgav and protest activist Nava Rozolio, alleging that their actions constituted harassment and posed a threat to her family's safety. Netanyahu claimed that Misgav's publications were obsessively focused on her personal life and that Rozolio engaged in unlawful surveillance, including managing a WhatsApp group that allegedly incited harm against her family. The Jerusalem Magistrate's Court initially granted a restraining order against Rozolio, barring her from approaching Netanyahu. However, in...
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Pakistani Journalist Farhan Mallick Granted Bail Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 23, 2025
Pakistani Journalist Farhan Mallick Granted Bail Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 23, 2025 - Pakistan - Farhan Mallick, a Pakistani journalist and founder of the online news platform Raftar, was arrested on March 20, 2025, by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA). He was charged under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) with disseminating what authorities labeled as “anti-state content.” Additionally, he was accused of operating an illegal call center allegedly involved in defrauding foreigners, a claim that many in the journalism community dispute as an attempt to tarnish his credibility. Mallick’s detention drew widespread criticism from media organizations and rights groups. They argued that...
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Women Journalists Harassed Over Duterte ICC Trial Coverage
March 23, 2025
Women Journalists Harassed Over Duterte ICC Trial Coverage
March 23, 2025 - Philippines - A wave of online harassment targeted prominent Filipino women journalists covering former President Rodrigo Duterte’s ongoing trial at the International Criminal Court (ICC). The attacks, widely condemned by civil society groups, were primarily aimed at reporters Mariz Umali (GMA-7), Zen Hernandez (ABS-CBN), and Gretchen Ho (News5), all of whom have been reporting on the sensitive developments surrounding Duterte’s alleged human rights violations during his administration’s drug war. These journalists faced a barrage of misogynistic and defamatory comments on social media, many of which were amplified by Duterte supporters. In...
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Remembering Journalist Nûjiyan Erhan: A Voice for the Yazidi People
March 23, 2025
Remembering Journalist Nûjiyan Erhan: A Voice for the Yazidi People
March 23, 2025 - Kurdish/Iraq -  Nûjiyan Erhan, born Tuğba Akyılmaz, was a courageous Kurdish journalist remembered for her relentless dedication to amplifying the voices of the Yazidi people in northern Iraq. Originally from Turkey, Erhan moved to the Shengal (Sinjar) region in 2014 after ISIS launched genocidal attacks on the Yazidi community. Her mission was clear: to document their suffering, tell their stories, and support the emergence of a local, women-led media presence in a war-ravaged region. In 2015, she helped establish the Shengal Women's Press, a pioneering initiative that empowered Yazidi women to...
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Kyrgyz Journalist Kanyshai Mamyrkulova Detained Over Social Media Posts
March 22, 2025
Kyrgyz Journalist Kanyshai Mamyrkulova Detained Over Social Media Posts
March 22, 2025 - Russia -  Kanyshai Mamyrkulova, an independent journalist and civic activist from Kyrgyzstan, was arrested in Bishkek on March 20, 2025, in a case that has drawn sharp criticism from international human rights groups. According to reports, her arrest was orchestrated by police officers posing as potential buyers of an apartment she had listed for sale, suggesting a premeditated effort to detain her discreetly. Authorities claim that her social media posts incited national unrest and ethnic tension. Mamyrkulova faces serious charges under Article 278 and Article 330 of Kyrgyzstan’s Criminal Code. These...
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Concerns grow over detained Burundian journalist Sandra Muhoza
March 22, 2025
Concerns grow over detained Burundian journalist Sandra Muhoza
March 22, 2025 - Burundi -  Sandra Muhoza, a journalist for the online outlet La Nova Burundi, has been at the center of a contentious legal battle that underscores growing concerns over press freedom in Burundi. Arrested in April 2024, Muhoza was charged with "undermining the integrity of the national territory" and "racial aversion" after sharing information in a private WhatsApp group about alleged government-led arms distribution. In December 2024, the High Court of Mukaza in Bujumbura sentenced her to 21 months in prison—18 months for undermining national integrity and three months for racial aversion....
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Government Pledges to Protect Journalists Amid Rising Threats in Indonesia and the Philippines
March 22, 2025
Government Pledges to Protect Journalists Amid Rising Threats in Indonesia and the Philippines
March 22, 2025 - Indonesia -  Recent threats against journalists in Indonesia and the Philippines have sparked renewed government commitments to safeguard press freedom and protect media workers. These incidents highlight ongoing challenges faced by journalists in Southeast Asia, where intimidation and violence threaten free expression. In Indonesia, investigative journalist Francisca “Cica” Christy Rosana of Tempo magazine became the target of a disturbing and symbolic death threat in March 2025. Rosana found a severed pig’s head and decapitated rats placed outside her office—an act loaded with cultural and religious implications in the Muslim-majority country. Alongside...
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French Court Sentences Mehdi Nemmouche to Life Imprisonment for Hostage-Taking in Syria
March 21, 2025
French Court Sentences Mehdi Nemmouche to Life Imprisonment for Hostage-Taking in Syria
March 21, 2025 - France -  On March 21, 2025, a French court convicted Mehdi Nemmouche, a 39-year-old French jihadist, of holding four French journalists hostage in Syria between June 2013 and April 2014. The court sentenced him to life imprisonment with a minimum of 22 years before eligibility for parole. Nemmouche, who had previously been convicted for the 2014 Jewish Museum shooting in Brussels, denied the charges, asserting he had only fought against Syrian government forces and had never been a jailer. However, the surviving hostages identified him as their captor, citing his distinctive...
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Sudan Drone Strike Kills Three Journalists and Driver Amid Ongoing Conflict
March 21, 2025
Sudan Drone Strike Kills Three Journalists and Driver Amid Ongoing Conflict
March 21, 2025 - Sudan -  Three journalists and their driver were killed in Sudan on March 21, 2025, when a drone strike targeted their vehicle amid fierce fighting in Khartoum. The attack was carried out by the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), who are locked in a violent conflict with the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF). The journalists were reporting on the SAF’s efforts to retake the Republican Palace, a key government site. This tragic incident underscores the extreme risks journalists face while covering conflict zones in Sudan’s ongoing civil war. The victims were Farouk...
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Zimbabwean Journalist Denied Bail After Arrest Over Critical Interview
March 21, 2025
Zimbabwean Journalist Denied Bail After Arrest Over Critical Interview
March 21, 2025 - Source: Barrons -  Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga was denied bail after his arrest on February 24, 2025, in connection with interviews he conducted with war veteran and former Zanu-PF member Blessed Geza. The interviews, which aired on Heart and Soul Television (HStv) in late 2024 and early 2025, featured Geza openly calling for the resignation of President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Mhlanga was charged under Zimbabwe’s Cyber and Data Protection Act, accused of transmitting data messages that could incite violence or damage property. The law carries penalties of up to five years in...
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Exiled Journalists Sound Alarm on Rising Digital Censorship and Transnational Repression
March 21, 2025
Exiled Journalists Sound Alarm on Rising Digital Censorship and Transnational Repression
March 21, 2025 - Turkey -  Exiled Turkish journalists have raised alarms over increasing digital censorship by major tech companies, urging international accountability for platforms enabling authoritarian governments to suppress independent media. Speaking at a United Nations panel in Geneva, they highlighted how platforms like X (formerly Twitter), YouTube, and Google comply with censorship requests from the Turkish government, citing the misuse of counterterrorism laws to stifle press freedom. The panel, organized by the International Journalists Association and the International Association for Human Rights Advocacy, called for reforms to ensure tech companies uphold free expression...
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Azerbaijani Journalist Afgan Sadigov Released from Georgian Custody Amid Ongoing Legal Dispute
March 21, 2025
Azerbaijani Journalist Afgan Sadigov Released from Georgian Custody Amid Ongoing Legal Dispute
March 21, 2025 - Azerbaijan/Turkey - Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov, detained in Georgia since August 2024, has been released on bail following a ruling by the Tbilisi City Court. The court replaced his extradition detention with a ₾5,000 ($1,800) bail, allowing him to leave prison on April 16, 2025. Sadigov, the head of the Azerbaijani news outlet Azel.TV, was arrested in Tbilisi at Azerbaijan's request, facing charges of extortion. He had been living in Georgia with his family since December 2023 and had planned to leave the country two weeks before his arrest but was...
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Why Facing Hard News Matters: Protecting Journalists and Democracy in Difficult Times
March 21, 2025
Why Facing Hard News Matters: Protecting Journalists and Democracy in Difficult Times
March 21, 2025 - General -  The article highlights a critical challenge faced by journalism today: the tendency of audiences and media outlets to avoid or shy away from difficult or distressing news stories. This avoidance not only undermines the importance of hard-hitting journalism but also threatens the safety and sustainability of journalists themselves. The piece argues that turning away from “bad news” creates a dangerous gap in public awareness, allowing crucial issues to go unreported or ignored. Journalists play a vital role by bringing to light uncomfortable truths, exposing corruption, injustice, and human rights...
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Indonesian Journalist Intimidated with Pig’s Head as Media Crackdown Deepens
March 21, 2025
Indonesian Journalist Intimidated with Pig’s Head as Media Crackdown Deepens
March 21, 2025 - Indonesia -  In a chilling act of intimidation, an Indonesian investigative journalist received a severed pig’s head at his news outlet’s office in Jakarta—an incident that has sparked national outrage and raised fresh concerns over the safety of journalists in the country. The grotesque package, accompanied by decapitated rats and a threatening message, was delivered to Project Multatuli, a nonprofit outlet known for reporting on corruption, environmental degradation, and marginalized communities. The targeted journalist, who remains unnamed for security reasons, had recently published a story critical of a high-ranking government official....
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Mozambican Journalist’s Disappearance Raises Alarms Over Press Freedom
March 21, 2025
Mozambican Journalist’s Disappearance Raises Alarms Over Press Freedom
March 21, 2025 - Mozambique -  The disappearance of Mozambican journalist Arlindo Chissale has cast a dark shadow over press freedom in the country, particularly in the conflict-ridden province of Cabo Delgado. Chissale, an investigative reporter known for his work on illegal mining and security force abuses, vanished on December 29, 2023, in the district of Mocímboa da Praia. Since then, no verified sighting or communication has been made, raising fears of enforced disappearance, a serious human rights violation. Chissale had traveled to Cabo Delgado to report on developments in the region, which has been...
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Germany’s Deportations to Turkey Raise Alarm Over Human Rights Abuses
March 21, 2025
Germany’s Deportations to Turkey Raise Alarm Over Human Rights Abuses
March 21, 2025 - Germany/Turkey -  Germany is under increasing scrutiny for its growing number of deportations to Turkey, particularly of individuals linked—often loosely—to the Gülen movement. The number of deportations from Germany to Turkey has more than doubled in recent months, with migration figures reaching record highs. This surge has sparked concern among human rights advocates, who warn that deportees are at serious risk of imprisonment, torture, and unfair trials once returned to Turkey. One such case is that of a Turkish asylum seeker who was forcibly returned from Germany and immediately arrested upon...
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Crackdown on Press: Pakistani Journalist Farhan Mallick Detained, News Site Blocked
March 21, 2025
Crackdown on Press: Pakistani Journalist Farhan Mallick Detained, News Site Blocked
March 21, 2025 - Pakistan -  In a deeply troubling development for press freedom in Pakistan, journalist Farhan Mallick, founder and editor of the independent news outlet Raftar, was arrested by federal authorities in Karachi on March 20, 2025. The arrest occurred following a late-night raid on his home, during which electronic devices and documents were seized. His outlet, known for investigative journalism and critical reporting on state affairs, was also blocked by Pakistan’s media regulatory body, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA). Mallick's detention and the silencing of Raftar come amid increasing government efforts to...
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Silencing the Truth: Belarus and the Price of Speaking Out
March 21, 2025
Silencing the Truth: Belarus and the Price of Speaking Out
March 21, 2025 - General -  When journalists are imprisoned for doing their jobs, society loses not just its storytellers but its truth-bearers. In her impassioned piece, Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya paints a haunting portrait of her country’s silenced press, calling on the world to defend the fundamental right to free speech. Her words echo like a warning bell: Belarus is now Europe’s leading jailer of journalists, and each arrest is another step toward a voiceless, blindfolded society. Journalists in Belarus today face persecution not for distorting the truth, but for daring to tell...
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French Jihadists Sentenced for Holding Journalists Hostage in Syria
March 21, 2025
French Jihadists Sentenced for Holding Journalists Hostage in Syria
March 21, 2025 - France -  In a powerful moment of justice, a Paris court on March 21, 2025, sentenced five jihadists for their roles in the kidnapping and torture of four French journalists in Syria from 2013 to 2014. Among them was Mehdi Nemmouche, a notorious figure already serving life for the deadly 2014 Brussels Jewish Museum attack. Nemmouche received another life sentence with a mandatory 22-year term before parole, sealing his fate as one of the central figures in a harrowing ordeal that left deep psychological scars on his victims. The journalists—Didier François,...
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In Gaza, Journalists Are Being Silenced One by One Husam al-Titi, killed in Gaza air strike
March 21, 2025
In Gaza, Journalists Are Being Silenced One by One Husam al-Titi, killed in Gaza air strike
March 21, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Husam al-Titi was more than a journalist. He was a father, a husband, and a mentor who spent over two decades capturing voices and stories from Palestine for ABC News. After years in journalism, he chose a quieter life as a media teacher, hoping to inspire the next generation. But even in that quieter life, he wasn’t safe. On March 21, 2025, an Israeli airstrike ended everything. The missile struck his home in Gaza City while he, his wife, and their daughter slept. All three were killed. His three...
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Journalist Prashant Koratkar Arrested After Bail Denied in Shivaji Remarks Case
March 20, 2025
Journalist Prashant Koratkar Arrested After Bail Denied in Shivaji Remarks Case
March 20, 2025 - India -  Nagpur-based journalist Prashant Koratkar was arrested in Telangana on March 24, 2025, following the rejection of his anticipatory bail by a Kolhapur sessions court. Koratkar faces charges under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita for allegedly making derogatory remarks about Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj and his son, Chhatrapati Sambhaji Maharaj, during a phone conversation with Kolhapur-based historian Indrajeet Sawant. The conversation, which reportedly included threats and offensive comments, was recorded and shared on social media, leading to public outrage and legal action. The court denied Koratkar's bail after it was revealed that...
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Ugandan Journalists Barred from Museveni Event Amid Rising Media Suppression
March 20, 2025
Ugandan Journalists Barred from Museveni Event Amid Rising Media Suppression
March 20, 2025 - Uganda - Journalists from Nation Media Group (NMG) and Next Media were recently barred from covering President Yoweri Museveni’s Parish Development Model (PDM) tour in Uganda’s Bunyoro Sub-region, sparking renewed concerns about press freedom in the country. Although their names had been submitted for accreditation, they were not included in the official State House list, effectively blocking them from participating in the event’s coverage. While they initially negotiated access on the first day and managed to report, they were subsequently turned away from key activities, including the commissioning of Bunyoro University...
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Cyprus Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Migrant Pushbacks Amid Government Denials
March 20, 2025
Cyprus Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged Migrant Pushbacks Amid Government Denials
March 20, 2025 - Cyprus -  Allegations of migrant pushbacks by Cypriot authorities have sparked significant controversy, with international organizations, journalists, and opposition parties raising concerns, while the Cypriot government firmly denies any wrongdoing. In March 2025, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) reported that Cypriot authorities intercepted three boats carrying approximately 80 Syrian migrants, including women and children, near Larnaca port and forced them to return to Syria without allowing them to seek asylum. Cypriot Justice Minister Marios Hartsiotis disputed these claims, stating that only two boats were involved and that they were...
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Two Men Convicted in Iran-Backed Plot to Assassinate Journalist Masih Alinejad
March 20, 2025
Two Men Convicted in Iran-Backed Plot to Assassinate Journalist Masih Alinejad
March 20, 2025 - USA/Iran -  Two men were convicted in March 2025 for their roles in a failed assassination plot targeting Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad. The U.S. federal jury in New York found Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov guilty of conspiracy to commit murder-for-hire, supporting an operation allegedly directed by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). Prosecutors described the plan as part of Tehran’s broader strategy to silence dissidents abroad. Alinejad, known for her outspoken criticism of Iran’s human rights abuses and particularly its treatment of women, has long been a target...
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Pakistani Journalist’s Brothers Abducted Following Report on Army Chief’s Nepotism
March 20, 2025
Pakistani Journalist’s Brothers Abducted Following Report on Army Chief’s Nepotism
March 20, 2025 - Pakistan -  In March 2025, U.S.-based Pakistani investigative journalist Ahmad Noorani reported that his two brothers were abducted from their home in Islamabad, allegedly by operatives of Pakistan’s Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and local police. This incident occurred shortly after Noorani published an exposé detailing alleged nepotism by Pakistan Army Chief General Asim Munir, accusing him of placing relatives in key federal positions. According to Noorani, approximately two dozen armed individuals identifying themselves as police forcibly entered his family’s residence around midnight on March 18. They reportedly assaulted his brothers, Mohammad Saif...
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Trump-Era Shutdown of US-Backed Media Leaves Jailed Journalists Abandoned
March 20, 2025
Trump-Era Shutdown of US-Backed Media Leaves Jailed Journalists Abandoned
March 20, 2025 - Iran -  Former President Donald Trump issued an executive order defunding the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), effectively shutting down Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia (RFA). These state-funded outlets have long operated in authoritarian regions, offering independent news and amplifying voices that challenge repressive regimes. The closure has had swift and devastating consequences. At least 10 journalists affiliated with these outlets are now imprisoned in countries such as Vietnam, Myanmar, Russia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, and the occupied areas of Ukraine. Many were arrested...
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First Manipur Naga Journalists’ Conclave Revives Union to Strengthen Regional Press
March 19, 2025
First Manipur Naga Journalists’ Conclave Revives Union to Strengthen Regional Press
March 19, 2025 - Philippines -  In a landmark event for media representation in Northeast India, the first Manipur Naga Journalists’ Conclave was held from March 17 to 19, 2025, at Magen Hills, Viewland, in Ukhrul district. Organized by the Ukhrul District Working Journalists’ Association (UDWJA), the three-day gathering brought together journalists from five Naga-majority districts—Chandel, Noney, Tamenglong, Senapati, and Ukhrul—under the unifying theme “Connecting Voices”. A central outcome of the conclave was the revival of the long-dormant “Syndication of Naga Journalists,” originally established in 2003 by veteran journalists including Newmai Witoubou and Ngachonmi Chamroy....
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Yemeni Journalist Disappears Amid Escalating Threats from Houthi Forces
March 19, 2025
Yemeni Journalist Disappears Amid Escalating Threats from Houthi Forces
March 19, 2025 - Yemen -  Yemeni journalist Ahmed Awadhah has been missing since March 10, 2025, following a series of threats reportedly made by a Houthi-affiliated intelligence officer. Awadhah vanished from Sana’a, the Houthi-controlled capital, after previously alerting his colleagues that he feared for his safety due to increasing pressure over his reporting. His disappearance has sparked international concern among press freedom advocates, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and IFEX, who have called for his immediate release and for the Houthis to end their ongoing campaign of intimidation against journalists. According to...
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OSCE Calls for Stronger Protection of Journalists Amid Rising Threats
March 19, 2025
OSCE Calls for Stronger Protection of Journalists Amid Rising Threats
March 19, 2025 - General -  The OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media, Jan Braathu, issued a powerful call for stronger safeguards for journalists, particularly those operating in conflict zones. Speaking at the first Supplementary Human Dimension Meeting of the year, Braathu highlighted the escalating dangers journalists face and stressed the critical role they play in defending human rights, countering disinformation, and upholding democratic accountability. Braathu emphasized that journalists often serve as society’s eyes and ears in crises, risking their lives to uncover the truth. “We rely on journalists as frontline observers,” he noted,...
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U.S. Court Slashes Defamation Damages for Ghanaian Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas
March 19, 2025
U.S. Court Slashes Defamation Damages for Ghanaian Journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas
March 19, 2025 - Ghana -  A U.S. court has significantly reduced a landmark defamation award to renowned Ghanaian investigative journalist Anas Aremeyaw Anas, cutting the compensation from $18 million to just $500. The case centered on damaging remarks made by former Ghanaian Member of Parliament Kennedy Agyapong during a podcast recorded in the United States. In that broadcast, Agyapong labeled Anas a criminal and falsely linked him to the 2019 murder of fellow journalist Ahmed Suale, who was gunned down in Accra after appearing in one of Anas’ corruption exposés. In March 2025, a...
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Iranian Plot to Kill Journalist Masih Alinejad Exposed in U.S. Court
March 19, 2025
Iranian Plot to Kill Journalist Masih Alinejad Exposed in U.S. Court
March 19, 2025 - USA/Iran - In a chilling revelation of transnational repression, a U.S. federal jury in March 2025 convicted two men—Rafat Amirov and Polad Omarov—of plotting to assassinate Iranian-American journalist and human rights activist Masih Alinejad. The case uncovered a murder-for-hire scheme allegedly orchestrated by the Iranian government, which placed a $500,000 bounty on Alinejad’s head in retaliation for her outspoken criticism of the regime. The attempted assassination dates back to 2022, when Khalid Mehdiyev, a would-be hitman, was arrested near Alinejad’s Brooklyn residence. He was found in possession of an AK-47-style rifle,...
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Karishma Patel Resigns from BBC Over Gaza Coverage and Editorial Integrity
March 19, 2025
Karishma Patel Resigns from BBC Over Gaza Coverage and Editorial Integrity
March 19, 2025 - India -  In October 2024, journalist Karishma Patel resigned from the BBC, citing deep concerns over the broadcaster's coverage of the Gaza conflict and its handling of stories involving Palestinian civilians. Patel, who had served as a Middle East specialist and newsreader for five years, publicly disclosed her reasons for leaving in March 2025, highlighting what she perceived as a pattern of editorial bias and institutional failure. A pivotal moment for Patel was the BBC's response to the tragic death of a five-year-old Palestinian girl, Hind Rajab. Trapped in a car...
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Armenia’s State Revenue Committee Clarifies Role in Turkish Journalists’ Border Visit
March 19, 2025
Armenia’s State Revenue Committee Clarifies Role in Turkish Journalists’ Border Visit
March 19, 2025 - Armenia - The head of Armenia’s State Revenue Committee (SRC), Rustam Badasyan, addressed reports concerning the involvement of Turkish journalists at the Margara border crossing between Armenia and Turkey. Badasyan clarified that the SRC did not facilitate or organize the journalists' visit to the border checkpoint. He emphasized that the SRC's role was limited to its standard operational duties and that any interactions with the journalists were incidental and not part of a coordinated effort. The presence of Turkish journalists at the Margara crossing attracted attention due to the sensitive nature...
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Turkey’s Justice Minister Denies Jailing Journalists Amid Media Crackdown
March 19, 2025
Turkey’s Justice Minister Denies Jailing Journalists Amid Media Crackdown
March 19, 2025 - Turkey - Turkish Justice Minister Yılmaz Tunç asserted that no journalists in Turkey are imprisoned for their journalistic activities, despite mounting evidence and international criticism highlighting a significant decline in press freedom. Tunç's comments, made during a meeting with media representatives in Ankara, were reported by the state-run Anadolu news agency. He claimed that Turkey had made substantial progress in press freedom over the past 23 years under the ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP). However, his statement contradicts reports from press freedom organizations and media monitoring groups, which have documented...
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Turkish Journalist İsmail Saymaz Under House Arrest for 2013 Gezi Park Coverage
March 19, 2025
Turkish Journalist İsmail Saymaz Under House Arrest for 2013 Gezi Park Coverage
March 19, 2025 - Source: Turkish Minute -  Prominent Turkish journalist İsmail Saymaz was placed under house arrest in connection with an investigation into the 2013 Gezi Park protests. Authorities accused him of "assisting an attempt to overthrow the government" by allegedly aiding the protests through social media activity and interactions with key figures involved in the demonstrations. Saymaz, known for his investigative journalism and work with outlets such as Halk TV and Sözcü, was detained on March 19 and released two days later under house arrest, with a travel ban and the confiscation of...
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Turkey’s Crackdown on Journalists: Şahin Alpay’s Case and Broader Implications
March 19, 2025
Turkey’s Crackdown on Journalists: Şahin Alpay’s Case and Broader Implications
March 19, 2025 - Turkey -  Veteran Turkish journalist Şahin Alpay, formerly of the now-defunct Zaman newspaper, has been a prominent figure in discussions about press freedom in Turkey. Following the July 2016 coup attempt, Alpay was arrested and faced charges related to attempting to overthrow the government. However, he and many of his colleagues have consistently denied any involvement in the coup, asserting that the charges were politically motivated. In a recent interview, Alpay discussed his newly published memoir, reflecting on his 14-year career at Zaman and his experiences during his imprisonment. He emphasized...
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Taliban Enforces Total Ban on Women’s Voices in Kandahar Media
March 19, 2025
Taliban Enforces Total Ban on Women’s Voices in Kandahar Media
March 19, 2025 - Afghanistan -  In a significant escalation of its media restrictions, the Taliban has imposed a complete ban on the broadcast of women's voices by radio stations in Kandahar province, Afghanistan. This directive, issued on March 17, 2025, by the Taliban’s Directorate of Information and Culture, prohibits the airing of women's voices in any form, including entertainment programs and advertisements. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) reported that this move represents a tightening of the regime's grip on press freedoms in the region. The new regulations also mandate that media outlets refer to...
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Bangladesh Journalist Gang-Rape Case: Two Arrested in Pallabi
March 19, 2025
Bangladesh Journalist Gang-Rape Case: Two Arrested in Pallabi
March 19, 2025 - India -  A female journalist was gang-raped in an under-construction building in the Barontek area of Pallabi, Dhaka. The victim, a reporter for a Dhaka-based daily, was allegedly lured to the location under the pretext of covering illegal activities. She was held captive overnight and subjected to assault before being rescued the following morning. Police arrested two suspects, Enamul Haque (38) and Hamidur Rahman (50), both caretakers of nearby buildings, in connection with the incident. A case was filed naming eight individuals, with an additional eight unidentified suspects. The victim was...
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Indian press groups call for investigation after journalist’s body found in septic tank
March 19, 2025
Indian press groups call for investigation after journalist’s body found in septic tank
March 19. 2025 - India -  Mukesh Chandrakar, a 33-year-old freelance journalist from Chhattisgarh, was found murdered on January 3, 2025, in a septic tank on the property of a road contractor in Bijapur. His body showed signs of blunt force trauma, and the septic tank had been covered with a newly laid concrete slab, suggesting an attempt to conceal the crime. Chandrakar was known for his investigative reporting on corruption in public infrastructure projects, particularly road construction scams in the Bastar region. He ran a popular YouTube channel, Bastar Junction, which had approximately 159,000...
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Palestinian Journalist Latifeh Abdellatif Detained by Israeli Forces Amid Press Freedom Concerns Released
March 19, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Latifeh Abdellatif Detained by Israeli Forces Amid Press Freedom Concerns Released
March 19, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Latifeh Abdellatif was detained by Israeli forces in Jerusalem’s Old City, sparking international concern over press freedom in the region. Abdellatif, a freelance photojournalist, has contributed to major news organizations such as Reuters, BBC, Al Jazeera, and ABC News. Israeli authorities accused her of “incitement” and “supporting terrorism,” based largely on her social media posts that included content related to Yahya Sinwar, the late leader of Hamas. After her arrest, Abdellatif was brought before a court via video link. Although a judge initially ordered her release, the...
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French Journalists Targeted by State-Linked Harassment After China Investigation
March 19, 2025
French Journalists Targeted by State-Linked Harassment After China Investigation
March 19, 2025 - China/France -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) strongly condemned a coordinated online harassment campaign against two French journalists who produced an investigative report on forced labor in China. The journalists, whose work aired on France 2 on February 6, uncovered evidence that the French sportswear company Decathlon subcontracted production to a Chinese supplier allegedly involved in exploiting Uyghur forced labor. This report touched on a highly sensitive issue, previously flagged by both the U.S. Congress and the United Nations. Following the program’s broadcast, the journalists became the target of an intense wave...
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Azerbaijani Journalist Farid Mehralizada Jailed Over Critical Reporting
March 19, 2025
Azerbaijani Journalist Farid Mehralizada Jailed Over Critical Reporting
March 19, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In May 2024, Azerbaijani journalist and economist Farid Mehralizada was arrested and has since been detained on multiple charges, including currency smuggling, illegal entrepreneurship, tax evasion, and document forgery. Mehralizada, a contributor to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), asserts that his arrest is politically motivated, stemming from his critical reporting on Azerbaijan's economic policies. He has highlighted issues such as the country's heavy reliance on oil and gas exports and has questioned official statistics on unemployment and poverty. During his court appearance on April 8, 2025, Mehralizada testified that...
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Somali Journalist Mohamed Dabaashe Killed in Al-Shabaab Bombing in Mogadishu
March 18, 2025
Somali Journalist Mohamed Dabaashe Killed in Al-Shabaab Bombing in Mogadishu
March 18, 2025 - Somalia -  On March 18, 2025, Somali journalist Mohamed Abukar Mohamed, widely known as Dabaashe, was killed in a bomb attack in Mogadishu. The explosion, claimed by the militant group Al-Shabaab, targeted the convoy of Somali President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud near the Ceel Gaabta area. While the president was unharmed, the blast caused the collapse of a nearby building, resulting in multiple casualties, including Dabaashe. Dabaashe, 31, was a freelance journalist who had previously worked with Risaala Radio and TV and was associated with Sirta TV at the time of his...
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Somali Police Raid Risaala Media, Arrest Five Journalists Following Bombing Coverage
March 18, 2025
Somali Police Raid Risaala Media, Arrest Five Journalists Following Bombing Coverage
March 18, 2025 - Somalia -  Somali police raided the offices of Risaala Media Corporation in Mogadishu, arresting five journalists and shutting down the station's operations. The action followed Risaala Media's reporting on a bombing attack targeting President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud's convoy near the presidential palace, an incident claimed by Al-Shabaab. The explosion resulted in multiple casualties, including journalist Mohamed Abukar Dabaashe, who had previously worked for Risaala. The detained journalists—Ali Ibrahim Abdullahi Suheyfa (reporter), Hamda Hassan Ahmed (reporter), Mohamed Said Nur (cameraman), Liban Abdullahi Hussein (radio technician), and Abdalla Sharif Ali (cameraman)—were taken to...
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Belgian Journalist Chris Den Hond Denied Entry to Turkey Over Kobani Celebration
March 18, 2025
Belgian Journalist Chris Den Hond Denied Entry to Turkey Over Kobani Celebration
March 18, 2025 - Turkey -  Belgian journalist and documentary filmmaker Chris Den Hond was denied entry into Turkey upon arrival at Istanbul Airport and subsequently deported. Turkish authorities informed him that he was on a blacklist and imposed a ten-year ban on his entry into the country. The reason cited for this action was his participation in a 2015 celebration marking the liberation of the Syrian Kurdish town of Kobani from the Islamic State (ISIS). Den Hond, who resides in France, had traveled to Turkey to cover Newroz, the Kurdish New Year festival. In...
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Maria Ponomarenko on Verge of Suicide Amid Harsh Prison Conditions in Russia
March 18, 2025
Maria Ponomarenko on Verge of Suicide Amid Harsh Prison Conditions in Russia
March 18, 2025 - Ukriane/Russia -  Russian journalist Maria Ponomarenko, known for her outspoken opposition to the war in Ukraine, is reportedly on the brink of suicide after enduring prolonged mistreatment in prison. Ponomarenko, who had been previously sentenced to six years in a penal colony for posting about the bombing of the Mariupol Drama Theatre, has now been handed an additional one year and ten months. The new sentence stems from accusations that she assaulted a prison employee—charges her supporters believe are politically motivated and part of a wider campaign to silence dissent. The...
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Trump’s Shutdown of U.S.-Funded Broadcasters Puts Journalists at Risk
March 18, 2025
Trump’s Shutdown of U.S.-Funded Broadcasters Puts Journalists at Risk
March 18, 2025 - USA -  In March 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order dismantling the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), effectively defunding key outlets such as Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia (RFA). This abrupt action has left hundreds of journalists, many of whom have risked their lives reporting from authoritarian regimes, without institutional support, exposing them to potential retaliation from hostile governments. The James W. Foley Legacy Foundation highlights the dire consequences of this move, noting that journalists affiliated with USAGM are now...
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Zimbabwean Journalist Blessed Mhlanga Remains in Jail as Bail Decision Is Indefinitely Delayed
March 18, 2025
Zimbabwean Journalist Blessed Mhlanga Remains in Jail as Bail Decision Is Indefinitely Delayed
March 18, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga continues to remain behind bars while the court indefinitely postpones ruling on his bail application. Despite multiple bail requests, the High Court has yet to grant him release, leaving him detained without a clear timeline for freedom. Mhlanga was arrested in late February 2025 on charges linked to broadcasting content considered to incite public unrest. Since then, his legal team has repeatedly sought bail, but each request has been denied or delayed, prolonging his imprisonment. The indefinite delay in ruling on his current bail application...
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Zimbabwean Investigative Journalist Watson Flexy Munyaka Murdered in Marondera
March 18, 2025
Zimbabwean Investigative Journalist Watson Flexy Munyaka Murdered in Marondera
March 18, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  On March 17, 2025, investigative journalist Watson Flexy Munyaka was found dead in Marondera, Zimbabwe, after being violently thrown from a moving vehicle. The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has launched a homicide investigation into the incident, which occurred in broad daylight along Fifth Street, near the Chicken Inn drive-through. Munyaka was rushed to Marondera Provincial Hospital but was pronounced dead upon arrival. Munyaka, aged 38, was a researcher for Dug Up, an investigative journalism collective focused on exposing corruption and crime in Zimbabwe. His recent work included reports on...
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Palestinian Journalist Latifeh Abdellatif Detained by Israeli Authorities Amid Incitement Allegations
March 18, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Latifeh Abdellatif Detained by Israeli Authorities Amid Incitement Allegations
March 18, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian freelance photojournalist Latifeh Abdellatif was arrested on March 16, 2025, by Israeli forces in Jerusalem’s Old City on charges of incitement and supporting terrorism. The allegations stem from her social media activity, including posting a video featuring Yahya Sinwar, a former leader of Hamas. Abdellatif’s work, published by international outlets such as Reuters, ABC News, BBC, Al Jazeera, and TRT, often focuses on documenting life and conflict in Jerusalem. Following her arrest, an Israeli court initially ordered her release under strict conditions, including bail and a temporary ban...
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Documentary on U.S. Reporter Killed by Russian Forces in Ukraine Wins SXSW Award
March 18, 2025
Documentary on U.S. Reporter Killed by Russian Forces in Ukraine Wins SXSW Award
March 18, 2025 - General -  The documentary short Armed Only with a Camera: The Life and Death of Brent Renaud has won the Audience Award at the 2025 South by Southwest (SXSW) Film Festival. The film, directed by journalist Juan Arredondo, chronicles the life and tragic death of U.S. journalist Brent Renaud, who was killed by Russian forces in Irpin, Ukraine, in March 2022. Renaud, a Peabody Award-winning filmmaker, was working on a documentary about the global refugee crisis when he was fatally shot while traveling with Arredondo. The documentary offers an intimate look...
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Israeli Forces Detain Palestinian Journalist Latifeh Abdellatif Amidst Press Freedom Concerns
March 17, 2025
Israeli Forces Detain Palestinian Journalist Latifeh Abdellatif Amidst Press Freedom Concerns
March 17, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On March 16, 2025, Palestinian freelance photojournalist Latifeh Abdellatif was arrested by Israeli forces in Jerusalem's Old City. She faces charges of "incitement" and "supporting terrorism," primarily due to her social media posts, including a video of late Hamas leader Yahya Sinwar expressing a desire for martyrdom. Abdellatif's work has been featured by major international outlets such as Reuters, ABC News, BBC, Al Jazeera, and TRT. Her arrest has raised significant concerns among press freedom organizations. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that since the onset of the...
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Press Freedom in Afghanistan: A Struggle for Survival
March 17, 2025
Press Freedom in Afghanistan: A Struggle for Survival
March 17, 2025 - Afghanistan -  Since the Taliban's return to power in August 2021, Afghanistan's media landscape has undergone a dramatic transformation, characterized by severe restrictions and a pervasive climate of fear. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that the Taliban's "Law for the Propagation of Virtue and the Prevention of Vice" grants the morality police extensive powers to censor media content deemed contrary to their interpretation of Sharia law, including prohibitions on reporting that insults Islam or Muslims. The Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC) documented 181 incidents of press freedom violations in 2024,...
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Zimbabwe Police and Journalists Strengthen Collaboration to Promote Media Freedom
March 17, 2025
Zimbabwe Police and Journalists Strengthen Collaboration to Promote Media Freedom
March 17, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Zimbabwe is witnessing efforts to improve the relationship between law enforcement and the media, aimed at enhancing press freedom and ensuring better cooperation. Recently, the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and journalists have actively engaged in dialogue and joint initiatives to build mutual trust and understanding. During a media engagement forum organized by the ZRP, senior police officials and members of the media discussed key issues affecting journalism, including safety, access to information, and the role of media in promoting peace and development. The police emphasized their commitment to upholding...
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Ghana Police Arrest Suspect in Ahmed Suale’s Murder
March 17, 2025
Ghana Police Arrest Suspect in Ahmed Suale’s Murder
March 17, 2025 - Ghana -  In a significant development, the Ghana Police Service has arrested Daniel Owusu Koranteng, also known as Akwasi Amakye, in connection with the 2019 murder of investigative journalist Ahmed Suale. Koranteng, a former colleague of Suale at Tiger Eye Private Investigations, is accused of leaking photographs of Suale to a prominent politician before his assassination. Suale was shot dead near his family home in Madina on January 16, 2019, shortly after collaborating with the BBC on an exposé revealing corruption in Ghanaian football. The arrest follows a lengthy investigation, during...
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Washington State Senate Bill 5400: A Proposed Solution to Support Local Journalism
March 17, 2025
Washington State Senate Bill 5400: A Proposed Solution to Support Local Journalism
March 17, 2025 - General -  In response to the decline of local journalism, Washington State lawmakers have introduced Senate Bill 5400, aiming to bolster the industry through a novel funding mechanism. The bill proposes imposing a surcharge on large social media platforms and search engines with annual gross revenues exceeding $5 million. This surcharge is expected to generate approximately $27 million in fiscal year 2027, with projections of an additional $102 million between 2027 and 2031. The revenue from this surcharge would be allocated to the Washington Local News Journalism Corps Program, established within...
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Title: U.S. Government-Funded Media Face Shutdown Amidst Legal and Political Turmoil
March 17, 2025
Title: U.S. Government-Funded Media Face Shutdown Amidst Legal and Political Turmoil
March 17, 2025 - USA -  In March 2025, President Donald Trump issued an executive order directing the elimination of the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM), which oversees key international broadcasters such as Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Radio Free Asia (RFA), and others. This move has led to widespread concern among journalists and media advocates about the future of independent journalism and U.S. soft power globally. The shutdown order resulted in the suspension of operations at these outlets, placing journalists, including those on work visas from repressive regimes, at...
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Hezbollah’s Attack on Journalists Near Syrian-Lebanese Border Condemned by Syrian Authorities
March 17, 2025
Hezbollah’s Attack on Journalists Near Syrian-Lebanese Border Condemned by Syrian Authorities
March 17, 2025 - Syria -  A Hezbollah missile strike targeted a group of journalists from Al Arabiya while they were covering events near the Syrian-Lebanese border. The attack resulted in injuries to several media personnel and was condemned by Syria's newly established government. The Syrian Ministry of Information described the strike as a deliberate violation of international laws protecting journalists and called on the Lebanese government to hold those responsible accountable. This incident occurred against the backdrop of escalating tensions between Syria and Hezbollah. The day before, Syria accused Hezbollah of kidnapping and executing...
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Reward Offered for Information on Missing South African Journalist and Partner
March 17, 2025
Reward Offered for Information on Missing South African Journalist and Partner
March 17, 2025 - South Africa -  Authorities in South Africa have announced a R50,000 reward for anyone who can provide information leading to the safe location of missing journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli. The couple went missing on February 18, 2025, and their disappearance has prompted a widespread search involving both law enforcement and community members. The reward is intended to incentivize those who may have seen or heard anything related to the couple’s whereabouts to come forward and assist investigators. Police have encouraged the public to share any...
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Somali Journalist Detained for Exposing Health Hazards in Mogadishu Amidst Media Crackdown
March 17, 2025
Somali Journalist Detained for Exposing Health Hazards in Mogadishu Amidst Media Crackdown
March 17, 2025 - Somalia -  Journalist Bahjo Abdullahi Salad of RTN TV was detained by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) following her report on the health hazards posed by waste left in public spaces in Mogadishu's Wardhigley district. Her report highlighted the risks to the local community, particularly young children, from the accumulation of rubbish and leftover food. The Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) condemned the unlawful detention and the raid on her home, emphasizing the importance of press freedom in holding authorities accountable. This incident is part of a broader pattern...
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Uganda: Journalists Brutalised by Security Forces Amidst Electoral Coverage
March 17, 2025
Uganda: Journalists Brutalised by Security Forces Amidst Electoral Coverage
March 17, 2025 - Uganda -  During the Kawempe North parliamentary by-election in Kampala, Uganda, at least 18 journalists were subjected to severe physical assaults by security forces, including the Uganda People's Defence Forces (UPDF) and the Joint Anti-Terrorism Task Force (JATT). These attacks occurred despite the journalists being clearly identifiable by their press attire. Victims included Hasifah Nanvuma of Nation Media Group, Hassan Wasswa of NBS Television, and Francis Ijjo from NTV Uganda, all of whom required urgent medical attention. The assaults were not isolated incidents but part of a coordinated effort to intimidate...
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Israeli Journalist Latifeh Abdellatif Arrested for Alleged Incitement Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 17, 2025
Israeli Journalist Latifeh Abdellatif Arrested for Alleged Incitement Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 17, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Israeli police arrested Palestinian journalist Latifeh Abdellatif in Jerusalem's Old City. Abdellatif, a freelance photojournalist whose work has been featured in Reuters, ABC News, BBC, Al Jazeera, and TRT, was detained on suspicion of "incitement" and "supporting terrorism" due to her social media posts. Authorities allege that she shared content praising Hamas and its former leader, Yahya Sinwar, including a video where Sinwar expresses a desire to die as a martyr. Following her arrest, Abdellatif appeared in court via video link. While a judge initially ordered her release, Israeli...
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Telangana Journalists Freed After Arrests Spark Uproar Over Press Freedom
March 17, 2025
Telangana Journalists Freed After Arrests Spark Uproar Over Press Freedom
March 17, 2025 - India -  Two Telangana-based journalists, Pogadadanda Revathi and Thanvi Yadav, were recently granted bail after being arrested for sharing a video featuring a farmer criticizing Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The video, which went viral, became a flashpoint in ongoing tensions between the media and political leadership. The journalists, both affiliated with the Pulse Digital News Network, were detained on March 11 following a complaint by a Congress social media cell official. The arrest invoked serious charges under India's Information Technology Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 111,...
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Outrage in Telangana as Chief Minister Threatens Journalists, Two Arrested Over Critical Video
March 17, 2025
Outrage in Telangana as Chief Minister Threatens Journalists, Two Arrested Over Critical Video
March 17, 2025 - Source: CPJ -  A new wave of concern over press freedom has erupted in Telangana, India, after two journalists were arrested for sharing a video critical of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy—prompting sharp backlash when Reddy publicly threatened to strip other journalists of their credentials. Pogadadanda Revathi and Thanvi Yadav, both affiliated with Pulse Digital News Network, were arrested earlier in March after posting an interview featuring a farmer who harshly criticized the Chief Minister’s agricultural policies. The farmer accused Reddy of abandoning pre-election promises, including loan waivers. Soon after the...
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Indonesian Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty in Journalist’s Murder Case
March 17, 2025
Indonesian Prosecutors Seek Death Penalty in Journalist’s Murder Case
March 17, 2025 - Indonesia -  In a significant legal development, Indonesian prosecutors are appealing for the death penalty against three individuals convicted of the premeditated murder of journalist Rico Sempurna Pasaribu and his family in Karo Regency, North Sumatra. The initial verdicts, delivered by the Kabanjahe District Court on March 27, 2025, sentenced two of the defendants to life imprisonment and the third to 20 years in prison. The North Sumatra Prosecutors' Office filed the appeal, arguing that the severity of the crime, resulting in the deaths of Pasaribu, his wife, child, and grandchild,...
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Haitian Media Under Siege: Gangs Target News Outlets Amid Growing Chaos
March 17, 2025
Haitian Media Under Siege: Gangs Target News Outlets Amid Growing Chaos
March 17, 2025 - Haiti -  Haiti's media landscape came under severe assault as armed gangs launched coordinated attacks on prominent news outlets in Port-au-Prince. The Viv Ansanm gang coalition targeted Radio Télévision Caraïbes (RTVC), Radio Mélodie FM, and Télé Pluriel, setting their facilities ablaze and looting equipment. These attacks are part of a broader strategy to silence independent journalism and instill fear among media professionals. The violence forced many journalists to flee their homes and workplaces, seeking safety amid escalating threats. Jean-Jacques Asperges, a veteran radio journalist, was displaced twice due to gang violence...
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El Salvador’s Trial for Murdered Dutch Journalists Postponed After 42 Years
March 17, 2025
El Salvador’s Trial for Murdered Dutch Journalists Postponed After 42 Years
March 17, 2025 - Netherlands -  After more than four decades of impunity, El Salvador was set to commence the trial for the 1982 murders of four Dutch journalists. However, the proceedings have been postponed until June 3, 2025. The journalists—Koos Koster, Jan Kuiper, Joop Willemsen, and Hans ter Laag—were ambushed and killed by Salvadoran soldiers while attempting to enter guerrilla-controlled territory during the country's civil war. The trial involves three former military officials: ex-Defense Minister José Guillermo García, former Treasury Police director Francisco Antonio Morán, and Colonel Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena. García and Morán...
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Baloch Journalist Who Alleged Pakistan Army Intimidation Goes Missing Amid Enforced Disappearance Concerns
March 16, 2025
Baloch Journalist Who Alleged Pakistan Army Intimidation Goes Missing Amid Enforced Disappearance Concerns
March 16, 2025 - Pakistan -  Baloch journalist Asif Kareem Khetran, affiliated with the Barkhan Press Club in Pakistan's Balochistan province, has been reported missing since March 15, 2025. Before his disappearance, Khetran had publicly alleged intimidation and threats from Pakistan Army officials, including being summoned to an army camp and having family members abducted. He also reported that his home was raided and his shop sealed by authorities, actions he believed were attempts to silence him. Human rights lawyer Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir expressed deep concern over Khetran's disappearance, highlighting that he had informed her...
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Palestinian Journalists Return Home After 15 Months of Displacement Amid Gaza Conflict
March 16, 2025
Palestinian Journalists Return Home After 15 Months of Displacement Amid Gaza Conflict
March 16, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  After 15 months of displacement due to the ongoing Gaza-Israel conflict, several Palestinian journalists have returned to their homes, confronting both the emotional relief of reuniting with their communities and the overwhelming devastation left by the war. Among them is Anas Baba, an NPR reporter who remained in Gaza throughout the conflict. Following a ceasefire agreement in January 2025, Baba returned to Gaza City, finding his family home partially damaged but still standing. Despite the relief of returning to a habitable space, Baba described the experience as surreal, highlighting...
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Reporters Without Borders Demands Release of Detained Iraqi Kurdistan Journalists
March 16, 2025
Reporters Without Borders Demands Release of Detained Iraqi Kurdistan Journalists
March 16, 2025  - Iraq/Kurdish -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urgently called for the release of two investigative journalists, Bashdar Bazyani and Sherwan Sherwani, who were detained in Iraqi Kurdistan. Both journalists have been known for their critical reporting on regional political and social issues, which has reportedly led to their arrests. The detentions have sparked widespread concern among press freedom advocates, as RSF highlights a troubling pattern of intimidation and repression against independent media in the region. Authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan have been accused of using legal and extralegal measures to silence journalists...
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Maria Ressa Receives 2025 Rotary Peace Laureate Award for Press Freedom Advocacy
March 16, 2025
Maria Ressa Receives 2025 Rotary Peace Laureate Award for Press Freedom Advocacy
March 16, 2025 - Philippines - On March 11, 2025, Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa was honored with the 2025 Rotary Peace Laureate Award by the Rotary Club of Makati San Lorenzo in the Philippines. The award recognizes her unwavering commitment to press freedom, truth, and social justice amid ongoing challenges to journalism in the country. Ressa, co-founder and CEO of the digital news platform Rappler, has been a prominent figure in advocating for media independence and transparency. Her work has often placed her at odds with governmental authorities, leading to multiple legal challenges...
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Georgia’s Media Environment Deteriorates Amid Rising Attacks on Journalists
March 16, 2025
Georgia’s Media Environment Deteriorates Amid Rising Attacks on Journalists
March 16, 2025 - Georgia -  Georgia's media landscape has witnessed a significant decline in press freedom, marked by increasing violence against journalists and restrictive legislation. On March 15, 2025, Gela Mtivlishvili, editor-in-chief of the “Mtis Ambebi” publication, was attacked by an armed officer from the Ministry of Internal Affairs near Tserovani. The assailant, accompanied by another individual, threatened and physically assaulted Mtivlishvili, attempting to seize his phone as he documented the incident. Eyewitnesses captured the attack on video. This incident underscores the hazardous conditions journalists face in Georgia. The Media Advocacy Coalition (MAC), comprising...
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Independent Journalism Faces Mounting Threats in U.S., Columnist Warns
March 16, 2025
Independent Journalism Faces Mounting Threats in U.S., Columnist Warns
March 16, 2025 - General -  In an opinion piece for The Colorado Sun, columnist Mario Nicolais sounded the alarm over the growing threats facing independent journalism in the United States. Using recent developments at The Washington Post as a case study, Nicolais argues that editorial independence is increasingly compromised by political and corporate pressures, putting democratic integrity at risk. The controversy centers on the paper’s decision not to endorse a presidential candidate in the upcoming election, a move Nicolais interprets as an effort to avoid angering former President Donald Trump. He highlights this as...
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Kurdish Journalist Sherwan Sherwani Faces Extended Imprisonment Amid Ongoing Press Freedom Concerns
March 16, 2025
Kurdish Journalist Sherwan Sherwani Faces Extended Imprisonment Amid Ongoing Press Freedom Concerns
March 16, 2025 - Kudish/Iraq -  Sherwan Sherwani, a Kurdish investigative journalist and human rights defender, remains incarcerated in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq following a series of controversial legal actions that have drawn widespread condemnation from international human rights organizations. Initially arrested in October 2020 for covering anti-government protests in Duhok, Sherwani was sentenced in February 2021 to six years in prison on charges of "endangering national security." The trial was criticized for serious violations of fair trial standards, including allegations of torture and the use of coerced confessions. In February 2022, his sentence...
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Royal Television Society Reinstates Award to Gaza Journalists After Public Backlash
March 15, 2025
Royal Television Society Reinstates Award to Gaza Journalists After Public Backlash
March 15, 2025 - General - The Royal Television Society (RTS) reversed its controversial decision to withdraw an award recognizing Gaza-based journalists following widespread criticism and public outcry. The award initially honored their courageous reporting on the ongoing conflict in Gaza. The dispute began when RTS rescinded the award, citing concerns over impartiality, sparking accusations that the move amounted to censorship and suppression of vital frontline journalism. Many media professionals, human rights advocates, and international observers condemned the decision, arguing it undermined press freedom and the crucial role of journalists covering conflict zones. Following intense...
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Azerbaijan Intensifies Crackdown on Independent Journalists Amid Political Repression
March 15, 2025
Azerbaijan Intensifies Crackdown on Independent Journalists Amid Political Repression
March 15, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Since late 2023, Azerbaijan has escalated its campaign against independent journalism, imprisoning more than 20 journalists and media workers, mostly women, on politically motivated charges. This crackdown is widely seen as a deliberate effort by President Ilham Aliyev’s government to silence dissenting voices and control the flow of information. Many detained journalists work for critical outlets such as Abzas Media, Meydan TV, and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). For example, Sevinj Vagifgizi, editor-in-chief of Abzas Media, faces accusations of “smuggling foreign currency,” which she and her supporters reject as...
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US and EU Face Backlash for Blocking Palestinian Al-Aqsa TV Satellite Broadcasts
March 15, 2025
US and EU Face Backlash for Blocking Palestinian Al-Aqsa TV Satellite Broadcasts
March 15, 2025 - Palestine/Israel/USA/Europe -  The United States and European Union jointly announced the suspension of Al-Aqsa TV from all satellite networks, a move that has sparked widespread condemnation from Palestinian groups and media organizations. The decision includes severe financial penalties and potential legal actions against satellite providers that continue to broadcast the channel, which is affiliated with Hamas. Hamas has denounced the ban as a blatant violation of media freedom and an attempt to suppress the Palestinian narrative. The group asserts that the decision is part of a broader campaign to silence Palestinian...
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Top African Countries Leading and Lagging in Press Freedom in 2025
March 15, 2025
Top African Countries Leading and Lagging in Press Freedom in 2025
March 15, 2025 - Africa -  Press freedom remains a critical barometer of democracy and human rights across Africa. In 2025, several African nations have stood out either for upholding robust media freedoms or for continuing to restrict independent journalism under government pressures. Among the best performers, Ghana consistently ranks as a leader in press freedom. Its vibrant and pluralistic media environment allows journalists to operate relatively independently without fear of censorship or persecution. Ghana’s constitutional protections and active civil society contribute to a flourishing media landscape, making it a regional beacon for press rights....
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Israeli Airstrikes Kill Aid Workers and Journalists in Gaza During Ceasefire
March 15, 2025
Israeli Airstrikes Kill Aid Workers and Journalists in Gaza During Ceasefire
March 15, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli airstrikes in northern Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least nine individuals, including eight aid workers and journalists affiliated with the UK-based Al Khair Foundation. The victims were conducting humanitarian efforts in Beit Lahia when their vehicles were targeted. The Israeli military claimed to have struck "terrorists operating a drone," but the Al Khair Foundation and witnesses assert that the victims were civilians engaged in relief work, not combatants. The attack has drawn widespread condemnation from international organizations and human rights groups, who view it as a...
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CPJ Urges U.S. Congress to Safeguard VOA and RFE/RL Amid Trump Administration’s Media Overhaul
March 15, 2025
CPJ Urges U.S. Congress to Safeguard VOA and RFE/RL Amid Trump Administration’s Media Overhaul
March 15, 2025 - USA -  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on U.S. congressional leaders to protect the U.S. Agency for Global Media (USAGM) following President Donald Trump's executive order aimed at dismantling the agency. USAGM oversees critical media outlets, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia (RFA), which provide uncensored news in regions with restricted press freedom. The executive order led to the suspension of over 1,300 VOA employees, including journalists, and the termination of funding for RFE/RL and RFA. This move has raised concerns...
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Trump Administration Freezes U.S.-Funded Media Outlets, Sparking Global Concern
March 15, 2025
Trump Administration Freezes U.S.-Funded Media Outlets, Sparking Global Concern
March 15, 2025 - USA -  The Trump administration took drastic steps by freezing operations and cutting funding for major U.S.-funded international media outlets, including Voice of America (VOA), Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), and Radio Free Asia (RFA). This decision resulted in over 1,300 VOA employees being placed on administrative leave and the suspension of broadcasts in key regions such as Asia and the Middle East. The sudden layoffs affected many journalists and staff, with contracts terminated by the end of March. Some VOA channels were forced to replace news programming with music due...
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Kwara First Lady Urges Muslim Women Journalists to Promote Positive Islam Representation
March 15, 2025
Kwara First Lady Urges Muslim Women Journalists to Promote Positive Islam Representation
March 15, 025 - Nigeria -  In March 2025, Amb. Olufolake Abdulrazaq, the First Lady of Kwara State, Nigeria, addressed Muslim women journalists during the inaugural Ramadan symposium organized by the Nigeria Association of Women Journalists (NAWOJ) in Ilorin. Represented by the state's Commissioner for Environment, Hajiya Nafisat Buge, Mrs. Abdulrazaq emphasized the importance of positive media representation to counteract misconceptions about Islam. The First Lady expressed concern over the commercialization of the media, which has led to the proliferation of fake news. She urged journalists to uphold the truth, balancing professional ethics with Islamic...
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Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill at Least Nine, Including Journalists
March 15, 2025
Israeli Airstrikes in Gaza Kill at Least Nine, Including Journalists
March 15, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli airstrikes struck Gaza, killing at least nine Palestinians, among them two journalists, sparking international outrage. The strikes targeted multiple locations, including the offices of the Al-Khair Foundation, a Palestinian humanitarian organization, leading to casualties and destruction of essential infrastructure. According to Palestinian medics, the air raids resulted in the deaths of two journalists who were reportedly covering the events at the time of the strikes. The loss of media personnel highlights the increasing dangers faced by journalists working in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza, where ongoing hostilities put...
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Alaa Hashim: Palestinian Journalist Killed After Months in Coma
March 15, 2025
Alaa Hashim: Palestinian Journalist Killed After Months in Coma
March 15, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Alaa Asaad Hashim, a Palestinian journalist based in Gaza, tragically died on March 14, 2025, after succumbing to injuries sustained months earlier in an Israeli airstrike. The attack left her critically wounded, and she remained in a coma before her passing, highlighting the grave risks faced by journalists working amid ongoing conflict in Gaza. Hashim’s death marks a devastating loss in a region where journalists routinely face extreme dangers. Since the escalation of violence on October 7, 2023, over 200 Palestinian journalists have been reported killed or injured, making...
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Azerbaijani Journalists Face Trial Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 14, 2025
Azerbaijani Journalists Face Trial Amid Press Freedom Concerns
March 14, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In Azerbaijan, six journalists from the independent online outlet “Abzas Media,” including editor-in-chief Sevindj Vagifgyzy, are facing trial on charges of foreign currency smuggling. Authorities allege that €40,000 in cash was found at the publication's office. However, the journalists assert that their arrests are politically motivated, aimed at silencing their investigative reporting on government corruption. The trial proceedings have been marred by concerns over the treatment of the detained journalists. Initially, they refused to attend court sessions, protesting against being held in cold, smoke-filled rooms and being transported separately...
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Azerbaijan’s Crackdown on Journalists and Opposition Figures Intensifies
March 14, 2025
Azerbaijan’s Crackdown on Journalists and Opposition Figures Intensifies
March 14, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In recent months, Azerbaijan has escalated its suppression of independent journalism and political dissent, drawing international condemnation. Meydan TV Journalists Detained Since December 2024, Azerbaijani authorities have detained multiple journalists associated with Meydan TV, an independent media outlet operating from Berlin. The journalists face charges of smuggling foreign currency, allegations widely regarded as politically motivated. Among those arrested is Ulviyya Guliyeva, the 25th journalist detained in Azerbaijan over the past 18 months. Guliyeva, known for her coverage of human rights and social justice issues, anticipated her arrest and left...
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Rodrigo Duterte Faces ICC Charges as Maria Ressa Warns of Global Disinformation Threat
March 14, 2025
Rodrigo Duterte Faces ICC Charges as Maria Ressa Warns of Global Disinformation Threat
March 14, 2025 - Philippines -  In March 2025, former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte was arrested in Manila and transferred to the International Criminal Court (ICC) in The Hague to face charges of crimes against humanity. The ICC alleges that Duterte is responsible for the murder of at least 43 individuals between 2011 and 2019, linked to his controversial "war on drugs" during his tenure as mayor of Davao City and later as president from 2016 to 2022. Human rights organizations estimate that the total death toll from this campaign could exceed 30,000, many of...
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Malaysian Journalist B. Nantha Kumar Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery Charge
March 14, 2025
Malaysian Journalist B. Nantha Kumar Pleads Not Guilty to Bribery Charge
March 14, 2025 - Malaysia -  B. Nantha Kumar, a senior journalist with Malaysiakini, pleaded not guilty in the Shah Alam Sessions Court to a charge of accepting a RM20,000 bribe. The charge alleges that Kumar received the bribe from Muhammad Zahid, a Pakistani national, as an inducement to remove an article from the Malaysiakini portal and refrain from further reporting on a foreign worker agency allegedly involved in a syndicate. The alleged offense took place at a hotel in Shah Alam at approximately 11:45 p.m. on February 28, 2025. Kumar was charged under Section...
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Journalists Attacked While Covering Otumara Demolition in Lagos
March 14, 2025
Journalists Attacked While Covering Otumara Demolition in Lagos
March 14, 2025 - Lagos -  A group of journalists was violently attacked while reporting on the demolition of homes in the Otumara community, located in the Ilaje area of Lagos Mainland. The assailants, suspected to be affiliated with the Lagos State government, targeted media personnel from six to seven different outlets, resulting in multiple injuries and the destruction of equipment. Among the journalists assaulted were Segun Adeboboye of Control TV, Oluwatosin Sanni of News Buster, Gbenga Adewale of Seefame News, Seyi Fadoro of Distinct Media, Oluwaseun Adeola Oluwole of Integrity News, Wasiu Ayinde of...
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Journalists Attacked While Covering Clashes in Syria
March 14, 2025
Journalists Attacked While Covering Clashes in Syria
March 14, 2025 - Syria -  Three news crews came under fire while covering violent clashes in Syria, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) released on March 14, 2025. The incidents occurred as fighting intensified between armed factions in the northwestern region of the country. These assaults are part of a growing pattern of violence against journalists in war zones, raising concerns about press freedom and safety. The first attack happened in the Idlib region, where a crew from the local Orient TV was fired upon while filming from a...
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Columbia Journalism Faculty Defend Press Freedom After Arrest of Palestinian Student
March 14, 2025
Columbia Journalism Faculty Defend Press Freedom After Arrest of Palestinian Student
March 14, 2025 - Colombia -  In March 2025, Columbia University's Graduate School of Journalism issued a strong statement defending press freedom and free speech following the arrest of Mahmoud Khalil, a Palestinian graduate student from the School of International and Public Affairs (SIPA). Khalil, a lawful U.S. permanent resident, was detained by Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) on March 8 without being charged with any crime. His arrest was part of a broader federal crackdown on pro-Palestinian student activism. The Journalism School's faculty expressed deep concern over what they described as an "alarming chill"...
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The White House press pool became a way to control journalists – Trump is taking this to new levels
March 14, 2025
The White House press pool became a way to control journalists – Trump is taking this to new levels
March 14, 2025 - USA -  In February 2025, the Trump administration announced a significant shift in White House press access, asserting direct control over the selection of journalists in the presidential press pool. This move ended over a century of precedent where the White House Correspondents’ Association (WHCA) managed the rotation of reporters covering the president in close quarters, including aboard Air Force One and in the Oval Office. Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt defended the change by stating that the administration aimed to include a broader range of media voices, suggesting that the WHCA...
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U.S. Journalist Sues Indian Government Over OCI Revocation
March 13, 2025
U.S. Journalist Sues Indian Government Over OCI Revocation
March 13, 2025 - USA/India -  U.S. journalist Raphael Satter filed a lawsuit against the Indian government after his Overseas Citizen of India (OCI) status was revoked. Satter, a cybersecurity reporter for Reuters, received a letter from India's Ministry of Home Affairs in December 2023, accusing him of producing work that "maliciously" tarnished India's reputation. The revocation of his OCI card means he can no longer travel to India, where his family resides. Satter denies conducting journalism in India and asserts that he only visited the country to see his family. He believes the cancellation...
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Argentine Photojournalist Critically Injured Amid Violent Anti-Milei Protest
March 13, 2025
Argentine Photojournalist Critically Injured Amid Violent Anti-Milei Protest
March 13, 2025 - Agentina -  Argentine photojournalist Pablo Grillo was critically injured while covering a protest in Buenos Aires against President Javier Milei's austerity measures. Grillo, a member of the Association of Graphic Reporters of the Argentine Republic (aRGra), was struck in the head by a tear gas grenade fired by police during clashes between demonstrators and security forces. He underwent emergency surgery and remains in critical condition. The protest, primarily organized by retirees demanding higher pensions and the restoration of certain free medications cut by Milei's government, escalated when football fans joined the...
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Russian Court Sentences Four Journalists to Prison for Alleged Extremism Ties to Navalny
March 13, 2025
Russian Court Sentences Four Journalists to Prison for Alleged Extremism Ties to Navalny
March 13, 2025 - Russia -  Moscow court sentenced four Russian journalists—Antonina Favorskaya, Sergei Karelin, Konstantin Gabov, and Artem Kriger—to five and a half years in prison each on charges of extremism. The prosecution alleged their involvement with the Anti-Corruption Foundation (FBK), an organization founded by the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny, which has been banned in Russia and designated as an extremist group. The journalists denied the charges, asserting that their work was independent and journalistic. The trial was conducted behind closed doors, raising concerns among press freedom advocates about the transparency and fairness...
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Kurdish Journalist Sherwan Sherwani Nears Release After Four Years in Prison
March 13, 2025
Kurdish Journalist Sherwan Sherwani Nears Release After Four Years in Prison
March 13, 2025 - Iraq -  Reports confirmed that Sherwan Sherwani, a Kurdish journalist imprisoned since 2020, is expected to be released soon after serving more than four years behind bars. Sherwani was detained during the anti-government protests in the Duhok region and was among a group known as the Badinan detainees. Originally sentenced to six years on charges of “endangering national security,” his sentence was later reduced, making his release imminent. Sherwani’s imprisonment drew widespread criticism from human rights groups and press freedom advocates. Amnesty International and other organizations denounced the charges against him...
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Royal Television Society Reinstates Award for Gaza Journalists Amid Backlash
March 13, 2025
Royal Television Society Reinstates Award for Gaza Journalists Amid Backlash
March 13, 2025 - General -  The UK’s Royal Television Society (RTS) reversed its decision to cancel a special recognition award for journalists in Gaza, following widespread criticism from media professionals and press freedom advocates. The RTS had initially planned to honor these journalists at its Television Journalism Awards on March 5 but withdrew the award on the day of the ceremony, citing concerns that recent controversies surrounding Gaza coverage could overshadow the recognition. Specifically, the RTS referenced the backlash over the BBC documentary Gaza: How to Survive a War Zone, which was removed from...
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Russian Journalist Nadezhda Kevorkova Released After Conviction for “Justifying Terrorism”
March 13, 2025
Russian Journalist Nadezhda Kevorkova Released After Conviction for “Justifying Terrorism”
March 13, 2025 - Russia -  Russian journalist Nadezhda Kevorkova was released from detention after being convicted of "justifying terrorism" over social media posts dating back to 2018 and 2020. The military court in Moscow fined her 600,000 rubles, a reduction from the original 700,000 rubles due to her time already spent in custody since May 2024. The conviction stemmed from a 2020 post referencing the Taliban and a 2018 repost of an article about a 2005 Islamist raid in Nalchik. Kevorkova, aged 66, is known for her extensive reporting and commentary on Middle Eastern...
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Interactive Map Launched to Track Online Attacks Against Women Journalists in Ukraine
March 13, 2025
Interactive Map Launched to Track Online Attacks Against Women Journalists in Ukraine
March 13, 2025 - Ukraine -  Ukraine’s Women in Media initiative has launched an interactive map that visualizes online attacks targeting women journalists, offering a powerful tool to raise awareness and document the digital harassment faced by female media professionals. Developed with support from the Institute of Mass Information (IMI), this digital platform allows users to see where, how, and how often female journalists in Ukraine are subjected to cyber threats and abuse. The interactive map covers incidents reported from 2021 to 2024, detailing 130 verified cases of online harassment across the country. Each dot...
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Thai Court Acquits Journalist Supinya Klangnarong in Landmark Press Freedom Verdict
March 12, 2025
Thai Court Acquits Journalist Supinya Klangnarong in Landmark Press Freedom Verdict
March 12, 2025 - Thailand -  In a major victory for press freedom in Southeast Asia, the Appeals Court of Thailand has acquitted journalist and activist Supinya Klangnarong in a long-running criminal defamation case filed by poultry company Thammakaset. This decision, hailed by global media watchdogs as a landmark ruling, underscores growing resistance against the misuse of defamation laws to silence critical reporting. The case stemmed from a 2020 social media post in which Supinya expressed support for fellow journalists and human rights defenders facing similar lawsuits from Thammakaset. The company had filed over 37...
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Zimbabwean Journalist Remains Jailed Amid Mounting Concerns Over Press Freedom
March 12, 2025
Zimbabwean Journalist Remains Jailed Amid Mounting Concerns Over Press Freedom
March 12, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Zimbabwean journalist Jeffrey Moyo continues to languish in police custody as his legal battle drags on, raising international alarm over the state of press freedom in the country. Moyo, known for his reporting with foreign media outlets, was arrested on March 20, 2025, on what rights groups and observers describe as baseless and politically motivated charges. Authorities accuse Moyo of violating the Immigration Act by allegedly facilitating the illegal accreditation of two New York Times journalists in 2021. That charge, which had been dismissed in a previous trial due...
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UN Special Rapporteur Raises Alarm Over Jimmy Lai’s Case at Human Rights Council
March 12, 2025
UN Special Rapporteur Raises Alarm Over Jimmy Lai’s Case at Human Rights Council
March 12, 2025 - Sowitzerland/China -  The United Nations Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, Irene Khan, has publicly voiced grave concerns over the ongoing prosecution of Hong Kong media tycoon and pro-democracy figure Jimmy Lai. Speaking at the 55th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, Khan criticized the use of Hong Kong’s National Security Law (NSL) to stifle independent journalism and silence dissent. Jimmy Lai, the 76-year-old founder of the now-shuttered pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has been imprisoned since December 2020....
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Azerbaijan’s Clampdown on Foreign and Independent Media Intensifies Under Aliyev
March 12, 2025
Azerbaijan’s Clampdown on Foreign and Independent Media Intensifies Under Aliyev
March 12, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijan’s increasingly repressive media environment continues to draw international concern, as the regime of President Ilham Aliyev systematically silences foreign and independent media voices. A recent wave of reports highlights how the government has created a near-monopoly over the country’s information landscape ahead of and following national elections, leaving little room for dissent or investigative journalism. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the Azerbaijani authorities have taken deliberate steps to block access to foreign media outlets, including Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), Voice of America, and Deutsche Welle. These...
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How Azerbaijan’s Media Was Brought to Heel by Presidential Power
March 12, 2025
How Azerbaijan’s Media Was Brought to Heel by Presidential Power
March 12, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  In Azerbaijan, President Ilham Aliyev has orchestrated a relentless crackdown on independent media, transforming the press landscape into a tightly controlled propaganda apparatus. Over the past decade, the regime has employed a calculated mix of legal pressure, economic coercion, and outright repression to dismantle dissenting voices and turn journalism into a state-managed tool. According to detailed investigations and reports from regional and international rights organizations, Aliyev's administration has used the pretense of legality, through restrictive media laws and judicial actions, to silence independent outlets. These laws, often passed under...
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Meydan TV Journalists Speak Out About Mistreatment Amid Intensifying Crackdown
March 12, 2025
Meydan TV Journalists Speak Out About Mistreatment Amid Intensifying Crackdown
March 12, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijan's ongoing crackdown on independent media has taken a troubling turn with the recent arrest and reported mistreatment of journalists linked to Meydan TV, one of the few critical Azerbaijani media outlets operating in exile. The case underscores the government's growing intolerance for dissent and its determination to crush any remaining spaces for investigative journalism. Journalist Aghjabadi Mehtiyev, arrested as part of a wider investigation into Meydan TV, has broken his silence from detention, responding to state-aligned media reports that sought to discredit his reputation. Mehtiyev denied allegations that...
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UJA Condemns Brutal Attack on Journalist Kibwiika
March 12, 2025
UJA Condemns Brutal Attack on Journalist Kibwiika
March 12, 2025 - Source: Nile Post - "Witnesses say the operatives not only prevented him from filming but also confiscated his equipment before inflicting serious injuries." The Uganda Journalists Association (UJA) has strongly condemned the brutal attack on Steven Kibwiika, a Spark TV cameraman, who was assaulted by security operatives while covering alleged electoral malpractice in Kawempe North. Kibwiika was reportedly filming an incident in Namere, Kawempe North, where a group of individuals was suspected of pre-ticking ballot papers ahead of the March 13 by-election, when armed men confronted and attacked him. Witnesses say...
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Duterte’s Arrest Reignites Debate Over Press Killings in the Philippines
March 12, 2025
Duterte’s Arrest Reignites Debate Over Press Killings in the Philippines
March 12, 2025 - Philippines -  The recent arrest of former Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, following an International Criminal Court (ICC) warrant, has rekindled urgent calls for justice over the numerous journalist killings during his presidency. International human rights organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Human Rights Watch, and Amnesty International, have emphasized the deep scars left on press freedom during Duterte's administration. Duterte’s presidency, which spanned from 2016 to 2022, was marked by an aggressive and often violent “war on drugs” that drew widespread international condemnation. However, beyond extrajudicial killings of alleged drug offenders,...
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Belgian Photojournalist Arrested in India Sparks Press Freedom Concerns
March 12, 2025
Belgian Photojournalist Arrested in India Sparks Press Freedom Concerns
March 12, 2025 - India/Belgium -  Belgian photojournalist Simon Clement has been arrested in India, triggering alarm among international media rights organizations and raising pressing questions about press freedom in the country. Clement, who was reportedly on assignment to document socio-political issues in India's northeast, was detained at Lengpui Airport in Mizoram state on March 10, 2025. Indian authorities claim that Clement violated visa regulations, entering the country on a tourist visa while engaging in journalistic work. He was taken into custody by the Criminal Investigation Department (CID) and subsequently transferred to Guwahati, Assam, where...
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Journalist’s Arrest in Telangana Over Viral Video Sparks Outrage
March 12, 2025
Journalist’s Arrest in Telangana Over Viral Video Sparks Outrage
March 12, 2025 - India -  The recent arrest of a journalist in Hyderabad, Telangana, has ignited a storm of controversy over press freedom in India. The journalist, M. Suresh, was taken into custody on March 17, 2025, after he posted a video of a farmer praising former Chief Minister K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR), leader of the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), while criticizing the current Congress-led state government. The video quickly went viral on social media, prompting swift action from the authorities. Suresh, affiliated with a local Telugu news outlet, was arrested on charges...
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UN Calls for Stronger Global Action Against Impunity in Journalist Killings
March 12, 2025
UN Calls for Stronger Global Action Against Impunity in Journalist Killings
March 12, 2025 - General -  The United Nations has renewed its call for stronger international efforts to protect journalists and end the culture of impunity surrounding crimes against media professionals. As outlined in recent reports and calls for input from the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and UNESCO, the global body is urging states to implement concrete measures to safeguard journalists and ensure accountability for violence against them. The Secretary-General’s 2025 report on the safety of journalists highlights alarming trends. At least 70 journalists were killed in 2024 alone, many...
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Calls Grow for Release of Detained VOA Journalist in Iraqi Kurdistan
March 12, 2025
Calls Grow for Release of Detained VOA Journalist in Iraqi Kurdistan
March 12, 2025 - Kurdish/Iraq- Media freedom advocates and international watchdogs are urging the authorities in Iraqi Kurdistan to immediately release Voice of America (VOA) journalist Sirwan Abbas, who has been detained under unclear circumstances since January 30, 2025. Abbas, a Kurdish reporter known for his work on political and social issues in the region, was arrested in Duhok province while covering civil unrest and has remained in custody without formal charges. According to VOA and media rights groups, Abbas was taken into custody by security forces affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP). His...
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Polish Cinemas to Premiere Film About Imprisoned Belsat Journalist
March 12, 2025
Polish Cinemas to Premiere Film About Imprisoned Belsat Journalist
March 12, 2025 - Belarus -  A powerful new feature film telling the story of imprisoned Belarusian journalist Katsyaryna Andreeva is set to premiere in Polish cinemas, drawing international attention to her case and the wider suppression of press freedom in Belarus. The film, titled “I Am Katya”, dramatizes the life and imprisonment of Andreeva, a reporter for Belsat TV, who was arrested in 2020 while covering protests in Minsk and has since become a symbol of resistance against the Lukashenko regime’s crackdown on independent media. Andreeva, whose real name is Katsyaryna Bakhvalava, was sentenced...
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British Comic Journalist’s Detention by ICE Sparks Outcry Over Immigration Practices
March 11, 2025
British Comic Journalist’s Detention by ICE Sparks Outcry Over Immigration Practices
March 11, 2025 - USA -  R.E. Burke, a British comic book journalist and creator, has found himself at the center of a storm after being detained by U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) while attempting to leave the United States. Burke, who was in the country on a tourist visa and had attended multiple comic conventions, was reportedly stopped at the border in March and subsequently held in an immigration detention center for over a week. His case has drawn international criticism and ignited broader discussions on the treatment of foreign nationals by U.S....
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Hanin Gebran Freed After Enduring “Horrific” Conditions in Syrian Prison
March 11, 2025
Hanin Gebran Freed After Enduring “Horrific” Conditions in Syrian Prison
March 11, 2025 - Syria -  Lebanese journalist Hanin Gebran has been released from one of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad’s notorious prisons, ending a harrowing chapter of arbitrary detention and abuse. Her freedom marks a rare moment of relief in a country where the regime continues to silence critical voices, particularly those of journalists and women. Gebran, who was arrested in Damascus in 2022, spent over two years in custody under brutal conditions. Her imprisonment was never officially confirmed, and her whereabouts remained unknown for months. Rights groups believe she was targeted for her work...
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Lebanese Women Journalists Face Surge in Cyber Violence and Harassment
March 11, 2025
Lebanese Women Journalists Face Surge in Cyber Violence and Harassment
March 11, 2025 - Lebanon -  Lebanese women journalists are increasingly finding themselves at the center of an online battleground, targeted by escalating cyber violence that aims to intimidate, discredit, and silence their work. From coordinated smear campaigns to threats of sexual violence, digital abuse has become a pervasive weapon used against women in media, highlighting the growing vulnerability of female journalists in Lebanon's volatile socio-political climate. According to recent reports by IFEX, the cyberattacks often intensify when women reporters cover politically sensitive topics or challenge powerful interests. These attacks range from hacking attempts and...
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Masih Alinejad Targeted Again: Two Men Convicted in Iranian Assassination Plot
March 11, 2025
Masih Alinejad Targeted Again: Two Men Convicted in Iranian Assassination Plot
March 11, 2025 - Iran/USA -  Two men have been convicted in a New York court for their involvement in a chilling plot to assassinate prominent Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad. The verdict, delivered in March 2025, marks the latest chapter in a disturbing campaign of transnational repression aimed at silencing Alinejad, who has long been a vocal critic of the Iranian regime. Masih Alinejad, known for her outspoken activism on women’s rights and compulsory hijab laws in Iran, has been living under U.S. protection since authorities uncovered multiple attempts on her life. In...
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Murder the Truth: Exposing the Global Campaign to Silence Journalists and Suppress Free Speech
March 11, 2025
Murder the Truth: Exposing the Global Campaign to Silence Journalists and Suppress Free Speech
March 11, 2025 - General -  The book Murder the Truth sheds light on a disturbing and growing global effort to silence journalists and restrict freedom of expression. Through investigative research and firsthand accounts, the author reveals how state and non-state actors around the world employ intimidation, violence, and legal harassment to stifle critical reporting and control narratives. At the heart of Murder the Truth is the alarming increase in attacks on journalists, ranging from imprisonment and censorship to physical violence and assassination. The book documents numerous cases where reporters who dared to expose corruption,...
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Guatemala Reimprisons Newspaper Founder Amid Growing Press Freedom Concerns
March 11, 2025
Guatemala Reimprisons Newspaper Founder Amid Growing Press Freedom Concerns
March 11, 2025 - Guatemala -  Guatemalan authorities have reimprisoned José Rubén Zamora, the founder of the independent newspaper El Periódico, sparking widespread condemnation from press freedom advocates both domestically and internationally. Zamora, a prominent investigative journalist known for exposing corruption, was taken back into custody in a move his lawyers described as "inhumane" and politically motivated. Zamora had been released on bail earlier this year after facing multiple legal charges widely seen as attempts to silence his critical reporting on government corruption and abuses. His latest re-arrest has intensified fears about the deteriorating state...
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Christo Grozev: Targeted by Russian Spy Ring Amid Ongoing Threats
March 11, 2025
Christo Grozev: Targeted by Russian Spy Ring Amid Ongoing Threats
March 11, 2025 - Bulgaria -  Christo Grozev, a prominent Bulgarian investigative journalist and former lead Russia investigator at Bellingcat, has been the target of a coordinated Russian espionage operation. In 2023, U.S. officials alerted Grozev to a potential threat against him. Subsequent investigations revealed that a Bulgarian spy ring had been tracking him, allegedly planning his abduction. The operation was linked to Jan Marsalek, a fugitive businessman with ties to Russian intelligence. The spy ring, operating out of a UK guesthouse, surveilled Grozev across multiple countries, including Austria, Spain, and Montenegro. They devised various...
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France’s Strong Commitment to Defending Press Freedom Worldwide
March 11, 2025
France’s Strong Commitment to Defending Press Freedom Worldwide
March 11, 2025 - France -  France has long positioned itself as a staunch defender of press freedom both domestically and internationally. The French government regards freedom of expression and media independence as fundamental pillars of democracy and human rights. Through various diplomatic and legal measures, France actively promotes and protects these freedoms worldwide. The French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs highlights press freedom as a core priority in its human rights agenda. France supports international efforts to safeguard journalists, combat censorship, and foster transparent information flows. This includes advocating at multilateral institutions such as...
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Isolated and restricted: 3 journalists on life and work under Turkish house arrest
March 10, 2025
Isolated and restricted: 3 journalists on life and work under Turkish house arrest
March 10, 2025 - Turkey -  In Turkey, journalists face increasing repression, with house arrest serving as a significant tool for curbing press freedom. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) highlights the experiences of three reporters under house arrest: Tolga Güney, Delal Akyüz, and Melike Aydın. Charged with membership in the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK), a group designated as a terrorist organization by Turkey, these journalists have been confined to their homes for extended periods, awaiting trial. Tolga Güney, a reporter for the pro-Kurdish Mezopotamya News Agency, has been under house arrest since February 2024....
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Belize Journalist Louis Wade Assaulted by Police Amid Reporting, RSF Calls for Investigation
March 10, 2025
Belize Journalist Louis Wade Assaulted by Police Amid Reporting, RSF Calls for Investigation
March 10, 2025 - Belize -  On February 27, 2025, Louis “Ljay” Wade, a reporter for Belize’s independent PlusTV, was physically assaulted by police officers in Belmopan while covering the recovery of two drowning victims. According to Wade, officers pinned him against a gate, seized his phone multiple times, and demanded he delete his footage or face charges. He refused and subsequently filed a formal complaint against the officers on March 4. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) condemned the incident, urging Belizean authorities to conduct an independent and transparent investigation. RSF emphasized the importance of press...
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Georgia’s Independent Journalism Faces Crisis Amid Government Crackdown and Rising Violence
March 10, 2025
Georgia’s Independent Journalism Faces Crisis Amid Government Crackdown and Rising Violence
March 10, 2025 - Source: IPI -  Independent journalism in Georgia faces a severe crisis as government actions increasingly threaten press freedom and media pluralism. In early 2025, the ruling Georgian Dream party passed laws restricting foreign funding for media outlets and introduced a “foreign agent” bill. These laws prohibit broadcasters from receiving foreign financial support and require organizations receiving over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents.” Critics argue these measures aim to silence dissent and cripple independent media, which often relies on foreign support to operate due to limited...
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Montenegro Launches Parliamentary Probe into Decades of Attacks on Journalists
March 10, 2025
Montenegro Launches Parliamentary Probe into Decades of Attacks on Journalists
March 10, 2025 - Montenegro -  The Montenegrin Parliament initiated a significant inquiry into decades of attacks and murders targeting journalists, marking a pivotal moment in the nation's commitment to press freedom. This move addresses longstanding concerns over impunity in cases such as the 2004 assassination of Duško Jovanović, the founder and editor of the daily newspaper Dan, and the 2008 assault on journalist Mladen Stojović. Despite the passage of time, these cases remain unresolved, with only one accomplice convicted in Jovanović's murder. The International Press Institute (IPI) has welcomed this parliamentary initiative, emphasizing the...
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Chad Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists with Espionage Arrests Amid Growing Repression
March 10, 2025
Chad Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists with Espionage Arrests Amid Growing Repression
March 10, 2025 - Chad - Chad witnessed a sharp escalation in its crackdown on independent journalism with the detention of three prominent journalists in the capital, N’Djamena. Olivier Monodji, director of the newspaper Le Pays and Radio France Internationale (RFI) correspondent; Mahamat Saleh Alhissein, a reporter at Télé Tchad; and Ndilyam Guekidata, editor-in-chief of Le Pays, were arrested under serious accusations of espionage, conspiracy, and undermining state institutions. The authorities allege that these journalists had ties to the Russian paramilitary group Wagner and that they leaked sensitive information concerning national security and economic affairs...
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Israeli Forces Kill 24 Palestinian Female Journalists During Gaza War
March 9, 2025
Israeli Forces Kill 24 Palestinian Female Journalists During Gaza War
March 09, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  During the recent conflict in Gaza, Israeli forces killed 24 Palestinian female journalists, marking a devastating blow to media workers in the region. According to the Government Media Office in Gaza, these deaths occurred amid intense military operations, highlighting the extreme risks journalists face in war zones. One of the notable victims was Ola Al Dahdouh, a Palestinian journalist killed in an Israeli airstrike that targeted her husband’s family home in Gaza City. This incident, among others, has drawn international condemnation, with the United Nations describing the Gaza conflict...
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BBC’s Gaza Documentary Controversy: Implications for Journalism
March 9, 2025
BBC’s Gaza Documentary Controversy: Implications for Journalism
March 09, 2025 - General -  The BBC's decision to remove the documentary Gaza: How to Survive a Warzone from its iPlayer service has ignited a significant debate over journalistic integrity and editorial responsibility. The film, which depicted the lives of children in Gaza, was narrated by 13-year-old Abdullah Al-Yazouri, whose father, Ayman Alyazouri, serves as Hamas's deputy minister of agriculture. The BBC stated that it was not informed of this familial connection before the film's release. In response to the backlash, BBC Director General Tim Davie admitted to losing trust in the documentary, stating...
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Journalist Raghvendra Bajpai Shot Dead in Uttar Pradesh
March 9, 2025
Journalist Raghvendra Bajpai Shot Dead in Uttar Pradesh
March 09, 2025 - India -  On March 8, 2025, journalist Raghvendra Bajpai was fatally shot in broad daylight on the Sitapur-Delhi National Highway near the Hempur railway crossing in Uttar Pradesh. The 35-year-old, a correspondent for the Hindi daily Dainik Jagran, was attacked by assailants on a motorcycle who fired multiple rounds at him. Despite efforts by locals to rush him to the hospital, he was declared dead on arrival. According to Bajpai's family, he had received threatening phone calls in the days leading up to the incident, which they believe were related to...
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Meta Suspends Palestinian Journalist Saleh Aljafarawi’s Instagram Accounts Amid Controversy
March 9, 2025
Meta Suspends Palestinian Journalist Saleh Aljafarawi’s Instagram Accounts Amid Controversy
March 09, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Meta suspended two Instagram accounts belonging to Palestinian journalist and influencer Saleh Aljafarawi, known online as "Mr. FAFO," citing violations of its Dangerous Individuals and Organizations policy. The accounts had a combined following of approximately 9.5 million users. Aljafarawi utilized his platforms to document the impact of the Israel-Gaza conflict, sharing firsthand accounts and images from the ground. He expressed frustration over the suspensions, noting that the accounts were removed without prior warning. In a video posted on a backup account, he stated, "Unfortunately, they were both deleted at...
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Journalist Detentions in Kashmir and Uttarakhand Raise Press Freedom Concerns
March 9, 2025
Journalist Detentions in Kashmir and Uttarakhand Raise Press Freedom Concerns
March 09, 2025 - India -  In recent months, the detentions of journalists in Jammu and Kashmir and Uttarakhand have sparked significant concerns regarding press freedom and the criminalization of dissent in India. Hilal Mir Detained in Srinagar In early May 2025, senior journalist Hilal Mir was detained by the Jammu and Kashmir Police for allegedly promoting "disaffection" against India and "secessionist ideology" through social media posts. Mir, known for his contributions to various national and international media outlets, was accused of portraying Kashmiris as victims of systemic extermination. His detention is part of a...
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Palestinian Journalist Ahmad Jalajel Detained Twice by Israeli Forces in Jerusalem
March 8, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Ahmad Jalajel Detained Twice by Israeli Forces in Jerusalem
March 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Ahmad Jalajel was detained twice by Israeli occupation forces in Jerusalem, highlighting ongoing challenges to press freedom in the occupied territories. The first detention occurred on the evening of Wednesday, March 5, when Israeli soldiers arrested Jalajel from his home in the Silwan neighborhood of East Jerusalem during Iftar, the breaking of the Ramadan fast. He was taken to a detention center in Jabal al-Mukaber, where he was interrogated for several hours before being released the same night. Just three days later, on Saturday, March 8, Jalajel...
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Israeli Forces Detain Journalists in Jenin and Jerusalem Amid Escalating Crackdown
March 8, 2025
Israeli Forces Detain Journalists in Jenin and Jerusalem Amid Escalating Crackdown
March 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli occupation forces detained several Palestinian journalists in Jenin and Jerusalem, intensifying concerns over press freedom in the occupied territories. On March 8, Israeli forces briefly detained several journalists near the Jenin Government Hospital while they were covering the military's siege around the hospital and its attempts to storm the hospital’s yard. Earlier that day, military vehicles were deployed in front of the hospital's gate, and toxic gas canisters were fired towards people present in its main courtyard. This marked the 47th day of Israeli aggression against Jenin city...
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Israeli Forces Detain Journalist Ahmad Jalajel Twice in Jerusalem
March 8, 2025
Israeli Forces Detain Journalist Ahmad Jalajel Twice in Jerusalem
March 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Ahmad Jalajel was detained twice by Israeli occupation forces in Jerusalem, raising concerns about press freedom in the region. On March 5, Jalajel was arrested at his home in the Silwan neighborhood during Iftar time. He was taken to a detention center in Jabal al-Mukaber, interrogated for several hours, and released the same night. Just three days later, on March 8, Jalajel was again detained, this time from the Al-Aqsa Mosque compound. Israeli forces arrested him during the evening hours, reportedly handing him a summons for further...
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Russian Spy Cell in UK Planned Kidnapping and Murder of Investigative Journalists
March 8, 2025
Russian Spy Cell in UK Planned Kidnapping and Murder of Investigative Journalists
March 08, 2025 - Russia/UK - In a disturbing revelation from early 2025, a Russian spy ring operating in the United Kingdom plotted to kidnap and assassinate two prominent investigative journalists: Christo Grozev and Roman Dobrokhotov. The spy network, led by Bulgarian national Orlin Roussev and linked to fugitive Austrian businessman Jan Marsalek, was convicted of espionage activities carried out between 2020 and 2023. Christo Grozev, a Bulgarian journalist and lead Russia investigator for Bellingcat, has long been targeted by the Kremlin for his work exposing Russian state crimes, including the 2018 poisoning of Sergei...
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Indian Journalist Raghvendra Bajpai Shot Dead After Investigating Land Scam
March 8, 2025
Indian Journalist Raghvendra Bajpai Shot Dead After Investigating Land Scam
March 08, 2025 - India -  Journalist and Right to Information (RTI) activist Raghvendra Bajpai was tragically killed in broad daylight on the Sitapur-Delhi National Highway in Uttar Pradesh, India. Bajpai was riding his motorcycle to meet a land tax collector when he was violently attacked. A motorcycle rammed into him, and he was then shot three times in the chest and shoulder. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, he was declared dead upon arrival. Bajpai, 35, had been actively investigating alleged irregularities in rice paddy sales and evasion of stamp duty in the...
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Iranian Journalists Targeted in Separate Stabbing Attacks Amid Rising Threats
March 7, 2025
Iranian Journalists Targeted in Separate Stabbing Attacks Amid Rising Threats
March 07, 2025 - Iran -  Two Iranian journalists were violently attacked in separate stabbing incidents that highlight the increasing dangers faced by media professionals both inside Iran and abroad. On March 7, 2025, Meysam Rashidi, a journalist based in Ardabil, northwestern Iran, was viciously stabbed by members of the Ardabil Municipality Cultural Organization. Rashidi had recently posted a critical video exposing mismanagement of the local football team, including irregular training schedules and conflicts of interest involving municipal staff. After receiving threatening calls and being forced to delete the video, Rashidi was ambushed by individuals...
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Malaysian Journalist Denies Bribery Allegations Amid MACC Investigation
March 7, 2025
Malaysian Journalist Denies Bribery Allegations Amid MACC Investigation
March 07, 2025 - Malaysia -  Malaysian journalist B. Nantha Kumar was arrested by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on allegations of soliciting and receiving a bribe of RM20,000 (approximately $6,000) from a foreign worker agent. The agent claimed that Kumar had demanded RM100,000 to halt the publication of two articles concerning a migrant smuggling syndicate, which was later reduced to RM20,000. The agent reported the matter to the MACC, leading to a sting operation where Kumar was arrested at a hotel in Shah Alam after allegedly accepting the bribe. Kumar, a seasoned investigative journalist...
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Women Journalists in Gaza Face Rising Challenges Amid Conflict and Occupation
March 7, 2025
Women Journalists in Gaza Face Rising Challenges Amid Conflict and Occupation
March 07, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Women journalists working in Gaza are facing increasing risks and hardships as they cover the ongoing conflict and Israeli occupation. Female reporters are targeted through arrests, intimidation, and physical attacks, adding to the already difficult conditions for journalists in the region. Israeli forces continue to detain Palestinian journalists, with many arrests occurring during raids in Gaza and the West Bank. Women journalists, in particular, face additional threats due to gender-based violence and discrimination, which amplify their vulnerability in detention and on the field. According to reports from press freedom...
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Stanford Student Journalist Dilan Gohill Cleared of Charges After Arrest at Protest
March 7, 2025
Stanford Student Journalist Dilan Gohill Cleared of Charges After Arrest at Protest
March 07, 2025 - USA -  Stanford University student journalist Dilan Gohill has been cleared of all charges following his arrest during a pro-Palestinian protest at the university in June 2024. The Santa Clara County District Attorney's Office announced on March 6, 2025, that it would not pursue felony charges against Gohill, who had been detained while covering a sit-in at the university president’s office. The decision came after a nine-month investigation and widespread criticism from press freedom organizations. Gohill, a freshman reporter for The Stanford Daily, was arrested along with 12 protesters who had...
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Economic Storm Threatens Future of Journalism in the United States
March 7, 2025
Economic Storm Threatens Future of Journalism in the United States
March 07, 2025 - USA Journalism in the United States is facing a severe crisis driven by a perfect economic storm, with profound consequences for the media landscape. Key factors include deep budget cuts, rising debt, and shrinking advertising revenues, which together are destabilizing news organizations and threatening the survival of quality journalism. The Trump administration’s significant reductions in federal funding for public media and journalism-related programs contributed to an already fragile ecosystem. These cuts limited resources for investigative reporting, local news, and public-interest journalism, sectors that are crucial for holding power accountable. The impact...
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Convicted Rapist Threatened to Kill Three Female Journalists
March 7, 2025
Convicted Rapist Threatened to Kill Three Female Journalists
March 07, 2025 - Ireland -  Mark McAnaw, a 52-year-old man previously residing in Letterkenny, County Donegal, has pleaded guilty to the harassment of three female journalists from the Sunday World. The incidents occurred in August 2023, with McAnaw sending threatening emails and messages to Nicola Tallant, Amanda Brunker, and Deirdre Reynolds. The content of these communications escalated from inappropriate propositions to explicit threats of violence, including a warning to one journalist that failing to meet him would result in a "life-threatening mistake". McAnaw's criminal history is extensive. In 2012, he was convicted of the...
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U.S. Lawsuit Targets Former Salvadoran Colonel for 1982 Journalist Killings
March 7, 2025
U.S. Lawsuit Targets Former Salvadoran Colonel for 1982 Journalist Killings
March 07, 2025 - General -  A civil lawsuit filed in the United States aims to hold former Salvadoran military officer Mario Adalberto Reyes Mena accountable for the 1982 killings of four Dutch journalists during El Salvador's civil war. The lawsuit, initiated by Gert Kuiper—the brother of slain journalist Jan Kuiper—was filed in October 2024 in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Virginia. It seeks unspecified monetary damages and a declaration that Reyes Mena is responsible for the deaths of Jan Kuiper, Koos Koster, Joop Willemsen, and Hans ter Laag. Reyes Mena,...
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Journalists in Eastern DRC Face Escalating Threats Amid Intensifying Conflict
March 7, 2025
Journalists in Eastern DRC Face Escalating Threats Amid Intensifying Conflict
March 07, 2025 - Congo -  Journalists in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), particularly in the eastern provinces of North and South Kivu, are confronting unprecedented challenges as armed groups, including the M23, escalate their military offensives. Between January 2024 and January 2025, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) documented over 50 attacks on newsrooms and journalists in North Kivu alone, encompassing looting, destruction, threats, and physical violence. The M23's capture of Goma in January 2025 marked a significant escalation, leading to the closure of at least 26 community radio stations, with approximately 10 directly...
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Two Kurdish Journalists Released After Detention, One Remains Held in Sulaymaniyah
March 7, 2025
Two Kurdish Journalists Released After Detention, One Remains Held in Sulaymaniyah
March 07, 2025 - General -  Two Kurdish journalists in Sulaymaniyah, Iraqi Kurdistan, have recently been released after lengthy detentions, though one journalist remains in custody. The releases mark a partial victory amid ongoing concerns over press freedom in the region. Suleyman Ahmet, an investigative journalist who was held for 454 days, was freed on bail in late April 2025. Ahmet’s arrest sparked significant outcry from media rights groups who highlighted the risks faced by journalists covering sensitive political and social issues in Kurdistan. Despite his release, Ahmet continues to face legal proceedings related to...
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Azerbaijan’s Escalating Crackdown on Independent Journalism
March 7, 2025
Azerbaijan’s Escalating Crackdown on Independent Journalism
March 07, 2025 -Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijan's government has intensified its repression of independent media, particularly targeting journalists associated with Meydan TV, a Germany-based outlet critical of the regime. On February 20, 2025, freelance reporter Nurlan Gahramanli was arrested on charges of currency smuggling. Just over a week later, on February 28, Fatima Mövlamli, another freelance journalist for Meydan TV, was detained under similar allegations. Both were placed in pretrial detention, with Gahramanli held for one month and 17 days, and Mövlamli for one month and nine days. These arrests are part of a broader campaign...
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Global Outcry Grows Over Detention of Filipino Journalist Frenchiemae Cumpio
March 7, 2025
Global Outcry Grows Over Detention of Filipino Journalist Frenchiemae Cumpio
March 07, 2025 - Philippines -  Calls are intensifying for the immediate and unconditional release of Filipino journalist Frenchiemae Cumpio, who has been detained since February 2020 on controversial charges that rights groups say are politically motivated and unjust. Cumpio, known for her work as an investigative journalist and director of Eastern Vista, was arrested during a raid in Tacloban City, along with several social workers. Authorities claim she was involved in communist activities and accused her of illegal possession of firearms and terrorist financing. However, media rights groups argue that these charges are fabricated,...
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Journalist Patricio Aguilar Killed in Ecuador Amid Spiraling Violence Against the Press
March 7, 2025
Journalist Patricio Aguilar Killed in Ecuador Amid Spiraling Violence Against the Press
March 07, 2025 - Ecuador -  Ecuadorian journalist Patricio Aguilar, known for his work with the digital news outlet Ola Manta TV, was shot and killed on March 1, 2025, in the city of Manta. The 54-year-old broadcaster was ambushed by unidentified gunmen while riding his motorcycle. His murder has sent shockwaves through Ecuador’s journalism community and highlighted the deepening crisis of press freedom in a country increasingly plagued by drug-related violence. Aguilar was a well-known local journalist who reported on issues such as politics, community safety, and organized crime. Though not overtly provocative in...
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Kurdish Journalist Survives Ambush in Syria Amid Ongoing Violence
March 7, 2025
Kurdish Journalist Survives Ambush in Syria Amid Ongoing Violence
March 07, 2025 - Kurdish/Iraq -  Kurdistan24 correspondent Anwar Abdullatif narrowly escaped harm on March 7, 2025, after a Syrian Ministry of Defense convoy he was accompanying was ambushed in the coastal province of Tartous, Syria. The attack, reportedly carried out by armed remnants of Bashar al-Assad’s former regime, underscores the persistent dangers journalists face while covering volatile regions still haunted by the remnants of civil war. Abdullatif was on assignment with Syrian government forces documenting military operations aimed at reasserting control in the area, which remains contested despite years of conflict. According to reports,...
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Journalist Arrested at Ontario NDP Rally for Gaza Protest Sparks Free Speech Debate
March 6, 2025
Journalist Arrested at Ontario NDP Rally for Gaza Protest Sparks Free Speech Debate
March 06, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Independent journalist Zachary Ruiter was forcefully removed and arrested at an Ontario New Democratic Party (ONDP) election night event on February 27, 2025, after staging a brief protest criticizing the party’s stance on the war in Gaza. The incident, which occurred at the ONDP's Toronto rally, has ignited controversy over freedom of expression and political accountability in Canada. Ruiter, known for his independent reporting and activism, held up a sign reading “Marit’s Legacy is Genocide,” directly calling out party leader Marit Stiles for what he described as the ONDP’s...
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Court Orders Release of Kashmiri Journalist, Affirms Criticism of Government Is Not a Crime
March 6, 2025
Court Orders Release of Kashmiri Journalist, Affirms Criticism of Government Is Not a Crime
March 06, 2025 -Kashmir -  Kashmiri journalist Majid Hyderi has been released from detention following a significant ruling by the Jammu and Kashmir High Court, which declared his imprisonment unjust and emphasized that criticizing the government does not constitute a crime. The decision, delivered in late May 2025, has been welcomed by press freedom advocates as a crucial affirmation of democratic rights in India. Hyderi, a senior journalist and frequent commentator on regional politics, was arrested in September 2023 under the Public Safety Act (PSA)—a law that allows detention without trial for up to two...
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Turkish Journalist Öznur Değer Remains Jailed Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Press Freedom
March 6, 2025
Turkish Journalist Öznur Değer Remains Jailed Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Press Freedom
March 06, 2025 - Kurdish/Iraq/Turkey -  The imprisonment of Öznur Değer, a Kurdish journalist with JINNEWS, has become a stark reminder of the ongoing state persecution of journalists in Türkiye. Değer, who was detained in Ankara on May 13, 2024, continues to be held in Sincan Women’s Closed Prison despite widespread calls for her release from human rights and press freedom organizations. Değer was arrested alongside another journalist, Büşra Erdal, and charged under Türkiye’s sweeping anti-terror laws. Authorities accused her of “membership in a terrorist organization,” a charge commonly leveled against Kurdish reporters and media...
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Nine Women Journalists Spend International Women’s Day Behind Bars in Azerbaijan
March 6, 2025
Nine Women Journalists Spend International Women’s Day Behind Bars in Azerbaijan
March 06, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  On International Women’s Day 2025, nine women journalists in Azerbaijan marked the occasion not with celebration, but from behind bars—imprisoned in a country increasingly hostile to independent reporting. These women, known for their critical journalism and advocacy for human rights, now face harsh conditions and criminal charges widely condemned as politically motivated. Among the detainees are prominent journalists such as Sevinj Vagifgizi, Ulviyya Ali, and Nargiz Absalamova, all affiliated with independent media outlet Abzas Media, which has faced a systematic crackdown since late 2023. Azerbaijani authorities accuse them of...
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Palestinian Sports Journalist Detained Without Evidence Amid Ongoing Israeli Crackdown
March 6, 2025
Palestinian Sports Journalist Detained Without Evidence Amid Ongoing Israeli Crackdown
March 06, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian sports journalist Mohammad Al-Astal remains detained by Israeli forces, despite the military reportedly acknowledging a lack of concrete evidence against him. Al-Astal, who works for Al-Kofiya TV and is known for his coverage of Palestinian sports, was arrested after giving a televised interview in Rafah, southern Gaza. His case has since become emblematic of the broader Israeli clampdown on Palestinian journalists amid the war on Gaza. Al-Astal was apprehended during a military raid in early March 2024, shortly after appearing on television to discuss the ongoing humanitarian crisis...
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Russia’s Detention Network in Occupied Ukraine Targets Journalists and Civilians
March 6, 2025
Russia’s Detention Network in Occupied Ukraine Targets Journalists and Civilians
March 06, 2025 - Russia -  A detailed investigation has exposed a vast network of Russian detention centers in occupied Ukrainian territories, where civilians—including journalists—are being held, tortured, and interrogated under accusations of resistance or mere suspicion of loyalty to Ukraine. The system, often masked as "filtration," has become a tool for silencing voices and instilling fear among populations under Russian control. According to an in-depth report by The Washington Post, based on interviews with over 100 former detainees and data compiled by Ukrainian officials, Russia has detained more than 10,000 Ukrainian civilians since the...
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Ecuadorian Journalist Patricio Aguilar Shot Dead Amid Rising Media Violence
March 6, 2025
Ecuadorian Journalist Patricio Aguilar Shot Dead Amid Rising Media Violence
March 06, 2025 - Ecuador -  Patricio Ernesto Aguilar Vásquez, a journalist and television presenter in Ecuador, was shot and killed on March 2, 2025, in the city of La Troncal, marking the latest in a growing wave of violence targeting the country’s press. Aguilar, who hosted the opinion show Claroscuro on a local TV channel, was ambushed by unidentified gunmen who fired multiple times before fleeing the scene. Despite being rushed to a nearby hospital, Aguilar succumbed to his injuries. According to eyewitnesses and local reports, the attack appeared to be premeditated. Surveillance footage...
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Afghan Journalists Injured by Pakistani Mortar Fire While Covering Border Tensions
March 5, 2025
Afghan Journalists Injured by Pakistani Mortar Fire While Covering Border Tensions
March 05, 2025 - Afghanistan -  Three Afghan journalists were injured on March 20, 2025, when Pakistani forces launched mortar fire near the Torkham border crossing, a volatile zone between Afghanistan and Pakistan. The journalists were on assignment reporting on the ongoing closure of the key trade and transit route when the incident occurred. The attack marks a dangerous escalation in cross-border tensions and highlights the increasing risks journalists face in conflict zones. The mortar rounds struck Nangarhar province, near the Torkham crossing, which has been closed for several weeks amid political and military friction...
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Press Freedom in Europe Under Siege: Political Pressure and Disinformation Undermine Media Independence
March 5, 2025
Press Freedom in Europe Under Siege: Political Pressure and Disinformation Undermine Media Independence
March 05, 2025 - European  -  Europe’s media landscape is facing increasing threats from political interference, disinformation, and declining institutional support, according to the 2024 report by the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists. The report, titled “Press Freedom in Europe: Confronting Political Pressure, Disinformation, and the Erosion of Media Independence”, paints a stark picture of deteriorating conditions for journalists across the continent. The findings reveal that journalists in many European countries are working under mounting pressure from both state and non-state actors. Governments have been accused of...
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Mounting Pressure on Serbian Media Sparks Alarm Over Press Freedom
March 4, 2025
Mounting Pressure on Serbian Media Sparks Alarm Over Press Freedom
March 04, 2025 - Serbia -  Press freedom advocates are sounding the alarm in Serbia as journalists face increasing threats, surveillance, and legal harassment. Multiple international organizations, including the International Press Institute (IPI), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), and PEN International, have called for urgent action to halt the worsening climate of intimidation targeting the media and peaceful dissenters. According to a joint statement by IPI and partners, journalists in Serbia are being systematically targeted through smear campaigns, online abuse, surveillance, and threats, often originating from political actors or figures aligned...
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Mystery Surrounds Disappearance of Journalist Aserie Ndlovu and Partner
March 4, 2025
Mystery Surrounds Disappearance of Journalist Aserie Ndlovu and Partner
March 04, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Concern is growing in South Africa’s media community following the disappearance of journalist Sibusiso Aserie Ndlovu and his partner, Zodwa Precious Mdhluli. The two have been missing since February 18, 2025, sparking a wave of anxiety among colleagues, family members, and press freedom advocates. Ndlovu, a well-known journalist and founder of Capital Live SA 99.0 FM, was last seen in Mamelodi, Gauteng. His partner was reportedly last seen in KwaMhlanga, Mpumalanga. Both vanished without a trace, and nearly three months later, there is still no confirmed information about their...
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Lebanese Journalists Honored for War Reporting Amid Renewed Call for Press Protections
March 4, 2025
Lebanese Journalists Honored for War Reporting Amid Renewed Call for Press Protections
March 04, 2025 - Lebanon -  In a moving ceremony held at Olive Beirut in Sin El Fil on March 3, 2025, Lebanese journalists who bravely covered the recent war on Lebanon were honored during a Ramadan iftar. Organized by the Ministry of Information, the event brought together government officials, media professionals, and civil society members to recognize the sacrifices and courage of the country’s press during one of its most challenging periods. Information Minister Paul Morcos led the tribute, emphasizing the critical role journalists played in defending truth and documenting the devastation of war....
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Turkish Court Acquits Halk TV Journalists, Orders Editor-in-Chief’s Release
March 4, 2025
Turkish Court Acquits Halk TV Journalists, Orders Editor-in-Chief’s Release
March 04, 2025 - Turkey -  In a significant development for press freedom in Turkey, a court acquitted five journalists from Halk TV of one of the charges against them and ordered the release of the channel’s editor-in-chief. The decision, announced in early March 2025, marks a rare legal victory amid ongoing state pressure on independent media in Turkey. The journalists, who have been under trial for months, faced accusations related to their reporting and alleged links to groups deemed hostile by the government. The charges have been widely criticized by press freedom advocates as...
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Malaysiakini Journalist Freed After Bribery Allegation Detention
March 4, 2025
Malaysiakini Journalist Freed After Bribery Allegation Detention
March 04, 2025 - Malaysia -  Malaysiakini journalist B. Nantha Kumar was released in early March 2025 after being held for four days by Malaysia’s Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) over bribery allegations. He was accused of accepting RM20,000 from a source allegedly linked to a migrant worker syndicate, in exchange for withholding two news articles that would have exposed the group. Nantha, who has been with Malaysiakini since 2018, was detained on February 28 after an agent lodged a report accusing him of demanding a bribe—initially RM100,000, later reduced to RM20,000. He was held under remand while...
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Istanbul Bar Association Faces Trial Over Statement on Journalists Killed in Syria
March 4, 2025
Istanbul Bar Association Faces Trial Over Statement on Journalists Killed in Syria
March 04, 2025 - Turkey -  In a case raising significant concerns about freedom of expression and the independence of legal institutions in Turkey, Istanbul Bar Association President İbrahim Kaboğlu and ten board members are facing criminal charges that could result in up to 12 years in prison. The charges stem from a statement issued by the Bar Association on December 21, 2024, condemning the deaths of Kurdish journalists Nazım Daştan and Cihan Bilgin, who were reportedly killed in a Turkish drone strike near the Tishrin Dam in northern Syria while covering clashes between Turkish-backed...
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Cambodian Journalist Mech Dara’s Arrest Sparks Global Press Freedom Concerns
March 3, 2025
Cambodian Journalist Mech Dara’s Arrest Sparks Global Press Freedom Concerns
March 03, 2025 - Cambodia -  The arrest of Cambodian investigative journalist Mech Dara has triggered strong condemnation from press freedom advocates, drawing attention to the shrinking space for independent journalism in Cambodia. Dara, renowned for his in-depth reporting on human trafficking, corruption, and state-linked criminal networks, was detained in late 2024 and charged with "incitement to commit a felony or disturb social order." The charges stem from his social media posts highlighting alleged environmental destruction at a Buddhist site, claims the government quickly denied. Dara’s arrest is seen as part of a larger pattern...
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Mounting Pressure on Press Freedom in Namibia Draws Continental Condemnation
March 3, 2025
Mounting Pressure on Press Freedom in Namibia Draws Continental Condemnation
March 03, 2025 - Namibia -  Namibia, once considered a haven for press freedom in Africa, is now under scrutiny as journalists and advocacy groups raise alarms over increasing repression and retaliation against the media. The recent case involving senior journalist Jemima Beukes has ignited widespread condemnation, with African journalist federations and international watchdogs calling for urgent intervention. Beukes, who has earned a reputation for her critical and investigative reporting, has been subjected to professional intimidation, including denial of entry to official press conferences and exclusion from state coverage. These retaliatory actions reportedly stem from...
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Malaysian Investigative Journalist Arrested Amid Bribery Allegations Following Migrant Trafficking Exposé
March 3, 2025
Malaysian Investigative Journalist Arrested Amid Bribery Allegations Following Migrant Trafficking Exposé
March 03, 2025 - Malaysia -  Malaysian journalist B. Nantha Kumar, known for his investigative reporting on migrant trafficking, was arrested on February 28, 2025, by the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) on allegations of soliciting and receiving a bribe. The arrest occurred shortly after he published an exposé on an immigration syndicate allegedly smuggling migrant workers into Malaysia, implicating a former immigration officer as the mastermind behind operations at Kuala Lumpur International Airport. According to MACC, Kumar allegedly accepted a bribe of 20,000 ringgit (approximately USD 4,500) from an immigration services agent in exchange for...
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Iraqi Kurdistan Clamps Down on Media: Media21 Shutdown and Journalist Arrests Raise Press Freedom Alarms
March 3, 2025
Iraqi Kurdistan Clamps Down on Media: Media21 Shutdown and Journalist Arrests Raise Press Freedom Alarms
March 03, 2025 - Kurdish/Iraq -  Iraq’s Kurdistan Region witnessed a troubling crackdown on independent journalism with the forced closure of the digital news outlet Media21 and the arrest of four of its journalists. On February 28, Bashdar Bazyani, Dana Salih, Sardasht HamaSalih, and Nabaz Shekhani were taken from their homes in Sulaymaniyah. Their phones were seized, and the Media21 office was shut down by authorities, citing the outlet’s operation without a license. While three of the journalists were released on bail just days later, Bazyani remains in custody, fueling concerns over the motivations behind...
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Global Call for Justice for Palestinian Journalists in Gaza
March 2, 2025
Global Call for Justice for Palestinian Journalists in Gaza
March 02, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The global community must urgently demand justice for Palestinian journalists in Gaza, who have been systematically targeted during Israel's military operations since October 2023. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 85 journalists were killed by Israeli forces in 2024, and 78 in 2023, making it the deadliest period for journalists in recorded history. Palestinian journalists, such as Ismail al-Ghoul and Rami al-Rifi, have been deliberately targeted while reporting in Gaza City, even when identifiable as media personnel. Despite these attacks, international bodies have failed to hold Israel...
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Mexican Journalist Kristian Zavala Murdered Despite State Protection, Raising Press Freedom Concerns
March 2, 2025
Mexican Journalist Kristian Zavala Murdered Despite State Protection, Raising Press Freedom Concerns
March 02, 2025 - Mexico -  Journalist Kristian Uriel Martínez Zavala was tragically murdered in Silao, Guanajuato, Mexico, alongside his driver, Axel Yahir. Both were fatally shot while traveling in a vehicle in the Condado de la Pila neighborhood. Zavala, 28, was the founder and director of the Facebook-based news outlet El Silaoense MX, which covered local politics and public security. He had previously reported threats and had been under state protection since 2021. This incident marks the third journalist killing in Mexico in 2025, underscoring the persistent dangers faced by media workers in the...
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EULEX and Serbian Journalists: Advancing the Search for the Missing
March 2, 2025
EULEX and Serbian Journalists: Advancing the Search for the Missing
March 02, 2025 -Kosovo/Serbia -  The European Union Rule of Law Mission in Kosovo (EULEX) has been instrumental in the ongoing efforts to locate and identify individuals who went missing during and after the 1998–1999 Kosovo conflict. As of recent reports, approximately 1,600 individuals remain unaccounted for, including several journalists. Among the missing are Serbian journalists such as Đuro Slavuj and Ranko Perenić, who disappeared in 1999 while traveling to cover a report in western Kosovo. Despite extensive searches, their fates remain unknown. EULEX's collaboration with the Institute of Forensic Medicine (IFM) has led to...
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Oralgaisha Omarshanova: Investigative Journalist and the Fight for Justice
March 2, 2025
Oralgaisha Omarshanova: Investigative Journalist and the Fight for Justice
March 02, 2025 - Kazakhistan -  Oralgaisha Omarshanova, also known by her pen name Zhabagtaikyzy, was a 39-year-old investigative reporter for the independent Kazakhstani weekly Zakon i Pravosudiye ("Law and Justice"). She was last seen on March 30, 2007, in Almaty, Kazakhstan, where she had traveled to cover ethnic clashes between Chechens and Kazakhs in the villages of Kazatkom and Malovodnoye. Just days before her disappearance, she had published an article identifying individuals allegedly connected to these clashes and their ties to local businesses and government entities. In the weeks leading up to her disappearance,...
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Ukrainian Journalist Tetyana Kulyk Killed in Russian Drone Strike
March 1, 2025
Ukrainian Journalist Tetyana Kulyk Killed in Russian Drone Strike
March 01, 2025 - Ukraine/Russia -  On the night of February 25–26, 2025, Ukrainian journalist Tetyana Kulyk was tragically killed in a Russian drone strike on her home in the village of Kriukivshchyna, near Bucha, Kyiv region. The attack also claimed the life of her husband, Pavlo Ivanchov, a surgeon and professor at the Bogomolets National Medical University. The couple's home was destroyed in the ensuing fire, and their bodies were discovered by rescue teams upon arrival. Kulyk was a prominent journalist and editor-in-chief of the multimedia department at Ukrinform, Ukraine's national news agency. She...
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Crackdown on Independent Media and Journalists in Iraqi Kurdistan Raises Press Freedom Alarms
March 1, 2025
Crackdown on Independent Media and Journalists in Iraqi Kurdistan Raises Press Freedom Alarms
March 01, 2025 - Iraq -  The independent media landscape in Iraqi Kurdistan has faced increased pressure as authorities moved to shut down the Media21 outlet and arrest four journalists connected to it. The crackdown follows months of mounting tensions between the government and independent news organizations critical of regional authorities and policies. Media21, known for its investigative reporting and independent voice, was forced to close after security forces detained four of its journalists. These arrests sparked outrage among press freedom advocates and local civil society groups, who condemn the move as an attack on...
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Rights Groups Demand Release of Burundi Journalists Amid Concerns Over Press Freedom
February 28, 2025
Rights Groups Demand Release of Burundi Journalists Amid Concerns Over Press Freedom
February 28, 2025 - Burundi -  Human rights and press freedom organizations have urgently called for the release of four journalists detained in Burundi amid mounting concerns about media repression in the country. The journalists were arrested while reporting on politically sensitive issues, raising alarm about government attempts to silence independent media voices. The four journalists, including Radio Publique Africaine reporter Emmanuel Nduwimana, were detained on charges widely seen as politically motivated. Rights groups such as Amnesty International, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and regional organizations have condemned the arrests, describing them as blatant...
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Myanmar Journalist Tortured in Prison for Reporting Prisoner Abuses
February 28, 2025
Myanmar Journalist Tortured in Prison for Reporting Prisoner Abuses
February 28, 2025 - Myanmar -  Photojournalist Sai Zaw Thaike, who works for the independent outlet Myanmar Now, is reportedly being tortured in Yangon’s notorious Insein Prison after alerting a human rights delegation to abuses inside the facility. According to Myanmar Now, the torture began earlier this year, shortly after Sai Zaw Thaike informed the Myanmar National Human Rights Commission about the mistreatment of inmates by prison guards during an official inspection visit. Myanmar Now reports that since then, he has faced daily beatings and psychological abuse, including being forced to kneel for hours, verbal...
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Azerbaijan’s Crackdown on Independent Journalists Intensifies with Latest Arrest
February 28, 2025
Azerbaijan’s Crackdown on Independent Journalists Intensifies with Latest Arrest
February 28, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijan intensified its ongoing crackdown on independent media by arresting Fatima Movlamli, the tenth journalist connected to the Meydan TV case. On February 28, 2025, authorities detained Movlamli on charges of smuggling after raiding her home, where they confiscated €2,000 in cash along with electronic devices. Movlamli’s family has strongly denied the allegations, stating the money did not belong to her and asserting that the charges are politically motivated. Movlamli’s arrest follows a string of detentions targeting journalists and staff linked to Meydan TV, a prominent independent news outlet...
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Vietnamese Journalist Huy Duc Sentenced to 30 Months for Facebook Posts
February 27, 2025
Vietnamese Journalist Huy Duc Sentenced to 30 Months for Facebook Posts
February 27, 2025 - Vietnam -  A court in Hanoi sentenced prominent Vietnamese journalist and author Truong Huy San, known by his pen name Huy Duc, to 30 months in prison for Facebook posts critical of the government. The court found him guilty of “abusing democratic freedoms to infringe upon the interests of the state” under Article 331 of Vietnam’s Penal Code. The conviction was based on 13 Facebook posts published in June 2024, which the court claimed had a “negative impact on social order and safety” due to their wide reach and engagement. These...
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Belarusian Journalist Palina Pitkevich Sentenced to Three Years for Alleged Extremism
February 27, 2025
Belarusian Journalist Palina Pitkevich Sentenced to Three Years for Alleged Extremism
February 27, 2025 - Belarus -  Belarusian journalist and writer Palina Pitkevich was sentenced to three years in prison by the Minsk City Court on charges of participating in an “extremist formation.” The case stemmed from her alleged involvement with Media IQ, a media literacy project run by Press Club Belarus, which the Belarusian State Security Committee (KGB) designated as an extremist organization in June 2024. Pitkevich, born in 1994 and a graduate of the Faculty of Journalism at Belarusian State University, was known for her cultural journalism and contributions to independent media. Her arrest...
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Captagon Trafficking Remains a Deadly Taboo for Syrian Journalists
February 27, 2025
Captagon Trafficking Remains a Deadly Taboo for Syrian Journalists
February 27, 2025 -Syria -  Despite the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime, investigating Syria's Captagon trade remains perilous for journalists. The assassination of journalist Mahmoud al-Harbi in November 2023 underscores the ongoing risks. Al-Harbi, affiliated with Daraa 24, was murdered shortly after reporting on a local family's involvement in Captagon production near the Jordanian border. Surveillance footage captured his execution, and one suspect remains at large, allegedly still engaged in trafficking activities. Captagon, a synthetic stimulant, has become Syria's most lucrative illicit export, with estimates valuing the trade at over $10 billion annually. During Assad's...
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Nicaragua’s Press Freedom Crisis Deepens
February 27, 2025
Nicaragua’s Press Freedom Crisis Deepens
February 27, 2025 - Nicaragua -  Nicaragua observed National Journalists’ Day amid a severe press freedom crisis. International organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF), condemned the celebration as a "shameful farce," highlighting the government's systematic dismantling of independent journalism. Over the past year, four journalists were detained, three forcibly disappeared, and approximately 300 have been forced into exile due to escalating repression. The regime of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo has intensified its crackdown on dissent since 2018, enacting laws such as the Special Law on Cybercrime and the Law to Regulate...
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Russian Journalist Barabash Placed Under House Arrest Over Ukraine War Posts
February 27, 2025
Russian Journalist Barabash Placed Under House Arrest Over Ukraine War Posts
February 27, 2025 - Russia -  Russian journalist and film critic Ekaterina Barabash was placed under house arrest by authorities in Moscow, accused of spreading so-called “fake news” about the war in Ukraine. The charges stemmed from social media posts she made condemning Russia’s invasion and criticizing its conduct during the conflict. Barabash, who is 64 and known for her cultural and political commentary, had posted statements on Facebook describing the war as a humanitarian disaster and calling out the Russian government’s actions. Russian investigators invoked Article 207.3 of the criminal code, a law introduced...
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Journalists Under Attack: Wave of Intimidation Silences Media in Yambio
February 27, 2025
Journalists Under Attack: Wave of Intimidation Silences Media in Yambio
February 27, 2025 - Sudan -  A disturbing series of attacks targeted journalists in Yambio, Western Equatoria State, South Sudan, raising serious concerns about press freedom and journalist safety. The South Sudan Union of Journalists (UJOSS) reported that four journalists faced threats, including arson and intimidation, following the political upheaval marked by the removal of Governor Alfred Futuyo on February 10. Among the victims was Francis John Abui, a former Anisa FM presenter, whose house was burned down; his whereabouts remain unknown. Similarly, Radio Anisa journalist Alex Yaba's home was set ablaze on February 22,...
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Canadian Journalist Yves Engler Detained Over Pro-Palestine Posts, Sparking Free Speech Debate
February 27, 2025
Canadian Journalist Yves Engler Detained Over Pro-Palestine Posts, Sparking Free Speech Debate
February 27, 2025 -Canada -  Canadian pro-Palestine journalist and activist Yves Engler was detained in Montreal after publicly criticizing pro-Israel commentator Dahlia Kurtz. Engler’s social media posts accused Kurtz of promoting anti-Palestinian rhetoric, labeling her a “genocide supporter” and “fascist” following her calls for deporting pro-Palestinian activists. Authorities arrested Engler on charges of harassment and indecent communication. He was held for five days in Bordeaux prison before being released on bail. The detention stirred significant controversy, with many seeing it as an infringement on free speech rights. Supporters viewed the charges as politically motivated attempts...
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Turkish Journalists Sentenced for Reporting on Kurdish Issues Amid Growing Press Crackdown
February 27, 2025
Turkish Journalists Sentenced for Reporting on Kurdish Issues Amid Growing Press Crackdown
February 27, 2025 - Turkey -  Two prominent Turkish journalists faced harsh legal penalties linked to their coverage of Kurdish political topics. Özlem Gürses received a suspended prison sentence after a Turkish court convicted her of “disseminating terrorist propaganda” for a YouTube interview with a Syrian Kurdish leader. The ruling means Gürses will avoid immediate jail time but remains under probation, with authorities signaling zero tolerance for media giving voice to Kurdish perspectives. Separately, veteran journalist Nevsin Mengu was sentenced to 1 year and 3 months in prison on similar charges. Mengu, known for critical...
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Ghanaian Journalists Face Violence and Intimidation While Covering Elections
February 27, 2025
Ghanaian Journalists Face Violence and Intimidation While Covering Elections
February 27, 2025 - Ghana -  During recent elections in Ghana, numerous journalists were attacked and intimidated by thugs while carrying out their reporting duties. These violent incidents targeted reporters from various media outlets, obstructing their ability to provide accurate and timely election coverage. Journalists faced physical assaults, harassment, and threats, often from politically affiliated groups attempting to suppress independent reporting. The attacks have drawn sharp condemnation from press freedom organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Article 19, and the Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA). These groups have expressed grave concern over...
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Azerbaijani Journalist Afgan Sadigov Released on Bail in Georgia Amid Ongoing Extradition Dispute
February 26, 2025
Azerbaijani Journalist Afgan Sadigov Released on Bail in Georgia Amid Ongoing Extradition Dispute
February 26, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijani journalist Afgan Sadigov was released from extradition custody in Georgia after the Tbilisi City Court granted a prosecutor's request to replace his detention with bail. Sadigov had been held since August 2024, following an extradition request from Azerbaijan, where he faced charges of extortion—a claim he and his supporters assert is politically motivated due to his critical reporting on the Azerbaijani government. The court's decision to release Sadigov came as his nine-month extradition detention period was nearing its legal limit under Georgian law. He was released on bail...
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International Outcry Grows for Release of Detained Journalists in Turkey
February 26, 2025
International Outcry Grows for Release of Detained Journalists in Turkey
February 26, 2025 - Turkey -  Global press freedom and human rights organizations have issued a strong and urgent call for the Turkish government to immediately release detained journalists, human rights defenders, and political prisoners. This comes amid growing concern over deteriorating prison conditions and the health risks posed by overcrowding, particularly as new COVID-19 cases resurface across the region. Dozens of journalists remain behind bars in Turkey, many of whom were imprisoned for reporting on sensitive political issues or for their affiliation with independent media outlets. Advocacy groups, including the International Federation of Journalists...
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Ukrainian Journalist Tetiana Kulyk Killed in Russian Drone Strike on Kyiv Home
February 26, 2025
Ukrainian Journalist Tetiana Kulyk Killed in Russian Drone Strike on Kyiv Home
February 26, 2025 - Ukraine -  Ukrainian journalist Tetiana Kulyk was killed in a Russian drone attack on February 21, 2025, in the Kyiv region. The strike, which also took the life of her husband, a prominent surgeon, occurred when a Shahed drone directly hit their home in the town of Hostomel, northwest of Kyiv. Kulyk’s tragic death adds to the growing toll on journalists in the ongoing war, with press freedom groups demanding accountability and a full investigation. Kulyk, 54, worked for the news outlet Kyivska Pravda and had over two decades of experience...
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Colombian Journalist Diomedes Farid Manrique Shot Dead in Maicao
February 25, 2025
Colombian Journalist Diomedes Farid Manrique Shot Dead in Maicao
February 25, 2025 - Colombia -  Colombian journalist and radio host Diomedes Farid Manrique was fatally shot on January 18, 2025, in Maicao, La Guajira, sending shockwaves through the local community and drawing international condemnation. Manrique, a well-known voice on the airwaves of Sistema Cardenal, was ambushed and killed by two unidentified assailants on a motorcycle as he left the radio station premises around 8:30 a.m. He was pronounced dead at the scene. The attack has raised fresh alarms over the dangers faced by journalists in Colombia, particularly those working in smaller cities and reporting...
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Venezuelan Journalist Rory Branker Arrested Amid Escalating Media Repression
February 25, 2025
Venezuelan Journalist Rory Branker Arrested Amid Escalating Media Repression
February 25, 2025 - Venezuela -  Venezuelan journalist Rory Branker was arrested in Caracas on May 23, 2025, in what press freedom advocates are calling another alarming move in the government’s widening crackdown on independent media. Branker, a reporter known for his critical coverage of state institutions and constitutional reforms, was reportedly detained by security forces without a warrant while covering a protest near the National Assembly. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Branker was violently apprehended and held incommunicado for several hours before being transferred to a detention center operated by the Bolivarian National...
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Kyrgyz Supreme Court Upholds Harsh Sentences for Temirov Live Journalists
February 25, 2025
Kyrgyz Supreme Court Upholds Harsh Sentences for Temirov Live Journalists
February 25, 2025 - Kyrgyzstan -  Kyrgyzstan's Supreme Court upheld the convictions of three journalists from the investigative outlet Temirov Live, a significant blow to press freedom in the country. Director Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy received a six-year prison sentence, presenter Azamat Ishenbekov was sentenced to five years, and reporter Aike Beishekeyeva was handed a five-year suspended sentence. These sentences stem from charges of "calling for mass unrest," a claim widely criticized by international human rights organizations as politically motivated and aimed at silencing independent journalism. The convictions are part of a broader crackdown on independent...
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Zimbabwean Journalist Blessed Mhlanga Arrested Over Interviews with Government Critic
February 25, 2025
Zimbabwean Journalist Blessed Mhlanga Arrested Over Interviews with Government Critic
February 25, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga was arrested and detained for 72 days following interviews with Blessed Geza, a war veteran and former ZANU-PF central committee member who openly criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa and called for his resignation. Mhlanga, a senior journalist at Heart and Soul Television (HStv), was charged under Section 164 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly transmitting data messages that incite violence or damage to property. The interviews, conducted in November 2024 and February 2025, were broadcast on HStv and YouTube, where Geza accused...
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Philippine Photojournalist’s Car Bombed in Attack Raising Press Freedom Alarms
February 25, 2025
Philippine Photojournalist’s Car Bombed in Attack Raising Press Freedom Alarms
February 25, 2025 - Philippines -  A car belonging to Filipino photojournalist Michael Varcas was bombed outside his Quezon City home in February 2025, in what media watchdogs view as a direct threat to press freedom. Surveillance footage captured two individuals on a motorcycle throwing a Molotov cocktail at the vehicle before fleeing. Fortunately, Varcas, a senior photojournalist with The Philippine Star, was not inside the car and was unharmed. However, the bombing left the vehicle severely damaged and sparked serious concern among press freedom advocates and fellow journalists. The Photojournalists’ Center of the Philippines...
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Zimbabwe: Journalist Arrested Under Cyber and Data Protection Act
February 25, 2025
Zimbabwe: Journalist Arrested Under Cyber and Data Protection Act
February 25, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Zimbabwean journalist Blessed “Dhara” Mhlanga was arrested under the country’s Cyber and Data Protection Act (CDPA), marking a significant moment as the first high-profile case using this law against a journalist. Mhlanga, a senior reporter with Heart and Soul Television (HStv), was charged with broadcasting press conferences featuring a war veteran who publicly criticized President Emmerson Mnangagwa and called for his resignation. The charges accuse Mhlanga of transmitting data messages that incited violence or damage to property. The CDPA, enacted in 2021, consolidates several laws related to cybersecurity and...
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Tamil Journalists Interrogated Over Controversial Buddhist Temple Protest in Jaffna
February 24, 2025
Tamil Journalists Interrogated Over Controversial Buddhist Temple Protest in Jaffna
February 24, 2025 - India -  Two Tamil journalists, Kandasamy Bharathan and Thambithurai Pratheepan, were subjected to a six-hour police interrogation at Palaly Police Station in Jaffna, Sri Lanka. The questioning centered on a Facebook post that allegedly called for the destruction of the Tissa Raja Maha Vihara, a Buddhist temple located in Thayiddy, a site that has become highly controversial in the region. The Tissa Raja Maha Vihara was reportedly built on privately owned Tamil land, which led to widespread protests from the Tamil community demanding the temple’s removal. The temple is seen by...
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Azerbaijani Journalist Nurlan Libre Arrested Amid Widening Crackdown on Independent Media
February 24, 2025
Azerbaijani Journalist Nurlan Libre Arrested Amid Widening Crackdown on Independent Media
February 24, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijani journalist Nurlan Libre was arrested in connection with the ongoing “Meydan TV case,” marking another development in a harsh crackdown on independent media in Azerbaijan. Libre, the founder of Portagal Media and known for his critical reporting, was detained in Baku and charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, accused of smuggling committed by a group acting together. His home in Sumgayit was searched, and authorities confiscated his phones and computers. Shortly after, a Baku court ordered his pretrial detention for over a month, with reports...
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Three Years of War: Russia Commits Over 800 Crimes Against Journalists in Ukraine
February 24, 2025
Three Years of War: Russia Commits Over 800 Crimes Against Journalists in Ukraine
February 24, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  As the full-scale Russian invasion of Ukraine marks its third anniversary, reports reveal a relentless assault on press freedom and media workers in the conflict zone. Since February 2022, Russia has been responsible for at least 823 documented crimes against journalists and media outlets in Ukraine, according to the Ukrainian Institute of Mass Information (IMI). These offenses range from physical attacks, arbitrary detentions, kidnappings, threats, and targeted killings, highlighting the extreme risks faced by those covering the war. International press freedom organizations have condemned the systematic violence aimed at...
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Russian Authorities Push for Harsher Sentence Against Imprisoned Journalist Maria Ponomarenko
February 24, 2025
Russian Authorities Push for Harsher Sentence Against Imprisoned Journalist Maria Ponomarenko
February 24, 2025 - Russia -  Russian prosecutors have requested a new, longer prison sentence for Maria Ponomarenko, a journalist and former columnist for Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), highlighting ongoing repression of independent media in Russia. Ponomarenko was originally sentenced in 2024 to several years in prison on charges widely condemned by international organizations as politically motivated and lacking credible evidence. The new criminal case against Ponomarenko, announced in early 2025, escalates the pressure on her by accusing her of “spreading false information” related to Russia’s military actions and other sensitive topics. The prosecution...
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Afghanistan’s Only Women-Led Radio Station Resumes Broadcasting After Taliban Lifts Suspension
February 23, 2025
Afghanistan’s Only Women-Led Radio Station Resumes Broadcasting After Taliban Lifts Suspension
February 23, 2025 -Afghanistan -  Afghanistan’s only women-led radio station, Radio Shama, has resumed operations after the Taliban lifted a temporary suspension imposed earlier this year. The station, which focuses on women’s rights, social issues, and culture, had been forced off the air in January 2025 following pressure from Taliban authorities, who cited unspecified “violations” as reasons for the shutdown. Radio Shama holds a unique place in Afghanistan’s media landscape as a rare platform run entirely by women, aimed at amplifying female voices in a country where women’s freedoms have been severely curtailed since the...
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Press Associations Condemn Arrest and Abuse of Azerbaijani Journalists Ulviyya Ali and Ahmad Mammadli
February 23, 2025
Press Associations Condemn Arrest and Abuse of Azerbaijani Journalists Ulviyya Ali and Ahmad Mammadli
February 23, 2025 - Turkey -  Several prominent press freedom organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), have strongly condemned the recent arrest and mistreatment of Azerbaijani journalists Ulviyya Ali and Ahmad Mammadli. These condemnations highlight the increasing repression of independent media and the dangerous environment for journalists in Azerbaijan. Ulviyya Ali and Ahmad Mammadli, known for their critical reporting and commitment to free journalism, were detained by Azerbaijani authorities amid a broader crackdown on independent voices in the country. Reports indicate that both journalists faced abusive...
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Zelensky Rejects Allegations Over Gonzalo Lira’s Death in Custody
February 23, 2025
Zelensky Rejects Allegations Over Gonzalo Lira’s Death in Custody
February 23, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky has firmly denied allegations that he ordered the killing of Chilean-American journalist Gonzalo Lira, whose death in a Ukrainian prison earlier this year has sparked international concern and controversy. The claims, circulated by Lira’s family and amplified by public figures such as Elon Musk, allege that Lira’s critical stance toward the Ukrainian government and military led to targeted persecution and ultimately to his death. Gonzalo Lira, a dual national, had been openly critical of Ukraine’s leadership and its handling of the ongoing war with Russia....
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AP Sues Trump Officials Over Press Access Restrictions
February 22, 2025
AP Sues Trump Officials Over Press Access Restrictions
February 22, 2025 - USA -  The Associated Press (AP) filed a lawsuit against three Trump administration officials—White House Chief of Staff Susan Wiles, Deputy Chief of Staff Taylor Budowich, and Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt—alleging violations of First Amendment rights. The suit, filed in the U.S. District Court in Washington, D.C., contends that the administration unlawfully restricted AP journalists' access to presidential events, including press briefings and travel on Air Force One, in retaliation for the AP's refusal to adopt the term "Gulf of America" instead of "Gulf of Mexico" as directed by President Trump....
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Slovaks Rally to Mark Journalist’s Murder and Protest Government’s Actions
February 22, 2025
Slovaks Rally to Mark Journalist’s Murder and Protest Government’s Actions
February 22, 2025 - Slovakia -  Thousands of Slovaks took to the streets on February 21, 2025, to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the assassination of investigative journalist Ján Kuciak and his fiancée Martina Kušnírová, whose murders in 2018 sent shockwaves through Slovakia and sparked the largest anti-government protests since the fall of communism. The recent demonstrations, held in Bratislava and across more than 20 cities, not only honored the slain couple but also voiced growing alarm over Prime Minister Robert Fico’s policies, which critics argue are undermining press freedom and democratic institutions. Kuciak, a...
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Tunisian Court Orders Release of Journalist Mohamed Boughalleb Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Press Freedom
February 21, 2025
Tunisian Court Orders Release of Journalist Mohamed Boughalleb Amid Ongoing Crackdown on Press Freedom
February 21, 2025 - Tunisia -  A Tunisian court ordered the release of prominent journalist Mohamed Boughalleb, who had been detained since March 2024 under charges related to a presidential decree aimed at combating "false news." Boughalleb, 61, was arrested following a complaint from a civil servant and was prosecuted under Decree 54, enacted in 2022, which mandates prison terms for disseminating information deemed false via communications networks. Despite his release, Boughalleb remains barred from leaving Tunisia, with his next court hearing scheduled for April 21. His detention had drawn criticism from rights groups and...
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Azerbaijan’s Media Crackdown Intensifies with Another Journalist Arrested
February 21, 2025
Azerbaijan’s Media Crackdown Intensifies with Another Journalist Arrested
February 21, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijan’s tightening grip on independent journalism intensified in February 2025, as yet another journalist, Fikret Faramazoglu, was arrested in Baku—the latest in a wave of detentions targeting reporters linked to the independent outlet Meydan TV. His arrest follows a pattern of state-led repression that has seen at least nine journalists detained since November 2023 under accusations of smuggling and illicit financial dealings, charges critics say are politically motivated. Faramazoglu, editor-in-chief of the now-banned Jam. az news website, was taken into custody on February 20 and is facing charges under...
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RCMP Apologizes for Detaining Gitxsan Journalist During Wet’suwet’en Raid
February 21, 2025
RCMP Apologizes for Detaining Gitxsan Journalist During Wet’suwet’en Raid
February 21, 2025 -First Nation -  The Royal Canadian Mounted Police (RCMP) formally apologized to Gitxsan journalist Jerome Turner and his editor, Ethan Cox of Ricochet Media, for violating Turner's Charter rights during a 2020 enforcement operation on Wet’suwet’en territory in British Columbia. The apology followed a report by the Civilian Review and Complaints Commission (CRCC), which found that the RCMP had unreasonably interfered with press freedoms during the operation. On February 7, 2020, Turner was reporting on the RCMP's enforcement of an injunction against Wet’suwet’en land defenders opposing the Coastal GasLink pipeline. Despite identifying...
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Body of Missing Mexican Journalist Found After Five Years
February 21, 2025
Body of Missing Mexican Journalist Found After Five Years
February 21, 2025 -Mexican - The body of Mexican journalist Jesús Alberto Camacho Rodríguez, missing since 2019, has finally been identified in a morgue in Culiacán, Sinaloa, where it had remained unclaimed for three years. Camacho’s remains were recovered in 2021 from a drainage canal and were held in the local forensic medical service without recognition until activists and forensic experts made the match in early 2025. Camacho was a reporter from Hermosillo, Sonora, and had worked for multiple regional outlets, including El Imparcial, El Regional de Sonora, Extra de la Tarde, and Tribuna del...
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Hit-and-Run Unveils Chilling Murder Plot in Kerala’s Financial Scam Case
February 20, 2025
Hit-and-Run Unveils Chilling Murder Plot in Kerala’s Financial Scam Case
February 20, 2025 - India -  The death of 82-year-old C. Pappachan, a retired assistant general manager of BSNL, was initially deemed a tragic hit-and-run accident near Asramam Ground in Kollam, Kerala. However, subsequent investigations revealed a calculated murder orchestrated to appear as an accident. Pappachan, known for his frugal lifestyle despite considerable wealth, had minimal contact with his family and often cycled around the city. His financial prudence and slight memory issues attracted the attention of Saritha, a branch manager at Muthoottu Mini Nidhi, and her associate Anoop. They persuaded him to deposit approximately...
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Italy: Journalists’ Union Takes Legal Action Over Paragon Spyware Scandal
February 20, 2025
Italy: Journalists’ Union Takes Legal Action Over Paragon Spyware Scandal
February 20, 2025 - Italy -  Italy's national journalists' union, the Federazione Nazionale Stampa Italiana (FNSI), alongside the Order of Journalists (Odg), initiated legal proceedings against unknown individuals, urging the Rome Public Prosecutor's Office to investigate allegations of unlawful surveillance involving the Israeli-developed spyware, Graphite, produced by Paragon Solutions. The controversy emerged when investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato, editor-in-chief of the Italian news outlet Fanpage, reported that his WhatsApp account had been compromised using Graphite, a military-grade spyware typically employed by state entities. WhatsApp's parent company, Meta, confirmed that at least seven Italian mobile phones had...
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Elon Musk claims Ukrainian president ‘killed an American journalist’
February 20, 2025
Elon Musk claims Ukrainian president ‘killed an American journalist’
February 20, 2025 - General -  Elon Musk has sparked international controversy by accusing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy of being responsible for the death of American journalist Gonzalo Lira. Musk made the explosive allegation on his platform X (formerly Twitter) in late February 2025, stating directly, “Zelensky killed an American journalist!” This claim has drawn sharp attention to Ukraine’s treatment of journalists, particularly those critical of its government during wartime. Gonzalo Lira, a dual Chilean-American citizen, had gained a following for his commentary criticizing both Ukraine’s leadership and U.S. foreign policy in the region. Ukrainian...
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Montenegro Launches Parliamentary Probe into Decades of Attacks on Journalists
February 20, 2025
Montenegro Launches Parliamentary Probe into Decades of Attacks on Journalists
February 20, 2025 - Montenegro -  Montenegro's parliament voted to establish an Inquiry Committee to investigate politically motivated attacks on journalists and intellectuals dating back to the 1990s. This initiative aims to address the legacy of unsolved crimes and restore public trust in the justice system. Parliamentary Speaker Andrija Mandić emphasized the need to confront past injustices, stating that the country had been "held hostage by crime" during the previous administration. The committee will examine cases such as the 2004 murder of Duško Jovanović, editor of the newspaper Dan, and the 2008 assault on journalist...
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Mississippi Judge’s Censorship Order Sparks First Amendment Debate
February 20, 2025
Mississippi Judge’s Censorship Order Sparks First Amendment Debate
February 20, 2025 - USA - a legal dispute in Clarksdale, Mississippi, ignited national concern over press freedom and judicial overreach. Chancery Judge Crystal Wise Martin issued a temporary restraining order mandating the Clarksdale Press Register to remove an editorial titled "Secrecy, Deception Erode Public Trust" from its website. The editorial criticized city officials for failing to notify the newspaper about a meeting discussing a proposed tax on alcohol, marijuana, and tobacco. City leaders, including Mayor Chuck Espy, contended that the editorial was libelous and hindered their efforts to lobby. They were particularly aggrieved by...
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British Journalist Charlotte Peet Missing in Brazil: Voluntary Disappearance Suspected
February 19, 2025
British Journalist Charlotte Peet Missing in Brazil: Voluntary Disappearance Suspected
February 19, 2025 - UK/Brazil -  Charlotte Peet, a 32-year-old British freelance journalist, has been missing in Brazil since February 8, 2025. Her last known communication was a message to a friend in Rio de Janeiro, stating she was in São Paulo and planning to travel to Rio. When the friend was unable to host her, Peet ceased communication, prompting concern from her family and the filing of a missing person's report. Peet, fluent in Portuguese, had previously worked as a foreign correspondent in Brazil for nearly two years before returning in November 2024. She...
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USAID Funding Freeze Exposes Global Network of U.S.-Backed Media Outlets
February 19, 2025
USAID Funding Freeze Exposes Global Network of U.S.-Backed Media Outlets
February 19, 2025 - USA - The Trump administration, with support from Elon Musk's Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), initiated a significant overhaul of the U.S. Agency for International Development (USAID). This move included pausing over $268 million in annual funding designated for independent media programs worldwide, leading to a crisis among numerous news outlets that had relied on these funds for operations. USAID had been instrumental in supporting over 6,200 journalists and nearly 1,000 non-state news organizations globally. These initiatives aimed to promote press freedom and democratic values, particularly in regions where media independence...
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J&K High Court Quashes PSA Detention of Journalist Majid Hyderi
February 19, 2025
J&K High Court Quashes PSA Detention of Journalist Majid Hyderi
February 19, 2025 - Kashmir -  In a significant ruling, the Jammu and Kashmir and Ladakh High Court has quashed the detention of journalist Majid Hyderi under the Public Safety Act (PSA), citing violations of constitutional rights. Hyderi, an independent journalist and political commentator, was arrested in September 2023 on charges of extortion and defamation, following a complaint by another journalist. Despite being granted bail by the Chief Judicial Magistrate in Srinagar, he was re-arrested and detained under the PSA, a preventive detention law that allows authorities to detain individuals without trial for up to...
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Turkish Court Blocks Journalists’ Social Media Accounts, Citing National Security
February 19, 2025
Turkish Court Blocks Journalists’ Social Media Accounts, Citing National Security
February 19, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish courts ordered the blocking of social media accounts belonging to several Kurdish journalists, including Abdurrahman Gök, Oktay Candemir, and Ruşen Takva. The court orders cited concerns over "national security, public order, and preventing the spread of misleading information." These actions are part of a broader crackdown on opposition voices and media freedom in Turkey. The journalists' accounts on platforms such as X (formerly Twitter), Instagram, and YouTube were rendered inaccessible within Turkey. Gök's YouTube account, for instance, was blocked from access in the country. These measures have raised...
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Israeli Government Faces Backlash Over Removal of KAN Journalists from PMO Updates Group
February 19, 2025
Israeli Government Faces Backlash Over Removal of KAN Journalists from PMO Updates Group
February 19, 2025 - Israel - The Israeli Prime Minister's Office (PMO) removed two senior journalists from the Israel Broadcasting Corporation (KAN), Michael Shemesh and Suleiman Maswadeh, from its official WhatsApp group used for disseminating press updates. This action followed their reporting that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had reprimanded his spokesman, Omer Dostri, over his conduct during a sensitive diplomatic period. The Union of Journalists in Israel (UJI) swiftly condemned the move, stating, "It is inconceivable for a public servant to deliberately sabotage the media's work and prevent access to information from journalists." The UJI...
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Idaho Enacts Media Shield Law to Protect Journalists’ Confidential Sources
February 19, 2025
Idaho Enacts Media Shield Law to Protect Journalists’ Confidential Sources
February 19, 2025 - USA - In a landmark victory for press freedom, Idaho has become the 41st U.S. state to enact a media shield law, offering legal protections for journalists who seek to protect the identities of confidential sources. The legislation, House Bill 158, passed unanimously through both chambers of the Idaho Legislature and was signed into law in late February 2025. It is scheduled to take effect on July 1. The new law ensures that journalists cannot be compelled to reveal confidential sources or unpublished materials in most legal proceedings. It applies to...
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Caught Between Bullets and Broadcasts: Journalism Under Siege in Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis
February 19, 2025
Caught Between Bullets and Broadcasts: Journalism Under Siege in Cameroon’s Anglophone Crisis
February 19, 2025 - Cameroon -  For nearly a decade, Cameroon’s Anglophone regions—the Northwest and Southwest—have been engulfed in a violent conflict between separatist groups and government forces. This prolonged crisis has not only resulted in over 6,000 civilian deaths and the displacement of more than 600,000 people but has also severely undermined press freedom, placing journalists in an increasingly perilous position. Journalists operating in these regions face threats from both sides of the conflict. Government forces have been known to arrest and detain reporters under the guise of anti-terrorism laws, while separatist groups have...
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Three Years On, Ukrainian Journalists Face Escalating Threats Amid Russian Invasion
February 19, 2025
Three Years On, Ukrainian Journalists Face Escalating Threats Amid Russian Invasion
February 19, 2025 - Russia/Ukraine -  As the Russian invasion of Ukraine enters its third year, journalists covering the conflict continue to face severe and escalating threats. Since the full-scale invasion began on February 24, 2022, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has documented nearly 150 attacks on journalists, encompassing killings, injuries, detentions, and disappearances. Thirteen journalists have been killed by Russian forces, including Ukrainian journalist Viktoria Roshchyna, who died in Russian detention in 2024. At least 47 journalists have been injured, often in targeted attacks or while reporting from areas subjected to Russian strikes. Eighteen Ukrainian...
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Turkey’s Crackdown Targets Leftist, Pro-Kurdish, and LGBTQ Journalists Amid Opposition Surge
February 19, 2025
Turkey’s Crackdown Targets Leftist, Pro-Kurdish, and LGBTQ Journalists Amid Opposition Surge
February 19, 2024 - Turkey - In a sweeping operation on February 18, 2025, Turkish authorities detained 282 individuals across 51 provinces, including journalists, politicians, and academics, accusing them of affiliations with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK). The detentions, part of a broader crackdown on opposition figures, have drawn international condemnation. Among those arrested were prominent journalists such as Yıldız Tar, editor-in-chief of the LGBTQ+ rights organization Kaos GL, and Elif Akgül, a former editor at bianet. Tar's detention is particularly concerning given the government's increasing hostility towards LGBTQ+ advocacy. The International Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual,...
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Italian Journalists Pursue Legal Action Over Alleged Government Spyware Use
February 19, 2025
Italian Journalists Pursue Legal Action Over Alleged Government Spyware Use
February 19, 2025 - Italy - Italy's national journalists' union (FNSI) initiated legal proceedings against the government, alleging the unlawful use of military-grade spyware, Graphite, developed by Israeli firm Paragon Solutions. The spyware reportedly targeted at least seven individuals, including investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato and migrant activist Luca Casarini, both known for their critical stances against the government's policies. The controversy began in January when Meta's WhatsApp notified several EU users, including journalists and civil society members, that their devices had been compromised by spyware linked to Paragon. Subsequent investigations revealed that the spyware exploited...
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Yemeni Journalist Describes Torture in Houthi Jail
February 19, 2025
Yemeni Journalist Describes Torture in Houthi Jail
February 19, 2025 - Yemen -  Yemeni journalist Abdulkhaliq Imran has opened up about the brutal torture he endured during eight years of detention by Houthi forces. Imran’s testimony sheds light on the harsh realities faced by thousands of detainees in Houthi-controlled prisons across Yemen. He described being confined in a small, dark cell where he was subjected to repeated beatings, flogging, and forced suspension from the walls. Psychological torture was equally severe: prisoners were relentlessly bombarded with recordings of Houthi clerics denouncing them as “enemies of God.” These tactics aimed not only to break...
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UN Condemns Political Persecution in Tunisia Amid Crackdown on Dissent
February 19, 2025
UN Condemns Political Persecution in Tunisia Amid Crackdown on Dissent
February 19, 2024 - Tunisia - The United Nations has condemned the escalating persecution of political opponents in Tunisia, urging the authorities to cease arbitrary arrests and uphold fundamental human rights. UN High Commissioner for Human Rights, Volker Turk, called on Tunisian authorities to end the pattern of detentions and imprisonment of human rights defenders, journalists, activists, and politicians, many of whom are being held in pre-trial detention under vague accusations following the exercise of their rights and freedoms. Since President Kais Saied consolidated power in 2021, following his suspension of parliament and assumption of...
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Zimbabwean Journalist Blessed Mhlanga Faces Legal Challenges Amidst Press Freedom Concerns
February 18, 2025
Zimbabwean Journalist Blessed Mhlanga Faces Legal Challenges Amidst Press Freedom Concerns
February 18, 2025 - Zimbabwe -  Zimbabwean journalist Blessed Mhlanga, associated with Heart and Soul TV (HStv), has recently been at the centre of legal and safety concerns following his interviews with war veteran Blessed Geza and former cabinet minister Saviour Kasukuwere. These interviews, which included critical commentary on President Emmerson Mnangagwa's leadership, have led to a series of police actions against Mhlanga. On February 17, 2025, three individuals armed with pistols visited HStv's Harare office searching for Mhlanga. He reported the incident on social media, expressing concern over the armed visit. Subsequently, he was...
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Georgian Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli Ends 38-Day Hunger Strike Amidst Political Turmoil
February 18, 2025
Georgian Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli Ends 38-Day Hunger Strike Amidst Political Turmoil
February 18, 2025 - Georgia -  Georgian journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, co-founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, concluded her 38-day hunger strike on February 18, 2025. Her protest began following her arrest on January 12 during anti-government demonstrations in Batumi, where she was charged with assaulting a police officer after slapping Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions over Georgia's halted European Union integration efforts and allegations of electoral misconduct. Amaglobeli's hunger strike drew significant international attention, with numerous organizations and governments calling for her release. The International Federation...
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Turkish Journalists Face Escalating Repression Amid Crackdown on Dissent
February 18, 2025
Turkish Journalists Face Escalating Repression Amid Crackdown on Dissent
February 18, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkey has witnessed a significant surge in the detention and imprisonment of journalists, raising serious concerns about the state of press freedom in the country. One notable case is that of Ozan Kaplanoğlu, the editor-in-chief of Bursa Muhalif newspaper. Kaplanoğlu was imprisoned in February 2025 after a conditional release decision was revoked. He had been convicted in 2013 for insulting then-Prime Minister Recep Tayyip Erdoğan during a protest, a charge that has been upheld by appellate courts. His lawyer argued that this act should be considered an exercise of...
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Vietnamese Journalist Truong Huy San Sentenced to Prison Over Facebook Posts
February 18, 2025
Vietnamese Journalist Truong Huy San Sentenced to Prison Over Facebook Posts
February 18, 2025 - Vietnam -  Vietnamese journalist and writer Truong Huy San, known as Huy Đức, was sentenced in early 2025 to 30 months in prison under Article 331 of Vietnam’s Penal Code. The court ruled that thirteen Facebook posts he published between 2015 and 2024 constituted an “abuse of democratic freedoms” that infringed on the interests of the state and the rights of organizations and individuals. His posts reportedly criticized government policies and raised sensitive social and political issues. San was arrested in June 2024 and has remained in detention since. His trial...
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Lawsuits Filed After Florida Journalist Dylan Lyons Killed in Shooting Spree
February 18, 2025
Lawsuits Filed After Florida Journalist Dylan Lyons Killed in Shooting Spree
February 18, 2025 - USA -  Spectrum News 13 reporter Dylan Lyons was fatally shot while covering a homicide in Pine Hills, Florida. The shooter, 19-year-old Keith Melvin Moses, had earlier killed 38-year-old Nathacha Augustin and later returned to the scene, fatally shooting Lyons and 9-year-old T’Yonna Major, while injuring photographer Jesse Walden and Major’s mother, Brandi Turner. Moses has pleaded not guilty to the charges. In response to the tragedy, Lyons' family filed a negligence lawsuit against Charter Communications, the parent company of Spectrum News 13. The lawsuit alleges that the company failed to...
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Philippine Coast Guard Condemns China’s ‘Dangerous’ Helicopter Maneuvers Over Scarborough Shoal
February 18, 2025
Philippine Coast Guard Condemns China’s ‘Dangerous’ Helicopter Maneuvers Over Scarborough Shoal
February 18, 2025 - Philippines -  In a significant escalation of tensions in the South China Sea, the Philippine Coast Guard (PCG) has condemned what it describes as "dangerous" maneuvers by a Chinese Navy helicopter that flew within three meters of a Philippine surveillance aircraft over the contested Scarborough Shoal on February 18, 2025. The Philippine Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources (BFAR) aircraft, which was conducting a routine maritime domain awareness flight, had a group of journalists onboard. According to the PCG, the Chinese helicopter performed "reckless" flight maneuvers, tailing the plane before drawing...
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France Investigates 2012 Deaths of Journalists in Syria as Crimes Against Humanity
February 18, 2025
France Investigates 2012 Deaths of Journalists in Syria as Crimes Against Humanity
February 18, 2025 - France/Syria - The French judiciary has expanded its investigation into the 2012 deaths of journalist Marie Colvin and photographer Rémi Ochlik in Syria, now considering the incident as a potential crime against humanity. This move follows new evidence suggesting a coordinated attack targeting civilians, including journalists and human rights defenders, as part of a systematic campaign. Marie Colvin, a renowned American war correspondent for The Sunday Times, and French photographer Rémi Ochlik were killed on February 22, 2012, during a shelling of the Baba Amr Media Center in Homs, Syria. The...
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Belarus Releases American Journalist Amid Diplomatic Efforts
February 18, 2025
Belarus Releases American Journalist Amid Diplomatic Efforts
February 18, 2025 - Belarus - Belarus has released three detainees, including an American citizen and a journalist affiliated with U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). This move is seen as part of Belarus's efforts to improve relations with the United States. The American detainee's identity and the charges against them have not been publicly disclosed. The journalist, Andrey Kuznechyk, was arrested in November 2021 during a crackdown on independent media in Belarus. Initially sentenced to 10 days in jail on hooliganism charges, Kuznechyk was later charged with participating in an extremist organization and sentenced...
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Man Arrested for Racially Charged Email Targeting Journalist Antoinette Lattouf
February 18, 2025
Man Arrested for Racially Charged Email Targeting Journalist Antoinette Lattouf
February 18, 2025 - Australia - A 61-year-old man from Lake Cathie, New South Wales, has been arrested and charged with sending a harassing and racially charged email to journalist Antoinette Lattouf. The email, which contained violent threats, was reported to police by Lattouf in late 2024. Following an investigation by the Counter-Terrorism and Special Tactics Command’s Security Investigations Unit, authorities executed a search warrant at the man's residence and arrested him on February 18, 2025. He has been charged under Section 474.17 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) for using a carriage service...
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Turkish Journalists Face Legal Challenges Amid Press Freedom Concerns
February 17, 2025
Turkish Journalists Face Legal Challenges Amid Press Freedom Concerns
February 17, 2025 - Turkey - Turkish authorities have intensified their scrutiny of journalists and media outlets critical of the government, leading to arrests and legal actions that have raised concerns about press freedom in the country. Halk TV Journalists Detained On January 28, 2025, Turkish police detained three prominent journalists from the opposition broadcaster Halk TV—Barış Pehlivan, Seda Selek, and Serhan Asker. The detentions were part of an investigation into allegations that the journalists had attempted to influence an expert witness in ongoing court cases involving mayors from the main opposition Republican People's Party...
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French Court Convicts IS Members for 2013 Kidnapping of Journalists in Syria
February 17, 2025
French Court Convicts IS Members for 2013 Kidnapping of Journalists in Syria
February 17, 2025 - France - In a landmark decision, a French court has sentenced 39-year-old French jihadist Mehdi Nemmouche to life imprisonment for his role in the 2013 kidnapping of four French journalists by the Islamic State (IS) group in Syria. Nemmouche, who was already serving a life sentence in Belgium for a 2014 attack on the Jewish Museum in Brussels, was convicted of holding the journalists hostage in Aleppo for 10 months. The court also sentenced his co-defendants: Abdelmalek Tanem received 22 years, and Kais Al Abdallah was sentenced to 20 years. Two...
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Philippines Achieves Milestone with Zero Journalist Killings in 2024 Amid Ongoing Press Freedom Challenges
February 17, 2025
Philippines Achieves Milestone with Zero Journalist Killings in 2024 Amid Ongoing Press Freedom Challenges
February 17, 2025 - Philippines - For the first time in two decades, the Philippines reported no journalist killings in 2024, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). This marks a significant shift from previous years, where the country consistently ranked among the deadliest for journalists. However, experts caution that this development may be attributed to factors beyond improved press freedom. The CPJ's report highlights that the absence of journalist deaths in 2024 could be due to various reasons, including the lack of local reporting on such incidents, increased safety measures, and potential self-censorship...
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Press Freedom Under Siege: Bangladesh Journalists Confront Escalating Threats and Repressive Legislation
February 17, 2025
Press Freedom Under Siege: Bangladesh Journalists Confront Escalating Threats and Repressive Legislation
February 17, 2025 - Bangladesh -  Journalists in Bangladesh are facing increasing threats, attacks, and legal pressures, raising serious concerns about press freedom in the country. In early 2025, the situation worsened as reporters were subjected to physical violence and intimidation, with at least 17 journalists attacked in February alone. A notable incident involved Shohag Khan Sujon, a correspondent for the daily Samakal, who was assaulted with a hammer and stabbed after investigating allegations of medical negligence. Such attacks highlight the dangerous conditions under which journalists operate, especially when reporting on sensitive issues. Alongside physical...
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Journalist Manuel Duran Detained Over a Year by ICE After Covering Immigration Protest
February 17, 2025
Journalist Manuel Duran Detained Over a Year by ICE After Covering Immigration Protest
February 17, 2025 - El Salvador/USA - Salvadoran journalist Manuel Duran spent over 15 months in U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) custody after covering an immigration protest in Memphis, Tennessee. His arrest and prolonged detention have sparked concerns about press freedom and the treatment of journalists reporting on immigration issues. Duran was arrested in April 2018 during a protest against ICE’s immigration enforcement policies. Although he was initially charged with disorderly conduct and obstructing a highway, those charges were eventually dropped. However, because of a 2007 deportation order from when he was younger, ICE...
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Dutch Journalist Detained in Sierra Leone Amid Espionage Allegations
February 17, 2025
Dutch Journalist Detained in Sierra Leone Amid Espionage Allegations
February 17, 2025 - South Africa/Netherlands - Dutch journalist Sophie van Leeuwen, an Africa correspondent for RTL Nieuws, was detained by Sierra Leonean authorities on suspicion of espionage. She was reportedly conducting documentary work in Freetown when she was arrested by the Sierra Leone Police. The police alleged that she was filming without proper authorization, leading to her detention and subsequent interrogation at the Criminal Investigation Department (CID). Van Leeuwen's arrest coincided with heightened tensions between Sierra Leone and the Netherlands over the alleged presence of Dutch drug lord Jos Leijdekkers in Sierra Leone. Leijdekkers,...
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Turkish Airstrike Kills Syrian Kurdish Journalist Near Tishrin Dam
February 16, 2025
Turkish Airstrike Kills Syrian Kurdish Journalist Near Tishrin Dam
February 16, 2025 - Turkey/Syria -  Syrian Kurdish journalist Agid Roj was killed on February 15, 2025, in a Turkish drone strike near the Tishrin Dam, northeast of Manbij, Syria. Roj, originally from Afrin, had been reporting on escalating tensions between Turkish forces and Kurdish-controlled areas in northern Syria. His death has drawn widespread condemnation from press freedom organizations and local activists, who accuse Turkey of deliberately targeting journalists and civilians in the region. The Tishrin Dam area has been a focal point of Turkish military operations, with repeated airstrikes and shelling attacks targeting the...
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International Silence on Attacks Against Journalists in Northeast Syria Draws Sharp Criticism
February 16, 2025
International Silence on Attacks Against Journalists in Northeast Syria Draws Sharp Criticism
February 16, 2025 - Syria -  The Democratic Autonomous Administration of North and East Syria (DAANES) has issued a strong call for the global community to end its silence over repeated attacks on journalists in the region. This appeal comes in the wake of the recent killing of Kurdish journalist Egîd Roj (also known as Şervan Sîdo), who was killed in a Turkish drone strike near the Tishrin Dam. This tragic event marks the third attack on journalists in Northeast Syria since December 2024. DAANES condemned the Turkish state and allied forces for targeting media...
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Journalist Egîd Roj’s Last Words: A Message of Hope Amid Conflict
February 16, 2025
Journalist Egîd Roj’s Last Words: A Message of Hope Amid Conflict
February 16, 2025 - Syria/Turkey -  Egîd Roj, a courageous journalist from Afrin, Syria, lost his life on February 15, 2025, during a Turkish drone strike at Tishrin Dam in northeastern Syria. Known for his fearless reporting from conflict zones, Egîd was covering the ongoing civilian resistance when he was targeted. His death highlights the extreme dangers faced by journalists working to document the realities in war-torn regions. Before his tragic death, Egîd shared a powerful message of resilience and hope. In his final words, he urged people not to give in to despair, emphasizing...
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Tribute to Journalist Egîd Roj: A Legacy of Courage and Hope
February 16, 2025
Tribute to Journalist Egîd Roj: A Legacy of Courage and Hope
February 16, 2025 - Turkey -  Journalist Egîd Roj (born Shervan Seydo) was killed in a Turkish drone strike while covering civilian protests at Tishrin Dam in northeastern Syria. His death underscores the perilous conditions faced by journalists in conflict zones and highlights the targeted attacks on the press by the Turkish state. Born in Afrin into a patriotic family, Egîd Roj dedicated his life to documenting the struggles and resistance of his people. Since the outbreak of the Northern and Eastern Syria Revolution in 2012, he joined the revolutionary movement, initially participating in defense...
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Resilient and Unwavering: Palestinian Journalists in Gaza Defy Suppression
February 16, 2025
Resilient and Unwavering: Palestinian Journalists in Gaza Defy Suppression
February 16, 2025 - General - Since the outbreak of intense conflict in Gaza on October 7, 2023, Palestinian journalists have faced extraordinary dangers while reporting from the frontlines. Despite relentless attacks, including bombings and sniper fire, more than 200 media workers have lost their lives, making Gaza one of the deadliest places for journalists globally. The killing of reporters such as Ismail al-Ghoul, who died covering critical events in Gaza City, highlights the grave risks these journalists endure daily. Israeli forces have systematically sought to suppress independent media coverage by evacuating foreign journalists and...
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AP Journalists Barred from Air Force One Over “Gulf of Mexico” Naming Dispute
February 14, 2025
AP Journalists Barred from Air Force One Over “Gulf of Mexico” Naming Dispute
February 14, 2025 - General - A dispute between the White House and the Associated Press (AP) arose over the naming of a major body of water. President Donald Trump issued an executive order renaming the "Gulf of Mexico" as the "Gulf of America," a move that drew criticism from the Mexican government, international media, and many observers who viewed it as unnecessary and politically charged. The AP, known for maintaining strict editorial standards, continued to use the term "Gulf of Mexico" in its reporting. The agency justified this decision by citing the name’s long-standing...
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Italian Government Denies Spying on Journalists and Migrant Activists Using Paragon Spyware
February 13, 2025
Italian Government Denies Spying on Journalists and Migrant Activists Using Paragon Spyware
February 13, 2025 - Italy - The Italian government faced allegations of using Israeli-made spyware, Graphite, developed by Paragon Solutions, to surveil journalists and migrant activists. The controversy erupted when WhatsApp informed 90 individuals across 24 countries, including Italian journalist Francesco Cancellato and migrant rights advocate Luca Casarini, that their phones had been compromised by the spyware. The spyware, capable of accessing encrypted messages and other sensitive data, was reportedly deployed without the users' knowledge. The Italian government denied any involvement in the surveillance activities. Cabinet Minister Luca Ciriani acknowledged that at least seven Italian...
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Crackdown on Dissent: Egypt Arrests Wife of Detained Cartoonist Ashraf Omar
February 13, 2025
Crackdown on Dissent: Egypt Arrests Wife of Detained Cartoonist Ashraf Omar
February 13, 2025 - Egypt -  In a deepening crackdown on dissent and press freedom, Egyptian authorities arrested Nada Mougheeth, the wife of jailed cartoonist Ashraf Omar, on January 16, 2025. Her arrest came shortly after she gave an interview criticizing the government’s treatment of her husband, who has been detained since July 2024 for publishing satirical cartoons critical of the Egyptian regime and economic mismanagement. According to reports, Mougheeth was taken from her home in Cairo by state security officers. She now faces serious charges, including “spreading false news” and “joining a terrorist organization.”...
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Georgian Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli’s Defiant Stand Amidst Government Crackdown
February 13, 2025
Georgian Journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli’s Defiant Stand Amidst Government Crackdown
February 13, 2025 - Georgia -  Mzia Amaghlobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, has become a symbol of resistance against the Georgian government's increasing authoritarianism. On January 12, 2025, Amaghlobeli was arrested during an anti-government protest in Batumi, initially for placing a sticker calling for a national strike. She was later rearrested and charged with assaulting a police officer after slapping Batumi's police chief, Irakli Dgebuadze, in response to alleged verbal abuse. The charge carries a potential prison sentence of 4 to 7 years. In protest...
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Italian government denies it spied on journalists and migrant activists using Paragon spyware
February 13, 2025
Italian government denies it spied on journalists and migrant activists using Paragon spyware
February 13, 2025 - Source: News4 -  The Italian government denied Wednesday that it had spied on journalists and migrant activists using spyware but said it would cooperate with an investigation into “vulnerabilities” after at least seven Italian cellphones were apparently hacked with military-grade surveillance technology. Meta’s WhatsApp messaging service informed dozens of people across the European Union on Jan. 31 that they had been targeted in a spyware attack using technology from Israeli cyber firm Paragon Solutions. In a statement provided by Meta’s Italy press office, WhatsApp said it had disrupted what it called...
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White House-AP Dispute Over “Gulf of Mexico” Naming Highlights Press Freedom Battle
February 13, 2025
White House-AP Dispute Over “Gulf of Mexico” Naming Highlights Press Freedom Battle
February 13, 2025 - USA -  Tensions escalated between the White House and the Associated Press (AP) over the renaming of the “Gulf of Mexico” to the “Gulf of America.” President Donald Trump signed Executive Order 14172 on January 20, mandating that federal agencies adopt the new name. Though the order was limited to government use, it quickly became a point of contention with media organizations and the public, who criticized the move as politically motivated and historically inaccurate. The AP maintained its editorial policy of using “Gulf of Mexico” in its coverage, recognizing the...
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RSF Condemns Unlawful Detention of Journalist Fernand Cello
February 12, 2025
RSF Condemns Unlawful Detention of Journalist Fernand Cello
February 12, 2025 - Madacasgar -  Investigative journalist Fernand Cello, affiliated with the daily newspaper Basy Vava, was arrested at his home in Madagascar's capital, Antananarivo, and detained at Antanimora prison. His detention has been marked by a lack of access to legal counsel, family, or colleagues, raising serious concerns about due process and press freedom. Cello's arrest stems from a September 2023 Facebook post in which he inaccurately claimed that President Andry Rajoelina and other top officials had fled to France. Although he promptly retracted the statement and issued a public apology, authorities charged...
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Belarus Frees American, Journalist, and Activist in Surprise Diplomatic Breakthrough
February 12, 2025
Belarus Frees American, Journalist, and Activist in Surprise Diplomatic Breakthrough
February 12, 2025 - USA - Belarus released three detainees on February 12, 2025, including an American citizen, Belarusian journalist Andrey Kuznechyk, and opposition activist Alena Maushuk. The surprise move, facilitated through diplomatic coordination with Lithuania and the United States, was welcomed by the White House and international human rights advocates. The American citizen, whose identity remains undisclosed, was reportedly transferred to safety in Vilnius, Lithuania, along with the two Belarusians. The U.S. government confirmed their release and praised the collaborative efforts that led to their freedom, particularly highlighting Lithuania’s role in providing safe passage...
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Haiti: Journalism Amid Collapse and Chaos
February 12, 2025
Haiti: Journalism Amid Collapse and Chaos
February 12, 2025 - Haiti -  Haiti has become one of the deadliest places in the world to be a journalist, despite not being in an official war zone. Journalists in the country face relentless threats from heavily armed gangs, political instability, and the breakdown of government institutions. The once-vibrant media landscape is now in survival mode, as reporters are targeted with alarming frequency. Gang violence, especially in Port-au-Prince, has made newsrooms direct targets. In March, the powerful Viv Ansanm gang coalition launched coordinated attacks, setting fire to at least three radio stations, including the...
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2024: A Record Year for Journalist Fatalities, with Israel Implicated in Majority
February 12, 2025
2024: A Record Year for Journalist Fatalities, with Israel Implicated in Majority
February 12, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  In 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported a record 124 journalist deaths across 18 countries, marking the deadliest year since the organization began tracking such data over three decades ago. Notably, Israel was responsible for nearly 70% of these fatalities, with 85 journalists killed by the Israeli military during the conflict in Gaza. The majority of those killed were Palestinians, including freelancers and local reporters who continued to document the war despite facing extreme risks. The CPJ highlighted that freelance journalists accounted for over a third of...
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Guinean Journalist Habib Marouane Camara Still Missing Months After Abduction
February 11, 2025
Guinean Journalist Habib Marouane Camara Still Missing Months After Abduction
February 11, 2025 - Guinea -  Guinean investigative journalist Habib Marouane Camara was violently abducted in Conakry by men wearing gendarme uniforms. Camara, founder of the news website Lerevelateur224.com, was en route to a meeting with businessman Kerfalla Camara when his vehicle was intercepted at Carrefour KPC. Witnesses reported that the assailants smashed his car’s windshield, assaulted him, and forcibly took him to an unknown location. Despite immediate efforts by his family and legal representatives to locate him, Camara's whereabouts remain unknown months later. His wife, Mariama Lamarana Diallo, and lawyer, Salif Béavogui, filed a...
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Kyrgyz President Supports Elon Musk’s Call to Shut Down U.S.-Funded Media Outlets
February 11, 2025
Kyrgyz President Supports Elon Musk’s Call to Shut Down U.S.-Funded Media Outlets
February 11, 2025 - Kyrgyzstan - Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov publicly endorsed Elon Musk's proposal to close U.S.-funded media organizations Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) and Voice of America (VOA). Musk, serving as head of the U.S. Department of Government Efficiency (DOGE), labeled these outlets as outdated and questioned the justification for the substantial government funding they receive. President Japarov, in an interview with Kyrgyzstan's state news agency Kabar, echoed Musk's sentiments, suggesting that the role of traditional media outlets like RFE/RL has diminished in the digital age. He stated that platforms such as Azattyk,...
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Iran Pardons Journalists Jailed Over Mahsa Amini Coverage Amid Ongoing Press Freedom Concerns
February 11, 2025
Iran Pardons Journalists Jailed Over Mahsa Amini Coverage Amid Ongoing Press Freedom Concerns
February 11, 2025 - Iran -  Iran's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, granted pardons to journalists Niloofar Hamedi, Elaheh Mohammadi, and Rouhollah Nakhaei. This action coincided with the 46th anniversary of the 1979 Islamic Revolution. Hamedi and Mohammadi had been arrested in September 2022 following their coverage of Mahsa Amini's death in police custody—a tragic event that ignited nationwide protests. Hamedi, a photojournalist for Shargh Daily, reported on Amini's hospitalization, while Mohammadi, a reporter for Ham-Mihan newspaper, covered her funeral. Their reporting played a pivotal role in bringing international attention to the incident. In October...
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Israeli Forces Kill 7 Palestinian Journalists in Gaza Amid Escalating Attacks
February 10, 2025
Israeli Forces Kill 7 Palestinian Journalists in Gaza Amid Escalating Attacks
February 10, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli military actions in Gaza resulted in the deaths of at least seven Palestinian journalists, marking a significant escalation in the conflict's toll on media professionals. The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate identified the victims as Omar al-Diraoui, Saed Abu Nabhan, Ahlam al-Taluli, Mohammed Bashir al-Talmis, Aqel Saleh, Ahmed al-Shiah, and Ahmed Hisham Abu al-Rus. Additionally, nine family members of media workers were killed, and six journalists' homes were destroyed during the same period. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has documented over 210 journalist fatalities since the onset of the...
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Assassination of Investigative Journalist Edmondo Bahati Monja in Democratic Republic of Congo
February 10, 2025
Assassination of Investigative Journalist Edmondo Bahati Monja in Democratic Republic of Congo
February 10, 2025 - Congo -  Edmondo Bahati Monja, an investigative journalist for Radio Maria in Goma, Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC), was tragically shot and killed by armed assailants. Based in the eastern region of the country, Goma has been a focal point of violence involving rebel and militia groups. Bahati had been reporting on these conflicts, highlighting the grave human rights abuses and escalating violence in the area. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay condemned Bahati's killing, emphasizing that such acts undermine the fundamental human right to freedom of expression. Azoulay called on the DRC...
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Two Somali Journalists Freed After Illegal Detention by Security Agency and Clan Militia
February 10, 2025
Two Somali Journalists Freed After Illegal Detention by Security Agency and Clan Militia
February 10, 2025 - Somalia -  Somali journalists Sharif Abdi and Omar Yusuf Mohamed (also known as Omar Guux) were released after being unlawfully detained by the Somali National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) and a clan militia, respectively. Their detentions highlight ongoing concerns about press freedom and the safety of journalists in Somalia. Sharif Abdi, a freelance journalist, was arrested on January 25, 2025, by armed NISA officers who tracked his phone after raiding his home in Mogadishu's Waberi district. He was held without a court order at Godka Jilaow, a notorious NISA detention...
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Italian Journalist Francesco Cancellato Targeted by Israeli Spyware Amid Press Freedom Concerns
February 10, 2025
Italian Journalist Francesco Cancellato Targeted by Israeli Spyware Amid Press Freedom Concerns
February 10, 2025 - Italy -  Italian investigative journalist Francesco Cancellato is, editor-in-chief of Fanpage.It, became the latest target of an alarming spyware campaign that has raised serious concerns about press freedom and digital security. WhatsApp alerted Cancellato that his phone had been compromised by Graphite spyware, developed by Israeli company Paragon Solutions. This spyware is especially dangerous because it can infiltrate devices remotely without any interaction from the user, known as a "zero-click" attack. Cancellato is among nearly 90 individuals worldwide targeted in this campaign, including other journalists, activists, and human rights defenders. The...
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Syrians Demand Justice as Alleged Informant in Marie Colvin’s Death Returns to Damascus
February 10, 2025
Syrians Demand Justice as Alleged Informant in Marie Colvin’s Death Returns to Damascus
February 10, 2025 - Syria -  The return of Khaled al-Fares to Syria has ignited widespread outrage and calls for accountability among Syrians and international human rights organizations. Al-Fares, previously a member of the pro-Assad National Defense Forces and a key figure in the regime's intelligence network, is accused of providing information that led to the 2012 assassination of American journalist Marie Colvin. Colvin was killed in a targeted artillery strike while reporting from Baba Amr in Homs, Syria. Documents obtained by The Media Line suggest that al-Fares was instrumental in identifying Colvin's location, leading...
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Taliban Closes Radio Begum, Detains Staff in Escalating Crackdown on Afghan Women’s Media
February 9, 2025
Taliban Closes Radio Begum, Detains Staff in Escalating Crackdown on Afghan Women’s Media
February 09, 2025 - Afghanistan -  Taliban authorities raided Radio Begum, Afghanistan’s only nationwide women-run radio station, arresting two employees and suspending its operations. The Ministry of Information and Culture cited "multiple violations," including the unauthorized provision of content to a foreign-based television channel, as grounds for the shutdown. Founded in March 2021 by Afghan journalist Hamida Aman, Radio Begum was established to provide educational programming for Afghan women and girls, particularly in the face of increasing restrictions on women's rights under Taliban rule. The station's content, produced entirely by Afghan women, includes lessons on...
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Turkey Detains Three Journalists Over Istanbul Prosecutor Story
February 9, 2025
Turkey Detains Three Journalists Over Istanbul Prosecutor Story
February 09, 2025 - Turkey - Turkish authorities detained three journalists from the independent newspaper BirGün after they published a story about a visit by a journalist from the pro-government Sabah newspaper to Istanbul’s chief prosecutor, Akın Gürlek. The detained journalists—Uğur Koç, Berkant Gültekin, and Yaşar Gökdemir—were accused under Turkey’s broad anti-terrorism laws of “targeting individuals engaged in counterterrorism efforts.” This move sparked significant backlash both within Turkey and internationally. The story at the center of the controversy had already been reported by Sabah itself, making the detention of the BirGün journalists even more contentious....
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Veteran Kurdish Journalist Aziz Köylüoğlu Killed in Turkish Drone Strike
February 8, 2025
Veteran Kurdish Journalist Aziz Köylüoğlu Killed in Turkish Drone Strike
February 08, 2025 - Turkey/Iraq - Veteran Kurdish journalist Aziz Köylüoğlu was killed on January 27, 2025, in a targeted Turkish drone strike in the Ranya district of Sulaymaniyah province, part of the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. The Union of Democratic Press of Kurdistan (YRD) confirmed his death, describing the attack as a deliberate attempt to silence his critical reporting on Turkish state policies towards the Kurdish population. Born in 1976 in Diyarbakır (Amed), Turkey, Köylüoğlu began his journalistic career in the early 2000s. He worked across various media platforms, including RojNews, ANHA, and Ronahi...
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Turkish Journalist Ali Barış Kurt Imprisoned for Social Media Posts
February 8, 2025
Turkish Journalist Ali Barış Kurt Imprisoned for Social Media Posts
February 08, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish journalist Ali Barış Kurt was imprisoned in Istanbul after the Court of Cassation upheld a prison sentence of two years and four months against him. The sentence stemmed from charges related to his social media activity and journalistic work, which Turkish authorities claimed violated anti-terrorism laws. Following his detention, Kurt was taken to the Bostancı District Security Directorate and then remanded in custody at Maltepe L Type Closed Prison No. 1. Kurt’s imprisonment is part of a wider crackdown on press freedom in Turkey, a country where journalists...
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JinNews Reporter Öznur Değer Imprisoned in Turkey for Reporting on Kurdish Family Massacre
February 7, 2025
JinNews Reporter Öznur Değer Imprisoned in Turkey for Reporting on Kurdish Family Massacre
February 7, 2025 - Turkey - Öznur Değer, a journalist for the Kurdish women's news agency JinNews, was arrested during a police raid on her home in Mardin, Turkey. Authorities charged her with "making propaganda for a terrorist organization" based on her social media posts and journalistic work. Değer had previously reported on the 2021 massacre of seven members of the Dedeoğulları family in Konya, a case that garnered significant attention due to its ethnic implications. Her posts, such as "I am a Kurd too" and "Kurds are being massacred in Konya," were cited as...
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British-Syrian Journalist Richard Medhurst Detained Under UK Terrorism Act, Sparking Press Freedom Outcry
February 7, 2025
British-Syrian Journalist Richard Medhurst Detained Under UK Terrorism Act, Sparking Press Freedom Outcry
February 7, 2025 - Syria/UK/Austria - Richard Medhurst, a Syrian-British journalist and political commentator, was arrested on August 15, 2024, at London Heathrow Airport under Section 12 of the UK's Terrorism Act 2000. This section criminalizes expressing support for a proscribed organization, including opinions or beliefs that could encourage others to support such groups. Medhurst was detained for nearly 24 hours without being informed of the specific allegations against him. During his detention, his electronic devices and journalistic equipment were seized, and he was denied access to legal counsel until he explicitly requested it. He...
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Chinese Journalist Zhang Zhan’s Health Deteriorates in Detention Five Years After Reporting on COVID-19 Outbreak
February 7, 2025
Chinese Journalist Zhang Zhan’s Health Deteriorates in Detention Five Years After Reporting on COVID-19 Outbreak
February 07, 2025 - China -  Zhang Zhan, a Chinese citizen journalist and former lawyer, has been detained since May 2020 for her independent reporting on the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic in Wuhan. She was arrested after documenting the city's lockdown and the government's response, sharing her findings on social media platforms such as Twitter, YouTube, and WeChat. In December 2020, Zhang was sentenced to four years in prison on charges of "picking quarrels and provoking trouble," a vaguely defined offense often used by Chinese authorities to suppress dissent. During her imprisonment, Zhang's...
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Pakistan’s DigiMAP Condemns Threats Against Veteran Journalist Munizae Jahangir
February 7, 2025
Pakistan’s DigiMAP Condemns Threats Against Veteran Journalist Munizae Jahangir
February 07, 2025 - Pakistan -  Pakistan’s Digital Media Alliance (DigiMAP) has raised alarm over serious threats and intimidation targeting Munizae Jahangir, a senior journalist and anchor known for her fearless reporting on sensitive issues, including controversial blasphemy cases. As a founding member of DigiMAP, Jahangir has been subjected to coordinated attacks aimed at silencing her and undermining press freedom in Pakistan. The recent wave of hostility, largely driven by religious extremist groups, has put Jahangir’s physical safety and professional integrity at risk. This campaign follows earlier episodes of online harassment and trolling, escalating the...
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IFJ Urges Journalists Targeted by Spyware to Report Breaches Amid Global Surveillance Concerns
February 7, 2025
IFJ Urges Journalists Targeted by Spyware to Report Breaches Amid Global Surveillance Concerns
February 07, 2025 - General -  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) is calling on journalists who have been targeted by spyware to confidentially report breaches to the organization. This appeal follows revelations that nearly 100 journalists and civil society members were targeted using Paragon Solutions' "Graphite" spyware via WhatsApp. WhatsApp disclosed the disruption of this spyware campaign in December 2024 and has since notified affected users. Francesco Cancellato, an Italian investigative journalist, was among the first to publicly acknowledge receiving a notification from WhatsApp about the breach. Cancellato's outlet, Fanpage, had previously exposed controversial...
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Serbian Journalists Face Growing Threat Amid Protests
February 7, 2025
Serbian Journalists Face Growing Threat Amid Protests
February 07, 2025 - Serbia -  Journalists in Serbia are facing an alarming wave of attacks, harassment, and surveillance as the country grapples with mass anti-government protests and political unrest. The current crisis began after the collapse of a train station canopy in Novi Sad in late 2024, which killed 15 people and was widely blamed on government negligence. Since then, students and activists have led large-scale protests demanding accountability and reform. Independent journalists covering the protests have become frequent targets. According to PEN International, they’ve faced public smear campaigns, doxxing, and verbal threats, often...
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Slidell Woman Arrested in Death of Kansas City Reporter
February 7, 2025
Slidell Woman Arrested in Death of Kansas City Reporter
February 07, 2025 - USA -  A woman from Slidell, Louisiana, has been arrested in connection with the February 2025 death of Adan Manzano, a 27-year-old Telemundo reporter from Kansas City. Manzano was found dead in a Kenner hotel room during his assignment covering Super Bowl LIX in New Orleans. The suspect, 48-year-old Danette Colbert, was taken into custody after authorities reviewed surveillance footage showing her entering Manzano’s hotel room early in the morning and leaving alone an hour later. Shortly after her departure, Manzano was found deceased. An autopsy later confirmed that he died...
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Journalists in Ethiopia Face Mounting Threats Amid Ongoing Conflict
February 7, 2025
Journalists in Ethiopia Face Mounting Threats Amid Ongoing Conflict
February 07, 2025 - Ethiopia -  Ethiopia’s independent media sector is under severe strain as journalists contend with arrests, surveillance, exile, and increasing violence amid the country’s ongoing political and ethnic conflicts. Since 2019, at least 92 journalists have been detained, with many targeted during periods of civil unrest, especially in the Amhara and Tigray regions. The government has used states of emergency and vague legal justifications—often linking journalists to rebel groups or accusing them of spreading misinformation—to suppress dissenting voices. In 2024 alone, 43 journalists were arrested, imprisoned, or kidnapped. Some were held in...
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Azerbaijan’s Crackdown on Independent Journalists Intensifies Amid Politically Motivated Arrests
February 6, 2025
Azerbaijan’s Crackdown on Independent Journalists Intensifies Amid Politically Motivated Arrests
February 6, 2025 - Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan's government has intensified its crackdown on independent media, with the recent arrests of two more journalists on smuggling charges, bringing the total number of detained media workers to at least 24 since November 2023. These arrests are part of broader investigations into three prominent independent outlets: Abzas Media, Toplum TV, and Meydan TV. The latest detainees include Shamshad Agha, editor of the news website Argument, who was taken to court in Baku on February 6, 2025. Authorities accuse the journalists of smuggling foreign currency into the country, a...
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France Warns Russia Over Journalist Accreditation Dispute
February 6, 2025
France Warns Russia Over Journalist Accreditation Dispute
February 06, 2025 - Russia/France -  France has strongly condemned Russia’s decision to revoke the accreditation of Benjamin Quénelle, Le Monde’s Moscow correspondent, calling it an unjustified and arbitrary “disguised expulsion.” This move has sparked a diplomatic dispute between the two countries amid already tense relations. The French Foreign Ministry expressed deep disapproval, warning Russia that such actions could prompt a formal response. France’s reaction comes shortly after Paris refused to grant visas to journalists from the Russian pro-Kremlin tabloid Komsomolskaya Pravda, accusing them of being linked to Russian intelligence services. France views this refusal...
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Ghanaian Journalists Face Growing Threats Amidst Mining Investigations
February 6, 2025
Ghanaian Journalists Face Growing Threats Amidst Mining Investigations
February 06, 2025 - Ghana -  Ghanaian journalists are confronting escalating violence and intimidation, particularly when reporting on illegal mining activities, known locally as galamsey. Despite constitutional guarantees of press freedom, a pervasive culture of impunity persists, undermining journalistic safety and accountability. In December 2024, journalist Ohemeng Tawiah and his camera operator, Joseph Kusi, were attacked by armed men, some in military camouflage, while covering a police operation against illegal mining in the Ashanti region. The assailants assaulted Tawiah with stones and machetes, stole equipment, and destroyed Kusi’s camera. Despite Tawiah providing police with evidence,...
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Azerbaijan Intensifies Crackdown on Independent Media Amidst Unprecedented Arrests
February 5, 2025
Azerbaijan Intensifies Crackdown on Independent Media Amidst Unprecedented Arrests
February 5, 2025 - Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan's government has escalated its repression of independent journalism, with the International Press Institute (IPI) condemning the recent arrests of two journalists, Shamshad Aghayev and Ahmad Mammadli, as part of a broader campaign to silence critical media voices. These detentions bring the total number of journalists arrested in Azerbaijan to at least 25 since late 2023, marking an unprecedented crackdown on press freedom in the country. Aghayev, editor of the independent outlet Argument, was detained in February 2025 and charged with "smuggling of foreign currency" under Article 206.3.2 of...
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Press Freedom Violations Surge in Turkey Amidst Growing Repression in 2025
February 5, 2025
Press Freedom Violations Surge in Turkey Amidst Growing Repression in 2025
February 05, 2025 - Turkey - Turkey experienced a sharp increase in press freedom violations, sparking urgent calls for action from more than 40 international media and press freedom organizations. Groups including the International Press Institute (IPI), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), and Freedom House jointly condemned the intensifying crackdown on independent journalism across the country. The coalition highlighted alarming statistics: in January 2025 alone, at least nine journalists were arrested, six received prison sentences, five were detained, 23 faced investigations, and one was subjected...
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Bangladesh Faces Escalating Threats to Press Freedom Amid Political Transition
February 5, 2025
Bangladesh Faces Escalating Threats to Press Freedom Amid Political Transition
February 05, 2025 - Bangladesh -  Bangladesh's press freedom landscape has deteriorated significantly in 2025, with journalists facing increased violence, harassment, and legal persecution. Despite the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina in August 2024, the interim government under Nobel laureate Muhammad Yunus has struggled to protect media workers and uphold press freedoms. According to Ain O Salish Kendra, from August 2024 to March 2025, there were 398 reported incidents of attacks and harassment against journalists, averaging over 50 incidents per month. Notably, in February and March alone, 82 such incidents were recorded. These attacks...
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Bangladesh’s Press Freedom Under Siege: Arbitrary Detentions and International Appeals
February 5, 2025
Bangladesh’s Press Freedom Under Siege: Arbitrary Detentions and International Appeals
February 05, 2025 - Bangladesh -  Since the August 2024 ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladesh's interim government under Nobel laureate Dr. Muhammad Yunus has intensified its crackdown on journalists, particularly those perceived as supportive of the former regime. This repression has led to widespread arrests, legal harassment, and international condemnation. Among the most prominent cases are those of journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed. On August 21, 2024, the couple was arrested at Dhaka's Shahjalal International Airport while attempting to travel to Paris. They were charged with murder in connection with their journalistic...
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Georgian Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli Transferred to Clinic Amid Hunger Strike and Health Concerns
February 5, 2025
Georgian Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli Transferred to Clinic Amid Hunger Strike and Health Concerns
February 05, 2025 - Georgia -  Mzia Amaglobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and founder of the independent media outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was transferred from prison to the Vivamedi clinic in early 2025 amid mounting concerns over her health. Amaglobeli was arrested on January 12, 2025, during a protest in Batumi, where she was charged with assaulting a police officer—a charge she and her supporters strongly dispute, arguing it was politically motivated. The protest itself was part of broader demonstrations calling for new elections and opposing the government’s suspension of Georgia’s European Union accession plans....
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Tunisian Court Jails Opposition Politicians and Journalists Amid Crackdown on Dissent
February 5, 2025
Tunisian Court Jails Opposition Politicians and Journalists Amid Crackdown on Dissent
February 05, 2025 - Tunisia - Tunisia’s political climate has intensified as the government escalates its crackdown on opposition figures and independent journalists. Several opposition politicians and journalists have been arrested and sentenced by Tunisian courts, prompting widespread domestic and international criticism over the suppression of political dissent and press freedom. Among those detained are prominent opposition leaders and journalists who have openly criticized the government’s policies and called for democratic reforms. These arrests come amid ongoing political tensions following the 2021 constitutional changes that increased executive powers and weakened democratic institutions. Critics argue that...
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Assault on Journalist Viktoria Dmytrenko Highlights Rising Risks for Media in Ukraine
February 5, 2025
Assault on Journalist Viktoria Dmytrenko Highlights Rising Risks for Media in Ukraine
February 05, 2025 - Ukraine -  Viktoria Dmytrenko, a journalist for My—Ukraina TV, was physically assaulted while reporting on a murder trial at the Shevchenkivskyi District Court in Kyiv. The incident occurred during proceedings related to the death of 16-year-old Maksym Materukhin, who was fatally injured at a Kyiv funicular station in April 2024. The suspect, Artem Kosov, an employee of the State Protection Department, was charged with premeditated murder. According to eyewitness accounts and video footage, a woman, identified as the mother of the accused, approached Dmytrenko, slapped her in the face, and forcibly...
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Kurdish Journalist Bashdar Bazyani Detained Amidst Press Freedom Concerns
February 5, 2025
Kurdish Journalist Bashdar Bazyani Detained Amidst Press Freedom Concerns
February 05, 2025 -Iraq -  Kurdish journalist Bashdar Bazyani was arrested in Al-Sulaymaniyah, Kurdistan Region, after being summoned to the Sarchnar Police Station. Following interrogation, he was transferred to the Criminal Court, where a detention order was issued until February 9. Despite efforts by fellow journalists Sardasht Hama Salih and Dana Salih to visit him, access was reportedly denied. The Metro Center for the Defense of Journalists' Rights has called for Bazyani's immediate release on bail, emphasizing the need to handle journalistic cases under the Press Law and to avoid applying alternative laws to journalists...
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Mozambican Blogger Albino Sibia Killed While Livestreaming Police Crackdown
February 5, 2025
Mozambican Blogger Albino Sibia Killed While Livestreaming Police Crackdown
February 05, 2025 - Mozambique -  Mozambican blogger Albino José Sibia, known online as "Mano Shottas," was fatally shot by police while livestreaming a protest in Ressano Garcia, near the South African border. Sibia, 30, was documenting police dispersal of demonstrators protesting environmental concerns related to chromium transport. During the livestream, he was shot twice in the back by a police officer. His final words, "Help. I got shot and they keep shooting… I am dying," were broadcast live on Facebook. He died approximately four hours later while being transferred from a local clinic to...
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VOA Journalist Targeted by Deepfake Campaign in Alarming Press Freedom Threat
February 5, 2025
VOA Journalist Targeted by Deepfake Campaign in Alarming Press Freedom Threat
February 05, 2025 - Russia -  Voice of America (VOA) journalist Cristina Caicedo Smit became the target of a deepfake campaign, highlighting growing concerns over the misuse of artificial intelligence to spread disinformation and undermine press freedom. At least two fabricated videos surfaced on social media platform X, depicting Caicedo Smit delivering news segments that she never recorded. These deepfakes utilized AI-generated visuals and audio to closely mimic her appearance and voice, making them appear convincingly authentic. The manipulated videos began with Caicedo Smit's standard introduction, lending an air of legitimacy, before transitioning into fabricated...
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Afghan Journalist Mahdi Ansary Jailed by Taliban in Ongoing Crackdown on Media
February 4, 2025
Afghan Journalist Mahdi Ansary Jailed by Taliban in Ongoing Crackdown on Media
February 04, 2025 - Afghanistan -  The Taliban regime has intensified its suppression of press freedom with the sentencing of Afghan journalist Mahdi Ansary to 18 months in prison on vague anti-regime charges. Ansary, a reporter for the Kabul-based YouTube channel "Rah-e-Farda," was convicted in a closed-door military court without due process or legal representation, raising widespread alarm among press freedom advocates and international rights organizations. Ansary was arrested on October 5, 2023, by the Taliban’s intelligence agency and held incommunicado for over 100 days. His conviction in early January 2025 was reportedly based on...
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Kazakh Satirist Temirlan Yensebek Sentenced Over Social Media Post
February 4, 2025
Kazakh Satirist Temirlan Yensebek Sentenced Over Social Media Post
February 04, 2025 - Kazakhstan -  Temirlan Yensebek, a well-known Kazakh political satirist and founder of the Instagram page Qaznews24, was sentenced in April 2025 to five years of restricted freedom after being convicted of “inciting ethnic and religious hatred.” The charges stemmed from a satirical post mocking Russian media figure Tina Kandelaki’s comments about Kazakhstan. Yensebek’s account, known for humorous takes on current events, had posted a parody video that authorities claimed promoted social discord. Yensebek was arrested on January 17, 2025, and tried under Article 174 of Kazakhstan’s Criminal Code, a broadly worded...
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Usman Khawaja Defends Journalist Peter Lalor After Dismissal Over Gaza Posts
February 4, 2025
Usman Khawaja Defends Journalist Peter Lalor After Dismissal Over Gaza Posts
February 04, 2025 - Australia -  Australian cricketer Usman Khawaja has publicly defended veteran sports journalist Peter Lalor after he was removed from SEN Radio’s commentary team for expressing support for Palestinians during the Gaza conflict. Lalor, who has reported on cricket for decades, was taken off the air after he shared and liked social media posts criticizing Israel’s actions in Gaza. His dismissal sparked a wider debate about media neutrality, freedom of expression, and the treatment of those speaking out about the humanitarian crisis in Palestine. Lalor stated that his posts aimed to highlight...
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UK Parliament Introduces ‘Jimmy Lai Bill’ to Protect Detained Journalists Abroad
February 3, 2025
UK Parliament Introduces ‘Jimmy Lai Bill’ to Protect Detained Journalists Abroad
February 03, 2025 - China/UK -  British Member of Parliament Blair McDougall introduced the 'Jimmy Lai Bill'—officially titled the Consular Assistance (Journalists) Bill—in the UK Parliament. This proposed legislation aims to establish a legal right for British journalists detained or held hostage abroad to receive consular assistance, addressing a significant gap in the UK's current foreign policy framework. Named after Jimmy Lai, a British citizen and founder of Hong Kong's pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, the bill highlights the challenges faced by journalists operating in repressive regimes. Lai has been imprisoned in Hong Kong since December...
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Putin’s Threats Against Journalist Highlight Press Freedom Challenges
February 3, 2025
Putin’s Threats Against Journalist Highlight Press Freedom Challenges
February 03, 2025 - Russia/USA -  Russian President Vladimir Putin has intensified his crackdown on independent journalism by issuing threats against British journalist Jerome Starkey. Starkey, the Defense Editor for The Sun, has been reporting from Ukraine, documenting the human cost of Russia's invasion. In retaliation, a Russian court in Kursk issued an arrest warrant for Starkey, accusing him of illegally crossing the border during a Ukrainian counteroffensive. Starkey has dismissed these charges as politically motivated and vowed to continue his reporting, emphasizing that journalism is not a crime. This development underscores the increasing risks...
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Press Freedom in Asia Faces Sharp Decline Amid Crackdowns and Internet Restrictions
February 3, 2025
Press Freedom in Asia Faces Sharp Decline Amid Crackdowns and Internet Restrictions
February 03, 2025 - Asia - Press freedom across Asia is under severe threat, marked by increasing arrests of journalists, widespread internet shutdowns, and restrictive cybersecurity laws that hinder independent media. The region remains the global leader in imprisoning journalists, with countries like China, Myanmar, and Vietnam holding dozens of reporters behind bars. Asia accounted for nearly one-third of all journalist detentions worldwide in 2024. Myanmar’s military junta has tightened its grip with a new cybersecurity law enacted in January 2025. This legislation empowers authorities to censor digital platforms aggressively, targeting VPNs and other tools...
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Cambodia Denies Re-Entry to Investigative Journalist Gerald Flynn
February 3, 2025
Cambodia Denies Re-Entry to Investigative Journalist Gerald Flynn
February 03, 2025 - Cambodia - Cambodian authorities denied re-entry to British investigative journalist Gerald Flynn, citing alleged discrepancies in his visa application. Flynn, who has reported extensively on environmental issues in Cambodia, particularly illegal logging and land grabbing, was barred from returning after a brief trip to Thailand. Despite holding a valid work permit and a 12-month extension to his multiple-entry business visa, immigration officials claimed that Flynn had submitted a fraudulent visa application and placed him on a blacklist dating back to November 25, 2024. Flynn's exclusion follows his involvement in a France24...
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Remembering Kenji Goto: A Decade Since the Tragic Loss of a Courageous Journalist
February 3, 2025
Remembering Kenji Goto: A Decade Since the Tragic Loss of a Courageous Journalist
February 03, 2025 - Japan -  On January 31, 2025, journalists and supporters gathered in Tokyo to honor the memory of Kenji Goto, the Japanese reporter who was killed by Islamic State militants in Syria ten years ago. Goto's tragic death in 2015 marked a grim milestone, as he remains the only Japanese journalist since World War II to be taken hostage and murdered while covering a conflict zone. Goto was captured during his courageous reporting in Syria, and the shocking video of his execution was released in early February 2015. His work reflected a...
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Mexican Journalist Alejandro Gallegos León Found Dead Amid Rising Violence Against Press
February 3, 2025
Mexican Journalist Alejandro Gallegos León Found Dead Amid Rising Violence Against Press
February 03, 2025 - Mexico -  Alejandro Gallegos León, a prominent Mexican journalist, was found murdered in Cárdenas, Tabasco. He had been reported missing the day before, last seen around mid-afternoon. Gallegos, 51, was a well-known figure in local journalism, founding the Facebook news outlet La Voz del Pueblo, contributing as a columnist for Tabasco HOY, and teaching at Alfa y Omega University in Villahermosa. His body was discovered with gunshot wounds, prompting an immediate investigation by the Tabasco State Attorney General’s Office. The circumstances of his death have raised concerns about targeted violence against...
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Syrian Photographers Union Condemns Turkish Attacks on Journalists Near Tishreen Dam
February 3, 2025
Syrian Photographers Union Condemns Turkish Attacks on Journalists Near Tishreen Dam
February 03, 2025 - Syria/Turkey -  The Syrian Photographers Union, based near the Tishreen Dam in northeastern Syria, has strongly condemned recent Turkish military actions targeting journalists and civilians in the region. In a statement issued on February 3, 2025, the union highlighted the importance of art and journalism in conveying the suffering, culture, heritage, and spirit of people throughout history. The union called for international pressure on Turkey to cease these attacks and to allow for the organization of art festivals instead of destruction. Over the past three months, Turkish drone strikes have resulted...
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Yemeni Journalist Sentenced for Social Media Criticism Amid Press Freedom Concerns
February 3, 2025
Yemeni Journalist Sentenced for Social Media Criticism Amid Press Freedom Concerns
February 03, 2025 - Yemen -  Freelance journalist Aziz Al-Ahmadi was sentenced to four months in prison with a suspended sentence by the Ataq Primary Court in Shabwa province, southern Yemen. The charges stemmed from an August 2024 Facebook post in which Al-Ahmadi questioned the rental of private land for a solar energy project instead of utilizing public land and criticized frequent power outages in the region. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) condemned the ruling, labeling it an example of escalating intimidation against journalists in Yemen. CPJ Program Director Carlos Martinez de la Serna...
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Hungarian Authorities Detain and Charge Telex Journalists Amid Media Freedom Concerns
February 3, 2025
Hungarian Authorities Detain and Charge Telex Journalists Amid Media Freedom Concerns
February 03, 2025 - Hungary -  Two journalists from the independent Hungarian news outlet Telex—reporter Dániel Simor and camera operator Noémi Gombos—were detained by police while waiting to question Prime Minister Viktor Orbán about healthcare issues. The journalists had registered to cover the opening of a film studio in Fót but were stopped and removed by police before the Prime Minister’s arrival. After being held and questioned for three hours, they were charged with misdemeanor offenses for allegedly resisting police orders, potentially facing fines up to $500. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) strongly condemned...
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Cambodian Journalists Detained Over Video Exposing Alleged Torture in Cyberscam Compound
February 3, 2025
Cambodian Journalists Detained Over Video Exposing Alleged Torture in Cyberscam Compound
February 03, 2025 - Cambodia -  Two Cambodian journalists, Duong Akhara and Lay Socheat, were arrested after releasing a video that allegedly showed a man being tortured in a cyberscam compound in Phnom Penh. The footage, published by Akhara’s SA TV and Socheat’s Cambodia Star Daily News 24/24, reportedly depicted a victim handcuffed to a pole and subjected to physical abuse. However, Cambodian authorities denied the authenticity of the video and accused the journalists of spreading false information. Both Akhara and Socheat were charged with incitement, with officials claiming their video could disrupt public order...
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Mexican Journalist Alan García Zúñiga Released After 11 Days in Captivity
February 2, 2025
Mexican Journalist Alan García Zúñiga Released After 11 Days in Captivity
February 02, 2025 - Mexico -  Mexican journalist Alan García Zúñiga was abducted near his home in Poza Rica, Veracruz, a region notorious for threats against press freedom. García Zúñiga, who had worked for local newspapers Noreste and El Dictamen de Veracruz, had shifted from traditional reporting to managing a Facebook page sharing official police information at the municipal and state levels. He also worked as a stretcher-bearer at a Pemex hospital. Since 2017, García Zúñiga had been under the Federal Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists, following an earlier armed attack against...
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Iraqi Kurdish Photojournalist Qaraman Shukri Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison After Secret Trial
February 2, 2025
Iraqi Kurdish Photojournalist Qaraman Shukri Sentenced to Seven Years in Prison After Secret Trial
February 02, 2025 - Iraq -  In a troubling development for press freedom in Iraqi Kurdistan, photojournalist Qaraman Shukri was sentenced to seven years in prison following a secret trial. The verdict, delivered without public transparency, has drawn widespread condemnation from human rights and press freedom organizations. Shukri, known for his courageous reporting and documentation of political and social issues in the region, was arrested in late 2020 under unclear charges. Authorities have not publicly disclosed detailed evidence or the grounds for his prosecution, raising serious concerns about the fairness of the legal process. His...
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Palestinian Journalists Reveal Untold Stories from the Gaza War
February 2, 2025
Palestinian Journalists Reveal Untold Stories from the Gaza War
February 02, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Amid the ongoing conflict in Gaza, Palestinian journalists have been courageously documenting the war’s harsh realities, offering powerful firsthand accounts that go beyond headlines. Their reporting captures not only the destruction but also the resilience and humanity of those living through the crisis. One such journalist, Plestia Alaqad, shared her experiences at the Sharjah Entrepreneurship Festival 2025. Alaqad recounted the deep losses she witnessed — entire neighborhoods and families erased by conflict. She emphasized how many of the places she reported on no longer exist, illustrating the fragile and...
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Berlin Police Officer Fined for Assaulting Journalist During Protest Eviction
February 2, 2025
Berlin Police Officer Fined for Assaulting Journalist During Protest Eviction
February 02, 2025 - Germany -  A Berlin police officer was fined €7,200 for assaulting a journalist during a police operation at Humboldt University in May 2024. The incident occurred amid the eviction of pro-Palestinian activists who had barricaded themselves inside the university’s Institute for Social Sciences. The journalist, clearly marked with press credentials including a press badge and professional equipment, was covering the protest when the officer unlawfully detained and assaulted him. Despite the journalist’s visible identification, the officer struck him in the face and handcuffed him, holding him in custody for several hours....
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Israeli Soldiers Shoot Three Palestinians and Assault Journalist in West Bank
February 2, 2025
Israeli Soldiers Shoot Three Palestinians and Assault Journalist in West Bank
February 02, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli forces shot at least three Palestinians, including a child, and assaulted a journalist during operations in various parts of the occupied West Bank. In Beitunia, near the Ofer military prison, a 15-year-old boy was shot in the thigh with live ammunition while near the prison. The Palestinian Red Crescent Society reported that its ambulance crews transported the child to the hospital. Concurrently, soldiers fired concussion grenades at citizens in the area, coinciding with a bus carrying released Palestinian detainees as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and...
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Israeli Forces Detain Palestinian Journalists and Confiscate Equipment in Hebron
February 1, 2025
Israeli Forces Detain Palestinian Journalists and Confiscate Equipment in Hebron
February 01, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli occupation forces detained two Palestinian journalists, Ihab Al-Alami and Nidal Al-Natsheh, while they were documenting agricultural damage near the Israeli settlement of Karmei Tzur in Beit Ummar, north of Hebron. The journalists were reporting on the destruction of Palestinian-owned farmland, a frequent consequence of settler expansion and military actions in the occupied West Bank. During the detention, Israeli soldiers confiscated three cameras from Al-Alami and Al-Natsheh, preventing them from continuing their documentation. After several hours, the journalists were released but forced to leave the area under military orders....
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Trump’s War on the Free Press: A Systematic Attack on Truth
February 1, 2025
Trump’s War on the Free Press: A Systematic Attack on Truth
February 01, 2025 - USA -  From the outset of his political career, Donald Trump has waged a relentless war against the free press, undermining public trust and reshaping the media landscape. His campaign is not merely rhetorical but represents a deliberate strategy to discredit, marginalize, and control the flow of information. In the first 100 days of his presidency, Trump took unprecedented steps to sideline traditional media. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) documented multiple alarming trends: the White House excluded major outlets like CNN and The New York Times from press briefings, threatened to revoke...
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Wave of Journalist Arrests Highlights Growing Media Repression in Kurdish Regions
February 1, 2025
Wave of Journalist Arrests Highlights Growing Media Repression in Kurdish Regions
February 01, 2025 - Kurdistan -  A series of journalist arrests in Iraqi Kurdistan and northeastern Syria has drawn strong condemnation from international media watchdogs, highlighting ongoing threats to press freedom in the region. In Iraqi Kurdistan’s Sulaymaniyah province, journalist Bashdar Baziani was detained along with three colleagues in February 2025 while covering the launch of the Media21 digital outlet. Although his colleagues were released shortly after on bail, Baziani remains imprisoned without formal charges. Organizations such as the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Reporters Without Borders (RSF) have condemned his detention as arbitrary,...
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The PA, Israel, and Arab States: A Coordinated Effort to Silence Palestinian Voices
February 1, 2025
The PA, Israel, and Arab States: A Coordinated Effort to Silence Palestinian Voices
February 01, 2025 - Palestine/ Israel -  Recent analyses highlight a disturbing alliance between the Palestinian Authority (PA), Israel, and several Arab governments aimed at suppressing Palestinian dissent and obstructing the truth about the ongoing occupation.According to Al Jazeera’s Eman Mohammed, the PA has consistently worked alongside Israel to silence independent journalists and restrict freedom of expression. Drawing from personal experience in Gaza, Mohammed describes how the PA’s security forces targeted journalists, activists, and critics to maintain political control and avoid challenging Israeli authority. This partnership allows Israel to outsource much of the internal repression...
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Israeli Spyware Targets Italian Journalists, Raising Press Freedom Concerns
February 1, 2025
Israeli Spyware Targets Italian Journalists, Raising Press Freedom Concerns
February 01, 2025 - Italy/ Israel -  Two Italian investigative journalists from Fanpage.it have publicly identified themselves as targets of sophisticated Israeli-made spyware, fueling growing concerns about the misuse of surveillance technology against journalists and activists. In January 2025, Francesco Cancellato, editor-in-chief of Fanpage.it, received an alert from WhatsApp informing him that his phone was targeted with spyware. This notification was part of a broader alert campaign affecting approximately 90 users globally. Cancellato, known for his investigative work on Italy’s far-right Brothers of Italy party, described the attempted intrusion as a serious violation of his...
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Journalists Killed, Arrested, and Released Amid Escalating Attacks on Press Freedom
February 1, 2025
Journalists Killed, Arrested, and Released Amid Escalating Attacks on Press Freedom
February 01, 2025 - Turkey -  On December 19, 2024, Turkish journalists Nazîm Daştan and Cîhan Bilgin were killed when a Turkish drone targeted their vehicle near the Tishrin Dam in Northern and Eastern Syria. Daştan worked for Firat News Agency and Ronahi TV, while Bilgin was a correspondent for Hawar News Agency. Their driver was also injured. Press freedom organizations, including the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG), condemned the strike as a deliberate assault on journalists fulfilling their duty to document the conflict. Following the killings, Turkish authorities arrested several journalists on December 21,...
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Ryazan Journalists Arrested on Extortion Charges Amid Growing Pressure on Russian Media
January 31, 2025
Ryazan Journalists Arrested on Extortion Charges Amid Growing Pressure on Russian Media
January 31, 2025 - Russia - In January 2025, three Russian journalists were arrested in Ryazan on charges of extorting a local businessman. The case has attracted widespread attention, highlighting ongoing concerns about media freedom and the legal pressures faced by journalists in Russia. Those arrested include Konstantin Smirnov, editor-in-chief of the Telegram channel Ryazan Vid Sboku and a local Yabloko party member, Alexei Frolov, former head of the Ryazan bureau for the independent Novaya Gazeta, and Natalia Smolyaninova, a former television reporter. Authorities allege that the journalists demanded between 300,000 and 1.2 million rubles...
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Russia Expands “Foreign Agent” List to Target VOA, Current Time, and BBC Journalists
January 31, 2025
Russia Expands “Foreign Agent” List to Target VOA, Current Time, and BBC Journalists
January 31, 2025 - Russia -  In January 2025, Russia’s Justice Ministry added six journalists from Voice of America (VOA), Current Time, and the BBC to its growing "foreign agents" registry, escalating its crackdown on independent media and foreign press. Among those designated are Ksenia Turkova, a journalist for VOA’s Russian service, and Iryna Romaliiska, a correspondent for Current Time, a joint project of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty and VOA. Several BBC Russian Service journalists were also included. This designation forces journalists to label all their work with a "foreign agent" disclaimer, report their income...
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Israeli Journalist Faces Backlash After Soldiers Watch His Show in Raided Palestinian Home
January 31, 2025
Israeli Journalist Faces Backlash After Soldiers Watch His Show in Raided Palestinian Home
January 31, 2025 - Palestine/ Israel - Israeli journalist Yaniv Magal has sparked widespread outrage after posting footage of Israeli soldiers watching his television program inside a Palestinian home during a military raid in the West Bank. The video, shared on Magal’s Telegram channel on January 31, 2025, shows more than 10 armed soldiers gathered in a Palestinian living room in the northern West Bank, reportedly in Tulkarem, while his show aired on the television. The soldiers are seen casually moving around the room, turning the raid scene into what many critics have described as...
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Comores Charges Journalist After Report About The President
January 31, 2025
Comores Charges Journalist After Report About The President
January 31, 2025 - Comoros -  A journalist in Comoros is facing trial on charges of spreading false news after publishing a report suggesting President Azali Assoumani expressed a desire for his son to succeed him as head of state. The case has drawn attention to growing concerns over press freedom in the country. The controversy began after Abdou Moustoifa, a 31-year-old local correspondent for Reuters, published an article on January 24, 2025, quoting President Azali's recent speech. In his remarks, Azali used a Comorian word that can mean "son," "daughter," or "child." Moustoifa’s report...
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Court releases 7 journalists arrested for protesting colleagues’ deaths in Turkish drone strike
January 31, 2025
Court releases 7 journalists arrested for protesting colleagues’ deaths in Turkish drone strike
January 31, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish authorities detained several journalists who were covering or protesting government actions, raising serious concerns over media freedom in the country. While courts have since ordered their release, the incidents reflect growing pressure on both domestic and international journalists. Seven journalists were arrested while participating in a banned demonstration in Istanbul. The protest was organized in response to the deaths of Kurdish journalists Nazîm Daştan and Cîhan Bilgin, who were killed by a Turkish drone strike in Northern Syria near the Tishrin Dam. Authorities accused the journalists of violating...
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Nayla Tueni: ‘I am a journalist, a journalist, a journalist’
January 31, 2025
Nayla Tueni: ‘I am a journalist, a journalist, a journalist’
January 31, 2025 - Lebanon -  Nayla Tueni, the fourth-generation publisher of Lebanon’s Annahar, leads one of the Arab world’s most iconic newspapers through crises while fiercely defending independent journalism. Since its founding in 1933 by her great-grandfather Gebran Tueni, Annahar has withstood wars, assassinations, and economic collapse. Her leadership was shaped by tragedy. In 2005, her father, Gebran Tueni, was assassinated in a car bombing widely attributed to Syria or its allies. Thrust into the spotlight at a young age, she entered both journalism and politics, serving nearly a decade as a Lebanese parliamentarian....
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Colombian Journalist Óscar Gómez Agudelo Assassinated in Targeted Attack
January 31, 2025
Colombian Journalist Óscar Gómez Agudelo Assassinated in Targeted Attack
January 31, 2025 - Colombia -  Colombian journalist Óscar Gómez Agudelo, 56, was shot dead while arriving for work at the Rumba del Café community radio station in Armenia, Quindío. Known for his investigative reporting on local corruption, organized crime, and government mismanagement, Gómez had built a reputation for fearlessly addressing sensitive issues. According to security footage, the attack was highly targeted. As Gómez approached the station, a gunman ambushed him, firing multiple shots before escaping on a motorcycle. Despite his attempt to flee, Gómez was fatally wounded at the scene. The incident immediately drew...
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Iraqi Kurdish Journalist Omed Baroshky Sentenced to Six Months in Prison
January 31, 2025
Iraqi Kurdish Journalist Omed Baroshky Sentenced to Six Months in Prison
January 31, 2025 - Iraq/ Kurdistan -  A court in Duhok sentenced Iraqi Kurdish journalist Omed Baroshky to six months in prison on charges of defamation related to a Facebook post. Baroshky, who has faced multiple legal battles over his reporting, was convicted under Iraq’s criminal code rather than the Kurdistan Region’s press law, which does not allow imprisonment for journalistic activity. The case stemmed from a post Baroshky published on January 23, 2024, in which he reported that political prisoner Mala Nazir had been secretly transferred from Zirka prison one day before his scheduled...
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Iran: Iranian-American journalist sentenced to 10-year prison term
January 31, 2025
Iran: Iranian-American journalist sentenced to 10-year prison term
January 31, 2025 - Iran -  Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh, a former presenter for US-funded Radio Farda, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by an Iranian Revolutionary Court, highlighting the continued repression of journalists and dual nationals in Iran. His sentence was confirmed by Tehran’s appeals court in late January 2025. In addition to imprisonment, Valizadeh has been banned from leaving Iran or joining political groups for two years. Valizadeh, who had lived abroad since 2010, returned to Iran in March 2024. Despite assurances from intermediaries that he would not face legal issues,...
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RSF Urges Mauritania to End Intimidation of Journalists and Protect Press Freedom
January 31, 2025
RSF Urges Mauritania to End Intimidation of Journalists and Protect Press Freedom
January 31, 2025 - Mauritania -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called on Mauritanian authorities to take urgent action to stop a rising pattern of intimidation and harassment against journalists. The appeal follows a recent incident that highlights growing threats to press freedom in the country. In January 2025, journalist Hanefi Ould Dahah was physically assaulted while broadcasting live from the capital, Nouakchott. A security officer intervened, seized his microphone, and forced him to stop reporting. RSF described the incident as a clear attempt to silence independent journalism and warned that such actions could embolden...
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French Journalist Olivier Dubois Recounts 711 Days of Captivity in Mali
January 31, 2025
French Journalist Olivier Dubois Recounts 711 Days of Captivity in Mali
January 31, 2025 - France/Sahel -  Olivier Dubois, a French journalist specializing in the Sahel region, endured 711 days in captivity after being kidnapped by Islamic extremists in Mali. On April 8, 2021, while on assignment in Gao to interview a local leader of Jama'a Nusrat ul-Islam wa al-Muslimin (JNIM), an al-Qaida affiliate, Dubois was abducted and held hostage deep in the Malian desert. Throughout his two years of captivity, Dubois faced harsh conditions, including isolation, limited food, and physical hardship. He was chained to a tree at night, subsisting primarily on dried goat meat,...
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Colorado Legislator Sparks Outrage by Calling for Arrest of 9NEWS Journalists
January 31, 2025
Colorado Legislator Sparks Outrage by Calling for Arrest of 9NEWS Journalists
January 31, 2025 - USA -  A Colorado state lawmaker is facing widespread criticism after publicly calling for the arrest of two 9NEWS journalists in a controversial social media post. The legislator, whose identity has not been specified in the initial reports, demanded that state law enforcement authorities arrest Kyle Clark and Chris Vanderveen, both prominent journalists for Denver-based 9NEWS. The legislator did not provide any specific allegations, legal reasoning, or evidence to justify the call for their arrest. The post quickly gained attention on social media, drawing backlash from both the public and press...
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Afghan Filmmaker Sayed Rahim Saeedi Sentenced to Three Years Amid Allegations of Torture and Media Repression
January 31, 2025
Afghan Filmmaker Sayed Rahim Saeedi Sentenced to Three Years Amid Allegations of Torture and Media Repression
January 31, 2025 - Afghanistan -  Sayed Rahim Saeedi, a 57-year-old Afghan filmmaker and director of ANAR Media, was sentenced to three years in prison by the Taliban on December 18, 2024, for allegedly “spreading propaganda” against the regime. His arrest and subsequent treatment have sparked international condemnation from human rights and press freedom organizations. Saeedi was arrested without a warrant on July 14, 2024, near his Kabul office by agents of the Taliban’s General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI). He was held incommunicado for months in District 40, denied access to a lawyer and visits...
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Supreme Court Denies Bail to Journalist Rupesh Singh Amid Wife’s Plea and Police Taunts
January 31, 2025
Supreme Court Denies Bail to Journalist Rupesh Singh Amid Wife’s Plea and Police Taunts
January 31, 2025 - India -  The Supreme Court dismissed journalist Rupesh Kumar Singh’s plea for bail, upholding the Jharkhand High Court’s December 6, 2023, decision. Singh, who has been imprisoned since July 17, 2022, faces accusations of links to the banned CPI (Maoist) organization. Notably, his name did not feature in the original First Information Report (FIR); it was later added in a supplementary chargesheet after police allegedly recovered SD cards containing incriminating content. His wife, Ipsa Shatakshi, a former teacher now juggling legal battles, single parenting, and household responsibilities, remains deeply concerned. Despite...
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Egypt Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists and Activists Amid International Outcry
January 30, 2025
Egypt Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists and Activists Amid International Outcry
January 30, 2025 - Egypt -  Egypt continues its harsh campaign against journalists and activists, employing systematic repression to silence dissent and control the flow of information. Recent investigations by Daraj Media and Amnesty International expose how the Egyptian government has escalated its attacks on press freedom, targeting independent voices through arbitrary arrests, vague legal charges, and prolonged detentions. Daraj Media highlights how journalists and activists in Egypt face charges such as "spreading false news," "misusing social media," "joining a banned group," and increasingly, "financing terrorism." These accusations allow authorities to detain individuals indefinitely, often...
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UNESCO and IFJ Condemn Killing of Sudanese Journalist Mubarak Musa Juma Amid Darfur Conflict
January 30, 2025
UNESCO and IFJ Condemn Killing of Sudanese Journalist Mubarak Musa Juma Amid Darfur Conflict
January 30, 2025 - Sudan -  Freelance journalist Mubarak Musa Juma was killed during an armed attack in El Fasher, Northern Darfur, Sudan. He contributed to several news outlets and worked with the media office of the Darfur regional government. UNESCO Director‑General Audrey Azoulay issued a strongly worded statement on 30 January 2025, expressing her deep sorrow and calling for a “thorough investigation into the circumstances” surrounding Juma’s death. She underscored the essential role of journalists in conflict zones and urged all parties to ensure their protection. UNESCO reaffirmed its commitment to supporting journalist safety...
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Afghan Journalist Zia Danesh Details Taliban Threats and Flight to the U.S.
January 30, 2025
Afghan Journalist Zia Danesh Details Taliban Threats and Flight to the U.S.
January 30, 2025 - Afghanistan -  Zia Danesh, a former Afghan journalist and government official, narrowly escaped his homeland after receiving chilling threats from the Taliban—“This was the first one and we can kill your family”—following a targeted bombing of his car in 2016 that killed his driver. The attack, triggered soon after he appeared on television discussing Taliban suppression, sent a clear warning: his life and that of his loved ones were in imminent danger. Despite the Taliban being out of power at that time, the intimidation persisted. For years, Danesh continued reporting and serving...
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Three Journalists Detained by Ukrainian Military Now Face Accreditation Uncertainty
January 30, 2025
Three Journalists Detained by Ukrainian Military Now Face Accreditation Uncertainty
January 30, 2025 - Ukraine -  Three journalists—Ukrainian freelance reporter Petro Chumakov, Swiss CH Media correspondent Kurt Pelda, and freelance camera operator Josef Zehnder—were detained by Ukrainian military personnel near Sudzha, a Russian border town under Ukrainian control. The journalists were traveling in a military vehicle with a Ukrainian soldier who had official permission for their transport. They were held for eight hours on suspicion of illegal border crossing, even though they carried valid war-zone accreditation. After detention, the Sumy district court dismissed the legal proceedings on January 15, finding their rights had been “grossly” violated. Despite the court’s decision, the Ukrainian...
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UK and Media Bodies Denounce Russian Arrest Warrant for The Sun’s Jerome Starkey
January 30, 2025
UK and Media Bodies Denounce Russian Arrest Warrant for The Sun’s Jerome Starkey
January 30, 2025 - Russia/UK -  The Society of Editors and News Media Association (NMA) has strongly condemned a Russian court’s decision on January 30, 2025, to issue an arrest warrant and place The Sun's defence editor Jerome Starkey on an international wanted list. Russia’s Federal Security Service (FSB) accuses him of illegally entering Russian territory from Ukraine to film a report in August 2024. Dawn Alford, Executive Director of the Society of Editors, labeled the warrant as “ridiculous,” stressing the “absolute necessity of a free press during times of conflict” and criticized it as a clear attempt...
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Pro‑Opposition Halk TV Editor-in-Chief Arrested over Secret Court‑Expert Broadcast
January 30, 2025
Pro‑Opposition Halk TV Editor-in-Chief Arrested over Secret Court‑Expert Broadcast
January 30, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish authorities detained five staff members of pro-opposition broadcaster Halk TV following the airing of a phone interview with a court-appointed expert witness, Satılmış Büyükcanayakın, involved in investigations targeting opposition-led municipalities. Journalists Barış Pehlivan (who conducted the interview), host Seda Selek, legal affairs manager Serhan Asker, program director Kürşad Oğuz, and editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş were taken into custody. While four were released under judicial control—subject to travel bans and weekly check-ins—Toktaş remains in pre-trial detention after an Istanbul court ruled he improperly authorized the broadcast without confirming consent. Prosecutors cite alleged breaches of Turkish Penal Code...
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UNESCO Condemns Killing of Sudanese Journalist Aladdin Ali Mohamed Amid Ongoing Conflict
January 30, 2025
UNESCO Condemns Killing of Sudanese Journalist Aladdin Ali Mohamed Amid Ongoing Conflict
January 30, 2025 - Sudan -  Aladdin Ali Mohamed, a respected Sudanese journalist and program director at Wad Madani Radio in Al Jazirah state, was tragically killed on June 22, 2024, during an armed attack by unidentified assailants in East Sudan. His death reflects the increasingly perilous environment for journalists operating in conflict zones across Sudan. UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay condemned Mohamed’s killing, calling for a full and transparent investigation to hold those responsible accountable. In her statement on January 30, 2025, Azoulay emphasized the essential role journalists play in providing reliable information, especially in...
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UNESCO Condemns Killing of Sudanese Journalist Ibrahim Abdullah Amid Ongoing Darfur Conflict
January 30, 2025
UNESCO Condemns Killing of Sudanese Journalist Ibrahim Abdullah Amid Ongoing Darfur Conflict
January 30, 2025 - Sudan -  Ibrahim Abdullah, widely known as “Ibrahim Showtime,” was a freelance journalist dedicated to covering the Sudanese conflict. He gained prominence through his Facebook and YouTube reporting on war and politics. On June 28, 2024, his home in El Fasher, North Darfur, was struck by shelling from the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF), resulting in his death. UNESCO Director‑General Audrey Azoulay issued a formal condemnation on January 30, 2025, denouncing Abdullah’s killing and urging a comprehensive investigation to hold the attackers accountable. She emphasized that “journalists and media workers are essential...
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Maha Kumbh 2025: Police Misbehavior Toward IANS Reporter Sparks Outcry
January 29, 2025
Maha Kumbh 2025: Police Misbehavior Toward IANS Reporter Sparks Outcry
January 29. 2025 - India -  Maha Kumbh Mela in Prayagraj, Uttar Pradesh, footage emerged showing law enforcement officials aggressively confronting IANS journalist Gaurav Pandey while he was covering Mauni Amavasya. The viral video captured a police officer grabbing Pandey’s microphone, strangling his hand, and attempting to push him away when he tried to record an interview with an Akhara pic representative in Sector 20 amid heightened security following a fatal stampede on January 29, 2025. Pandey is seen pursuing the officer while shouting in Hindi, “Tum maarlo aao, tum maar rahe ho na”—essentially challenging the force to...
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Covering Gaza: Journalist Manisha Ganguly on War Reporting, Trauma, and OSINT
January 29, 2025
Covering Gaza: Journalist Manisha Ganguly on War Reporting, Trauma, and OSINT
January 29, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  At the iMEdD International Journalism Forum in January 2025, Manisha Ganguly, Visual Forensics Lead and Investigations Correspondent at The Guardian, shared her experiences covering the Gaza war and the immense personal and professional challenges journalists face in conflict zones. Her insights highlighted the dual burden of documenting atrocities while managing the emotional toll of exposure to extreme violence. Ganguly spoke about the psychological strain that journalists endure, especially those engaged in open-source intelligence (OSINT) investigations. She described experiencing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), triggered by repeated exposure to...
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Journalists in Amed Protest Intensifying Crackdown on Press Freedom in Turkey
January 29, 2025
Journalists in Amed Protest Intensifying Crackdown on Press Freedom in Turkey
January 29, 2025 - Turkey -  In Amed (Diyarbakır), a powerful demonstration unfolded on January 29, 2025, as journalists and civil society rallied to protest escalating arrests and pressure on media workers in Turkey. Organized by the Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) and the Mesopotamian Women Journalists Association (MKG), the protest took place in front of AZC Plaza in the Ofis neighborhood. Participants included dozens of journalists, leaders from the Turkish Journalists Union (TGS) and DISK Press Union, MPs from the Peoples' Equality and Democracy Party (DEM Party), members of the Socialist Party of the...
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Lawsuit Alleges Spectrum News Negligence in Death of Reporter Dylan Lyons
January 29, 2025
Lawsuit Alleges Spectrum News Negligence in Death of Reporter Dylan Lyons
January 29, 2025 - USA - The family of 24-year-old Dylan Lyons, a multimedia journalist with Spectrum News 13, has filed a negligence lawsuit against his employer, Charter Communications, alleging systemic safety failures that contributed to his death. Lyons was fatally shot on February 22, 2023, while reporting on an active shooter incident in the Pine Hills neighborhood of Orlando, Florida—a story that tragically ended in his death alongside that of a nine-year-old girl, T’Yonna Major, and another victim, Nathacha Augustin. The lawsuit, initiated on January 29, 2025, contends that Spectrum News 13 sent Lyons and another...
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Turkish Authorities Detain Three Pro‑Opposition Journalists Amid Crackdown on Dissent
January 29, 2025
Turkish Authorities Detain Three Pro‑Opposition Journalists Amid Crackdown on Dissent
January 29, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish authorities arrested three journalists from the pro-opposition outlet Halk TV following a controversial broadcast involving an expert witness in a judicial investigation. The detainees—journalist Barış Pehlivan, anchor Seda Selek, and legal affairs manager Serhan Asker—were initially held but released under judicial control. Two additional staff members, program coordinator Kürşat Oğuz and editor-in-chief Suat Toktaş, were detained on subsequent days, with Toktaş reportedly facing arrest warrants. The arrests stem from a broadcast featuring a recorded phone interview between Pehlivan and a court-appointed expert involved in probes of opposition-led municipalities. Authorities...
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India and China Agree to Resume Journalist Exchanges and Air Travel in Diplomatic Breakthrough
January 28, 2025
India and China Agree to Resume Journalist Exchanges and Air Travel in Diplomatic Breakthrough
January 28, 2025 - China/India -  In a significant diplomatic development, India and China have reached an agreement to resume direct air travel and facilitate the exchange of journalists, signaling a gradual thaw in relations following years of heightened tensions. This agreement was announced after Indian Foreign Secretary Vikram Misri met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on January 27-28, 2025. Direct passenger flights between India and China have been suspended since 2020 due to the COVID-19 pandemic and worsening border tensions, particularly following the deadly Galwan Valley clash. The restoration of air...
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IRIB Journalist Detained by Israeli Forces in Occupied Territories Amid Gaza War
January 28, 2025
IRIB Journalist Detained by Israeli Forces in Occupied Territories Amid Gaza War
January 28, 2025 - Iran -  An unnamed journalist from Iran's state broadcaster IRIB has been detained by Israeli forces in the occupied Palestinian territories, Tehran confirmed on January 28, 2025. IRIB head Peyman Jebelli revealed that the journalist is currently imprisoned—not in Gaza—and that the family has opted for discretion, complicating release efforts. Jebelli expressed hope for the journalist’s release, underscoring the high risks facing media workers in conflict zones. He highlighted how Israeli military operations in the region have created a hazardous environment for journalists, citing more than 200 media workers killed since...
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Tajikistan’s Media Under Siege: Journalists Targeted with Secret Charges and Harsh Sentences
January 28, 2025
Tajikistan’s Media Under Siege: Journalists Targeted with Secret Charges and Harsh Sentences
January 28, 2025 - Tajikistan -  Tajikistan is intensifying its crackdown on independent media, with recent developments marking a dramatic escalation under President Emomali Rahmon’s authoritarian grip. In Dushanbe, investigative journalist Rukhshona Hakimova (31) is facing a closed-door trial on undisclosed charges, reportedly treason, with prosecutors seeking up to 17 years in prison. Meanwhile, Ahmad Ibrohim, a veteran editor of the regional Paik newspaper in Kulob, was sentenced on January 10 to 10 years behind bars for alleged bribery, extortion, and extremism—charges he vehemently denies. These two cases are part of a broader assault on press freedom....
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Journalist and Civilian Injured by Israeli Army Fire in Tulkarem, West Bank
January 28, 2025
Journalist and Civilian Injured by Israeli Army Fire in Tulkarem, West Bank
January 28, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Two Palestinians, including journalist Nagham Al-Zayt, were injured as Israeli military forces carried out another raid in the northern West Bank city of Tulkarem. Al-Zayt, who was covering the ongoing Israeli military operation, sustained shrapnel injuries to her right hand. Another 20-year-old Palestinian man was shot in the face during the incursion and was rushed to the hospital for treatment, according to the Palestinian Red Crescent. The incident occurred amid Israel’s intensifying military operations in the West Bank, which have expanded significantly since the onset of the Gaza conflict...
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NUJ Joins IFJ in Advocating for the Release of Detained Yemeni Journalists
January 28, 2025
NUJ Joins IFJ in Advocating for the Release of Detained Yemeni Journalists
January 28, 2025 - Yemen -  The National Union of Journalists (NUJ) has publicly pledged its support for a campaign led by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate (YJS), demanding the release of multiple journalists kidnapped or detained across Yemen’s conflict zones. These concerns focus on several journalists who vanished after publishing critical work. Among them is Mohamed Al-Miyahi, who disappeared from Sana’a on September 20, 2024, just days after releasing an exposé on the Houthi organization. Fouad Al-Nahari, a YJS member, was also abducted in late September. Both are...
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Mozambique’s Press Freedom Crisis Deepens as Two Journalists Killed
January 28, 2025
Mozambique’s Press Freedom Crisis Deepens as Two Journalists Killed
January 28, 2025 - Mozambique -  Mozambique is facing an alarming press freedom crisis, highlighted by the recent deaths of two journalists — Arlindo Chissale and Albino “Sibia” Sibia — amid ongoing political unrest following the disputed 2024 elections. The killings reflect an escalating campaign of intimidation and violence against independent journalists who have been documenting government abuses, protests, and conflict in the country. Arlindo Chissale, 46, was the editor of Pinnacle News, an independent outlet known for its critical reporting on government corruption and the insurgency in Cabo Delgado. He disappeared on January 7,...
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Georgian Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli on Hunger Strike Amid Politically Charged Assault Charge
January 28, 2025
Georgian Journalist Mzia Amaglobeli on Hunger Strike Amid Politically Charged Assault Charge
January 28, 2025 - Belarus -  Mzia Amaglobeli, a prominent Georgian journalist and co-founder/director of Batumelebi and Netgazeti, has been detained since January 11, 2025, facing an assault charge that could carry a prison sentence of four to seven years. Arrested during post-election protests in Batumi, she initially was held over administrative actions—placing a “Georgia is on Strike” sticker—but was quickly re-arrested after she slapped the city’s police chief amid his alleged verbal abuse. On January 12, Amaglobeli began a hunger strike, stating it was a protest against “repressive, treacherous, and violent processes targeting humanity,...
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Pakistani Journalists Protest New Social Media Law Threatening Press Freedom
January 28, 2025
Pakistani Journalists Protest New Social Media Law Threatening Press Freedom
January 28, 2025 - Pakistan -  Pakistan’s Senate passed controversial amendments on January 28, 2025, to the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA), granting the government sweeping powers to regulate social media and criminalize the spread of “false news.” Under the new law, authorities can block content deemed offensive to institutions (judiciary, armed forces, parliament) or thought to incite disorder. Offenders may face up to three years in prison, fines as high as 2 million rupees (~US$ 7,200), and social media platforms could be blocked if they fail to comply. The Senate’s approval followed its passage in...
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Swiss Authorities Deport Palestinian-American Journalist Ali Abunimah Following His Detention
January 28, 2025
Swiss Authorities Deport Palestinian-American Journalist Ali Abunimah Following His Detention
January 28, 2025 - Switzerland/Palestine/USA -  Palestinian-American writer and journalist Ali Abunimah was detained and deported by Swiss authorities on January 28, 2025, after being banned from entry upon arrival at Zurich Airport. Abunimah, co-founder of The Electronic Intifada, was initially blocked from entering Switzerland. Upon contesting the decision, he was taken into custody for two nights and subsequently deported. Swiss officials did not publicly specify the grounds for his exclusion. However, insiders suggest the ban may be linked to alleged security concerns related to his past activism, though no formal charges were presented. Expressing deep...
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LBCI and MTV Journalists Attacked While Reporting in Southern Lebanon
January 27, 2025
LBCI and MTV Journalists Attacked While Reporting in Southern Lebanon
January 27, 2025 - Lebanon - Journalists from Lebanese networks LBCI and MTV were assaulted in two separate incidents while covering events in southern Lebanon, raising serious concerns over the growing threats to press freedom in the region. The first incident occurred near the villages of Deir Mimas and Khardali, where an LBCI team was reporting on civilians returning to their homes following prior military tensions. While filming, the crew was physically attacked by a group of unidentified individuals. LBCI correspondent Lara El Hachem and her cameraman were beaten, and the attackers seized their camera...
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Georgian Media Community Denounces Detention of Mzia Amaghlobeli as Press Freedoms Crumble
January 27, 2025
Georgian Media Community Denounces Detention of Mzia Amaghlobeli as Press Freedoms Crumble
January 27, 2025 - Georgia -  Prominent journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, co-founder and director of independent outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested on January 11, 2025, during Batumi anti-government protests. Initially detained over placing a strike sticker, she was released on bail but rearrested shortly afterward for allegedly slapping Batumi’s police chief—charges that carry a potential prison sentence of four to seven years. Her arrest prompted urgent concern and condemnation. Over 300 Georgian media professionals—journalists, editors, and media managers—signed a strong statement on January 27, warning that Amaghlobeli’s arrest marks a "new phase" in the government’s...
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Seraiki Journalist Razish Liaqatpuri Arrested, Cleared of Terrorism Charges
January 27, 2025
Seraiki Journalist Razish Liaqatpuri Arrested, Cleared of Terrorism Charges
January 27, 2025 - Pakistani - Razish Liaqatpuri—a prominent Seraiki-language journalist, author, and former editorial-in-charge at the daily Khabrian—was detained in late January 2025 by Rahim Yar Khan police amid a raid at his home in Liaqatpur. Authorities held him in undisclosed custody for over three days before formally charging him with terrorism-related offenses. According to the FIR filed January 25 at City A Division Police Station, Liaqatpuri allegedly shared a video clip on Facebook titled “To murder Punjabi officers was legal.” The post purportedly referred to tensions between language communities and included inflammatory remarks perceived...
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Lebanese Journalist Layal al‑Ekhtiar Arrested and Released Over Interview with Israeli Army Spokesman
January 27, 2025
Lebanese Journalist Layal al‑Ekhtiar Arrested and Released Over Interview with Israeli Army Spokesman
January 27, 2025 - Lebanon/Israel -  Lebanese journalist Layal al‑Ekhtiar, an anchor for the Saudi-owned Al‑Arabiya network based in Dubai, was detained at Beirut’s airport on January 27, 2025, after landing from Dubai. Her detainment stems from an October 2023 interview with Col. Avichay Adraee, the Israeli Defense Forces spokesperson for Arabic media, conducted during the Gaza conflict. Lebanese authorities claim the interview violated Lebanon’s strict “anti-normalization” laws, which prohibit contact with Israeli officials, given that the countries are still technically at war. Al‑Ekhtiar was brought before a military prosecutor, who had issued a warrant...
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Ukraine’s Cultural and Media Losses: 147 Artists and 95 Journalists Killed Since Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion
January 27, 2025
Ukraine’s Cultural and Media Losses: 147 Artists and 95 Journalists Killed Since Russia’s Full-Scale Invasion
January 27, 2025 - Ukraine - Ukraine’s Ministry of Culture and Strategic Communications reports that since the full-scale Russian invasion began, 147 artists and 95 media workers, including seven foreign journalists, have lost their lives. These staggering figures underscore the human cost not only of the war’s military toll but for the country’s cultural and informational fabric. The ministry likens the losses to historical tragedies: “Just as the Stalinist regime eliminated a generation of Ukrainian artists in the 20s and early 30s … so Russia is now deliberately eliminating Ukraine’s cultural elite”. Every individual lost—whether lyricist,...
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Slain journalist Sukirtharajan remembered
January 27, 2025
Slain journalist Sukirtharajan remembered
January 27, 2025 - Sri Lanka -  Journalists and activists in Sri Lanka’s Tamil-majority north-east recently gathered to commemorate Subramaniyam Sugirdharajan—a Tamil journalist for Sudar Oli who was assassinated on January 24, 2006, in Trincomalee. He was just 35 and a father of two. Sugirdharajan earned widespread respect for exposing atrocities: he documented that five Tamil students were shot at point-blank range—contradicting claims that they died from a grenade blast—after the "Trinco 5" massacre. His reporting directly challenged the Sri Lankan military and allied paramilitary groups, prompting swift retaliation. Commemorative events held on January 24 in Trincomalee, Batticaloa,...
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Over 300 Georgian Journalists Demand Release of Hunger‑Striking Colleague as IFJ Joins the Call
January 27, 2025
Over 300 Georgian Journalists Demand Release of Hunger‑Striking Colleague as IFJ Joins the Call
January 27, 2025 - Georgia -  More than 300 journalists, editors, and media leaders across Georgia have issued a powerful joint statement demanding the immediate release of veteran journalist Mzia Amaglobeli, co-founder of Batumelebi and Netgazeti. Arrested on January 12, 2025, during mass protests over alleged election fraud in Batumi, Amaglobeli was charged with assault after slapping the city’s police chief following verbal abuse. At the time of her arrest, she began a hunger strike protesting what media watchdogs describe as politically motivated detention. After 16 days on water alone—eventually lasting 38 days—her health deteriorated...
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67 Journalists Jailed Across Africa as Global Groups Demand Release Amid Press Crackdown
January 27, 2025
67 Journalists Jailed Across Africa as Global Groups Demand Release Amid Press Crackdown
January 27, 2025 - Africa - A new report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has revealed that at least 67 journalists are currently imprisoned across Africa for their work, making the continent one of the most dangerous regions for media professionals. The report highlights a growing trend where governments across Africa are increasingly using anti-terrorism laws, cybercrime regulations, and pandemic-era emergency measures to silence critical journalism. Countries such as Eritrea, Egypt, Uganda, Tanzania, Zambia, and Zimbabwe feature prominently in the report. Many of these journalists were arrested for covering politically sensitive issues, including...
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Local Journalist Attacked Outside Municipal Building in Brattleboro, VT
January 26, 2025
Local Journalist Attacked Outside Municipal Building in Brattleboro, VT
January 26, 2025 - USA - In a disturbing incident reported on June 2, 2024, Brattleboro Reformer reporter Anessa Kim, a 22-year-old journalist and Edgewood Media Group employee, was physically assaulted while covering a town selectboard meeting at the Municipal Center in Brattleboro, Vermont. What HappenedKim had interviewed former selectboard member Michael “Mike” Fitzgerald as he exited the building. While filming with her phone, she followed him briefly to capture a statement. Suddenly, Fitzgerald reached out, grabbed Kim’s phone, and smashed it against a tree before walking away. Aftermath and Authorities’ ResponseKim reported the assault...
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Rising Violence Against Journalists in Mexico: The Urgent Call for Justice
January 26, 2025
Rising Violence Against Journalists in Mexico: The Urgent Call for Justice
January 26, 2025 - Mexico -  Mexico’s alarming crisis of violence against journalists has once again come into the spotlight following the tragic murder of Alejandro Gallegos León, Editor-in-Chief of La Voz del Pueblo. His body was recently discovered in the southern state of Tabasco, prompting the United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) to urge Mexican authorities to conduct a thorough investigation. The OHCHR emphasized that the probe should not only identify the perpetrators but also examine whether Mr. León’s journalistic work played a role in his killing. Gallegos León was a widely...
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Inside Assad’s Secret War on Journalists and His 14-Year Reign of Terror
January 26, 2025
Inside Assad’s Secret War on Journalists and His 14-Year Reign of Terror
January 26, 2025 - Syria -  The fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in Syria has exposed horrifying new evidence of systematic repression, mass atrocities, and an aggressive war on journalists. Newly uncovered documents, obtained by OCCRP and its Syrian partner SIRAJ, show how Syrian intelligence agencies extensively monitored, harassed, and targeted journalists, both domestic and foreign, branding them as foreign agents and enemies of the state. Ordinary journalistic activities — interviewing civilians, gathering information, or collaborating with international media organizations — were treated as acts of espionage. Even prominent networks like the Global Investigative Journalism...
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Lebanese Journalists Survive Israeli Gunfire in Southern Lebanon
January 26, 2025
Lebanese Journalists Survive Israeli Gunfire in Southern Lebanon
January 26, 2025 - Lebanon - In yet another alarming incident highlighting the growing dangers journalists face in conflict zones, a news crew from Russia Today (RT) narrowly survived an Israeli military attack while reporting from Maroun El Ras, a southern Lebanese village near the Israeli border. The team was clearly marked as press when Israeli gunfire targeted their position. Despite their professional identification, transmission engineer Hussein Khalil sustained injuries, while reporter Hussein Ayad managed to escape unharmed. The crew’s vehicle and equipment were also damaged in the attack. Footage released by MTV Lebanon shows...
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Pakistan’s Hasnain Shah Murdered in Broad Daylight, Exposing Deep Impunity Crisis
January 26, 2025
Pakistan’s Hasnain Shah Murdered in Broad Daylight, Exposing Deep Impunity Crisis
June 26, 2025 - Pakistan - Pakistani crime reporter Hasnain Shah was gunned down in broad daylight outside the Lahore Press Club, a location considered a symbolic sanctuary for journalists. Shah, a senior journalist for Capital TV and a well-known figure in media circles, was waiting in his car when two unidentified men on a motorcycle shot him at least seven times before fleeing the scene. The murder occurred in front of multiple witnesses and nearby security personnel, yet the assailants escaped unhindered. Shah's killing sparked outrage among journalists, press freedom organizations, and civil society...
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Journalists Under Fire: Media Targeted Amid Conflict in Gaza and Palestine
January 26, 2025
Journalists Under Fire: Media Targeted Amid Conflict in Gaza and Palestine
January 26, 2025 - Palestine/ Israel -  In the ongoing conflict in Gaza and the Occupied Palestinian Territories, journalists have increasingly become deliberate targets of violence, according to multiple recent reports. The Al Jazeera program The Listening Post, as featured by Asia Pacific Report, highlights the extreme dangers journalists now face, with many reporting that their press vests no longer offer protection. Instead, media workers describe being deliberately shot at with live ammunition and rubber bullets, arrested, or threatened while covering protests, evacuations, and military operations. The program emphasizes that these attacks aim to silence...
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Ali Abunimah Detained and Deported by Switzerland in Press Freedom Controversy
January 26, 2025
Ali Abunimah Detained and Deported by Switzerland in Press Freedom Controversy
January 26, 2025 - Switzerland/ Palestine/ Israel -  Prominent Palestinian-American journalist and co-founder of The Electronic Intifada, Ali Abunimah, was unexpectedly detained by Swiss authorities in Zurich. Abunimah had traveled to Switzerland to speak at a Palestine rights event but was arrested by plainclothes officers shortly after his arrival. According to reports, he was held for three days in administrative detention without clear charges, access to legal counsel, or contact with his family. During his detention, Abunimah was interrogated by Swiss intelligence agents. He was never formally charged with a crime but was informed that...
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Press Freedom Concerns Grow in Croatia After Journalist Harassed by Split Mayor
January 26, 2025
Press Freedom Concerns Grow in Croatia After Journalist Harassed by Split Mayor
January 26, 2025 - Croatia - Press freedom advocates in Croatia have raised serious concerns following an incident involving the harassment of journalist Damir Šarac by Split Mayor Ivica Puljak. On January 24, 2025, during a public town hall in Split, Šarac, a journalist for Slobodna Dalmacija, asked the mayor a question regarding the role of the city’s port company in recent toxic air pollution issues. Instead of addressing the journalist’s inquiry, Mayor Puljak responded aggressively, accusing Šarac of spreading political propaganda and being affiliated with the opposition HDZ party. The mayor's remarks escalated tensions...
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Victor Osimhen Launches Legal Battle After Assault Allegations by Turkish Journalist
January 26, 2025
Victor Osimhen Launches Legal Battle After Assault Allegations by Turkish Journalist
January 26, 2025 - Turkey/ Nigeria -  Nigerian football star Victor Osimhen has filed a defamation lawsuit against Turkish journalist Tolga Bozduman, following allegations that the striker assaulted him in Istanbul. The controversy erupted after Galatasaray’s 3-3 draw with Dynamo Kyiv, when Bozduman claimed that Osimhen physically attacked him outside a restaurant. According to Bozduman, the altercation occurred as he attempted to photograph Osimhen. The journalist alleged that Osimhen tried to grab his camera, punched him in the head, and later offered him money to delete the footage. Bozduman said, “He tried to grab my...
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Gaza’s Silenced Voices: The Deadliest War for Journalists in Modern History
January 26, 2025
Gaza’s Silenced Voices: The Deadliest War for Journalists in Modern History
January 26, 2025 - Source: Palestine/ Israel -  The war in Gaza has proven especially deadly for journalists, with at least 184 media workers killed since Israel's offensive began in October 2023. The vast majority— 166 Palestinians —died in Gaza under conditions press freedom groups call unprecedented. This makes it one of the deadliest conflicts for journalists in modern history. Among the casualties were Hossam Shabat , an Al Jazeera reporter targeted by an Israeli airstrike in March, and Fatima Hassouna , a 25-year-old photographer featured in a Cannes documentary, killed in April with her...
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Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV: Defending Journalists as Guardians of Truth
January 26, 2025
Pope Francis and Pope Leo XIV: Defending Journalists as Guardians of Truth
January 26, 2025 - Italy -  In early 2025, the Vatican made a strong moral and spiritual stand in defense of press freedom. On January 25, during the Jubilee of the World of Communications, Pope Francis addressed thousands of journalists and media workers. Abandoning his prepared speech, he spoke from the heart about the sacred role of communication. He described it as a divine gift meant to “build bridges and communities,” and stressed that authentic storytelling must be rooted in truth and integrity. Francis called for the release of unjustly imprisoned journalists, pointing out that...
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China Condemned for Torture and Suppression of Detained Journalist
January 26, 2025
China Condemned for Torture and Suppression of Detained Journalist
January 26, 2025 - China -  International human rights advocates and media analysts are sounding the alarm over China’s ongoing crackdown on independent journalism, focusing particularly on the case of a detained writer and citizen journalist reportedly subjected to torture while in custody. The journalist, whose identity remains protected due to safety concerns, is said to have been severely mistreated, with reports indicating prolonged solitary confinement, denial of medical care, and psychological abuse—conditions that rights groups argue constitute torture under international law. According to sources cited in reports by VOA News and ANI News, this...
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Killing Palestinian Journalists, Journalism’s Darkest Moments
January 25, 2025
Killing Palestinian Journalists, Journalism’s Darkest Moments
January 25, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Recent reporting from The Wire asserts that the deliberate killing of over 200 journalists and media workers in Gaza marks one of the most egregious assaults on press freedom in modern wartime history. Never before have so many journalists lost their lives in such a short timeframe, signaling a systemic campaign by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) to suppress the Palestinian narrative through lethal force. The Wire’s analysis concludes that journalists have been explicitly targeted, with press vehicles attacked, snipers firing at cameramen, and eyewitness evidence pointing to the IDF’s...
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BBC Liberia Correspondent Moses Garzeawu Manhandled by Police During Sports Event
January 25, 2025
BBC Liberia Correspondent Moses Garzeawu Manhandled by Police During Sports Event
January 25, 2025 - Liberia -  BBC Liberia correspondent Moses Garzeawu was forcibly handled by a Liberia National Police (LNP) officer while covering Liberia’s National County Sports Meet at the Samuel Kanyon Doe (SKD) Sports Stadium in Paynesville. The incident, widely shared on social media, has reignited concerns over press freedom and the treatment of journalists in Liberia. Garzeawu, a well-known sports journalist, was in a restricted area of the stadium when Officer Michael Toe approached him. Despite possessing proper media credentials, Garzeawu was ordered to leave the area. When he questioned the demand, the...
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Crackdown in Turkey: Journalists and Politicians Face Terror Charges Amid Political Repression
January 25, 2025
Crackdown in Turkey: Journalists and Politicians Face Terror Charges Amid Political Repression
January 25, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkey has ramped up a sweeping crackdown on political dissent, targeting pro-Kurdish and left-wing figures, including journalists, politicians, and public figures, under the banner of counter‑terrorism. In January, authorities arrested 34 individuals, comprising pro‑Kurdish and socialist politicians, journalists, and activists, on terrorism-related charges following coordinated raids across several cities. Bianet reported that at least 45 public figures, nine of whom were journalists, have been remanded in custody since mid-January, accused largely of membership in outlawed organizations or alleged terror propaganda. Among those detained were journalists from critical, independent outlets...
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Pope Francis Calls for Release of All Unjustly Imprisoned Journalists
January 25, 2025
Pope Francis Calls for Release of All Unjustly Imprisoned Journalists
January 25, 2025 - General -  Pope Francis issued a heartfelt appeal for the release of journalists unjustly imprisoned around the world. Speaking after his weekly General Audience in Vatican City, the pontiff used the occasion to draw global attention to the growing number of media professionals facing persecution for their work. "I think of the many journalists who, at the cost of their lives or their freedom, courageously inform the world of the tragedies they witness," Pope Francis said. "May their sacrifices not be in vain. May all those who are unjustly imprisoned for...
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Iran Denies Jailing Journalists at UN, Despite Hundreds of Crackdowns
January 25, 2025
Iran Denies Jailing Journalists at UN, Despite Hundreds of Crackdowns
January 25, 2025 - Iran -  Iran’s Deputy Foreign Minister for Legal and International Affairs, Kazem Gharibabadi, addressed the UN Universal Periodic Review in Geneva, firmly denying that Iran detains journalists or civil society figures for their professional work. He dismissed UN Special Rapporteur reports on Iran as biased, politically motivated, and based on unreliable sources. Gharibabadi did not offer names of reputable sources that Iran considers credible, but criticized the mandate of the Special Rapporteur as “an act based on continuous political mobilization against Iran,” allegedly orchestrated by select Human Rights Council member states....
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Swiss Detainment of Ali Abunimah Sparks Free Speech Outcry
January 25, 2025
Swiss Detainment of Ali Abunimah Sparks Free Speech Outcry
January 25, 2025 - Palestine/USA/Switzerland -  Palestinian-American journalist and Executive Director of The Electronic Intifada, Ali Abunimah, was detained by Swiss authorities in Zurich just before a scheduled speaking engagement. His arrest on January 25—described by witnesses as a violent intervention by plainclothes officers—led to a three-day administrative detention and ultimately deportation. Abunimah had entered Switzerland the previous day for a Palestine solidarity event hosted by the Palestine Committee Zurich. Although he cleared a routine customs screening after approximately one hour, Zurich police later intercepted him en route to the venue. Three unmarked officers allegedly...
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Al Jazeera: The Channel That Restored Journalism’s Integrity
January 24, 2025
Al Jazeera: The Channel That Restored Journalism’s Integrity
January 24, 2025 - General -  The CADTM article lauds Al Jazeera for standing firm amid global media constraints, describing it as “the TV channel that saves the honor of modern journalism.” From its inception in 1996, Al Jazeera carved out a daring editorial space, offering uncensored Arabic-language debates in a region typically dominated by state-controlled media. This approach transformed it into a new kind of public sphere, embracing what it calls “the opinion and the other opinion”—providing a platform without taboos and championing dissent. With its editorial courage, Al Jazeera swiftly earned the moniker “Voice of the Voiceless,”...
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High-Profile Suspect Yorgen Fenech Granted Bail in Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Case
January 24, 2025
High-Profile Suspect Yorgen Fenech Granted Bail in Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Case
January 24, 2025 - Malta -  Prominent Maltese businessman Yorgen Fenech—charged with complicity in the 2017 assassination of investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia—has been granted bail, sparking a mix of relief and outrage. Fenech, who was arrested in November 2019 aboard his yacht and has maintained his innocence, has been detained for over five years with no trial date set. His release marks a rare concession of the legal process amid an intense investigation into political corruption and press assassination. The decision follows Maltese law, which mandates bail for defendants held beyond 30 months without...
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Malta Businessman Yorgen Fenech Released on Bail in Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Case
January 24, 2025
Malta Businessman Yorgen Fenech Released on Bail in Daphne Caruana Galizia Murder Case
January 24, 2025 - Malta -  Yorgen Fenech, a wealthy Maltese businessman accused of orchestrating the 2017 assassination of anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, has been granted conditional bail following nearly five years of pre-trial detention. Galizia was killed by a car bomb as she drove near her home on October 16, 2017, after exposing deep-seated corruption within Malta’s political and business elites. Fenech surrendered in November 2019, accused of facilitating the murder. Although three other individuals have already admitted involvement—for planting the bomb and supplying it—this marks the first major development concerning the alleged mastermind....
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Turkey 2024: Journalists Faced a Year of State-Led Repression
January 24, 2025
Turkey 2024: Journalists Faced a Year of State-Led Repression
January 24, 2025 - Turkey -  The 2024 BİA Media Monitoring Report has revealed a deeply troubling landscape for press freedom in Turkey, describing the year as a period when the government “made journalists' lives a living hell.” The report details widespread intimidation, judicial harassment, censorship, and physical violence against media professionals, highlighting the increasing hostility of the state and affiliated groups toward independent journalism. At least 25 journalists and five media outlets were physically attacked, while 82 media professionals faced threats, largely from individuals connected to nationalist and ruling party circles. Despite the severity...
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RSF Files ICC Complaint Against Belarus for Crimes Against Humanity Targeting Journalists
January 24, 2025
RSF Files ICC Complaint Against Belarus for Crimes Against Humanity Targeting Journalists
January 24, 2025 - Belarus -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has filed a formal complaint with the International Criminal Court (ICC), accusing Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and his regime of committing crimes against humanity through the systematic persecution of journalists since 2020. The landmark move comes just weeks ahead of Belarus's controversial 2025 presidential election, widely considered a sham by international observers. The complaint, based on extensive documentation, outlines how Lukashenko’s government launched an aggressive campaign to silence independent media following the disputed 2020 election. According to RSF, at least 397 journalists have been arbitrarily...
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Tunisian Journalist Mohamed Boughalleb Arbitrarily Detained and Denied Medical Care
January 24, 2025
Tunisian Journalist Mohamed Boughalleb Arbitrarily Detained and Denied Medical Care
January 24, 2025 - Tunisia -  Mohamed Boughalleb, a veteran Tunisian journalist, remains arbitrarily detained as part of an escalating crackdown on freedom of expression in Tunisia. His detention is rooted in a Facebook post criticizing the Ministry of Religious Affairs—criticism that led to his arrest on March 22, 2024, and an eight-month prison sentence for defamation. However, Boughalleb was not released after completing that sentence. Instead, authorities placed him in pre-trial detention under Tunisia’s controversial Decree-Law 2022-54 on Cybercrimes, accusing him of spreading “fake news” and insulting others online. The charges are reportedly linked...
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UN Complaint Filed Over Detention of Bangladeshi Journalists Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa
January 24, 2025
UN Complaint Filed Over Detention of Bangladeshi Journalists Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa
January 24, 2025 - Bangladesh -  An international legal team filed a formal complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council, urging intervention in the case of Bangladeshi journalists Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa. The pair, both prominent media professionals, were arrested in 2024 and remain in detention on what rights groups say are politically motivated charges aimed at silencing dissent. Shakil Ahmed, a former news chief at Ekattor TV, and his wife, Farzana Rupa, were accused of involvement in deadly protests during a student-led uprising in mid-2024. Despite a lack of concrete evidence, both...
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Mexican Journalist Calletano de Jesús Guerrero Killed Despite Federal Protection
January 24, 2025
Mexican Journalist Calletano de Jesús Guerrero Killed Despite Federal Protection
January 24, 2025 - Mexico -  Mexican journalist Calletano de Jesús Guerrero was shot and killed outside a church in Teoloyucan, in the State of Mexico. Guerrero, 57, served as deputy editor of the Facebook-based news outlet Global Mexico and had been under federal protection since 2014 due to threats linked to his investigative reporting on crime and politics. According to witnesses, Guerrero was attacked by armed men on a motorcycle in the church parking lot. Despite being enrolled in Mexico’s official protection mechanism for journalists, the safeguards in place failed to prevent his assassination....
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Syria: State Photographer Ibrahim Ajaj Abducted and Fatally Shot in Hama
January 23, 2025
Syria: State Photographer Ibrahim Ajaj Abducted and Fatally Shot in Hama
January 23, 2025 - Syria -  Ibrahim Ajaj, a veteran photographer for Syria’s state news agency SANA, was abducted from his home in Hama by two unidentified armed men. His body was found shortly after, riddled with bullets, sparking widespread condemnation from international press freedom organizations. Ajaj had survived years of working in Syria’s perilous media landscape, continuing his role through the collapse of the Assad regime in late 2024. Yet despite having threats reported by relatives, he remained vulnerable—highlighting increasing physical danger for journalists in Syria—even those affiliated with state media . The International Federation...
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Journalist Mehdi Mahmoudian Imprisoned for Peaceful Expression
January 23, 2025
Journalist Mehdi Mahmoudian Imprisoned for Peaceful Expression
January 23, 2025 - Iran -  Iranian journalist and civil rights activist Mehdi Mahmoudian has been imprisoned to serve an eight-month sentence after being convicted of “propaganda against the regime.” The sentence, issued by Branch 26 of Tehran’s Revolutionary Court under Judge Iman Afshari, also includes a two-year travel ban, a ban on smartphone usage, and a prohibition on joining political or social organizations. Mahmoudian was summoned on February 3, 2025, to the Execution of Sentences Branch, where he was taken into custody and transferred to Evin Prison. His arrest came despite an earlier approval...
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Palestinian Authority Arrests Al Jazeera Journalist Mohamed Atrash Over Jenin Coverage
January 23, 2025
Palestinian Authority Arrests Al Jazeera Journalist Mohamed Atrash Over Jenin Coverage
January 23, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The Palestinian Authority (PA) arrested Al Jazeera journalist Mohamed Atrash in Hebron, reportedly to prevent him from covering an Israeli military raid in Jenin. PA security forces stormed Atrash’s home in the early hours, detaining him without formal charges. The arrest followed previous efforts by the PA to bar him from reporting in the area. Al Jazeera Media Network strongly condemned the arrest, calling it an “arbitrary and unjustified” act meant to suppress press freedom and block media coverage of critical events in Jenin. The network stated that Atrash...
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Two Syrian Photojournalists Killed in Separate Incidents Amid Ongoing Conflict
January 23, 2025
Two Syrian Photojournalists Killed in Separate Incidents Amid Ongoing Conflict
January 23, 2025 - Syria -  Syria witnessed the deaths of two photojournalists in separate, tragic incidents that underscored the persistent dangers faced by journalists in conflict zones. On January 23, state-linked sports photographer Ibrahim Ajaj, who worked for Syria’s official news agency SANA, was found shot dead near Hama. His body was discovered riddled with bullets, and no group has claimed responsibility for the killing. According to reports, Ajaj had previously received threats. Syria’s transitional government swiftly condemned the murder and vowed to investigate the incident and hold the perpetrators accountable. This marked a...
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Kenyan Journalist Assaulted by Police While Covering Protest in Molo
January 23, 2025
Kenyan Journalist Assaulted by Police While Covering Protest in Molo
January 23, 2025 - Kenya -  Journalist Daniel Chege, a reporter for the Standard Media Group, was violently assaulted by members of the Kenya National Police’s General Service Unit (GSU) while covering a protest in Molo, Nakuru County. The demonstration was organized in response to the death of local activist Richard Otieno, whose body had been discovered under unclear circumstances. Chege was reporting from a vehicle near the protest site when GSU officers approached and, despite his media credentials, dragged him out. According to eyewitnesses and his media colleagues, the officers tore his shirt and...
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Somaliland Releases Journalist Shafii Shaaciye After a Week in Detention
January 23, 2025
Somaliland Releases Journalist Shafii Shaaciye After a Week in Detention
January 23, 2025 - Somalia -  Somaliland authorities have released freelance journalist Shafi’i Abdi Mohamed, known professionally as Shafii Shaaciye, after holding him in detention for one week without formal charges. His arrest on January 16, 2025, came shortly after his return to Hargeisa, reportedly in response to social media posts that were critical of the government. According to local reports, police raided Shaaciye’s home early in the morning and took him into custody. On January 18, he was presented before the Maroodi Jeh court, which extended his detention by seven days without providing a...
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The Bittersweet Exile of Wael Al-Dahdouh: A Voice for Gaza from Afar
January 23, 2025
The Bittersweet Exile of Wael Al-Dahdouh: A Voice for Gaza from Afar
January 23, 2025 - General -  Wael Al-Dahdouh, Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief, has become a global symbol of journalistic courage and heartbreak. Once reporting daily from the frontlines of Gaza, he now lives in exile, physically distant but emotionally tethered to a homeland devastated by war. In just months between October 2023 and January 2024, Al-Dahdouh lost nearly his entire family. His wife, daughter, son, and grandson were killed in an Israeli airstrike. Later, his eldest son—also a journalist—was killed while reporting. Despite his unimaginable grief, Al-Dahdouh returned to the field within days, continuing...
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Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists with Home Raids and Legal Threats
January 23, 2025
Iran Intensifies Crackdown on Journalists with Home Raids and Legal Threats
January 23, 2025 - Iran -  Iranian authorities have escalated their campaign against independent journalism, increasingly resorting to home raids, court summonses, and threats targeting both domestic and exiled reporters. According to IranWire, the crackdown is part of a systematic effort to silence dissent and prevent critical reporting amid rising internal and external tensions. In recent months, multiple journalists in Iran have reported pre-dawn police raids on their homes, followed by official summonses to appear before state security courts. These incidents are often accompanied by vague or politically motivated charges such as “national security violations”...
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Five Turkish Journalists Sentenced in Coup-Related Retrial Amid Press Freedom Concerns
January 23, 2025
Five Turkish Journalists Sentenced in Coup-Related Retrial Amid Press Freedom Concerns
January 23, 2025 - Turkey -  A Turkish court sentenced five journalists to prison following a retrial related to alleged links with the exiled cleric Fethullah Gülen, whom Ankara accuses of orchestrating the failed 2016 coup. The verdict, issued by the 25th Istanbul Court of Serious Crimes, reignites concerns over judicial independence and the ongoing criminalization of journalism in Turkey. The journalists were originally arrested in 2016 during the sweeping purge that followed the coup attempt. They were convicted in 2018 on terrorism-related charges, accused of supporting a terrorist organization through their reporting and affiliations....
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Jordan Frees Prominent Satirical Journalist Ahmed Hassan al‑Zoubi After Seven Months Behind Bars
January 23, 2025
Jordan Frees Prominent Satirical Journalist Ahmed Hassan al‑Zoubi After Seven Months Behind Bars
January 23, 2025 - Jordan -  Jordanian authorities released satirical journalist Ahmed Hassan al‑Zoubi after he served approximately seven months in prison. His sentence was commuted to community service by the Amman Criminal Court, following an earlier one-year jail term handed down in August 2023 for a critical social media post about a transportation strike in Ma’an Governorate. Al‑Zoubi—a well-known columnist for the state-owned newspaper Al‑Rai and founder of the online platform Sawaleif—began serving his sentence in July 2024. Jordan’s Cybercrime Law, enacted in 2023, was cited in his conviction, with charges of inciting discord...
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Georgia’s Independent Media Under Siege: The Case of Mzia Amaghlobeli
January 23, 2025
Georgia’s Independent Media Under Siege: The Case of Mzia Amaghlobeli
January 23, 2025 - Georgia -  Veteran Georgian journalist and media manager Mzia Amaghlobeli, co-founder and director of the independent outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, was arrested amid post-election protests in Batumi. She was accused of "assaulting a police officer" after slapping the local police chief, Irakli Dgebuadze, following verbal abuse he directed at her. Her arrest on January 12 sparked widespread concern, especially after Georgia’s police reportedly falsified detention records and mistreated her in custody. She was denied bail and placed in pre-trial detention under what many see as politically motivated circumstances. Within days, Amaghlobeli began...
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Sudanese Journalist Yahya Hamad Fadlallah Dies After Torture in Army Custody
January 22, 2025
Sudanese Journalist Yahya Hamad Fadlallah Dies After Torture in Army Custody
January 22, 2025 - Sudan -  Sudanese journalist Yahya Hamad Fadlallah died on January 13, 2025, just days after being released from nearly a month-long detention by Sudanese military intelligence. His death has sparked outrage among press freedom advocates and human rights organizations, who have linked it directly to torture and medical neglect during his custody. Fadlallah, a veteran journalist and respected voice in Khartoum Bahri, was arrested on December 11, 2024, along with his son. During his detention, he was reportedly subjected to repeated beatings and denied access to medical treatment for his diabetes,...
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CPJ Urges Pakistan to Stop Harassment and Deportation of Afghan Journalists
January 22, 2025
CPJ Urges Pakistan to Stop Harassment and Deportation of Afghan Journalists
January 22, 2025 - Afghanistan -  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has called on Pakistani authorities to immediately end the harassment, detention, and deportation of Afghan journalists seeking refuge in Pakistan. The appeal follows multiple incidents in January 2025 where Afghan reporters were threatened, detained, or forcibly returned to Taliban-controlled Afghanistan, despite holding valid visas and documentation. According to CPJ, at least two Afghan journalists and their family members were detained in early January and deported from Islamabad without legal proceedings. Others, including journalists Mujeeb Awrang and Ahmad Mosavi, were taken from their homes...
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Kurdish Journalist Eylem Babayiğit Detained in Turkey Over Terror Charges
January 22, 2025
Kurdish Journalist Eylem Babayiğit Detained in Turkey Over Terror Charges
January 22, 2025 - Turkey/Iraq/Kurdistan -  Turkish authorities detained Eylem Babayiğit, a Kurdish journalist and former contributor to the now-closed Özgür Gündem newspaper, during a raid on her home in Istanbul. She is accused of “membership in a terrorist organization” under Turkey’s broad anti-terrorism laws, which have been frequently used to target Kurdish media workers and political dissenters. Babayiğit’s arrest is linked to her past journalistic work, particularly her involvement with Kurdish outlets and her reporting on minority rights, social issues, and state repression. Authorities allege that she has ties to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party...
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Stanford Will Not Discipline Student Journalist Arrested During Campus Protest
January 22, 2025
Stanford Will Not Discipline Student Journalist Arrested During Campus Protest
January 22, 2025 - Palestine/Israel/USA -  Stanford University has announced it will not pursue disciplinary action against student journalist Dilan Gohill, who was arrested in June 2024 while covering a pro-Palestinian protest on campus. Gohill, then a freshman and reporter for The Stanford Daily, was among several individuals detained during a demonstration that entered and briefly occupied the university president’s office. Despite wearing a Stanford Daily sweatshirt and a visible press badge, Gohill was arrested and charged with burglary, conspiracy, and vandalism. University administrators at the time—President Richard Saller and Provost Jenny Martinez—supported the charges...
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Bangladeshi Journalist Couple Files UN Complaint Over Arbitrary Detention
January 22, 2025
Bangladeshi Journalist Couple Files UN Complaint Over Arbitrary Detention
January 22, 2025 - Bangladesh -  Bangladeshi journalists Farzana Rupa and Shakil Ahmed, both formerly with the private broadcaster Ekattor TV, have filed a formal complaint with the United Nations Human Rights Council over their ongoing detention, alleging political persecution and arbitrary imprisonment. Their legal team submitted the complaint to the UN’s Special Procedures in January 2025, urging international intervention. The couple was arrested at Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport on August 21, 2024, as they attempted to leave the country. Authorities charged them with inciting violence during a wave of student protests that erupted earlier...
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Tanzanian Journalist Maria Sarungi Tsehai Abducted and Released in Nairobi, Sparking Press Freedom Outcry
January 21, 2025
Tanzanian Journalist Maria Sarungi Tsehai Abducted and Released in Nairobi, Sparking Press Freedom Outcry
January 21, 2025 - Tanzania -  Tanzanian journalist and activist Maria Sarungi Tsehai was abducted in Nairobi, Kenya, by four unidentified men—some posing as police officers—before being released several hours later. Tsehai, known for her outspoken criticism of the Tanzanian government and her leadership of the #ChangeTanzania movement, was targeted while traveling by taxi in the Kilimani area. According to Tsehai’s own account, the men blindfolded and handcuffed her, confiscated her phones, and subjected her to physical and verbal abuse during a four-hour ordeal. She was eventually released at an undisclosed location on the outskirts...
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Yemeni Journalist Ahmad Maher Released After 2.5 Years of Detention
January 21, 2025
Yemeni Journalist Ahmad Maher Released After 2.5 Years of Detention
January 21, 2025 -Yemen -  Ahmad Maher, a Yemeni journalist and former correspondent for Al-Sharea newspaper, was finally released on January 18, 2025, after spending nearly two and a half years behind bars. His arrest on August 6, 2022, by security forces in Aden was carried out without a warrant. He was subjected to enforced disappearance, held incommunicado, and tortured—beaten, electrocuted, and waterboarded—force a confession, which was later published online to damage his reputation. Initially accused of “spreading false news” and forging documents, Maher was later linked to a bombing case without evidence. For months,...
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Amnesty International Warns of Human Rights Risks in Trump’s Second Term
January 21, 2025
Amnesty International Warns of Human Rights Risks in Trump’s Second Term
January 21, 2025 - USA -  As Donald Trump begins his second term as U.S. President, Amnesty International has issued a strong warning, highlighting the potential rollback of critical human rights protections in the United States and across the Americas. In a joint statement released on January 21, 2025, Amnesty International’s regional directors across the Americas expressed deep concern over Trump’s anticipated policies. They warned that his hardline agenda could worsen the treatment of migrants, weaken protections for asylum seekers, and encourage authoritarian practices in neighboring countries. Ana Piquer, Amnesty’s Americas director, emphasized that Trump’s...
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Nigerian Police Accused of Ignoring Court Order to Pay N50 Million Compensation for Journalist’s Death
January 21, 2025
Nigerian Police Accused of Ignoring Court Order to Pay N50 Million Compensation for Journalist’s Death
January 21, 2025 - Nigeria -  Human rights advocates and the family of slain journalist Alex Ogbu marked five years since his killing by accusing the Nigerian Police Force of failing to comply with a court ruling. Ogbu, a journalist with Regent Africa Times, was shot and killed by police during a protest by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria in Abuja on January 21, 2020. Following a legal battle led by the Falana & Falana Chambers, the Federal High Court in Kurudu, Abuja, ruled on June 21, 2023, that the Nigerian police must...
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Journalist Suleiman Ahmed Released After Over 454 Days in Detention
January 21, 2025
Journalist Suleiman Ahmed Released After Over 454 Days in Detention
January 21, 2025 - Syria/ Kurdistan -  Suleiman Ahmed, a Kurdish journalist and Arabic-section editor at Rojnews, was released on January 20, 2025, after being held for more than 454 days by authorities in the Kurdistan Region of Iraq. He was arrested on October 25, 2023, at the Faysh Khabur border crossing while returning from a family visit to Syria. Kurdish security forces, affiliated with the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP), accused him of espionage and links to the Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK). Following his arrest, Ahmed was subjected to enforced disappearance and denied access to...
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Azerbaijani Authorities File New Charges Against Toplum TV Journalists, Arrest Another Reporter
January 21, 2025
Azerbaijani Authorities File New Charges Against Toplum TV Journalists, Arrest Another Reporter
January 21, 2025 -Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijani authorities filed six additional charges against four journalists from the independent media outlet Toplum TV and arrested another reporter, Farid Ismayilov, as part of an escalating crackdown on press freedom. The new charges increase the possible prison terms from a maximum of eight years to 12 years. The charges, reportedly related to financial crimes such as currency smuggling, are viewed by media rights groups as politically motivated. Farid Ismayilov, who had previously been targeted during a March 2024 raid on Toplum TV, was again arrested despite having serious health...
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RSF Calls for Journalist Access to Gaza and Justice After Ceasefire
January 21, 2025
RSF Calls for Journalist Access to Gaza and Justice After Ceasefire
January 21, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Following the January 15, 2025, ceasefire in Gaza, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has called for immediate access for journalists and an end to the impunity surrounding Israeli attacks on the press. RSF is urging that both international and Palestinian journalists be granted entry to Gaza to report freely and safely. They argue that open borders are essential to documenting the truth, countering misinformation, and holding all parties accountable for actions during the war. RSF emphasized the urgent need to evacuate wounded journalist Fadi al-Wahidi, an Al Jazeera cameraman critically...
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Six Journalists Arrested in Turkey Over Professional Work, Lawyer Decries Injustice
January 21, 2025
Six Journalists Arrested in Turkey Over Professional Work, Lawyer Decries Injustice
January 21, 2025 - Turkey -  Six journalists were remanded in custody following coordinated house raids in Istanbul, Bodrum, and Artvin. The Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) reported that these journalists face charges of “membership in a terrorist organisation”—accusations allegedly based solely on their professional reporting activities. The detained include Ozan Cırık (Sendika.org), Dicle Baştürk, Eylem Emel Yılmaz, and Yavuz Akengin, who were initially taken into custody on June 13 and formally arrested three days later in Artvin. Meanwhile, three others—Semra Pelek, Melisa Efe (translator for Frankfurter Allgemeine Zeitung), and Ömer Bülenter—were released under judicial...
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Three Palestinian Women Journalists Freed in Ceasefire Prisoner Swap
January 21, 2025
Three Palestinian Women Journalists Freed in Ceasefire Prisoner Swap
January 21, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Three Palestinian women journalists—Rula Hassanein, Bushra Al-Tawil, and Ashwaq Awad—were released from Israeli prisons as part of a ceasefire agreement between Israel and Hamas. Their release was among 90 Palestinian detainees freed in exchange for Israeli hostages under the first phase of the January 19 ceasefire deal. Bushra Al-Tawil, a journalist with J-Media Network and a member of the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate (PJS), was detained on March 7, 2024, and held under administrative detention without formal charges. She has been repeatedly arrested over the years and has spent over...
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International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists – 2 November
January 21, 2025
International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists – 2 November
January 21, 2025 - General - The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists (IDEI) is observed annually on 2 November. The date marks the 2013 killing of French journalists Ghislaine Dupont and Claude Verlon in Mali. Established by UN General Assembly Resolution 68/163, the day aims to draw global attention to the alarming rate of violence against journalists and the lack of justice that often follows. Between 2006 and 2024, over 1,700 journalists have been killed worldwide, yet nearly nine out of ten cases remain unsolved, according to UNESCO’s Observatory of Killed...
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New U.S. Grants Aim to Boost Youth Skills and Media Freedom in Kazakhstan
January 21, 2025
New U.S. Grants Aim to Boost Youth Skills and Media Freedom in Kazakhstan
January 21, 2025 - USA/Kazakhstan -  Two new U.S.-funded grant opportunities have been launched in Kazakhstan, focusing on youth empowerment and media protection. The initiatives are supported by the U.S. Mission to Kazakhstan and are open to Kazakhstani and U.S.-based nonprofit and educational organizations. The first opportunity, titled “Creating Opportunities through Market Development in Sports and Digital Skills”, offers funding between $10,000 and $40,000 (up to $100,000, depending on project scale). It targets youth aged 18–25, particularly outside major cities, and aims to build their professional capacity through sports and digital training programs. Projects should...
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Executive Order 14149: “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship” (January 20 , 2025)
January 20, 2025
Executive Order 14149: “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship” (January 20 , 2025)
January 20, 2025 - USA -  President Trump issued Executive Order 14149 on January 20, 2025, prioritizing First Amendment protections by prohibiting federal agencies from infringing on constitutionally protected speech under the guise of combating “misinformation,” “disinformation,” or “malinformation.” It bans any federal actor or use of taxpayer resources that would unconstitutionally abridge American speech and mandates a four-year review of potential past misconduct. A key directive requires the Attorney General, in coordination with executive department heads, to investigate censorship-related activities allegedly tied to the Biden administration—especially involving pressure on social media platforms—and recommend corrective...
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Mexican Journalist Calletano de Jesús Guerrero Killed Under Federal Protection
January 20, 2025
Mexican Journalist Calletano de Jesús Guerrero Killed Under Federal Protection
January 20, 2025 - Mexico -  Calletano de Jesús Guerrero, deputy director-general of Global Mexico, was shot dead in Teoloyucan, State of México, while in the parking lot of San Antonio de Padua parish. He was reportedly attacked by armed individuals on a motorcycle. Despite being under federal protection since 2014 due to ongoing death threats, Guerrero’s security failed. This makes him the second journalist killed in 2025 while under state-provided protection. His assassination intensifies concerns over the effectiveness of Mexico’s Protection Mechanism for Human Rights Defenders and Journalists. Organizations from RSF, UNESCO, CPJ, OAS/IACHR,...
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Peruvian Journalist Gastón Medina Shot Dead for Exposing Extortion
January 20, 2025
Peruvian Journalist Gastón Medina Shot Dead for Exposing Extortion
January 20, 2025 - Peru - Gastón Medina Sotomayor, owner and editor of regional TV channel Cadena Sur TV, was gunned down in front of his home in Ica’s San Isidro district. Attackers on a motorcycle shot him multiple times as he prepared to leave for his morning broadcast. He died on arrival at the hospital, according to the National Association of Journalists (ANP). Medina was known for investigative reporting on local public corruption, including procurement irregularities at Ica's government and extortion schemes targeting transport workers, shopkeepers, and teachers. He received numerous threats, including a 2022 incident where perpetrators left...
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Palestinian Journalist Rula Hassanein and Detainees Detail Abuse in Israeli Prisons
January 20, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Rula Hassanein and Detainees Detail Abuse in Israeli Prisons
January 20, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Rula Hassanein, released in January 2025 as part of the Israel-Hamas ceasefire deal, has spoken out about the abuse she and other detainees suffered in Israeli prisons. Arrested in March 2024 while nursing her infant daughter, Hassanein was reunited with her child after nearly ten months of detention. In interviews following her release, she described routine strip searches, forced removal of her headscarf, and degrading treatment by Israeli authorities. “There were numerous violations against us as women,” she said, calling the experience humiliating and psychologically abusive. Video...
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Iranian Journalist Mehrdad Aladin Temporarily Released, Mahsa Amini Reporters Pardoned
January 20, 2025
Iranian Journalist Mehrdad Aladin Temporarily Released, Mahsa Amini Reporters Pardoned
January 20, 2025 - Iran -  Iranian journalist and documentary filmmaker Mehrdad Aladin was temporarily released on bail after nearly two weeks in detention. Aladin, affiliated with the Didban Iran news outlet, was arrested on January 7 following a summons to the preliminary court at Evin Prison in Tehran. Authorities did not disclose formal charges, and he was held without trial. He was released on bail set at 1 billion tomans (approximately USD 12,500). Human rights organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), have called for his unconditional release and condemned his arrest as...
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Peter Greste Launches Hunger Strike in Support of Detained Egyptian-British Dissident Alaa Abd el-Fattah
January 20, 2025
Peter Greste Launches Hunger Strike in Support of Detained Egyptian-British Dissident Alaa Abd el-Fattah
January 20, 2025 - Egypt/UK -  Australian journalist Peter Greste began a 21-day hunger strike outside the UK Prime Minister’s office in London to demand the release of Egyptian-British political prisoner Alaa Abd el-Fattah. Greste, who spent 400 days in an Egyptian prison in 2013 for his reporting with Al Jazeera, shared a prison block with Abd el-Fattah and credited him for helping him survive the ordeal. Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a prominent activist from Egypt’s 2011 revolution, has been imprisoned repeatedly over the last decade. He was most recently sentenced in 2021 to five years...
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RSF Seeks ICC Recognition for Gazan Journalists Amid Record Death Toll
January 20, 2025
RSF Seeks ICC Recognition for Gazan Journalists Amid Record Death Toll
January 20, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Since the outbreak of the war in Gaza in October 2023, at least 193 journalists and media workers have been killed by Israeli forces, according to data reported by The New Arab and confirmed by local media outlets. This marks one of the deadliest periods for journalists in modern history, with over 210 media personnel reportedly killed as of April 2025. Most of the victims were Palestinian journalists working under siege conditions with limited access to safety, resources, or protective gear. In response, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has submitted...
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Journalists in India Under Threat: Alarming Spike in Violence and Impunity
January 20, 2025
Journalists in India Under Threat: Alarming Spike in Violence and Impunity
January 20, 2025 - India -  Journalists across India, particularly in small towns and rural regions, face escalating threats—including harassment, assaults, and brutal killings—signaling a chilling decline in press freedom under the current political climate. On January 1, 2025, investigative YouTuber Mukesh Chandrakar was found shot dead and dumped in a septic tank in Chhattisgarh after exposing local corruption tied to road contractors. A post-mortem revealed severe head, chest, back, and stomach injuries. Three suspects, including the contractor involved in his investigation, have been arrested; however, concerns persist over the safety sacrifices made by local...
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Cameroon: Two Years On, Justice Still Eludes Murdered Journalist Martinez Zogo
January 20, 2025
Cameroon: Two Years On, Justice Still Eludes Murdered Journalist Martinez Zogo
January 20, 2025 - Cameroon - Cameroonian journalist Martinez Zogo was abducted, tortured, and murdered—his mutilated body found five days later near Yaoundé. Zogo, a well-known investigative broadcaster and director at Amplitude FM, used his daily radio show Embouteillage to expose high-level corruption, including alleged embezzlement linked to top officials and businessmen. Two years after his death, justice remains stalled. Although authorities arrested around 20 suspects—including senior intelligence officers and influential media tycoon Jean-Pierre Amougou Belinga—the trial has been marred by delays, secrecy, and procedural controversy. The case is being handled by a military court,...
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U.S. Policy & Advocacy on Free Expression and “Censorship” Executive Order
January 20, 2025
U.S. Policy & Advocacy on Free Expression and “Censorship” Executive Order
January 20, 2025 - USA -  President Trump issued Executive Order 14149, “Restoring Freedom of Speech and Ending Federal Censorship”, aiming to halt any federal interference in constitutionally protected speech. The order prohibits federal agencies from using taxpayer resources or exerting covert pressure on private platforms to suppress speech, especially under labels like “misinformation,” “disinformation,” or “malinformation.” It also directs the Attorney General to investigate speech-suppression activities by the previous administration and recommend corrective action. Supporters, including the nonpartisan Foundation for Individual Rights in Education (FIRE), endorsed the move, noting its potential to increase transparency,...
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Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Describes Harrowing Detention in Iran’s Evin Prison
January 20, 2025
Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Describes Harrowing Detention in Iran’s Evin Prison
January 20, 2025 - Italy/Iran -  Italian war correspondent Cecilia Sala, 29, was arrested in Tehran on December 19, 2024, while reporting on assignment for Il Foglio. Despite holding a valid journalist visa, Iranian authorities accused her of violating national laws and detained her in Evin Prison, known for housing political prisoners and critics of the regime. During her 21-day detention, Sala was held in solitary confinement and subjected to extreme psychological pressure. She described spending nights on a concrete floor, under constant lighting, and without her glasses, which were confiscated upon arrest. She recounted...
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Russian Journalist Fined for Poem Honoring Political Prisoner
January 19, 2025
Russian Journalist Fined for Poem Honoring Political Prisoner
January 19, 2025 - Russia -  In January 2025, Karelian journalist and poet Denis Pogrebnoy was fined 30,000 rubles (around €290) by the Petrozavodsk City Court for allegedly “discrediting the Russian army.” The charge stemmed from several posts he published on VKontakte between October 2022 and May 2024, including poems that criticized Russia’s war in Ukraine and expressed solidarity with imprisoned activists. One of the poems referenced the case of Aleksandra Skochilenko, the St. Petersburg artist sentenced to seven years in prison for replacing supermarket price tags with anti-war messages. Pogrebnoy’s poem read: “Seven years....
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Palestinian Authority Arrests Al Jazeera Crew Covering Prisoner Release
January 19, 2025
Palestinian Authority Arrests Al Jazeera Crew Covering Prisoner Release
January 19, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces detained an Al Jazeera crew—including veteran journalist Givara Budeiri, a cameraperson, and another team member—while they were reporting near Ofer Prison in Beitunia, near Ramallah. The team was covering the release of Palestinian detainees as part of a ceasefire and prisoner exchange deal between Israel and Palestinian factions. Footage shows Budeiri reporting live just before she and her colleagues were forcibly taken away by uniformed officers. The crew was transported to a local police station, interrogated, and temporarily detained. Their equipment was reportedly confiscated...
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Odisha: Journalist Brutally Assaulted While Investigating Corruption, Five Arrested
January 19, 2025
Odisha: Journalist Brutally Assaulted While Investigating Corruption, Five Arrested
January 19, 2025 - India -  Journalist Bijaya Kumar Pradhan was brutally assaulted in Kulthipali village, Balangir district, Odisha, while investigating alleged corruption related to the construction of a ₹10 lakh retaining wall. Pradhan, a TV reporter, had gone to the village to document irregularities in the project when he was attacked by a group led by the accused contractor Gajendra Dalai. According to eyewitnesses and viral video footage, Pradhan was tied up, beaten severely under a tree, and paraded through the village. The attackers confiscated his mobile phones, microphone, camera, and cash. They allegedly...
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Nearly 200 Journalists Killed in Gaza in 2024, ICC Action Urged
January 19, 2025
Nearly 200 Journalists Killed in Gaza in 2024, ICC Action Urged
January 19, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  According to the Palestinian Journalists’ Syndicate, 193 journalists were killed by Israeli forces in Gaza throughout 2024, marking one of the deadliest years for media workers in modern history. The figure was echoed by several media watchdogs, including Al Mayadeen, which cited 194 fatalities, along with at least 86 injuries and 64 arrests of journalists by Israeli forces. In addition to human losses, 54 media offices were reportedly bombed or destroyed. Many of the slain journalists were Palestinian reporters working in Gaza under extremely dangerous conditions, often without protective...
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Niger: Journalist Arrested, Canal 3 Suspended Over Satirical Report
January 19, 2025
Niger: Journalist Arrested, Canal 3 Suspended Over Satirical Report
January 19, 2025 - Niger -  Nigerien journalist Seyni Amadou, editor-in-chief of Canal 3 TV, was arrested following the broadcast of a satirical news segment criticizing government officials. The program humorously ranked ministers, describing Prime Minister Ali Mahaman Lamine Zeine as the most competent, while labeling others as the “soft underbelly” of the military-led regime. In response, the Ministry of Communication suspended Canal 3 for one month and revoked Amadou’s press card for three months. Amadou’s detention sparked swift condemnation from media unions and press freedom organizations, including CAP-Medias-Niger and Reporters Without Borders (RSF). Critics...
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China’s Retaliatory House Arrest of Journalist Anthony Grey: A Chilling Cold War Precedent
January 19, 2025
China’s Retaliatory House Arrest of Journalist Anthony Grey: A Chilling Cold War Precedent
January 19, 2025 - China -  In July 1967, British journalist Anthony Grey, then the Reuters correspondent in Beijing, was placed under house arrest by Chinese authorities in a retaliatory diplomatic move. His confinement lasted an extraordinary 26 months, from July 1967 until October 1969, making it one of the most prolonged detentions of a foreign journalist in modern history. Grey’s arrest came in response to the British colonial administration in Hong Kong detaining Hsieh Ping, a journalist with China’s Xinhua News Agency, during anti-British riots. Beijing viewed the detention of Chinese journalists in Hong...
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Russia’s War on Ukrainian Media: 24 Journalists Killed, Over 150 Press Violations in 2024
January 19, 2025
Russia’s War on Ukrainian Media: 24 Journalists Killed, Over 150 Press Violations in 2024
January 19, 2025 - Ukraine/Russia - In 2024, Russian forces escalated their assault on media freedom in Ukraine, killing 24 Ukrainian media workers and committing over 150 violations against press freedom, according to data from Ukraine’s Institute of Mass Information (IMI). The report marks a sharp increase in the dangers faced by journalists amid the ongoing full-scale invasion. Of the 24 media workers killed, two were actively working as journalists at the time of their deaths. Among them was Victoria Roshchyna, a Zaporizhzhia-based journalist who died while in Russian custody on October 10, after being...
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18 Years Without Justice: The Enduring Legacy of Hrant Dink
January 19, 2025
18 Years Without Justice: The Enduring Legacy of Hrant Dink
January 19, 2025 - Turkey -  On January 19, 2007, Turkish-Armenian journalist Hrant Dink was assassinated in front of his newspaper Agos in Istanbul. The 52-year-old editor had long been a target of nationalist hostility for advocating Armenian-Turkish reconciliation and openly discussing the Armenian Genocide. His murderer, Ogün Samast, a 17-year-old Turkish nationalist, was arrested and later sentenced to over 20 years in prison. In November 2023, Samast was released on parole after serving nearly 17 years. Eighteen years later, justice remains elusive. Though Samast and a few accomplices were convicted, the masterminds and state...
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Nigeria: Aba Suffers Blackout After Pipeline Attack; Gunmen Kill Prophet in Ogun Church
January 19, 2025
Nigeria: Aba Suffers Blackout After Pipeline Attack; Gunmen Kill Prophet in Ogun Church
January 19, 2025 - Nigeria -  In two disturbing events highlighting Nigeria’s infrastructure and security crises, residents in Aba, Abia State, experienced a sudden blackout after gas pipeline vandalism, while in Ogun State, a prophet was brutally killed during a church service. On January 19, 2025, vandals targeted gas pipelines supplying the Geometric Power Plant in Aba, disrupting what had been a month-long streak of uninterrupted electricity for the city. The attack, aimed at illegally tapping crude oil from nearby lines, inadvertently severed the gas supply essential for power generation. According to Aba Power Ltd.,...
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Assaults on journalists in Kurdistan drop 22% in 2024
January 18, 2025
Assaults on journalists in Kurdistan drop 22% in 2024
January 18, 2025 - Kurdistan -  In 2024, the Kurdistan Region of Iraq recorded a 22% decline in violations against journalists, according to a report by the Metro Center for Journalists’ Rights and Advocacy. A total of 182 cases were documented, down from 231 in 2023, signaling modest progress in journalist safety. However, rights groups caution that the environment for independent journalism remains fragile. The violations included: 27 cases of physical assault or threats 24 arbitrary arrests carried out without legal warrants 17 incidents of confiscated media equipment 60 cyberattacks, including online harassment and smear...
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Debra Tice Visits Damascus, Renews Hope in Search for Missing Son Austin Tice
January 18, 2025
Debra Tice Visits Damascus, Renews Hope in Search for Missing Son Austin Tice
January 18, 2025 - USA/Syria-  Twelve years after her son’s disappearance, Debra Tice has returned to Damascus to search for her son, American journalist Austin Tice, who vanished in August 2012 while reporting on the Syrian conflict. Her visit marks a pivotal moment in the long-running campaign for answers, coinciding with political changes in Syria and renewed diplomatic interest. Austin, a former U.S. Marine and freelance journalist, was abducted near Daraya, a Damascus suburb, shortly after his 31st birthday. A video released weeks later showed him blindfolded and held by unidentified captors. Since then, no...
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Independent Journalism Faces Extinction in Nicaragua Amid Escalating Repression
January 18, 2025
Independent Journalism Faces Extinction in Nicaragua Amid Escalating Repression
January 18, 2025 - Nicaragua -  Independent journalism in Nicaragua is nearing total collapse, according to a 2025 report by the Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy (FLED). The study reveals that in 10 of the country’s 15 regions, local journalism has completely disappeared. The environment has become a “news desert,” where state propaganda dominates and dissenting voices have been driven into exile, detention, or silence. Under the regime of President Daniel Ortega and Vice President Rosario Murillo, Nicaragua has experienced a steady dismantling of press freedom since 2007. The government has shut down...
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Turkey Arrests Five Kurdish Journalists in Raids on Media Outlets
January 17, 2025
Turkey Arrests Five Kurdish Journalists in Raids on Media Outlets
January 17, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish police raided two Kurdish media organizations, detaining five Kurdish journalists as part of a broader crackdown on independent and opposition press. The arrests occurred in multiple cities, including Istanbul, Diyarbakır, and Van, and involved coordinated raids on journalists' homes and offices. During the arrests, police reportedly used force, particularly during the detention of Hacıoğlu, whose professional equipment was confiscated. A 24-hour confidentiality order was imposed, preventing lawyers from accessing their clients or the case files, effectively silencing legal recourse in the critical early hours of detention. These arrests...
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Russian Authorities Detain Journalists Ahead of Navalny Lawyers’ Sentencing
January 17, 2025
Russian Authorities Detain Journalists Ahead of Navalny Lawyers’ Sentencing
January 17, 2025 - Russia -  Russian police detained multiple journalists in the town of Petushki, near Vladimir, as they attempted to attend the court hearing for three former lawyers of opposition leader Alexei Navalny. The lawyers—Vadim Kobzev, Alexey Lipster, and Igor Sergunin—were facing sentencing on charges of participating in an “extremist organization,” a label the Russian state has used to target Navalny’s supporters. As accredited journalists arrived by train from Moscow to cover the high-profile trial, police intercepted them at the station. Some were taken directly to the Petushki police precinct for "identity checks."...
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Taliban Sentences Afghan Journalist Mahdi Ansary to 18 Months Prison
January 17, 2025
Taliban Sentences Afghan Journalist Mahdi Ansary to 18 Months Prison
January 17, 2025 - Afghanistan -  The Taliban’s primary court in Kabul sentenced Mahdi Ansary, a 27-year-old reporter for the Afghan News Agency (AFKA), to 18 months in prison. He was convicted of spreading “anti-Taliban propaganda” and collaborating with “banned media outlets” via videos posted on his personal YouTube channel. Ansary was arrested on October 5, 2024, while returning to his office in Dasht-e-Barchi. His family was initially left in the dark, only learning of his detention when informed by Taliban intelligence over a month later. During the hearing held in early January, the court...
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Ethiopia Among Africa’s Worst Jailers of Journalists, CPJ Reports
January 17, 2025
Ethiopia Among Africa’s Worst Jailers of Journalists, CPJ Reports
January 17, 2025 - Ethiopia -  Ethiopia has been named one of the worst jailers of journalists in Africa, according to a recent report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). As of January 2025, at least six journalists are currently detained in Ethiopia, with five of them facing terrorism-related charges—a tactic increasingly used by the government to silence critical voices, particularly those reporting on conflict and political unrest in the Amhara region. These charges, often vague and broad, carry harsh penalties, including potential death sentences. The accused journalists are reportedly being prosecuted under Ethiopia’s...
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Azerbaijan Arrests More Journalists in Widening Crackdown on Independent Media
January 17, 2025
Azerbaijan Arrests More Journalists in Widening Crackdown on Independent Media
January 17, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijani authorities arrested journalists Farid Ismayilov and Elmir Abbasov, intensifying an ongoing crackdown on independent media. The arrests are part of a broader investigation into Toplum TV, a media outlet known for covering corruption and government accountability. Both journalists now face charges of illegal business activities, money laundering, and smuggling—accusations widely criticized as politically motivated. These detentions come amid a sweeping repression of independent journalism in Azerbaijan. Since March 2024, authorities have targeted Toplum TV, Meydan TV, Abzas Media, and Argument. AZ, accusing their staff of financial crimes. Offices...
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In Gaza, Wearing a Press Vest Has Become a Death Sentence
January 17, 2025
In Gaza, Wearing a Press Vest Has Become a Death Sentence
January 17, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  In war-torn Gaza, journalists have found that wearing a press vest—once a symbol of protection—is now a potential death sentence. Reports by The Guardian and The New Arab detail how Israeli strikes have increasingly targeted media workers, even when they are marked as press. One of the most harrowing cases involved Ibrahim Muhareb, a young journalist with Al-Quds Today, who was killed in Khan Younis by Israeli tank fire. He wore a helmet and a flak jacket labeled “PRESS,” but this did not save him. His colleague, Salma Kaddoumi,...
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France: Judges Drop Charges Against Investigative Journalist Ariane Lavrilleux
January 17, 2025
France: Judges Drop Charges Against Investigative Journalist Ariane Lavrilleux
January 17, 2025 - France -  Paris’s anti‑terrorism judges decided not to indict Ariane Lavrilleux, an investigative journalist with Disclose, who had faced serious criminal charges tied to her reporting on French military operations in Egypt. Lavrilleux played a key role in exposing “Operation Sirli,” a secret mission where, based on leaked classified documents, France allegedly assisted Egypt in carrying out hundreds of extrajudicial killings. The revelations triggered a national defense secrecy probe, accusing Lavrilleux of “appropriation and disclosure of a national defence secret”—an offense punishable by up to five years in prison and heavy...
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UN Expert on Freedom of Expression Visits Zambia Amid Hope and Concern
January 17, 2025
UN Expert on Freedom of Expression Visits Zambia Amid Hope and Concern
January 17, 2025 - Switzerland -  From January 20 to 31, 2025, Irene Khan, the UN Special Rapporteur on the promotion and protection of the right to freedom of opinion and expression, conducted an official visit to Zambia. The mission aimed to assess the state of free expression, media freedom, and access to information in the country, as well as the legal frameworks that govern them. Khan’s visit included meetings with government officials, judiciary representatives, journalists, human rights defenders, and civil society groups across several cities, including Lusaka, Livingstone, and Kitwe. Her focus was to...
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Journalists Behind Bars: China, Israel, and Myanmar Lead Global Crackdown in 2024
January 17, 2025
Journalists Behind Bars: China, Israel, and Myanmar Lead Global Crackdown in 2024
January 17, 2025 - General -  In 2024, 361 journalists were imprisoned worldwide, marking one of the highest numbers ever recorded, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). The three worst offenders were China, Israel, and Myanmar, each playing a leading role in the global crackdown on press freedom. China topped the list with 50 journalists behind bars. Many were arrested under sweeping national security laws, especially in Xinjiang and Hong Kong. The government continues to target those reporting on human rights, political dissent, and minority issues. High-profile cases like Jimmy...
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Journalists Forcibly Removed After Questioning Blinken on Gaza Policy
January 17, 2025
Journalists Forcibly Removed After Questioning Blinken on Gaza Policy
January 17, 2025 - USA -  U.S. journalist Sam Husseini and The Grayzone’s Max Blumenthal were forcibly removed from a press briefing at the U.S. State Department after confronting Secretary of State Antony Blinken over America’s continued support for Israel’s military actions in Gaza. The incident has raised serious concerns about the treatment of dissenting journalists and press freedom in the U.S. As Blinken began his final briefing, Husseini challenged him with a direct question about U.S. complicity in alleged war crimes in Gaza, referencing the International Criminal Court and the controversial Hannibal Directive, an...
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67 Journalists Jailed Across Africa Amid Growing Crackdown on Press Freedom
January 16, 2025
67 Journalists Jailed Across Africa Amid Growing Crackdown on Press Freedom
January 16, 2025 - Africa -  As of December 1, 2024, at least 67 journalists were imprisoned across Africa for their work, according to a report by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). This troubling figure highlights a growing pattern of repression against independent media across the continent, contributing to the global tally of 361 jailed journalists—the second-highest ever recorded by CPJ. The report identifies Egypt and Eritrea as the worst offenders. Egypt currently holds 17 journalists, many detained under vague anti-state or anti-terrorism charges. The country continues to suppress dissenting voices by weaponizing national...
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Peter Greste Launches Hunger Strike in Support of Jailed Activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah
January 16, 2025
Peter Greste Launches Hunger Strike in Support of Jailed Activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah
January 16, 2025 - Egypt - Australian journalist Peter Greste has begun a 21-day hunger strike outside the UK Foreign Office in London to demand the release of Alaa Abd el-Fattah, a British-Egyptian activist and writer imprisoned in Egypt. Greste, who was himself jailed in Egypt in 2013 while reporting for Al Jazeera, said he owes his life to Alaa, referencing the solidarity shown to him by the Egyptian activist during their shared time in Tora Prison. Alaa, a prominent voice during the 2011 Egyptian revolution, was re-arrested in 2019 and sentenced in 2021 to...
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Journalist Ahmed Al-Shayyah Killed in Gaza, Raising Death Toll to 205
January 16, 2025
Journalist Ahmed Al-Shayyah Killed in Gaza, Raising Death Toll to 205
January 16, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Palestinian journalist Ahmed Al-Shayyah was killed in an Israeli airstrike while reporting near a food distribution point in Al-Mawasi, west of Khan Younis in southern Gaza. The strike hit a tent sheltering displaced civilians, volunteers, and journalists. Al-Shayyah was reportedly on assignment documenting the humanitarian situation when the attack occurred. Al-Shayyah was a dedicated journalist working as an editor, producer, and correspondent for several Gaza-based media outlets, including ALEF Multimedia. Colleagues described him as deeply committed to telling the stories of civilians caught in the war. His death brings...
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Egypt Arrests Cartoonist’s Wife and Journalist, Escalating Crackdown on Media
January 16, 2025
Egypt Arrests Cartoonist’s Wife and Journalist, Escalating Crackdown on Media
January 16, 2025 - Egypt -  Egyptian authorities arrested Nada Mougheeth, the wife of imprisoned satirical cartoonist Ashraf Omar, and Ahmed Serag, a journalist from the independent outlet ZatMasr. Their arrests came after Serag published an interview with Mougheeth in which she spoke out about her husband's detention and alleged abuses by security forces. According to human rights groups and press freedom advocates, the arrests mark a dangerous escalation in Egypt's efforts to silence dissent and intimidate anyone who speaks out. Mougheeth had publicly criticized the authorities for confiscating her family’s savings during Omar’s arrest...
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Gaza Journalist Removes Protective Gear in Emotional Moment Following Ceasefire
January 16, 2025
Gaza Journalist Removes Protective Gear in Emotional Moment Following Ceasefire
January 16, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Anas al-Sharif, reporting for Al Jazeera, removed his flak jacket and helmet live on air following the announcement of a temporary ceasefire in Gaza. The emotional gesture, captured during a live broadcast from Gaza City, quickly went viral, becoming a powerful symbol of both exhaustion and resilience after over a year of relentless war. Standing in a crowd of civilians reacting to the ceasefire news, al-Sharif declared, “Now, I can finally take off this helmet that has exhausted me, and this vest that has become part of...
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CPJ Uncovers Flaws in Conviction of Senegalese Journalist René Capain Bassène
January 16, 2025
CPJ Uncovers Flaws in Conviction of Senegalese Journalist René Capain Bassène
January 16, 2025 - Senegal - The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has raised serious concerns over the conviction of Senegalese journalist René Capain Bassène, who is serving a life sentence for his alleged involvement in a 2018 massacre in the Bayotte Forest region near Ziguinchor, Senegal. CPJ’s recent investigation has revealed major procedural flaws, coerced testimony, and questionable evidence, suggesting Bassène may have been wrongfully convicted. Bassène, a former correspondent and editor known for his reporting on the separatist conflict in Senegal’s Casamance region, was arrested in 2018 along with several others following the...
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Palestinian Journalist Ahmed Abu al-Rous Killed in Israeli Airstrike, Death Toll Among Journalists Surpasses 205
January 16, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Ahmed Abu al-Rous Killed in Israeli Airstrike, Death Toll Among Journalists Surpasses 205
January 16, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Ahmed Abu al-Rous was killed in an Israeli airstrike in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Abu al-Rous, known for his fearless reporting from the frontlines, died alongside his twin brother, three friends, and four other civilians when their vehicle was hit just hours before a temporary ceasefire was announced. Abu al-Rous was a respected freelance journalist and photographer, contributing to local media outlets including Fourth Estate. He had also been honored by the Sobh International Media Festival for his dedication to documenting life under siege...
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Venezuelan Rights Advocate Carlos Correa Released After 9 Days in Custody
January 16, 2025
Venezuelan Rights Advocate Carlos Correa Released After 9 Days in Custody
January 16, 2025 - Venezuela - Venezuelan authorities released prominent free speech advocate Carlos Correa, director of the NGO Espacio Público, after nine days in detention. His arrest on January 7 occurred during a wave of crackdowns targeting activists, journalists, and opposition figures ahead of President Nicolás Maduro’s inauguration for a third term on January 10. Correa, a university professor and leading figure in the defense of press freedom in Venezuela, was taken by hooded security agents without a warrant. His family and colleagues were left without information on his whereabouts for days, prompting widespread...
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OSCE States Reaffirm Press Freedom and Journalist Safety as Pillars of Security
January 16, 2025
OSCE States Reaffirm Press Freedom and Journalist Safety as Pillars of Security
January 16, 2025 - Europe -  Twenty-two member states of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) issued a joint statement reaffirming the critical role of journalist safety and media freedom in maintaining peace and security. The declaration, led by Iceland and supported by countries including Germany, Ireland, Switzerland, and Ukraine, emphasized that there can be “no genuine security without media freedom, and no media freedom without journalists being able to carry out their work safely and freely.” The signatories expressed strong support for the OSCE Representative on Freedom of the Media (RFoM)...
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Dom Phillips’s Final Book, How to Save the Amazon, to Be Published Posthumously in May
January 16, 2025
Dom Phillips’s Final Book, How to Save the Amazon, to Be Published Posthumously in May
January 16, 2025 - UK/Brazil -  British journalist Dom Phillips, who was tragically killed in the Brazilian Amazon alongside Indigenous expert Bruno Pereira in June 2022, will have his final investigative work, How to Save the Amazon: A Journalist’s Fatal Quest for Answers, published in May 2025. The book, a culmination of Phillips’s research plotting solutions to deforestation and environmental degradation, was completed posthumously by a team of close colleagues and his widow, Alessandra Sampaio. Phillips focused on uncovering sustainable approaches to preserve the world's largest rainforest, covering topics like agroforestry, bioeconomy, ecotourism, and Indigenous...
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Venezuela Detains Journalist Covering Protest on “Terrorism” Charges
January 15, 2025
Venezuela Detains Journalist Covering Protest on “Terrorism” Charges
January 15, 2025 - Venezuela - Venezuelan authorities detained journalist Leandro Palmar, news director of Luz Radio at the University of Zulia, and his assistant, Belises Salvador Cubillá,n while they were covering anti-government protests in Maracaibo. Both were arrested on January 9 while reporting on demonstrations linked to growing public discontent with President Nicolás Maduro’s government. Just two days later, on January 11, a local court ordered their continued detention on preliminary charges of terrorism, conspiracy, incitement to hatred, and disturbing public order. Press freedom organizations and human rights advocates have strongly condemned the charges,...
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Afghan Journalists Stress Lifeline of Safe Refuge Media Freedom Coalition
January 15, 2025
Afghan Journalists Stress Lifeline of Safe Refuge Media Freedom Coalition
January 15, 2025 - Afghanistan -  The Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) recently spotlighted the critical role of safe refuge in enabling Afghan journalists to continue their work under threat. In a featured case study, two Afghan reporters shared how escaping Taliban-controlled Afghanistan saved their lives—and preserved their ability to document injustice back home. Both correspondents emphasized that while exile is emotionally wrenching—marked by separation from family and the trauma of displacement—it is vital for survival and professional continuity. From their new bases, they have maintained coverage of human rights abuses, women's suppression, and civilian targeting,...
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Sudan: CFJ Condemns Arrest of Journalist Ahmed Youssef Al-Tay Calls for His Immediate Release
January 15, 2025
Sudan: CFJ Condemns Arrest of Journalist Ahmed Youssef Al-Tay Calls for His Immediate Release
January 15, 2025 - Sudan -  Sudanese security forces detained journalist Ahmed Youssef Al‑Tay in Al‑Dindir, Sennar State (southeast Sudan). He was arrested without warrants or charges and subsequently transferred to Sinja, marking a blatant violation of press freedom according to the Committee for Justice (CFJ). CFJ strongly condemned the detention, stressing the arbitrary nature of the arrest and calling for Al‑Tay’s immediate and unconditional release. The committee rejected any justification for targeting journalists, underscoring that his detention undermines Sudan’s legal obligations and international press freedom standards. This arrest fits a troubling pattern in Sudan,...
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Russia Enacts Harsh New Laws Targeting Critics and Journalists, Drawing International Condemnation
January 15, 2025
Russia Enacts Harsh New Laws Targeting Critics and Journalists, Drawing International Condemnation
January 15, 2025 - Russia -  The International Press Institute (IPI) has strongly condemned a new set of laws passed in Russia that significantly tighten state control over dissent, particularly targeting independent journalists and civil society actors. These laws mark an alarming expansion of the Kremlin’s “foreign agent” framework and further criminalize independent reporting, deepening the suppression of press freedom in the country. The legislation broadens the definition of who can be labeled a “foreign agent,” allowing authorities to apply the term to virtually anyone who receives foreign support or engages in vaguely defined political...
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Gaza: Journalist Mohammad Al-Talmas Killed as Media Death Toll Rises to 204
January 14, 2025
Gaza: Journalist Mohammad Al-Talmas Killed as Media Death Toll Rises to 204
January 14, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist Mohammad Bashir Al-Talmas, an editor at Safa News Agency, was killed following an Israeli airstrike in the Sheikh Radwan neighborhood of northern Gaza on January 13, 2025. He succumbed to injuries the next day, after undergoing emergency surgery. Al-Talmas, aged 40, was covering the humanitarian crisis in Gaza when the strike occurred, reportedly hitting a gathering that included displaced civilians and media workers. His death marks the latest in a devastating toll on media personnel since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in October 2023....
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Ahlam al‑Nafed: Gaza Journalist Killed While Reporting from Hospital—One of Over 200 Media Workers Lost
January 14, 2025
Ahlam al‑Nafed: Gaza Journalist Killed While Reporting from Hospital—One of Over 200 Media Workers Lost
January 14, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Palestinian journalist and photographer Ahlam al‑Nafed was killed by an Israeli airstrike while walking to Al‑Shifa Hospital in northern Gaza City. A dedicated frontline reporter, she had spent 100 days covering the besieged Indonesian Hospital, working for Drop Site News and other local media. At 33 years old, al‑Nafed documented atrocities in one of Gaza’s most embattled medical facilities, capturing images and stories that brought international focus to widespread suffering. Drop Site News mourned that “through her words and images, she ensured that atrocities which might have been silenced...
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Belarus: Journalist Andrei Kuznechyk Released After Over Three Years of Political Imprisonment
January 14, 2025
Belarus: Journalist Andrei Kuznechyk Released After Over Three Years of Political Imprisonment
January 14, 2025 - Belarus -  Belarusian journalist Andrei Kuznechyk, a contributor to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was released in early 2025 after spending more than three years behind bars in what human rights organizations have widely condemned as a politically motivated imprisonment. Kuznechyk had been arrested on November 25, 2021, near his home in Minsk while out cycling. Initially sentenced to short administrative detention for “hooliganism,” his case escalated when Belarusian authorities charged him with “participation in an extremist group,” a vague accusation often used to silence dissent. In June 2022, Kuznechyk was...
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Turkmenistan Bars Journalist Nurgeldi Halykov from Leaving Country After Release from Prison
January 14, 2025
Turkmenistan Bars Journalist Nurgeldi Halykov from Leaving Country After Release from Prison
January 14, 2025 - Turkmenistan- Turkmen journalist Nurgeldi Halykov was prevented from boarding a flight at Ashgabat International Airport despite holding a valid passport and travel documents. Authorities told him he was under a travel ban, offering no written explanation or legal justification. Halykov had planned to fly to the United Arab Emirates to begin a new job in the hospitality industry, hoping to rebuild his life after years of state persecution. Halykov, a freelance contributor to the Netherlands-based outlet Turkmen. news, had previously spent nearly four years in prison on politically motivated charges. He...
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Sri Lanka’s New Government Urged to Prioritize Press Freedom Reforms
January 14, 2025
Sri Lanka’s New Government Urged to Prioritize Press Freedom Reforms
January 14, 2025 - Sri Lanka -  Following the election of President Anura Kumara Dissanayake and the rise of the National People’s Power (NPP) coalition, a coalition of 25 media and civil society organizations is urging the new Sri Lankan government to act decisively to protect press freedom. The Press Freedom Collective, which includes the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), Federation of Media Employees and Trade Unions (FMETU), Sri Lanka Working Journalists Association (SLWJA), and the Free Media Movement (FMM), issued a public statement outlining urgent reforms. The collective calls for an end to impunity...
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War Journalism: Precarious Work, Rising Threats, and Mental Health Neglect
January 14, 2025
War Journalism: Precarious Work, Rising Threats, and Mental Health Neglect
January 14, 2025 - General -  A recent report by Equal Times exposes the deeply unstable and often dangerous conditions faced by journalists reporting from conflict zones such as Gaza, Lebanon, and Libya. While their work is vital for global understanding of war and human suffering, these journalists—especially freelancers and local reporters—are frequently left to operate without adequate support, training, or protection. Many of these journalists work without contracts, insurance, or institutional backing, making them highly vulnerable to injury, arrest, or death. The illusion of “entrepreneurial” journalism masks a reality of precarious gig work, where...
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Afghanistan: Journalist Mahdi Ansari Sentenced to 18 Months for “Anti-Regime” Reporting
January 14, 2025
Afghanistan: Journalist Mahdi Ansari Sentenced to 18 Months for “Anti-Regime” Reporting
January 14, 2025 - Afghanistan -  A Taliban-run court in Kabul sentenced Afghan journalist Mahdi Ansari to 18 months in prison on charges of spreading “anti-regime propaganda.” The verdict follows his October 2024 arrest, when Taliban intelligence forces detained him in the Dasht-e-Barchi neighborhood of Kabul. Ansari, who works for Afghan News Agency (AFKA), had reportedly shared videos on his personal YouTube channel that included speeches critical of Taliban rule, particularly by Shia cleric Ayatollah Waez Behsoudi, who opposed the Taliban’s restrictions and destruction of Hazara cultural monuments. Ansari had previously been briefly detained in...
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UN Condemns Al-Jazeera Ban, Warns of Global Threat to Press Freedom
January 14, 2025
UN Condemns Al-Jazeera Ban, Warns of Global Threat to Press Freedom
January 13, 2025 - General - The United Nations and leading press freedom experts sharply criticized the banning of Al-Jazeera in an undisclosed country, warning that the move sets a dangerous precedent that undermines journalism and fosters impunity for human rights violations. The ban—likely imposed in a politically sensitive region amid conflict—has drawn strong reactions from international institutions committed to safeguarding free expression. The UN expressed grave concern that restricting access to Al-Jazeera, a globally recognized news outlet, effectively denies the public critical information during a time when transparent reporting is essential. A UN spokesperson...
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Al Jazeera Cameraman Fadi al‑Wahidi Shot by Israeli Forces in Gaza, Faces Life‑Threatening Injuries
January 14, 2025
Al Jazeera Cameraman Fadi al‑Wahidi Shot by Israeli Forces in Gaza, Faces Life‑Threatening Injuries
January 14, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  During a reporting assignment in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza, Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi al‑Wahidi was critically injured by Israeli military fire. Fadi, wearing a marked press vest, captured drone footage before being struck in the neck by a bullet fired by an Israeli reconnaissance aircraft. He and reporter Anas al‑Sharif were documenting the effects of displacement when the Israeli drone targeted their location. Al‑Sharif recalled how Fadi fell and collapsed, with colleagues unable to assist immediately due to ongoing gunfire. Fadi was rushed to al-Ahli Hospital, where...
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Gaza Journalist Abubaker Abed: Bearing Witness Amid Siege and Trauma
January 13, 2025
Gaza Journalist Abubaker Abed: Bearing Witness Amid Siege and Trauma
January 13, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Abubaker Abed, a 22-year-old Palestinian journalist from Deir al-Balah, has become one of the most powerful voices documenting the human cost of war in Gaza. Originally a sports commentator, Abed transformed into a frontline war reporter amid Israel’s relentless bombardment. In a recent interview with Democracy Now!, he shared his harrowing experience and the emotional toll of covering atrocities while living through them. Abed described Gaza as “a mass grave,” saying that journalists on the ground are not only recording the war—they are surviving it. He detailed how he...
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Turkish Journalist Fatoş Sarıkaya Assaulted by Police While Covering Protests
January 13, 2025
Turkish Journalist Fatoş Sarıkaya Assaulted by Police While Covering Protests
January 13, 2025 - Turkey -  Turkish journalist Fatoş Sarıkaya was violently assaulted by police in the southern city of Mersin while attempting to film a public protest. The demonstration was sparked by the government’s controversial removal of elected co-mayors in the Akdeniz district—a move many observers labeled a political intervention. Sarıkaya, an accredited journalist, was shoved, her press card knocked to the ground, and she was physically prevented from recording the event. According to the Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ), Sarıkaya’s experience is part of a disturbing trend in Turkey, where journalists, particularly...
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Venezuela Cracks Down on Journalists and Digital Media as Maduro Begins Third Term
January 13, 2025
Venezuela Cracks Down on Journalists and Digital Media as Maduro Begins Third Term
January 13, 2025 - Venezuela -  As Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro was sworn in for a controversial third term on January 10, 2025, the country witnessed an intensified wave of repression targeting journalists and digital media, accompanied by significant legal consequences. In the days surrounding the inauguration, at least four journalists were detained while covering opposition demonstrations in cities like Maracaibo, where press freedom organizations recorded multiple arrests and violent incidents. Journalist and human rights defender Carlos Correa, director of Espacio Público, was among those seized by hooded agents on January 7 and disappeared for over a week...
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46 Nicaraguan Journalists Forced into Exile in 2024 Amid Worsening Crackdown
January 13, 2025
46 Nicaraguan Journalists Forced into Exile in 2024 Amid Worsening Crackdown
January 13, 2025 - Nicaragua -  In 2024, at least 46 Nicaraguan journalists were forced into exile due to escalating repression under President Daniel Ortega’s regime, according to a report by the Costa Rica-based Foundation for Freedom of Expression and Democracy (FLED). This brings the total number of exiled journalists since the brutal 2018 crackdown to 283, underscoring the systematic dismantling of press freedom in the country. The FLED report documented 81 press freedom violations in 2024, including arbitrary arrests, surveillance, newsroom raids, confiscation of equipment, and enforced disappearances. Prominent journalists such as Fabiola Tercero...
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UNESCO Issues Call for Proposals to Strengthen Journalist Safety in Somalia
January 13, 2025
UNESCO Issues Call for Proposals to Strengthen Journalist Safety in Somalia
January 13, 2025 - UN -  UNESCO has launched a call for proposals aimed at strengthening freedom of expression and journalist safety in Somalia, where media workers face persistent threats from conflict, political instability, and targeted violence. Announced on January 13, 2025, the initiative will fund projects with a total budget of US$ 35,000 and run from the second to the fourth quarter of 2025. The call supports organizations capable of implementing practical, locally grounded activities to enhance protection for journalists—particularly women—and promote institutional engagement around media safety. Interested applicants must submit proposals by January 31,...
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RSF and 110 Organizations Urge France to Protect Journalists’ Sources
January 13, 2025
RSF and 110 Organizations Urge France to Protect Journalists’ Sources
January 13, 2025 - France - Reporters Without Borders (RSF), alongside 110 civil society and media organizations, has jointly demanded that the French government enact robust legal protections for journalists’ sources. This collaborative appeal, announced in early 2025, highlights growing concerns over diminished press freedom and criminal risks facing journalists and their informants. At the heart of the coalition’s demand is France’s lagging shield law for source confidentiality. Under current regulations, several court rulings have compelled journalists to reveal their sources during legal proceedings, despite promises of confidentiality. RSF warns that this not only deters...
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Venezuela’s Post-Election Crackdown: 221 Politicians, 23 Journalists & 6 Human Rights Activists Detained
January 13, 2025
Venezuela’s Post-Election Crackdown: 221 Politicians, 23 Journalists & 6 Human Rights Activists Detained
January 13, 2025 - Venezuela -  Since Venezuela’s contentious July 28, 2024, presidential election, the country has been engulfed in a severe human rights crisis. As of January 11, 2025, the Foro Penal human rights network reported 221 individuals—181 more than in late December—have been detained for political reasons. This crackdown has swept up opposition figures, journalists, and human rights defenders alike. Foro Penal’s tally reveals nearly 1,700 people currently imprisoned, with 1,503 detained in connection with post-electoral protests alone, and over 900 arrested immediately after the election. Detainees include 221 politicians, 23 journalists, and six...
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Three Journalists Killed Weekly in Gaza, Says Palestinian Rights Group
January 13, 2025
Three Journalists Killed Weekly in Gaza, Says Palestinian Rights Group
January 13, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The Palestinian Centre for Human Rights (PCHR) has reported that, on average, three journalists are being killed every week in Gaza, underscoring the extraordinary dangers faced by media workers amid Israel’s ongoing military operations. As of mid-January 2025, more than 200 journalists—mostly Palestinians—have been killed since the war began in October 2023, making this the deadliest conflict for journalists in modern history. The latest incident involved the killing of a journalist by Israeli sniper fire in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza on January 12. The victim was...
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Georgian Authorities Detain Batumelebi Director Mzia Amaghlobeli Amid Anti-Government Protests
January 12, 2025
Georgian Authorities Detain Batumelebi Director Mzia Amaghlobeli Amid Anti-Government Protests
January 12, 2025 - Georgia -  Seasoned Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, co-founder and director of independent media outlets Batumelebi (Batumi) and Netgazeti (national), was arrested during protests in Batumi calling for fresh elections. The arrest unfolded in two stages: she was initially detained on January 11 for placing a protest sticker near the police headquarters, released, then re-arrested minutes later—this time accused of slapping Batumi’s police chief, Irakli Dgebuadze, during a confrontation. Authorities charged her under Article 353 of Georgia’s Criminal Code—assaulting a police officer—punishable by up to seven years in prison. The Batumi City Court promptly ordered...
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Missouri Sports Reporter Dennis Sharkey Jr. Killed in Suspected Road-Rage Shooting
January 12, 2025
Missouri Sports Reporter Dennis Sharkey Jr. Killed in Suspected Road-Rage Shooting
January 12, 2025 - USA -  Dennis Sharkey Jr., a 50-year-old sports journalist for the Platte County Citizen in Missouri, was fatally shot on January 10, 2025, in what authorities believe was a road-rage incident. The tragedy occurred as Sharkey was driving home from covering a high school basketball game, just one day after celebrating his 50th birthday. Police say Sharkey’s vehicle veered off Interstate 29 near 72nd Street and crashed into a fence. Witnesses reported that his car had pulled over on the side of the highway alongside another vehicle. A man reportedly exited...
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Journalists Detained and Tortured in Dhi Qar for Exposing Corruption and Protests
January 12, 2025
Journalists Detained and Tortured in Dhi Qar for Exposing Corruption and Protests
January 12, 2025 - Kurdistan -  In Iraq’s southern province of Dhi Qar, journalists are increasingly becoming targets of repression for reporting on corruption and anti-government protests. According to Kurdistan24, several reporters have been detained, tortured, and denied access to information after attempting to cover demonstrations and investigate allegations of mismanagement within local government institutions. The crackdown appears to be part of a coordinated campaign to silence critical voices. Journalists have reported being held for hours without explanation, interrogated under harsh conditions, and subjected to physical abuse by security forces. In some cases, their equipment...
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Italian-Iranian Diplomatic Swap: Detained Iranian Released After Italian Journalist Freed
January 12, 2025
Italian-Iranian Diplomatic Swap: Detained Iranian Released After Italian Journalist Freed
January 12, 2025 - Italy/Iran -  In a delicate diplomatic maneuver, Italy released Iranian businessman Mohammad Abedini on January 12, 2025, just days after Tehran freed Italian journalist Cecilia Sala. Abedini had been detained in Milan since December 16 on a U.S. extradition warrant alleging he supplied drone parts used in a January 2024 strike in Jordan that killed three American service members. Rome’s Justice Minister intervened, revoking Abedini’s arrest warrant. Italian courts concluded that his alleged offense—violating U.S. sanctions via the International Emergency Economic Powers Act—had no equivalent crime under Italian law and thus...
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Record Number of Journalists Killed in Gaza War, CBS News Reports
January 12, 2025
Record Number of Journalists Killed in Gaza War, CBS News Reports
January 12, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  A recent 60 Minutes segment aired on CBS News revealed a staggering toll on media workers covering the Israel–Hamas conflict in Gaza. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least 160 journalists, translators, fixers, and support staff have been killed since hostilities erupted in October 2023. This marks the most lethal period for reporters since CPJ began tracking deaths in 1992. The program noted that the vast majority of those killed in Gaza are Palestinian, with deaths extending to their families, raising fears the targeting of journalists may...
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Palestinian Journalist Jarrah Khalaf Tortured in PA Custody Over Jenin Coverage
January 12, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Jarrah Khalaf Tortured in PA Custody Over Jenin Coverage
January 12, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Palestinian journalist Jarrah Khalaf has reportedly been tortured while in the custody of Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces, raising serious concerns about media repression and human rights abuses in the West Bank. Khalaf, known for covering press conferences and field reports from the Jenin refugee camp, was arrested at a PA checkpoint earlier this month. His detention comes amid a broader crackdown on dissent and independent journalism during ongoing PA-led operations in Jenin. According to his family and the advocacy group Lawyers for Justice, Khalaf was subjected to severe...
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China Reports Stable Interprovincial Migration in 2024, Focus Shifts to Talent Retention
January 11, 2025
China Reports Stable Interprovincial Migration in 2024, Focus Shifts to Talent Retention
January 11, 2025 - Palestine/Israel/China -  According to a January 2025 report by China’s state news agency Xinhua, interprovincial migration in China remained largely stable throughout 2024, countering expectations of a significant rural-to-urban population shift. Government data shows that approximately 5.2 million people moved between provinces last year, only a slight increase from the 5.1 million recorded in 2023. The figures suggest that despite ongoing economic pressures and urbanization trends, internal migration levels have plateaued, signaling a new phase in China’s demographic and labor strategy. Of the total movers, 2.7 million relocated to major metropolitan...
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203 Palestinian Journalists Killed in Gaza: A Press Corps Under Siege
January 11, 2025
203 Palestinian Journalists Killed in Gaza: A Press Corps Under Siege
January 11, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Since the beginning of Israel’s military campaign in Gaza in October 2023, at least 203 Palestinian journalists have been killed, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. This staggering figure represents the deadliest conflict for media professionals in modern history and underscores the increasing dangers faced by local reporters documenting war crimes, humanitarian crises, and military operations on the ground. The most recent casualty, Sa’ed al-Nabhan, a freelance cameraman, was shot by an Israeli sniper in the al-Nuseirat refugee camp. He was reportedly wearing press identification and attempting to...
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Saed Abu Nabhan: Gaza Freelancer Killed by Israeli Sniper — A Grim Milestone in Journalist Fatalities
January 10, 2025
Saed Abu Nabhan: Gaza Freelancer Killed by Israeli Sniper — A Grim Milestone in Journalist Fatalities
10 January 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  On January 10, 2025, Saed Abu Nabhan, a 25-year-old freelance cameraman working with Anadolu Agency and Alghad TV, was fatally shot by an Israeli sniper while reporting inside the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The Israeli military reportedly surrounded the Al-Jadeed Camp—a known area where journalists congregate—before targeting media workers, including Abu Nabhan. Eyewitness footage shows him attempting to flee with his camera equipment before he was struck by a long-range bullet. Medical crews rushed to evacuate him amid active gunfire; unfortunately, he succumbed to his injuries in the...
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DR Congo Bans Al Jazeera and Threatens Journalists Over Rebel Interview
January 10, 2025
DR Congo Bans Al Jazeera and Threatens Journalists Over Rebel Interview
January 10, 2025 - Congo -  The Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has banned Al Jazeera for 90 days following the network’s broadcast of an interview with Bertrand Bisimwa, the leader of the M23 rebel group. The ban, announced in January 2025, was imposed by the Congolese Ministry of Communication, which accused the Qatari-based outlet of failing to obtain proper accreditation and offering a platform to a group it labels a “terrorist organization.” The M23 group has been responsible for major escalations in eastern Congo, capturing territory and displacing over a million people. The government...
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Bangladesh Sees Alarming Spike in Attacks on Journalists Amid Political Turmoil
January 10, 2025
Bangladesh Sees Alarming Spike in Attacks on Journalists Amid Political Turmoil
January 10, 2025 - Bangladesh -  A surge in violence and repression targeting journalists in Bangladesh has raised deep concerns about the state of press freedom in the country. Recent incidents, including a brutal assault on six reporters at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) building, signal an increasingly dangerous environment for media professionals. On May 21, 2025, six journalists, including DRU President Abu Saleh Akon and Secretary Rafiq Rafi, were violently attacked by a group of armed assailants allegedly linked to ruling party affiliates. The attackers, wielding pistols, sticks, and homemade weapons, stormed the DRU...
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Tamil Journalist Murukaiya Thamilselvan Survives Abduction Attempt Amid Rising Threats in Sri Lanka
January 9, 2025
Tamil Journalist Murukaiya Thamilselvan Survives Abduction Attempt Amid Rising Threats in Sri Lanka
09 January 2025 -Sri Lanka -  Freelance journalist Murukaiya Thamilselvan, a Tamil reporter from northern Sri Lanka, narrowly escaped a violent kidnapping attempt on December 26, 2024, while traveling on the A9 road near Kilinochchi. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), unidentified men in a vehicle intercepted him, forcibly dragged him from his motorcycle, and attempted to abduct him. Thamilselvan resisted, calling for help, which prompted the attackers to flee the scene. The motive behind the attack appears to be linked to his recent investigative reporting on local corruption and criminal networks. Thamilselvan...
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West Bank Press Freedom Under Siege by Palestinian Authority and Israeli Forces
January 9, 2025
West Bank Press Freedom Under Siege by Palestinian Authority and Israeli Forces
January 09, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  A recent report by ARTICLE 19 paints a grim picture of media repression in the West Bank, with both the Palestinian Authority (PA) and Israeli forces systematically curtailing press freedom. The crackdown includes suspensions, arrests, censorship, and even deadly violence against journalists and media institutions operating in the region. On January 5, 2025, the PA suspended Al Jazeera’s operations in the West Bank and blocked its website for four months, citing allegations of “provocative content” and “incitement.” The suspension, carried out under cybercrime laws and upheld by a Ramallah...
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Omar Al-Derawi: Gaza Photojournalist Killed in Airstrike as Journalist Death Toll Surges
January 8, 2025
Omar Al-Derawi: Gaza Photojournalist Killed in Airstrike as Journalist Death Toll Surges
January 08, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Freelance Palestinian photojournalist Omar Salah Al-Derawi, aged 25, was killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck his family home in al-Zawaida, central Gaza. The attack also claimed the lives of his parents. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, Al-Derawi’s death brings the number of Palestinian journalists killed since October 7, 2023, to 203, marking one of the deadliest conflicts for media professionals in modern history. Al-Derawi worked with several international and regional news agencies, documenting the conflict on the ground despite the immense risks. He was reportedly wearing...
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Iranian Journalist and Filmmaker Mehrdad Aladin Detained in Evin Prison
January 8, 2025
Iranian Journalist and Filmmaker Mehrdad Aladin Detained in Evin Prison
08 January 2025 - Iran -  Iranian journalist and documentary filmmaker Mehrdad Aladin was detained in Tehran’s Evin Prison after responding to a summons from the Shahi Moghadas preliminary court. Aladin, who works for the Didban Iran news website and is known for covering social and environmental issues, was arrested without formal charges being announced. His sudden detention sparked concern among press freedom advocates and international human rights organizations. Aladin’s arrest is widely viewed as part of a broader crackdown on independent journalism and documentary filmmaking in Iran. His work often explored sensitive topics such...
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French Journalist Silenced: Sylvain Mercadier Detained by Israeli Forces in Syria
January 8, 2025
French Journalist Silenced: Sylvain Mercadier Detained by Israeli Forces in Syria
08 January 2025 - France/Israel/Syria -  Freelance journalist Sylvain Mercadier and his fixer, Mohammed al Fayyad, were detained for over four hours on January 8, 2025, by Israeli troops in the Hamidiyah village near Quneitra—a buffer zone in southern Syria recently occupied by the IDF. The pair were questioned, handcuffed, and blindfolded in what Mercadier described as an “humiliating” process, during which soldiers allegedly confiscated his SIM card, memory cards, and $200 from his fixer—claims the IDF denies. Mercadier posted on X, recounting how they were “threatened and humiliated,” held in a local governorate building, and eventually abandoned on...
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Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Released by Iran After Diplomatic Push
January 8, 2025
Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Released by Iran After Diplomatic Push
08 January 2025 - Italy/Iran -  In a high-stakes diplomatic effort, Italian journalist Cecilia Sala was released by Iranian authorities on January 8, 2025, after 20 days in solitary confinement at Evin Prison. Sala, a correspondent for Il Foglio and the "Stories" podcast from Chora Media, was detained on December 19, 2024, while reporting in Tehran. Iranian state media cited a violation of local laws, though no specifics were provided. Her arrest occurred shortly after Iran expressed frustration over Italy’s detention of Iranian engineer Mohammad Abedini—who was arrested on a U.S. extradition warrant for allegedly...
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French Journalist Sylvain Mercadier Detained by Israeli Forces in Golan Heights Buffer Zone
January 8, 2025
French Journalist Sylvain Mercadier Detained by Israeli Forces in Golan Heights Buffer Zone
January 08, 2025 - France/Israel/Syria -  French freelance journalist Sylvain Mercadier and his Syrian fixer Mohammed al-Fayyad were detained by Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in the Hamidiyah area, located in the buffer zone of the Israeli-occupied Golan Heights, near the Syrian border. The pair was reportedly held for over four hours, during which they were blindfolded, handcuffed, and subjected to what Mercadier described as humiliating treatment. According to Mercadier’s account, the IDF accused them of entering a restricted military area and confiscated their belongings, including SIM cards, memory cards, and approximately $200 from al-Fayyad. After...
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“Journalism Is Collapsing”: Record Journalist Deaths Expose Global Legal Failure
January 7, 2025
“Journalism Is Collapsing”: Record Journalist Deaths Expose Global Legal Failure
07 January 2025 - General -  A recent article published by Phys.org on January 7, 2025, draws urgent attention to the unprecedented dangers facing journalists worldwide, particularly in conflict zones. Based on data presented at the Cairo Media Conference, the article declares that “the international legal system has collapsed, and journalism is collapsing with it.” This stark warning follows the deadliest year for journalists since 1992, with at least 146 journalists killed since October 7, 2023, primarily in Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, and Lebanon. Experts fear the actual death toll may be higher. Nidal...
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RSF Urges Egypt to Free Alaa Abdel Fattah as His Mother Reaches 100 Days on Hunger Strike
January 7, 2025
RSF Urges Egypt to Free Alaa Abdel Fattah as His Mother Reaches 100 Days on Hunger Strike
January 07, 2025 - UK/Egypt -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has issued an urgent call for the immediate and unconditional release of Egyptian-British activist and writer Alaa Abdel Fattah, whose continued imprisonment has sparked global concern. At the same time, his mother, academic and activist Laila Soueif, has completed 100 days on hunger strike, intensifying pressure on Egyptian authorities and drawing renewed international scrutiny. Alaa Abdel Fattah, a leading voice of Egypt’s 2011 revolution, was sentenced to five years in prison in 2021 for allegedly “spreading false news.” Although his sentence officially expired in September...
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122 Journalists Killed in 2024: A Grim Record for Global Press Freedom
January 7, 2025
122 Journalists Killed in 2024: A Grim Record for Global Press Freedom
January 07, 2025 - General -  The year 2024 was one of the deadliest in recent memory for journalists, with 122 media workers killed worldwide, according to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). This tragic figure, the highest since 2012, underscores the growing dangers faced by those reporting from the frontlines of war, repression, and political unrest. Over 60% of the deaths occurred in the Middle East and Arab world, with Gaza and Lebanon among the most perilous regions. At least 14 of the victims were women journalists, reflecting both the increasing involvement of women...
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Sri Lankans Rally for Justice and Press Freedom on Anniversary of Journalist’s Murder
January 7, 2025
Sri Lankans Rally for Justice and Press Freedom on Anniversary of Journalist’s Murder
09 January 2025 - Sri Lanka -  journalists, activists, and civil society members gathered at Independence Square in Colombo to mark the 16th anniversary of the unsolved murder of Tamil journalist Ayyathurai Nadesan, who was gunned down in 2008. The vigil, organized by Sri Lankan media unions and human rights groups, served both as a remembrance and a call for justice in a country where impunity for crimes against journalists remains alarmingly high. Nadesan, known for his fearless reporting on corruption, human rights violations, and civil conflict in Sri Lanka’s northeast, was murdered in Batticaloa....
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Algeria’s Arrest of Abdelwakil Blamm Highlights Deepening Media Repression
January 6, 2025
Algeria’s Arrest of Abdelwakil Blamm Highlights Deepening Media Repression
January 06, 2025 - Algeria - The arrest of Algerian freelance journalist and activist Abdelwakil Blamm marks a new low in the country’s ongoing crackdown on press freedom. Blamm was detained on December 29, 2024, near his home in Chéraga, Algiers, and later formally charged with “spreading false news,” “undermining national unity,” and alleged ties to a terrorist organization. His pretrial detention was ordered by the Sidi M’Hamed Court on January 6, 2025. Blamm is widely recognized for his vocal criticism of the government and his social media commentary, particularly through his Facebook page, which...
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Syrian Women Journalists Brave Conflict and Displacement to Tell the Truth
January 6, 2025
Syrian Women Journalists Brave Conflict and Displacement to Tell the Truth
January 06, 2025 - Source - Syria -  Amid ongoing conflict and displacement, Syrian women have emerged as vital voices in journalism, courageously documenting the human toll of war. Since the uprising in 2011, many of these women—now internally displaced or living as refugees—have taken on frontline reporting roles to expose injustices and give voice to the silenced. One such figure is Sanaa Al-Ali, who fled Aleppo in 2012 with her children and resettled in rural Idlib. Amid bombings and constant threats, she began reporting on massacres and civilian suffering through social media. “I consider...
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Forest Officer Arrested in Chhattisgarh for Threatening Journalist Amid Rising Media Harassment
January 6, 2025
Forest Officer Arrested in Chhattisgarh for Threatening Journalist Amid Rising Media Harassment
January 6, 2025 - India - In a troubling incident underscoring the dangers faced by journalists in India’s Chhattisgarh state, a forest officer was arrested on January 6, 2025, for allegedly threatening a reporter who exposed corruption at a forest check-post. The case reflects the growing pattern of intimidation and violence against media professionals in the region. The journalist, Sandip Shukla, had reported on January 1 about illegal extortion by forest staff at a check-post near Borai village, located in the Sitanadi Forest Range of Dhamtari district. The story, supported by video footage, alleged that...
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111 Palestinian Journalists Killed in 2024: Gaza Becomes the Deadliest Zone for Media Workers
January 6, 2025
111 Palestinian Journalists Killed in 2024: Gaza Becomes the Deadliest Zone for Media Workers
January 6, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Israeli forces killed 111 Palestinian journalists in Gaza, according to the Palestinian Journalists and Reporters Association. This brings the total number of Palestinian media workers killed since the beginning of the Gaza war in October 2023 to 202, making it one of the deadliest periods for journalists in modern history. The report highlights that journalists in Gaza have been targeted not only by direct attacks but also by indiscriminate bombing, often while wearing press insignia. Several high-profile journalists, such as Saed Abu Nabhan and Omar Al-Derawi, were killed in...
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Taliban Detain 300 Journalists as Media Freedom Crumbles in Afghanistan
January 6, 2025
Taliban Detain 300 Journalists as Media Freedom Crumbles in Afghanistan
January 6, 2024 - Afghanistan - A new report by Amu TV and the Afghanistan Journalists in Exile network reveals a devastating picture of press freedom under Taliban rule. Since the group’s return to power in August 2021, at least 300 journalists and media workers have been detained, many subjected to violence and intimidation. Although only 200 have been identified publicly, the scope of repression is far broader, with most detainees unwilling to speak out due to fear of reprisal. In addition to mass detentions, 17 journalists have died, either killed or under suspicious circumstances,...
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Egypt Releases Three Journalists After Union-Led Campaign
January 6, 2025
Egypt Releases Three Journalists After Union-Led Campaign
06 January 2025 - Egypt -  In a rare but welcome development, Egyptian authorities released three journalists in early January 2025 following an extensive campaign led by the Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate (EJS) and supported by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The freed journalists—Abdul Qader Mubarak, Hussein Al-Qayim, and Hassan Al-Qabbani—had been imprisoned on charges widely seen as politically motivated. Mubarak and Al-Qayim were included in a presidential pardon issued on December 24, 2024, which covered 54 individuals from the Sinai region. Both were serving sentences handed down by military courts. The same day, journalist...
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Turkey’s Judicial Onslaught Against Journalists Intensifies in 2025
January 6, 2025
Turkey’s Judicial Onslaught Against Journalists Intensifies in 2025
January 6, 2025 - Turkey - A recent report by the Media and Law Studies Association (MLSA) highlights an alarming rise in press freedom cases in Turkey, with numerous journalists facing court proceedings during the week of January 6, 2025. These cases reflect an ongoing pattern of legal harassment and censorship targeting the country’s independent media. The week’s hearings span multiple cities and involve a wide array of charges. On January 6, a court in Antalya held the 22nd hearing in a long-running case against 17 individuals, including journalists Metin Cihan, Eylem Sonbahar, and Sema...
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Young Journalist Found Dead in Unnao After Clash with BJP Leader’s Aides
January 6, 2025
Young Journalist Found Dead in Unnao After Clash with BJP Leader’s Aides
06 January 2025 - India -  The suspicious death of 24-year-old journalist Shubham Shukla in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, has sparked outrage and concern over rising violence against reporters in India. Shukla, who ran a local YouTube news channel, was found hanging near an e-rickshaw charging station on January 6, 2025. While police initially suggested suicide, his family and colleagues allege he was murdered following a violent altercation with associates of a local BJP councillor. The incident reportedly began a few days earlier, during a birthday celebration, when Shukla and his younger brother were assaulted by...
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PA Forces Kill Young Journalist in Jenin: Outrage and Accusations of Internal Repression
January 6, 2025
PA Forces Kill Young Journalist in Jenin: Outrage and Accusations of Internal Repression
January 6, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - 21-year-old journalist Shatha al-Sabbagh was shot in the head and killed by a sniper while walking in the Jenin refugee camp in the occupied West Bank—accompanied by her nephews—according to her family. They accuse the Palestinian Authority (PA) security forces of responsibility. Al‑Sabbagh, who worked in media and reported on human rights violations during the PA’s crackdown on armed groups in Jenin, was allegedly targeted just a day after conducting interviews with victims of PA operations. Her mother was present when she was shot, and eyewitnesses say she collapsed...
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Iran’s Journalists Face Escalating Legal Repression and Intimidation
January 6, 2025
Iran’s Journalists Face Escalating Legal Repression and Intimidation
06 January 2025 - Iran -  Iranian journalists are experiencing an intensifying wave of repression, with both domestic and diaspora reporters subjected to legal harassment, arbitrary arrests, and intimidation tactics targeting their families. A recent IranWire report reveals that in 2024 alone, Iranian authorities initiated at least 256 legal cases against journalists, including 36 arrests and 11 prison sentences. This crackdown is no longer limited to political journalists. It now extends to those reporting on environmental issues, economic challenges, and social unrest. Freelancers, online commentators, and journalists affiliated with international outlets have increasingly become targets...
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ARTICLE 19 Condemns Attacks on Journalists in Gaza and the West Bank
January 6, 2025
ARTICLE 19 Condemns Attacks on Journalists in Gaza and the West Bank
January 6, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - In a powerful statement issued on January 6, 2025, human rights organization ARTICLE 19 condemned the ongoing violence and repression targeting journalists in Gaza and the West Bank amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and Palestinian armed groups. The group warned that the deliberate targeting of journalists and press facilities not only violates international humanitarian law but could amount to war crimes. According to ARTICLE 19, at least 13 Palestinian journalists were killed in December 2024 and early January 2025 by Israeli airstrikes. One of the deadliest incidents involved...
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Palestinian Authority Suspends Al Jazeera Websites Amid Crackdown on Press
January 6, 2025
Palestinian Authority Suspends Al Jazeera Websites Amid Crackdown on Press
January 6, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - The Palestinian Authority (PA) escalated its media restrictions by suspending several digital platforms operated by Al Jazeera, including aljazeera.net, aljazeera.net/live, aljazeera360.com, and global.ajplus.net, for a period of four months. The Ramallah Magistrate Court approved the suspension following a request from the Attorney General, citing alleged violations of cybercrime and press laws. Authorities accused the network of “inciting discord,” “threatening civil peace,” and “undermining national unity.” This move comes shortly after the PA shut down Al Jazeera’s Ramallah office and suspended its television broadcasts in the West Bank. The crackdown...
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Harassment of Journalists in the Netherlands Surged Sharply in 2024
January 6, 2025
Harassment of Journalists in the Netherlands Surged Sharply in 2024
January 6, 2025 - Netherlands - In a troubling development for press freedom in one of Europe’s most open societies, the Netherlands recorded a significant rise in journalist harassment throughout 2024. According to a new report by PersVeilig—a Dutch initiative for journalist safety—218 incidents were documented last year, including 99 threats, 72 cases of intimidation or discrimination, and multiple physical assaults. This marks a sharp increase from previous years and reflects growing hostility toward the press amid heightened political polarization. The report reveals that journalists, especially women and those from minority backgrounds, have become frequent...
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Bangladesh Media Reform Commission Urges End to Political Bias in Journalism
January 5, 2025
Bangladesh Media Reform Commission Urges End to Political Bias in Journalism
January 5, 2025 - Bangladesh - Bangladesh’s newly formed Media Reform Commission has issued a bold set of recommendations aimed at eliminating political bias in journalism and restoring public trust in the country's media. The commission, established under Interim Prime Minister Muhammad Yunus in November 2024 and chaired by veteran journalist Kamal Ahmed, completed its 100-day review and published its findings in early 2025. One of the key issues highlighted was widespread political partisanship in media coverage, with nearly 80% of surveyed citizens expressing concerns about biased reporting. Many media outlets are known to align...
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Yemeni Journalist Mohammed Al-Maqri Executed by Al-Qaeda After Nine Years of Captivity
January 5, 2025
Yemeni Journalist Mohammed Al-Maqri Executed by Al-Qaeda After Nine Years of Captivity
05 January 2025 - Yemen -  After nearly a decade of silence, Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has confirmed the execution of Yemeni journalist Mohammed Qaed Al-Maqri, who had been forcibly disappeared since October 2015. Al-Maqri, a correspondent for Yemen Today TV, was abducted in Al-Mukalla, Hadhramaut, while covering protests against AQAP. His fate remained unknown until AQAP released a statement on December 28, 2024, announcing his execution along with 11 other detainees accused of espionage. The execution has drawn widespread condemnation from international press freedom organizations. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and...
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Palestinian Journalist Mohammad Hijazi Killed in Jabalia: “I Refuse a Cheap Death”
January 5, 2025
Palestinian Journalist Mohammad Hijazi Killed in Jabalia: “I Refuse a Cheap Death”
January 05, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  A Palestinian journalist and poet, Mohammad Hijazi, was killed by an Israeli airstrike in the Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza, according to his family and Gaza’s Health Ministry. This tragic event brings the total death toll of journalists and media workers killed by Israeli forces since October 7, 2023, to approximately 220. This powerful declaration has now become both a haunting epitaph and a rallying cry against the targeting of journalists in Gaza. The latest Al Jazeera report, titled “I refuse a cheap death”, notes Hijazi was among nearly 90...
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Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar Killed After Exposing ₹120 Crore Road Scam in Chhattisgarh
January 4, 2025
Journalist Mukesh Chandrakar Killed After Exposing ₹120 Crore Road Scam in Chhattisgarh
January 4, 2025 - India - The murder of 33-year-old journalist Mukesh Chandrakar in Chhattisgarh’s Bijapur district has sparked national outrage and renewed concerns over the safety of journalists investigating corruption. Chandrakar, a freelancer for NDTV and the YouTube channel “Bastar Junction,” had recently reported on a ₹120 crore road construction scam implicating local contractors and officials. He went missing on January 1, 2025, shortly after publishing his findings. Following a missing person report filed by his brother, police traced his location using CCTV footage and mobile data. On January 3, his body was discovered...
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Russian Izvestia Reporter Killed in Eastern Ukraine Drone Strike
January 4, 2025
Russian Izvestia Reporter Killed in Eastern Ukraine Drone Strike
January 4, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine - Russian news outlet Izvestia confirmed that its freelance correspondent, Alexander Martemyanov, was killed when a Ukrainian drone struck a civilian vehicle on a highway near Donetsk in Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine. Izvestia reported that the journalist was traveling far from front-line combat zones, raising serious questions over the appropriateness of the strike. The drone strike also injured two other Izvestia journalists and two reporters from a local Donetsk publication, highlighting the collateral risks facing media personnel in conflict zones. Russian Foreign Ministry spokesperson Maria Zakharova denounced the incident as “deliberate murder,”...
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Mexico Among World’s Most Dangerous Places for Journalists in 2024
January 3, 2025
Mexico Among World’s Most Dangerous Places for Journalists in 2024
January 03, 2025 - Mexico -  Mexico once again ranked in the top three most dangerous countries for journalists in 2024, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF). With five journalists killed, it trails only behind war-torn regions like Palestine and Pakistan. The report also highlights that Mexico accounts for nearly 30% of global journalist disappearances over the past decade, underscoring systemic threats to press freedom. Despite the number of journalist murders declining from the 15 killed in 2022, violence and impunity remain alarmingly entrenched. RSF notes that Mexico consistently ranks among the most perilous non-war-zone countries, with...
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Palestinian Photojournalist Omar Al‑Derawi and Colleagues Killed in Gaza Amid Ceasefire Talks
January 3, 2025
Palestinian Photojournalist Omar Al‑Derawi and Colleagues Killed in Gaza Amid Ceasefire Talks
January 03, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  Israel’s intensified air strikes in Gaza tragically claimed the lives of at least two Palestinian journalists, marking a distressing escalation in line with ongoing hostilities and fragile ceasefire negotiations. On January 3, award-winning photojournalist Omar Al‑Derawi was killed when his family home in Az‑Zawayda, central Gaza, was struck by an Israeli airstrike. He was the second journalist killed within 24 hours, following a separate attack the previous evening. Colleagues covered his funeral in the hospital, placing his press vest atop his shrouded body—a stark symbol of the peril journalists...
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Two Journalists Killed in Gaza as Strikes Intensify and Ceasefire Talks Resume
January 3, 2025
Two Journalists Killed in Gaza as Strikes Intensify and Ceasefire Talks Resume
January 03, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  The war in Gaza claimed the lives of two more Palestinian journalists in early January 2025, amid renewed Israeli airstrikes and efforts to revive ceasefire negotiations in Qatar. Among the victims was well-known photojournalist Omar Al-Derawi, who died after an Israeli missile struck his home in the central Gaza town of Az-Zawayda. His death marked the second journalist killed in under 24 hours. Al-Derawi had been covering the war’s impact on civilians when the strike occurred. Despite being identified as a press worker, he became yet another casualty in...
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2024: Deadliest Year on Record for Journalists as Press Groups Demand Justice
January 3, 2025
2024: Deadliest Year on Record for Journalists as Press Groups Demand Justice
January 03, 2025 - General -  The year 2024 marked an unprecedented spike in journalist deaths, with press freedom organizations calling it the most dangerous year for media workers in recent history. According to the Press Emblem Campaign (PEC), 179 journalists were killed across 25 countries, while the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recorded 124 deaths—the highest number since the organization began tracking fatalities. The overwhelming majority of these killings—nearly 70%—were linked to the ongoing war in Gaza, with over 85 journalists reportedly killed by Israeli military action. Gaza has now surpassed all previous global...
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Palestinian Photographer Areej Shaheen Killed in Israeli Airstrike in Gaza
January 3, 2025
Palestinian Photographer Areej Shaheen Killed in Israeli Airstrike in Gaza
January 03, 2025 - Palestine/Israel -  32-year-old Palestinian freelance photographer Areej Shaheen was killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck her family home near the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The attack also claimed the life of her mother and seriously injured her father. Shaheen had been documenting life under siege through photography and social media, offering a rare glimpse into the daily realities of war-torn Gaza. Shaheen was a respected visual storyteller with over 13,000 followers on Instagram. Through her lens, she captured powerful images of displacement, destruction, and human resilience. Her work...
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After Assad: Syrian Journalism at a Crossroads Following Regime Collapse
January 3, 2025
After Assad: Syrian Journalism at a Crossroads Following Regime Collapse
January 03, 2025 - Syria -  The sudden collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, following the fall of Damascus to rebel forces, has brought both hope and uncertainty for the future of journalism in Syria. After decades of strict censorship, surveillance, and the imprisonment of journalists under Assad's authoritarian rule, the post-regime era offers a rare opportunity to rebuild a free press. Yet, deep challenges remain. Under Assad, Syria was one of the world’s most dangerous places for journalists. Independent media was crushed through legal repression and violence. Dozens of journalists were detained,...
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British Journalist Faces Prison for Protecting Sources, Sparks Press Freedom Debate
January 2, 2025
British Journalist Faces Prison for Protecting Sources, Sparks Press Freedom Debate
January 2, 2025 - UK - Richard Medhurst, a British independent journalist, is facing legal peril for refusing to reveal his encryption passwords to police, following his arrest under the UK’s Terrorism Act 2000 in August 2024. The case exposes a stark clash between national security efforts and the fundamental right of journalists to protect their confidential sources. Medhurst was detained at Heathrow Airport after his critical reporting on Israel’s military actions in Gaza—coverage Amnesty International described as genocide—was misinterpreted by authorities as support for proscribed groups like Hamas and Hezbollah. Two secure phones—an iPhone...
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Al Jazeera Condemns Palestinian Authority’s Closure of West Bank Office
January 2, 2025
Al Jazeera Condemns Palestinian Authority’s Closure of West Bank Office
January 2, 2025 - Palestine - The Palestinian Authority (PA) ordered the suspension of Al Jazeera's operations in the West Bank, prompting a sharp rebuke from the Qatari-based news outlet and drawing criticism from international press freedom advocates. The PA’s Attorney General announced the closure of Al Jazeera’s Ramallah bureau and the withdrawal of its broadcasting license, accusing the network of spreading content that allegedly incited unrest and endangered civil peace. Although specific violations were not detailed, the PA claimed Al Jazeera’s reporting, particularly on recent security operations in Jenin, was inflammatory and posed a...
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Gaza Journalists Decry PA’s Al Jazeera Ban as “Crime Against Journalism”
January 2, 2025
Gaza Journalists Decry PA’s Al Jazeera Ban as “Crime Against Journalism”
January 2, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - Journalists in Gaza strongly condemned the Palestinian Authority's (PA) suspension of Al Jazeera’s operations in the West Bank, calling it a direct attack on press freedom. The PA ordered the closure of the network’s Ramallah bureau and revoked its license, accusing it of incitement and threatening civil peace, particularly about its coverage of recent military operations in Jenin. Palestinian journalists working in Gaza have labeled the decision a “crime against journalism.” Freelance reporter Ikhlas al-Qarnawi, speaking from Deir el-Balah’s Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital, said the ban silences critical voices at...
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Nine Journalists Imprisoned in Iran Amid Escalating Crackdown on Press Freedom
January 1, 2025
Nine Journalists Imprisoned in Iran Amid Escalating Crackdown on Press Freedom
January 01, 2025 - Iran -  At least nine journalists remain behind bars in Iran, reflecting the country’s ongoing and systematic repression of independent media. According to Defending Free Flow of Information (DeFFI), these journalists are being held in various prisons across the country under vague and politically motivated charges such as “propaganda against the state” and “spreading false information.” Among those detained are female journalists like Nasrin Hasani, held in Bojnurd prison, and Zhina Modares Gorji, imprisoned in Sanandaj. Many have been subjected to prolonged pre-trial detention, denied access to legal representation, or forced...
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Palestinian Authority Suspends Al Jazeera’s West Bank Operations, Prompting Backlash
January 1, 2025
Palestinian Authority Suspends Al Jazeera’s West Bank Operations, Prompting Backlash
January 1, 2025 - Palestine/Israel - The Palestinian Authority (PA) announced the suspension of Al Jazeera’s operations in the West Bank, citing national security concerns. The decision, made by a ministerial committee, resulted in the closure of the network’s Ramallah office, the revocation of its broadcasting license, and a ban on its journalists operating in the territory. The PA accused Al Jazeera of “incitement,” “misleading reporting,” and undermining civil peace, particularly in its coverage of recent security operations in Jenin. Al Jazeera immediately condemned the move as politically motivated censorship. In a strong statement, the...
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122 Journalists Killed in 2024: A Grim Year for Global Press Freedom
December 31, 2024
122 Journalists Killed in 2024: A Grim Year for Global Press Freedom
December 31, 2024 - General - In its 34th annual report, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) revealed that 122 journalists and media workers were killed in 2024, making it one of the deadliest years in recent memory for media professionals. The report highlights a disturbing global trend of increasing violence against journalists, particularly in conflict zones, and renewed calls for international mechanisms to protect press freedom. The Middle East accounted for the vast majority of deaths, with 77 journalists killed. Palestine alone saw 64 fatalities, largely due to the ongoing war in Gaza. Other...
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Cîhan Bilgin’s Final Words Reflect Courage and the Cost of Truth in Conflict Zones
December 31, 2024
Cîhan Bilgin’s Final Words Reflect Courage and the Cost of Truth in Conflict Zones
December 31, 2024 - Turkey - Kurdish journalist Cîhan Bilgin and her colleague, Nazım Daştan, were killed in a Turkish drone strike near the Tishrin Dam in northeastern Syria. The pair were documenting the impact of Turkish military operations on local communities when their vehicle was targeted. Bilgin’s last message, written just 20 minutes before the attack, serves as a haunting testament to her unwavering commitment to truth and her understanding of the dangers of frontline journalism. In her final note, Bilgin acknowledged the warnings she had received: “They will specifically target you.” Yet she...
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Kyrgyzstan’s Arrest of 11 Journalists Marks Alarming Authoritarian Shift
December 30, 2024
Kyrgyzstan’s Arrest of 11 Journalists Marks Alarming Authoritarian Shift
December 30, 2024 - Krygyzstan - Kyrgyzstan’s government detained 11 journalists affiliated with Temirov Live, an independent investigative media outlet known for exposing high-level corruption. The arrests, widely condemned by press freedom organizations, underscore a growing authoritarian trend under President Sadyr Japarov. The journalists were accused of “inciting unrest” under Article 278.3 of the Kyrgyz criminal code. Authorities claim their reports—particularly those implicating senior officials and security figures in corruption—threatened national stability. Among the detained were prominent reporters and media workers, several of whom were held without legal representation and subjected to lengthy interrogations. Some...
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India Emerges as One of the Most Dangerous Countries for Journalists in 2024
December 30, 2024
India Emerges as One of the Most Dangerous Countries for Journalists in 2024
December 30, 2024 - India -  India has been ranked among the most perilous countries for journalists in 2024, with four media professionals killed and many others facing harassment, intimidation, and legal threats. According to The Hindu and international press freedom watchdogs, a total of 31 journalists have been killed in India over the past decade, underscoring a troubling pattern of violence and impunity that has intensified in recent years. The year 2024 witnessed several journalist deaths linked to investigative reporting on corruption, organized crime, and political misconduct. One high-profile case involved a reporter in...
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Palestinian Journalism Student Shatha al‑Sabbagh Killed by PA Forces in Jenin
December 29, 2024
Palestinian Journalism Student Shatha al‑Sabbagh Killed by PA Forces in Jenin
December 29, 2024 - Palestine - 21-year-old Palestinian journalism student Shatha al‑Sabbagh was fatally shot by a sniper from the Palestinian Authority Security Forces (PASF) during an operation in the Jenin refugee camp. The young reporter, who was known for documenting daily life under occupation, was unarmed and walking with her mother and nephews when she was struck by a bullet to the head. Her death has sparked widespread outrage and renewed concerns over press freedom and civilian safety under internal Palestinian rule. Eyewitnesses, including Shatha’s mother, claim there were no clashes or militants nearby...
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PANORAMA 2024: A Grim Year for Global Journalism
December 28, 2024
PANORAMA 2024: A Grim Year for Global Journalism
December 28, 2024 - General -  According to MedyaNews’ year-end report, PANORAMA 2024, journalism faced unprecedented threats worldwide, with record levels of violence, repression, and impunity. The report highlights a deeply troubling year in which over 550 journalists were arrested or imprisoned, and hundreds lost their lives, especially in conflict zones such as Gaza and Ukraine. The deadliest place for journalists in 2024 was Gaza, where more than 145 media workers were killed, many while reporting from the ground during Israeli military operations. Of those, at least 35 journalists were directly targeted, raising serious concerns...
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Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Freed from Iranian Detention
December 28, 2024
Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala Freed from Iranian Detention
December 28, 2024 - Iran - Italian journalist Cecilia Sala, 29, was detained by Iranian authorities on December 19, 2024, while in Tehran on a journalist's visa. Iran officially confirmed her arrest on December 30, citing alleged violations of its laws, shortly after Italy detained an Iranian engineer, Mohammad Abedini, under a U.S. warrant. Sala, a correspondent for Il Foglio and the podcast platform Chora Media, had completed interviews and produced episodes for her podcast series Stories during her visit and had been scheduled to leave Iran on December 20. Instead, she was placed in...
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At Least 170 Journalists Killed in Gaza: IFJ Raises Alarm
December 27, 2024
At Least 170 Journalists Killed in Gaza: IFJ Raises Alarm
December 27, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in partnership with the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS), has confirmed that at least 170 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been killed in Gaza since the outbreak of the war in October 2023. This figure, updated in early June 2025, marks Gaza as the most lethal conflict zone for journalists in modern history. The deaths have occurred under a range of circumstances—some while journalists were actively reporting, others while they sought refuge with their families. According to the IFJ, many of these killings...
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Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala’s Ordeal in Iran Highlights Press Freedom Crisis
December 27, 2024
Italian Journalist Cecilia Sala’s Ordeal in Iran Highlights Press Freedom Crisis
December 27, 2024 - Iran - 29‑year‑old Italian journalist Cecilia Sala traveled to Tehran on a valid press visa. Her mission was to report for Il Foglio and the podcast Stories (Chora Media), covering topics ranging from the Taliban’s return to Kabul to Iran’s internal social dynamics. However, on 19 December, just a day before she was scheduled to depart, Sala was arrested by Iranian authorities. Her detention was only acknowledged on 27 December, when Italy’s foreign ministry disclosed that she was being held in Evin Prison under suspicion of “violating Iranian law". Evin Prison,...
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Afghanistan’s Taliban Regime Intensifies Crackdown on Media in 2024
December 26, 2024
Afghanistan’s Taliban Regime Intensifies Crackdown on Media in 2024
December 26, 2024 - Afghanistan - According to the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC), 2024 marked a steep rise in restrictions on press freedom in Taliban-controlled Afghanistan. There were 181 documented violations against journalists and media outlets—an 8% increase from 2023—comprising 131 threats, the detention of 50 journalists, and the forced closure of 18 media organizations. Detentions were frequent, with 50 journalists arrested, and at least five sentenced to two to five-year terms. Among the closed media outlets, only a handful—four—have been permitted to resume operations, leaving the majority permanently shuttered. New policies introduced by the...
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Five Palestinian Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrike Near Gaza Hospital
December 26, 2024
Five Palestinian Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrike Near Gaza Hospital
December 26, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - A devastating Israeli airstrike struck a press vehicle belonging to Al‑Quds Today near Al‑Awda Hospital in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp, killing five Palestinian journalists instantly. The journalists—identified as Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim al‑Sheikh Ali, Mohammed al‑Ladah, Faisal Abu al‑Qumsan, and Ayman al‑Jadi—were marked as members of the press, with “PRESS” emblazoned on their van. Witnesses and Gaza medical officials confirmed the strike during early morning Israeli bombardment, a day that saw at least 31 Palestinians killed across Gaza. Relatives and colleagues mourned at Al‑Awda Hospital, laying blue press jackets over their...
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Five journalists killed in Israeli strike near hospital, authorities say
December 26, 2024
Five journalists killed in Israeli strike near hospital, authorities say
December 26, 2024 - Source: Al Jazeera - Journalists from Al-Quds Today were covering events at al-Awda Hospital when vehicle was struck, according to reports. Five journalists have been killed in an Israeli strike in the vicinity of a hospital in central Gaza, according to Palestinian authorities and media reports. Footage from the scene circulating on social media shows a vehicle engulfed in flames. A screenshot taken from a video of the white-coloured van shows the word “press” in large red lettering across the back of the vehicle. The deceased journalists have been named as...
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Five Palestinian Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrike Near Gaza Hospital
December 26, 2024
Five Palestinian Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrike Near Gaza Hospital
December 26, 2024 - Palestine/israel - Five Palestinian journalists were killed in an Israeli airstrike that struck a marked press vehicle near Al-Awda Hospital in Gaza’s Nuseirat refugee camp. The victims — Fadi Hassouna, Ibrahim al-Sheikh Ali, Mohammed al-Ladah, Faisal Abu al-Qumsan, and Ayman al-Jadi — were affiliated with Al-Quds Today. According to eyewitnesses and medical officials, the journalists were resting in their press van, which had the word “PRESS” visibly displayed, when it was directly hit. Eyewitnesses reported that the vehicle was stationary and posed no threat, as the journalists had been covering humanitarian...
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Two Journalists and a Police Officer Killed in Haiti Hospital Reopening Gang Ambush
December 24, 2024
Two Journalists and a Police Officer Killed in Haiti Hospital Reopening Gang Ambush
December 24, 2024 - Haiti - armed gang members attacked journalists and police at the reopening ceremony of Port-au-Prince’s State University Hospital (HUEH). The attempt to resume services at Haiti’s largest public hospital ended in bloodshed. As reporters and a police officer gathered to cover the event, gunmen opened fire from outside the venue. According to multiple sources, two journalists—Jimmy Jean (44) and Markenzy Nathoux—were killed, along with one police officer; at least seven more journalists were injured. Jimmy Jean, a respected father of six who reported for the online outlet Moun Afe Bon, was...
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Thirty Kurdish Journalists Killed Amid Syria’s Conflict, Honored as “Martyrs of Free Press”
December 24, 2024
Thirty Kurdish Journalists Killed Amid Syria’s Conflict, Honored as “Martyrs of Free Press”
December 24, 2024 - Kurdistan/Syria - In North and East Syria, 30 Kurdish journalists have lost their lives since 2014 while covering the region’s battles, including the fight against ISIS and ongoing Turkish military operations. An article published by Hawar News on December 24, 2024, lists each of their names—many members of the YPG/YPJ media units and Hawar News Agency—capturing how these reporters risked and often sacrificed their lives to document resistance and human rights abuses. This list includes pioneers like Mazloum Bakok, killed in 2014 during efforts to open a humanitarian corridor, and recent...
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Al Jazeera Slams Fatah-Led Campaign and PA Ban as Threats to Press Freedom
December 24, 2024
Al Jazeera Slams Fatah-Led Campaign and PA Ban as Threats to Press Freedom
December 24, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera Media Network issued a strong condemnation of what it described as an "incitement campaign" orchestrated by Fatah—and by extension the Palestinian Authority (PA)—targeting its journalists in the occupied West Bank. The backlash was triggered by Al Jazeera’s coverage of clashes between PA security forces and resistance fighters in Jenin. Fatah responded by imposing a ban on Al Jazeera’s operations in the governorate, urging Palestinians to avoid collaborating with the network, and accusing the network of sowing division across the Palestinian territories and the broader Arab world. In...
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Honoring Fallen Journalists: A National Memorial on the Mall Reflects Rising Risks
December 23, 2024
Honoring Fallen Journalists: A National Memorial on the Mall Reflects Rising Risks
December 23, 2024 - General - Journalist fatalities are increasing, and in response, a memorial is being planned on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., as reported by Maryland Matters. Spearheaded by the Fallen Journalists Memorial Foundation, this initiative was inspired by the 2018 mass shooting at the Capital Gazette newsroom in Annapolis, which claimed five lives and shocked the U.S. media landscape. Set to be constructed near the Capitol between the National Museum of the American Indian and the Voice of America building, the memorial will stand as the first U.S. structure dedicated to journalists...
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Europe Faces Rising Press Freedom Crisis as 165 Journalists Remain Detained
December 23, 2024
Europe Faces Rising Press Freedom Crisis as 165 Journalists Remain Detained
December 23, 2025 - Europe - The Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism and Safety of Journalists reports that 165 journalists and media workers are currently detained across Europe. This alarming figure signals an escalating threat to press freedom, with governments increasingly resorting to legal repression, arbitrary arrests, and vague national security charges to silence dissenting voices. Among the most concerning cases is Azerbaijan, which has detained at least 30 journalists, primarily for their investigative reporting on corruption or government abuses. Belarus and Russia continue to top the list, with 44 and...
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Retired Russian Police Colonel Confesses to 2004 Murder of Investigative Journalist Maxim Maksimov
December 23, 2024
Retired Russian Police Colonel Confesses to 2004 Murder of Investigative Journalist Maxim Maksimov
December 23, 2024 - Russia - Retired police colonel Mikhail Smirnov, once deputy head of the anti-corruption department in St. Petersburg’s law enforcement, admitted to murdering investigative journalist Maxim Maksimov two decades earlier. Maksimov, who worked for Fontanka and the Agency for Investigative Journalism, disappeared in June 2004 while probing allegations of systemic corruption among senior officers, including Smirnov himself. Smirnov made his confession after being arrested in mid-2024 on unrelated charges involving the 1998 bombing of a businessman. During questioning, he admitted to luring the journalist to a house with collaborators, where he strangled...
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Azerbaijan’s Media Crackdown: Journalists Jailed on Politically Motivated Charges
December 23, 2024
Azerbaijan’s Media Crackdown: Journalists Jailed on Politically Motivated Charges
December 23, 2024 - Azerbaijan - Farid Mehralizada, an economist and contributor to Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL), was detained in May 2024 and accused of conspiring to smuggle foreign currency, among other charges, including illegal entrepreneurship, money laundering, tax evasion, and document forgery, carrying a potential 12-year prison sentence. Mehralizada vehemently denies all allegations and asserts that his arrest stems from his critical reporting on the economy, which he believes threatened authoritarian sensitivities. He explained in court that “journalism in our country today is almost equated with terrorism”. Press freedom organisations such as the Committee...
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Police explain detention of Azattyk journalists
December 23, 2024
Police explain detention of Azattyk journalists
December 23, 2024 - Azerbaijan - Kyrgyz police detained two journalists from Radio Azattyk—reporter Maksat Kutmanbekov and cameraman Nurlan Beyshebaev—while they were filming near Pre‑trial Detention Center No. 1 in Bishkek, covering a hunger-strike protest by inmates. According to the Oktyabrsky District Department, the detention was preventive: authorities cited a court-ordered ban on demonstrations since August 2024 and said the journalists were taken in for "explanatory talks" before being released shortly afterward. The journalists were interviewing relatives of the detainees, whose hunger strike began on December 22 in protest against the appointment of Chyngyz Kozhoshev as head of the Penitentiary Service and...
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Turkey jails 7 journalists and media workers, places one under house arrest
December 23, 2024
Turkey jails 7 journalists and media workers, places one under house arrest
December 23, 2024 - Turkey- Turkish authorities detained several journalists and media workers in Istanbul during a protest against the killing of Kurdish journalists Cîhan Bîlgîn and Nazım Daştan, targeted in a suspected Turkish drone strike in northern Syria on December 20. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), five journalists and two media workers were held pending trial, while five others were placed under house arrest. Among those imprisoned were Pınar Gayıp from ETHA, freelance reporter Gülistan Dursun, Hayri Tunç, Enes Sezgin, and Osman Akın of Yeni Yaşam, designer Can Papila, and Serpil Ünal from Mücadele...
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Over Half of 2024 Journalist Deaths Occurred in Palestine, Reports Guardian
December 23, 2024
Over Half of 2024 Journalist Deaths Occurred in Palestine, Reports Guardian
December 23, 2024 - General - The Guardian revealed that 55 of the 104 journalists and media workers killed worldwide in 2024 died in Palestine, making it the most dangerous region for journalists that year. These figures, drawn from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), indicate that over half of global journalist fatalities occurred in Gaza and the occupied Palestinian territories. The report emphasizes that these numbers do not include arrests, injuries, or missing persons and likely underestimate the full scope of the crisis facing media workers in the region. Since the outbreak of war...
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Silencing the Truth: Journalism Under Siege in a World of Rising Repression
December 23, 2024
Silencing the Truth: Journalism Under Siege in a World of Rising Repression
December 23, 2024 - General - Shamsa Ishfaq warns that journalists around the world are increasingly under threat, even as they strive to hold power to account. In Afghanistan—the article highlights—the situation has deteriorated sharply since the Taliban returned in 2021. Data from the UN Assistance Mission (UNAMA) shows that between August 2021 and September 2024, no fewer than 336 journalists and media workers suffered violations, including arrests, torture, threats, and forced media closures, with women journalists particularly vulnerable to systematic exclusion. Ishfaq quotes Fatima Bhutto: “A society that silences its storytellers loses the threads of its humanity,”...
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Criminalizing Truth: A Decade of Repression Against Kurdish Journalists in Turkey
December 23, 2024
Criminalizing Truth: A Decade of Repression Against Kurdish Journalists in Turkey
December 23, 2024 - Turkey - In two closely linked cases nearly a decade apart, the Turkish government’s crackdown on Kurdish journalism reveals a long-standing pattern of silencing dissent through arrests, censorship, and criminal charges. In February 2016, Nazım Daştan, a correspondent for the pro-Kurdish Dicle News Agency (DIHA), was arrested in Gaziantep for allegedly “spreading propaganda for a terrorist organization.” The charges were based on his Facebook posts, which included reporting on alleged Turkish military support for ISIS near the Syrian border. His arrest came during a broader media crackdown in which dozens of...
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Digital Repression: Serbia’s Spyware Campaign Against Journalists and Dissidents
December 22, 2024
Digital Repression: Serbia’s Spyware Campaign Against Journalists and Dissidents
December 22, 2024 -Serbia - A report by Amnesty International, spotlighted by Deutsche Welle, the Associated Press, Reuters, and The Guardian, exposed a systematic spyware campaign orchestrated by Serbia’s state agencies to target journalists, activists, and government critics. Amnesty’s forensic analysis revealed that individuals—many of whom had not been charged with any crime—were detained or summoned by the Security Information Agency (BIA) or police. During interrogations, their phones were accessed using Israeli-made Cellebrite forensic tools to crack device security, and bespoke spyware called “NoviSpy” was loaded onto their devices. This spyware covertly harvested screenshots, contact...
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Hostility in “Trump’s America” Attacks and Arrests Target Journalists
December 21, 2024
Hostility in “Trump’s America” Attacks and Arrests Target Journalists
December 21, 2024 - USA - In Grand Junction, Colorado, internal distress erupted when 39-year-old Patrick Thomas Egan allegedly stalked and assaulted TV reporter Ja’Ronn Alex, forcefully trying to strangle him outside the KKCO/KJCT studio. Throughout the incident, Egan reportedly shouted, “Are you even a U.S. citizen? This is Trump’s America now! I’m a Marine, and I took an oath to protect this country from people like you!” Alex, who is of Pacific Islander descent and a native of Detroit, believed the motive was racially driven. According to police and witness accounts documented in surveillance video, the...
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Mohawk Journalist’s Arrest in Akwesasne Raises Constitutional Alarms
December 21, 2024
Mohawk Journalist’s Arrest in Akwesasne Raises Constitutional Alarms
December 21, 2024 - USA - Isaac White—a Mohawk journalist for Indian Time based in Akwesasne—was arrested while covering a land claim demonstration on Barnhart Island, northern New York, ancestral Mohawk territory now controlled by the New York Power Authority. According to White’s account, as published by the Freedom of the Press Foundation, he introduced himself as a reporter when police detained him, but was nonetheless handcuffed and taken in, despite doing nothing illegal beyond documenting the protest. White described the incident starkly: “You’re under arrest.” “I’m a reporter.” “I don’t care.” He found the...
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Venezuelan Reporter Ana Carolina Guaita Released After Detention
December 21, 2024
Venezuelan Reporter Ana Carolina Guaita Released After Detention
December 21, 2024 - Venezuela - Venezuelan journalist Ana Carolina Guaita, a reporter for the critical digital outlet La Patilla, was formally released on December 21, 2024, after more than four months of detention amid post-election protests. Her arrest sparked immediate international concern over press suppression in Venezuela. Guaita was initially detained on August 2, 2024, reportedly by agents of SEBIN (Bolivarian National Intelligence Service), as she was covering protests surrounding President Nicolás Maduro’s contested July election victory. Following her disappearance, Guaita’s family was left in the dark. Her mother faced coercive pressure from authorities, who allegedly told her, "Libero a su...
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Silenced by Lawsuits: How Europe is Fighting Back Against SLAPPs
December 21, 2024
Silenced by Lawsuits: How Europe is Fighting Back Against SLAPPs
December 21, 2024 - General - Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation (SLAPPs) are increasingly used across Europe to intimidate and silence journalists, activists, and watchdogs. These legal threats, often lacking merit, are designed not to win in court but to drain resources, cause psychological distress, and deter public interest journalism. UNESCO highlights the pressing need to raise awareness about SLAPPs as a crucial step toward journalist safety. In a recent initiative focused on North Macedonia, UNESCO emphasized the importance of educating the judiciary and the general public about SLAPP dynamics. It recommends collaborative actions with...
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From Commentary to Confinement: The Case of Özlem Gürses
December 21, 2024
From Commentary to Confinement: The Case of Özlem Gürses
21 December 2024 - Turkey/Syria -  Turkish journalist Özlem Gürses was detained on December 20, 2024, after remarks made during a YouTube livestream were interpreted as critical of the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK). In her statement, she referred to the TSK-Syrian National Army structure in a context that some perceived as associating it with ISIS. This triggered immediate legal action, with prosecutors charging her under Article 301 of the Turkish Penal Code for “insulting state institutions” and under Article 217/A for “publicly disseminating misleading information.” These provisions, frequently used to silence dissenting voices in Turkey,...
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Insight: Afghanistan’s Press Freedom Lowest Since Taliban Takeover
December 20, 2024
Insight: Afghanistan’s Press Freedom Lowest Since Taliban Takeover
December 20, 2024 - Afghanistan - Afghanistan has reached a historic nadir in press freedom as the Taliban has intensified its crackdown on independent media. According to Reporters Without Borders, at least twelve television and one radio station were forcibly shut down in 2024. Among these, Arezo TV in Kabul endured a raid by the General Intelligence Directorate, supported by the Ministry for the Propagation of Virtue and Prevention of Vice, resulting in the arrest of seven staffers, including the bureau chief, and the seizure of equipment. This campaign has focused on content deemed “transgressive”...
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Solidarity Surges as Georgian Journalists Face Brutal Repression
December 20, 2024
Solidarity Surges as Georgian Journalists Face Brutal Repression
December 20, 2024 - Georgia - International press freedom organizations have united in a powerful show of solidarity with journalists across Georgia following an escalating wave of violence, intimidation, and legislative suppression against independent media. During mass protests sparked by the government’s decision to pause EU accession talks on November 28, 2024, at least eighty journalists were physically attacked, threatened, or interfered with by police and masked vigilantes. One prominent case involved photographer Aleksandre Keshelashvili being seized, beaten, and detained despite clearly identifying as press, and another saw Guram Rogava of Formula TV suffering facial fractures...
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Drones of Silence: The Killing of Kurdish Journalists in Syria
December 20, 2024
Drones of Silence: The Killing of Kurdish Journalists in Syria
December 20, 2024 - Turkey - Kurdish journalists Nazim Daştan, 32, and Cîhan Bilgin, 29, were killed while covering the escalating conflict in northern Syria. Both were deployed near the Tishrin Dam, documenting clashes between Turkey-backed forces and Kurdish fighters when their car was struck by a drone attack, reportedly by a Turkish drone. Their driver, Aziz Haj Bozan, survived with injuries. The attack took place on December 19 near Kobani, around 100 km east of Aleppo. The Dicle Fırat Journalists Association (DFG) issued a stern condemnation late on that day, branding the strike a targeted...
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Enduring Justice: Unraveling the Turab Investigation in Bangladesh
December 20, 2024
Enduring Justice: Unraveling the Turab Investigation in Bangladesh
December 20, 2024 - Bangladesh - The murder of photojournalist Abu Taher Md. Turab, commonly known as Turab, on July 19, 2024, amid Bangladesh’s student-led quota movement, has sparked a high-stakes legal battle centering on accountability and institutional transparency. Turab, a reporter for Daily Jalalabad and Daily Naya Diganta, was wearing a press vest when he was shot during a confrontation between police and protestors in Sylhet. The incident was one of several journalist deaths and injuries during the widespread protests that left four media workers dead and over 200 injured. Following the murder, Turab’s...
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The Killing of Kurdish Journalists Nazim Daştan and Cîhan Bilgin
December 20, 2024
The Killing of Kurdish Journalists Nazim Daştan and Cîhan Bilgin
December 20, 2024 - Turkey - Kurdish journalists Nazim Daştan, aged 32, and Cîhan Bilgin, aged 29, working for Kurdish outlets including ANHA, Rojnews, and Firat News Agency, were killed near the Tishrin Dam east of Aleppo by an alleged Turkish drone strike. The two were traveling in a vehicle marked “Press” while reporting on armed clashes between Turkish-backed Syrian National Army forces and U.S.-backed Kurdish fighters when the drone attack struck their car, instantly killing both and injuring their driver, Aziz Haj Bozan. The Dicle Firat Journalists Association, alongside the Turkish Journalists Union, strongly condemned the attack as...
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IFJ’s Call to Release 24 Journalists in Egypt
December 20, 2024
IFJ’s Call to Release 24 Journalists in Egypt
December 20, 2024 - Egypt - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), alongside the Egyptian Journalists’ Syndicate (EJS), has made an urgent appeal to President Abdel Fattah El‑Sisi to immediately and unconditionally release twenty‑four journalists currently detained in Egypt. Their appeal followed the IFJ delegation’s attendance at the EJS’s sixth general conference in Cairo from December 14 to 16, 2024, where IFJ General Secretary Anthony Bellanger emphasized the human and professional toll of prolonged imprisonments. He underlined the importance of solidarity and pledged cooperation on international advocacy, digital safety training, and press freedom reporting. The...
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The Smear Campaign Against Anand Mangnale
December 20, 2024
The Smear Campaign Against Anand Mangnale
December 20, 2024 - India - Indian investigative journalist Anand Mangnale, the South Asia regional editor for the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, has been subjected to a state-backed online smear campaign after exposing significant corruption. On December 5, 2024, Nishikant Dubey, a Member of Parliament from the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, accused Mangnale in Parliament of trying to undermine the government by accessing foreign funds. He alleged that Mangnale was interfering with Indian politics through overseas financing. The official BJP account amplified these claims on X, accusing him of raising “Chinese money” for...
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Georgian Journalists Caught in Protest Turmoil
December 19, 2024
Georgian Journalists Caught in Protest Turmoil
December 19, 2024 - Georgia - The streets of Tbilisi erupted into widespread protests after the government’s abrupt decision to delay EU accession talks in late November 2024, triggering fierce clashes between demonstrators and security forces. In this volatile environment, journalists covering the demonstrations found themselves exposed to graphic violence and legal intimidation, despite clearly identifying themselves as members of the press. Law enforcement repeatedly used tear gas, water cannons laced with chemical irritants, rubber bullets, and physical force to disperse not only protesters but also reporters on duty. Many journalists suffered beatings, concussions, broken...
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Protecting Journalists Online: Global Strategies from IGF 202
December 19, 2024
Protecting Journalists Online: Global Strategies from IGF 202
December 19, 2024 - General - At the Internet Governance Forum 2024 held in Riyadh, the safety of journalists in the digital landscape took center stage as experts across the globe highlighted the escalating threats posed by online harassment, surveillance, and censorship. The open forum “Safety of Journalists Online” underscored that journalists universally face similar dangers, with female reporters and individuals from marginalized communities bearing the brunt of gender-based abuse. Participants stressed the urgent need to expand legal protections—both by reinforcing existing regulations and crafting new frameworks—to hold online platforms accountable for facilitating harassment and...
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South Sudan Editor Detained Without Charge
December 19, 2024
South Sudan Editor Detained Without Charge
December 19, 2024 - Sudan - Emmanuel Monychol Akop, editor-in-chief of The Dawn newspaper, was arrested on November 28, 2024, by agents of South Sudan’s National Security Service after responding to a summons to their headquarters in Juba. Detained without any formal charges or access to legal counsel, his arrest marks yet another instance of the oppressive use of intelligence services against independent journalism in the country. His family was informed that neither visits nor updates would be permitted until the so-called investigation was complete, while colleagues voiced deep concern for his well-being and access...
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Murdered for the Story: Greece Acknowledges Journalist’s Targeted Killing
December 19, 2024
Murdered for the Story: Greece Acknowledges Journalist’s Targeted Killing
December 19, 2024 - Greece - A court in Athens made a landmark ruling concluding that veteran Greek crime reporter Giorgos Karaivaz was assassinated in April 2021 because of his journalistic work. The Mixed Jury Court determined that his murder was a contract killing directly linked to his reporting, rejecting any alternative motives and declaring that the only plausible explanation was Karaivaz’s professional role as a journalist. Giorgos Karaivaz, age 52, was a prominent investigator of organized crime and corruption in Greece. He had a distinguished career with Star Channel and ran the independent news website Bloko. On April 9, 2021,...
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Sentenced for Reporting: Belarus Jails Yauhen Nikalayevich
December 19, 2024
Sentenced for Reporting: Belarus Jails Yauhen Nikalayevich
December 19, 2024 - Belarus - Yauhen Nikalayevich, a former video reporter for the independent outlet Media Polesye, was sentenced on October 3, 2024, by a court in Pinsk to one and a half years in prison for allegedly “organizing or participating in gross violations of public order.” The verdict, which was connected to his coverage of the 2020 Minsk protests demanding President Lukashenko’s resignation, was upheld in December after his appeal was rejected. The sentence remained concealed until December 19, when it became public following a court’s decision to reject his appeal, triggering widespread criticism...
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Detained and Undecided: The Lingering Case of Stanford Reporter Dilan Gohill
December 18, 2024
Detained and Undecided: The Lingering Case of Stanford Reporter Dilan Gohill
December 18, 2024 - Colombia - Stanford Daily reporter Dilan Gohill was arrested while covering a pro-Palestinian student occupation of the university president’s office. Wearing his press credentials and hoodie, Gohill entered the building to chronicle the unfolding protest alongside student demonstrators. Despite clarifying to law enforcement that he was acting in his capacity as a journalist, he was arrested on suspicion of felony burglary, vandalism, and conspiracy, and held in the Santa Clara County jail for several hours. His arrest sparked immediate concern from legal watchdogs and free-press advocates, who rushed to his defense...
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Serbia’s Spy State Targets Journalists and Sources
December 18, 2024
Serbia’s Spy State Targets Journalists and Sources
December 18, 2024 - Serbia - Recent investigations by Article 19 and Amnesty International have revealed a disturbing escalation in Serbia’s surveillance of journalists, sources, and activists. According to their reports, the Serbian Intelligence Agency (BIA) and police have used advanced spyware and forensic tools to hack into the mobile devices of media professionals. Investigations uncovered forensic traces of Cellebrite’s Universal Forensic Extraction Device (UFED), enabling authorities to unlock and extract data from smartphones. The spyware infection, often during routine detentions or interviews, utilized both foreign and domestically developed tools such as “NoviSpy,” allowing remote...
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IPI Demands Probe into Serbia’s Spyware Crackdown
December 18, 2024
IPI Demands Probe into Serbia’s Spyware Crackdown
December 18, 2024 - General - IPI, alongside other leading press freedom groups, has urgently called for a thorough investigation into the Serbian government’s intrusive surveillance tactics targeting journalists and their sources. This appeal comes in response to alarming evidence that both intelligence agencies and police have exploited invasive spyware, such as Cellebrite’s forensic tools and a domestic implant known as “NoviSpy,” without any legal oversight. Investigative journalists working with outlets like BIRN received malicious links via messaging apps; forensic analysis confirmed that the resulting spyware was used to extract contacts, screenshots, and potentially activate...
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Medvedev’s Threat Against UK Journalists Sparks Diplomatic Outrage
December 18, 2024
Medvedev’s Threat Against UK Journalists Sparks Diplomatic Outrage
December 18, 2024 - Russia - Former Russian president Dmitry Medvedev, now serving as deputy chair of Russia’s Security Council, triggered international condemnation after threatening senior staff at The Times newspaper. The warning came in response to an editorial that described the killing of Russian General Igor Kirillov in Ukraine as a legitimate act of defense. Medvedev accused the paper’s editors of justifying terrorism and declared them “legitimate military targets” in a post shared on his Telegram account. The remarks quickly drew comparisons to mafia-style threats, prompting immediate backlash from UK officials and press freedom...
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Journalists Under Fire as 2024 Becomes Deadliest Year on Record
December 18, 2024
Journalists Under Fire as 2024 Becomes Deadliest Year on Record
18 December 2024 - General - The year 2024 marked a devastating turning point for global press freedom, with journalist deaths reaching their highest level in over three decades. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), 124 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide, a staggering escalation largely driven by the war in Gaza. Of those killed, 85 were covering the Israel-Gaza conflict, making it by far the deadliest single theater for journalists in modern history. The majority of these were Palestinian reporters, many of them freelancers working under dire conditions and without institutional...
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Target on Trial as Mexico Seeks Justice for Javier Valdez
December 18, 2024
Target on Trial as Mexico Seeks Justice for Javier Valdez
December 18, 2024 - USA/Mexico - Mexico has renewed its pursuit of justice in the 2017 killing of renowned investigative journalist Javier Valdez by formally requesting the extradition of Dámaso López Serrano, also known as “Mini Lic,” from the United States. Valdez, a veteran reporter who covered drug cartels and corruption, was shot dead near his newspaper office in Culiacán, Sinaloa. Mexican authorities have long identified López Serrano as the suspected mastermind of the murder, allegedly ordering the hit in retaliation for Valdez’s reporting on internal cartel disputes involving the Sinaloa drug trafficking organization. Mini...
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Crackdown in Kyrgyzstan as Court Jails Anti-Corruption Journalists
December 18, 2024
Crackdown in Kyrgyzstan as Court Jails Anti-Corruption Journalists
December 18, 2024 - Krygyzstan - In a major blow to press freedom, a court in Kyrgyzstan has upheld the convictions of four journalists from the investigative media outlet Temirov Live, a team known for its hard-hitting reports on corruption within the government and security services. The Bishkek City Court ruled in December 2024 to maintain prison sentences for Makhabat Tazhibek kyzy, who received six years, and Azamat Ishenbekov, sentenced to five years. Two other journalists, Aike Beishekeyeva and Aktilek Kaparov, were handed three-year suspended sentences. The ruling was later confirmed by the country’s Supreme...
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Belfast Journalists Win Landmark Case Against Unlawful Police Surveillance
December 17, 2024
Belfast Journalists Win Landmark Case Against Unlawful Police Surveillance
December 17, 2024 - UK - The UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) has found that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Metropolitan Police unlawfully surveilled investigative journalists Barry McCaffrey and Trevor Birney in a series of covert operations aimed at uncovering their confidential sources. The ruling, delivered in December 2024, marks a significant victory for press freedom and journalistic integrity in the UK. The case centers around the 2017 documentary No Stone Unturned, which examined the unsolved 1994 Loughinisland massacre in Northern Ireland. Following its release, the PSNI launched an investigation to...
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London Stabbing Case Raises Alarms Over Foreign Threats to Exiled Journalists
December 17, 2024
London Stabbing Case Raises Alarms Over Foreign Threats to Exiled Journalists
December 17, 2024 - Romania/UK - British authorities have arrested two Romanian nationals in connection with the March 2024 stabbing of British-Iranian journalist Pouria Zeraati, a prominent presenter with Iran International. The suspects, identified as 19-year-old Nandito Badea and 23-year-old George Stana, were apprehended in Romania and are currently facing extradition to the United Kingdom. The charges relate to a targeted attack in Wimbledon, where Zeraati was stabbed in the leg near his home. The incident left him hospitalized but did not result in life-threatening injuries. A third man, a 40-year-old suspect, was arrested in...
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UK Police Illegally Spied on Journalists, Tribunal Rules
December 17, 2024
UK Police Illegally Spied on Journalists, Tribunal Rules
December 17, 2024 - UK - A tribunal in Northern Ireland has found that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) unlawfully used covert surveillance to identify a journalist’s confidential source and to monitor political figures, including former Secretary of State David Davis. The Investigatory Powers Tribunal determined that the PSNI bypassed legal authorization by launching secret operations—known as “directed surveillance” and “covert intrusion”—without meeting the required thresholds under the Regulation of Investigatory Powers Act 2000 or the Investigatory Powers Act 2016. This represented a serious violation of the journalist's right to protect sources and...
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Press Freedom Under Siege: Arrests of Palestinian Journalists Since October 2023
December 17, 2024
Press Freedom Under Siege: Arrests of Palestinian Journalists Since October 2023
December 17, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Since the outbreak of hostilities in October 2023, over 86 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been detained by Israeli authorities—a scale of repression unprecedented in recent history. Many arrests occurred without charge, particularly through the administration’s broad use of administrative detention. Initial waves in October 2023 saw noted journalists such as Abdel Nasser al‑Laham, Moath Amarneh, Mustafa al‑Khawaja, and Sabri Jibril taken into custody. Their arrests were carried out in pre-dawn raids, often involving broken doors, confiscation of electronic devices, and allegations that their social media commentary or...
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Media at a Crossroads as Syria Enters a New Era
December 17, 2024
Media at a Crossroads as Syria Enters a New Era
December 17, 2024 - Syria - With the collapse of the Assad regime after over a decade of authoritarian rule and civil war, Syria now stands before a rare opportunity to build an independent, inclusive media landscape. For the first time in thirteen years, journalists are no longer restricted by state censorship or the constant threat of violence from government forces. Free Press Unlimited, which has worked alongside Syrian media since 2011, views this transitional moment as critical for establishing press freedom as a cornerstone of the country’s recovery. Throughout the conflict, Syrian independent journalists,...
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Barbara Gayle’s Death Shocks Jamaican Journalism
December 17, 2024
Barbara Gayle’s Death Shocks Jamaican Journalism
December 17, 2024 - Jamaica - The Jamaican media landscape was rocked in December 2024 by the brutal murder of Barbara Gayle, a celebrated veteran court reporter whose career at The Gleaner spanned over four decades. Found dead in her Caymanas Estate home in St. Catherine on the morning of December 17, Gayle had been struck in the head and her throat slashed, likely days after speaking to a visitor outside her residence. Authorities report that her vehicle and mobile phone were stolen, prompting homicide investigations and public appeals for justice from senior government figures,...
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Al Jazeera Cameraman Killed in Gaza Airstrike Amid Rising Toll on Journalists
December 16, 2024
Al Jazeera Cameraman Killed in Gaza Airstrike Amid Rising Toll on Journalists
December 16, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Ahmed al-Louh, a 39-year-old Palestinian photojournalist working for Al Jazeera, was killed on December 15, 2024, in an Israeli airstrike that struck a Palestinian Civil Defence center in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Al-Louh, who was wearing marked press gear at the time of the attack, was filming rescue operations when the strike occurred. Five Civil Defence workers were also killed in the same incident. He was transported to Al-Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el-Balah, where he was pronounced dead. Al Jazeera issued a strong condemnation, describing...
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Cameraman Ahmed al‑Louh Killed Amid Gaza Airstrike
December 15, 2024
Cameraman Ahmed al‑Louh Killed Amid Gaza Airstrike
December 15, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera photojournalist Ahmed al‑Louh, aged 39, was killed on December 15, 2024, during an Israeli airstrike on a Palestinian Civil Defence site in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Al‑Louh, easily identifiable in his press vest and helmet, was filming rescue efforts alongside Civil Defence workers when the strike struck. Five Civil Defence personnel also lost their lives. He was promptly evacuated to Al‑Aqsa Martyrs Hospital in Deir el‑Balah, where he was pronounced dead. Al Jazeera condemned the strike as a deliberate and “heinous crime,” insisting that...
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Journalists Under Siege in Pakistan as Crackdown Intensifies
December 15, 2024
Journalists Under Siege in Pakistan as Crackdown Intensifies
December 15, 2024 - Pakistan - The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has sounded the alarm over a tightening crackdown on media freedom, warning that systemic harassment, intimidation, and violence against journalists are severely threatening press integrity in the country. PFUJ’s condemnation comes amid a broader context of recurring detentions, legal threats, and economic pressure on independent media outlets. The union emphasized that these tactics, which include filing sedition charges, enforcing blackouts on critical reporting, and orchestrating cyber harassment campaigns, aim to silence dissenting voices and chill investigative journalism at its core. PFUJ voiced...
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Pakistan’s Cybercrime Law Becomes Tool for Silencing Journalists
December 15, 2024
Pakistan’s Cybercrime Law Becomes Tool for Silencing Journalists
December 15, 2024 - Pakistan - In a sharp escalation of media repression, the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has condemned the issuance of arrest orders for at least 150 journalists under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016. The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) accused these journalists of posting content between November 24 and 27, 2024, that allegedly incited violence and undermined state institutions, including the military. The targeted individuals face charges under PECA sections related to glorifying crime, cyberterrorism, hate speech, and cyberstalking—offenses that carry severe penalties, including up to 14 years...
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Al Jazeera Demands Accountability for Killing of Journalist Ahmad al-Louh
December 15, 2024
Al Jazeera Demands Accountability for Killing of Journalist Ahmad al-Louh
December 15, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera Media Network has condemned the killing of its Palestinian cameraman Ahmad al-Louh in a targeted Israeli airstrike on December 15, 2024, in the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. Al-Louh, who was wearing press identification gear, was documenting Civil Defence rescue operations when the strike hit, killing him and five emergency workers. His death, the network stated, represents not only a personal tragedy but also a grave violation of international humanitarian law protecting journalists in conflict zones. In a strongly worded statement, Al Jazeera described the attack...
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Home at Last: Lebanese Journalist Moaz Mouraab Returns After 17 Years in Syrian Detention
December 14, 2024
Home at Last: Lebanese Journalist Moaz Mouraab Returns After 17 Years in Syrian Detention
December 14, 2024 - Lebanon/Syria - Moaz Mouraab, a 51-year-old Lebanese journalist and father of two, has finally returned to his family in Tripoli, Lebanon, after enduring 17 harrowing years in a Syrian prison. His detention began on May 20, 2007, when Syrian authorities arrested him while he was transiting from Lebanon to Iraq. Accused of links to terrorist groups, Mouraab insists he entered Syria solely in his capacity as a journalist and humanitarian worker. His family lost all contact with him for the first two and a half years, leaving them uncertain of his...
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Iran Cracks Down on Activists and Journalists Amid Rising Repression
December 14, 2024
Iran Cracks Down on Activists and Journalists Amid Rising Repression
December 14, 2024 - Iran/USA - Iran’s latest wave of repression has drawn sharp condemnation from rights groups, following the arrest of prominent human rights advocate Reza Khandan and the continued imprisonment of Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh. Both cases highlight the Islamic Republic’s deepening crackdown on dissenting voices, targeting not only activists within the country but also media professionals with ties abroad. On December 14, 2024, Iranian authorities arrested Reza Khandan, husband of renowned rights lawyer Nasrin Sotoudeh, at his home in Tehran. His daughter, Mehraveh, confirmed the arrest, linking it to a prior conviction...
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Pakistan Targets Sikh Journalist in Cybercrime Crackdown
December 14, 2024
Pakistan Targets Sikh Journalist in Cybercrime Crackdown
December 14, 2024 - Pakistan - Pakistani-Sikh journalist Harmeet Singh, an anchor at Such TV, has become the latest focus of state action under the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) following his coverage of November 2024 protests by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Authorities from the Federal Investigation Agency’s Cyber Crime Wing have filed an FIR accusing Singh of propagating anti-state narratives through his social media posts during the Islamabad demonstrations. He was summoned for questioning on December 24 and granted pre-arrest bail until December 21 by a special court in Islamabad,...
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Staggering Toll: Nearly 200 Journalists Killed in Gaza
December 14, 2024
Staggering Toll: Nearly 200 Journalists Killed in Gaza
December 14, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - The conflict in Gaza has inflicted a devastating toll on journalists, with nearly 200 media workers killed in airstrikes carried out since the escalation of hostilities in October 2023. On December 14, 2024, the Palestinian Journalists’ Forum reported the death of Al‑Mashhad Channel correspondent Mohammad Baalousha, raising the total number of media casualties to 195. Just one day later, Gaza’s Government Media Office announced that Al Jazeera photographer Ahmad Bakr al‑Louh had been killed in the Nuseirat refugee camp strike, pushing the count to 196. These grim figures reflect...
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Freed or Forgotten? The Fate of American Journalist Austin Tice in Syria
December 13, 2024
Freed or Forgotten? The Fate of American Journalist Austin Tice in Syria
December 13, 2024 - USA/Syria - American journalist Austin Tice, kidnapped in 2012 while reporting from northern Syria, remains one of the most enduring cases of an unresolved journalist disappearance in recent history. A freelance war reporter, Tice was covering the unfolding civil war in Damascus when he vanished. After being held by unknown groups, a video released later confirmed his captivity, but his precise whereabouts and condition have remained shrouded in uncertainty since then. Following years of silence, the U.S. government and non-profit organizations recently revealed that new intelligence obtained earlier in 2024 placed...
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Journalist Malik Zafar Iqbal Naich Killed in Targeted Attack in Pakistan
December 13, 2024
Journalist Malik Zafar Iqbal Naich Killed in Targeted Attack in Pakistan
December 13, 2024 - Pakistan - Pakistani journalist Malik Zafar Iqbal Naich was shot and killed in a targeted attack in Rahim Yar Khan, Punjab, marking a grim continuation of violence against media workers in the country. Naich, a local correspondent known for reporting on governance issues, crime, and community concerns, was gunned down by unidentified assailants on a motorcycle while on his way to work. The brazen nature of the attack has sparked outrage and renewed fears among journalists already working under mounting pressure and insecurity. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ),...
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Justice Beckons for Anton Hammerl After 13 Years
December 13, 2024
Justice Beckons for Anton Hammerl After 13 Years
December 13, 2024 - South Africa/Libya - South African photojournalist Anton Hammerl was killed on April 5, 2011, by pro-Gaddafi forces in the Libyan desert while covering the civil war. His body was never recovered, and for over a month, his family was misled to believe he was in custody. After being informed of his death, the family entered a long period of sorrow and unanswered questions, compounded when Libya withheld his passport despite years of international inquiries. On December 12, 2024, Hammerl’s widow, Penny Sukhraj-Hammerl—a journalist herself—filed a formal complaint with the U.N. Human...
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Russian Court Extends Detention of Veteran Journalist Nadezhda Kevorkova
December 13, 2024
Russian Court Extends Detention of Veteran Journalist Nadezhda Kevorkova
December 13, 2024 - Russia - Nadezhda Kevorkova, a prominent 66-year-old journalist renowned for covering conflict zones in the Middle East, North Caucasus, and beyond, has had her pretrial detention extended by Moscow courts on multiple occasions throughout 2024 and early 2025. Initially arrested in May 2024 and charged with "publicly justifying terrorism" under Article 205.2, her case centers on two-year-old Telegram posts: one sharing an article by a fellow journalist about a militant raid in Nalchik, and another praising the Taliban for freeing prisoners. Her detention was first extended in October, then again in...
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Targeted Arrests of Journalists at Israel‑Gaza War Protests in the U.S.
December 13, 2024
Targeted Arrests of Journalists at Israel‑Gaza War Protests in the U.S.
December 13, 2024 - Palestine/Israel/USA - Journalist arrests in the United States surged in 2024, with nearly one reporter detained or charged each week, largely at Israel‑Gaza war protests. According to data from the U.S. Press Freedom Tracker, there were at least 48 arrests or detentions of journalists, marking the third-highest annual total since 2017. Remarkably, approximately 90 percent of these incidents occurred during demonstrations related to the Israel‑Gaza conflict, reflecting a dramatic rise in police actions in response to public dissent. New York City’s Police Department played an especially prominent role, accounting for nearly...
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Journalists Arrested Ahead of Belarus Election as Crackdown Tightens
December 13, 2024
Journalists Arrested Ahead of Belarus Election as Crackdown Tightens
December 13, 2024 - Belarus - Belarusian authorities arrested seven journalists from the independent online outlet Intex‑Press in Baranavichy in early December 2024, leveling charges of “supporting extremist activities.” The Belarusian Association of Journalists condemned the detentions as a deliberate effort to extinguish dissenting voices in the run‑up to January’s presidential election, calling it the single largest group of arrests from one media platform in the past year. The arrests come on the heels of a four‑year prison sentence handed down to journalist Volha Radzivonava earlier in December for her critical coverage of the regime,...
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EU Pressure Urged as Georgian Media Face Escalating Crackdown
December 13, 2024
EU Pressure Urged as Georgian Media Face Escalating Crackdown
December 13, 2024 - Georgia - A coalition of major press freedom organizations, including the International Federation of Journalists and European Federation of Journalists, has urged the European Union to demand an immediate halt to the rising wave of repression against journalists in Georgia. In an open letter dated 12 December, the groups called on key EU figures—Ursula von der Leyen, António Costa, Roberta Metsola, and Kaja Kallas—to address systematic threats to media professionals during increasingly violent anti-government protests in Tbilisi. Since late 2024, demonstrators have rallied against Georgia’s political leadership, especially following the suspension...
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Investigation Sparks Threats: Grzegorz Rzeczkowski’s Stand Against Russian Influence
December 13, 2024
Investigation Sparks Threats: Grzegorz Rzeczkowski’s Stand Against Russian Influence
13 December 2024 - Poland/Russia -  Grzegorz Rzeczkowski, a respected investigative journalist in Poland, has become the target of threats due to his reporting on suspected Russian influence in Polish politics and business. According to Reporters Without Borders, Warsaw prosecutors have opened a criminal investigation into acts of intimidation against Rzeczkowski following the arrival of menacing messages and phone calls warning him to cease his exposés. The situation escalated to the point that Poland’s Interior Minister intervened, directing intelligence and police services to ensure his protection, signaling official alarm over the threats he faced. Rzeczkowski’s...
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Family Tragedy in Gaza: Death of Journalist Iman al‑Shanti and Her Children
December 12, 2024
Family Tragedy in Gaza: Death of Journalist Iman al‑Shanti and Her Children
December 12, 2024 - Palestine/Israel- A deadly Israeli airstrike struck a residential building in Gaza City on December 12, 2024, claiming the lives of Palestinian freelance journalist Iman al‑Shanti and her two children. Al‑Shanti, who contributed to regional outlets and international media, had recently returned to her home and was unarmed and identified as a civilian. Local emergency responders confirmed that her children, aged six and four, were killed alongside her, while her husband and other family members were also severely injured. Rights groups and press freedom advocates have condemned the strike as a grave...
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Disappeared in Syria: John Cantlie’s 12‑Year Ordeal Remains Unresolved
December 12, 2024
Disappeared in Syria: John Cantlie’s 12‑Year Ordeal Remains Unresolved
December 12, 2024 - UK/Syria - British war photographer and correspondent John Henry Cantlie, who was abducted in November 2012 alongside American journalist James Foley, is still missing nearly 12 years later. After initially being captured by Islamist militants and briefly escaping in mid‑2012, he was re‑abducted in November during a joint assignment with Foley. Foley was tragically executed by ISIS in 2014, while Cantlie was forced into propaganda videos that he narrated until late 2016, shedding light on the dire humanitarian consequences of war through a distorted lens. Cantlie appeared in multiple ISIS-produced clips, including the “Lend...
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Sudanese Journalist Hanan Adam and Brother Killed by Paramilitary Forces
December 12, 2024
Sudanese Journalist Hanan Adam and Brother Killed by Paramilitary Forces
December 12, 2024 - Sudan - Rapid Support Forces (RSF) soldiers brutally raided the home of Sudanese journalist Hanan Adam in Wad Al‑Asha, Al‑Gezira state. Adam, a correspondent for the Communist Party newspaper al‑Midan, and her brother Youssef were both shot dead at the scene. Their deaths are a harrowing illustration of the extreme dangers faced by Sudanese media professionals during the ongoing civil war. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) denounced the killings as part of an escalating campaign of violence by the RSF against journalists and civilians. CPJ’s Interim MENA Program Coordinator described the...
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Global Media Outcry Over Gaza Journalist ‘Massacre’
December 12, 2024
Global Media Outcry Over Gaza Journalist ‘Massacre’
December 12, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Media freedom organizations and press coalitions have sharply condemned Israel following the deaths of dozens of journalists covering the Gaza conflict, calling it an unprecedented “massacre” of press workers. Reports from Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and others found that Israeli military actions killed 18 journalists in 2024—16 in Gaza and two in Lebanon, while other monitoring groups report far higher figures for Palestinian media casualties. RSF described the losses in Gaza as “an unprecedented massacre,” highlighting that most of those killed were local journalists or freelancers operating without institutional...
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The Gaza Killings That Shattered Journalism’s Frontline
December 12, 2024
The Gaza Killings That Shattered Journalism’s Frontline
December 12, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Gaza has emerged as the deadliest region in the world for journalists in 2024, marking an unprecedented level of danger for media professionals, particularly local Palestinian reporters. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), at least 54 journalists were killed globally in 2024, with a third—18—directly attributed to Israeli forces in Gaza and Lebanon. However, broader counts estimate the toll in Gaza since October 2023 to be far higher, with some figures placing the number of journalist deaths at over 145, and others, such as the Committee to Protect Journalists...
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The Deadliest Year for Journalists: RSF Warns Israel Accountable for One-Third of 2024 Journalist Deaths
December 12, 2024
The Deadliest Year for Journalists: RSF Warns Israel Accountable for One-Third of 2024 Journalist Deaths
December 12, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) cautions that 2024 marked a devastating surge in journalist fatalities, with 54 journalists killed globally—the highest annual figure seen in five years. Disturbingly, one-third of these deaths—18 reporters—were caused by Israeli military operations: 16 in Gaza and two in Lebanon. RSF’s data emphasize the intensity of the threat to media professionals in conflict zones. It states that over 145 journalists have died in Gaza since October 2023, at least 35 deliberately targeted while working. RSF highlights that many of those killed wore identifiable press gear—their targets...
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Assad’s Regime Under Scrutiny for Journalist Killings in Syria
December 12, 2024
Assad’s Regime Under Scrutiny for Journalist Killings in Syria
December 12, 2024 - Syria - Recent reporting highlights a growing chorus of voices demanding justice for the journalists killed during Bashar al‑Assad’s rule. The atrocities, some dating back nearly 14 years, are finally being addressed following the regime’s collapse in December 2024. According to Voice of America and Ground News, press freedom organizations—including CPJ, RSF, and Human Rights Watch—are urging formal accountability for Assad-era crimes against the media. Francesca Conroy of RSF emphasizes the dual aim of securing “justice and accountability for Syrian citizens, but also the press”. RSF reports that at least 23 journalists...
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Heavy Toll on Journalists in 2024: A Crisis in Conflict Zones
December 12, 2024
Heavy Toll on Journalists in 2024: A Crisis in Conflict Zones
December 12, 2024 - General - In 2024, at least 68 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide while on duty—more than 60% of those deaths occurred in active conflict zones, marking the highest proportion seen in over a decade. Although the overall number slightly declined from 74 in 2023 and 88 in 2022, the concentration of deaths in war-torn regions remains deeply troubling. Breaking down the statistics, UNESCO reports 42 deaths occurred in conflict areas: 18 in Palestine, four each in Ukraine and Colombia, three each in Iraq, Lebanon, Myanmar, and Sudan, and one each...
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At least 68 journalist killings in 2024, UNESCO reports
December 12, 2024
At least 68 journalist killings in 2024, UNESCO reports
December 12, 2024 - Source: United Nations - For the second consecutive year, conflict zones have proven dangerous for journalists and media workers, with 2024 seeing at least 68 deaths in the line of duty, according to new data from the UN Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).  More than 60 per cent of these killings occurred in countries experiencing conflict – the highest percentage in over a decade. Reliable information is vital in conflict situations to help affected populations and to enlighten the world," said UNESCO Director-General Audrey Azoulay. “It is unacceptable that journalists pay with their...
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Murdered by Silence: Yoshua Kambere Machozi and the Dangers of Community Journalism in DRC
December 12, 2024
Murdered by Silence: Yoshua Kambere Machozi and the Dangers of Community Journalism in DRC
December 12, 2024 - Congo -  The brutal murder of journalist Yoshua Kambere Machozi in the Democratic Republic of Congo’s North Kivu province has sparked international condemnation and renewed fears over the safety of local journalists in conflict zones. Machozi, a presenter for Mpety Community Radio (RCMP), was abducted on October 29, 2024, during a raid on the station by suspected M23 rebels. His body was found days later on November 6 along a riverbank near the village of Katobi, just four kilometers from the town of Mpety. Machozi hosted both music and sports programming...
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Beka Korshia’s Arrest and the Crackdown on Press Freedom in Georgia
December 12, 2024
Beka Korshia’s Arrest and the Crackdown on Press Freedom in Georgia
December 12, 2024 - Tbilisi/Georgia - Georgian journalist Beka Korshia was arrested amid a sweeping crackdown on independent media during pro-European protests in Tbilisi. Korshia, an anchor and reporter for Mtavari Arkhi TV, was detained by police on the ninth consecutive night of demonstrations. His family reported his sudden disappearance from Rustaveli Avenue as akin to a “kidnapping.” He later reappeared in police custody and was charged with an administrative offense and fined 2,200 GEL by a Tbilisi court. The protests, sparked by the ruling Georgian Dream party’s abandonment of a European Union accession roadmap,...
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Journalism in Peril: RSF’s 2024 Round-Up Exposes Deadly Toll
December 12, 2024
Journalism in Peril: RSF’s 2024 Round-Up Exposes Deadly Toll
December 12, 2024 - General - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released its 2024 annual round-up, revealing a deeply alarming global environment for journalists marked by unprecedented violence, mass detentions, and growing impunity. The report underscores that journalism has paid an “exorbitant human price” this year, particularly in regions plagued by war and authoritarian repression. According to RSF, at least 145 journalists have been killed in Palestine since October 2023, with over 35 of those deaths confirmed as deliberate targeting while on duty. The organization called it the most lethal toll for journalists in any...
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Bangladesh Emerges as One of the Deadliest Countries for Journalists in 2024
December 12, 2024
Bangladesh Emerges as One of the Deadliest Countries for Journalists in 2024
December 12, 2024 - Bangladesh - According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Bangladesh ranked among the most dangerous countries for journalists in 2024, becoming the third deadliest in Asia. The year was defined by political turmoil and violent crackdowns, particularly during and after the July Revolution—a mass youth-led uprising that ultimately led to the ousting of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina’s government. At least five journalists were killed in Bangladesh in 2024, four of them during July’s nationwide protests. These deaths contributed to a grim regional picture, with Bangladesh and Pakistan together accounting for a significant...
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South Korean Journalists Recall a Night Under Martial Law
December 12, 2024
South Korean Journalists Recall a Night Under Martial Law
December 12, 2024 - Korea - South Korea experienced a brief but shocking political upheaval as President Yoon Suk Yeol declared martial law in an attempt to suppress what he termed “anti-state forces.” The unprecedented move marked the first use of martial law in the country since the democratic transition of the late 1980s. Though the decree lasted only six hours before being overturned by the National Assembly, the impact on the country’s journalists was immediate and deeply unsettling. Newsrooms were thrown into chaos as military forces attempted to control the media. Journalists were barred...
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Global Support for Georgian Journalists Under Attack
December 12, 2024
Global Support for Georgian Journalists Under Attack
December 12, 2024 - Georgia - In the wake of violent crackdowns on journalists during pro-European protests in Georgia, international media organizations and press freedom advocates have rallied in solidarity with the country’s embattled media. Statements from the International Press Institute (IPI), the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), and over 80 prominent editors and journalists across 48 countries denounce the Georgian government's escalating attacks on press freedom. Between November 28 and December 10, 2024, more than 90 journalists were assaulted, harassed, or detained while covering mass protests in Tbilisi. Many were visibly...
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RSF Urges U.S. to Seize the Moment and Free Austin Tice from Syrian Captivity
December 11, 2024
RSF Urges U.S. to Seize the Moment and Free Austin Tice from Syrian Captivity
December 11, 2024 - USA/Syria -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is calling on the Biden administration to act decisively to secure the release of American journalist Austin Tice, who has been held captive in Syria since 2012. With the recent collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime, RSF argues that the United States now has a rare and urgent opportunity to resolve one of the longest-standing journalist abduction cases in modern history. Tice, a former U.S. Marine and freelance reporter for outlets including The Washington Post, CBS, and McClatchy, disappeared near Damascus on August 14, 2012, while...
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Exiled Journalist Juan Luis Font Targeted by Government
December 11, 2024
Exiled Journalist Juan Luis Font Targeted by Government
December 11, 2024 - Guatemala - Guatemalan authorities issued an arrest warrant for prominent investigative journalist Juan Luis Font, currently exiled in France. Font, co-director of the radio show Con Criterio and co-founder of El Periódico, stands accused of “collusion and passive bribery”—allegations he vehemently denies. The charges, based on an old case, were revived on December 6, 2024, and observers see them as part of a broader campaign to silence anti-corruption journalism. Font has faced ongoing intimidation since 2022, when he fled Guatemala after critical reporting exposed government malfeasance. In particular, authorities appeared triggered by his interviews and...
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Empowering Journalists Through Legal Preparedness: Guides from Tunisia and Brazil
December 11, 2024
Empowering Journalists Through Legal Preparedness: Guides from Tunisia and Brazil
December 11, 2024 - Tunisia/Brazil -  The Tunisian Journalists’ Union (SNJT), supported by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), unveiled a practical legal guide designed to aid Tunisian journalists facing judicial harassment. Funded by the Norwegian government and produced with expertise from lawyers and press-freedom advocates, the guide—available in French and Arabic—maps the steps of criminal proceedings, outlines journalists’ rights during police summons, prosecutions, and trials, and offers best-practice legal strategies for responses in emergencies or when legal counsel is inaccessible. The initiative responds to growing repression in Tunisia since 2019, particularly the broad “false...
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Brutal Attack on Croatian Journalist Dario Topić Highlights Press Risks
December 11, 2024
Brutal Attack on Croatian Journalist Dario Topić Highlights Press Risks
December 11, 2024 - Croatia -  Journalist Dario Topić, editor-in-chief at local outlet Komarilos.com, was violently assaulted in Osijek. He had been investigating alleged irregularities involving a 26-year parking concession held by the Elektromodul company. The company’s co-owner, Damir Taslidžić, lured Topić to his premises under the guise of providing information, then physically beat him—targeting his head and body—immediately after escorting him out of the premises. Topić sustained injuries requiring treatment at Osijek Clinical Hospital and reported the assault to police and prosecutors. On December 7, Taslidžić was detained on charges of “coercion against a person...
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CPJ Calls on Syria’s New Leaders to End Impunity and Protect Journalists
December 11, 2024
CPJ Calls on Syria’s New Leaders to End Impunity and Protect Journalists
December 11, 2024 - Syria - Following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December 2024, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a powerful call urging Syria’s new leadership to prioritize press freedom, protect media workers, and ensure accountability for years of systemic persecution. With Assad’s fall marking a potential turning point, CPJ stresses that the opportunity must not be squandered. Under Assad’s 13-year crackdown on dissent, Syria became one of the world’s deadliest countries for journalists. CPJ reports that at least 141 journalists have been killed since 2011, including 23 targeted killings...
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The Alarming Rise of Online Abuse Against Sports Journalists
December 11, 2024
The Alarming Rise of Online Abuse Against Sports Journalists
December 11, 2024 - General -  A new report from United Against Online Abuse (UAOA) and the Sports Journalists’ Association (SJA) reveals a disturbing escalation in the volume, intensity, and impact of online harassment faced by sports journalists worldwide. The 2024 Sports Journalist Barometer underscores a growing threat not just to individual reporters but to press freedom itself. According to the findings, 95% of sports journalists surveyed believe online abuse is “very” or “fairly widespread” in their profession. Over 75% say it has worsened over the past year, with more than 40% describing the rise...
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Gaza at the Epicenter: 2024 Marks One of the Deadliest Years for Journalists
December 10, 2024
Gaza at the Epicenter: 2024 Marks One of the Deadliest Years for Journalists
December 10, 2024 - General - In its 2024 year-end report, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) confirmed that 104 journalists and media workers were killed worldwide, making it one of the deadliest years for the profession in over a decade. More than half of these deaths occurred in the Middle East, with Gaza accounting for 55 fatalities—the highest ever recorded in a single territory for a single year. The figures reflect the extreme risks facing journalists in conflict zones, particularly in Gaza, where Israeli military operations and airstrikes have devastated local media infrastructure. Since...
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RSF Calls for Assad’s Prosecution Over the Murder of 181 Journalists Since 2011
December 10, 2024
RSF Calls for Assad’s Prosecution Over the Murder of 181 Journalists Since 2011
December 10. 2024 - Syria - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has demanded that Bashar al‑Assad be prosecuted for the deaths of 181 journalists and media professionals killed by the regime and its allies since the 2011 revolution. The call comes amid the collapse of Assad’s government in December 2024 and growing international scrutiny of Syria’s legacy of media repression. Between 2011 and 2024, Syria descended into one of the deadliest environments for journalism. Beyond the regime’s 181 killings, another 102 journalists were murdered by other factions in the conflict, including six by Hayat Tahrir al‑Sham....
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Argentina’s Press Freedom at Risk Amid Milei’s First Year in Office
December 10, 2024
Argentina’s Press Freedom at Risk Amid Milei’s First Year in Office
December 10, 2024 - Argentina -  Argentina witnessed growing concerns over press freedom as President Javier Milei’s administration introduced sweeping changes that critics say undermine journalistic independence. A report released by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and Argentina’s National Federation of Journalists (FENAJ) outlined a deteriorating media environment shaped by legislative overreach, restricted press access, and stigmatizing rhetoric from government officials. Central to the report is the passage of a controversial omnibus bill in June 2024 that granted President Milei broad decree powers across multiple sectors, including administrative and economic domains. While the government...
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Argentina’s Press Freedom Plummets During Milei’s First Year
December 10, 2024
Argentina’s Press Freedom Plummets During Milei’s First Year
December 10, 2024 - Argentina -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports that Argentina experienced a dramatic decline in press freedom during Javier Milei’s first year as president (Dec 2023–Dec 2024). The 2025 World Press Freedom Index saw Argentina fall an alarming 47 places, from 40th to 87th out of 180 countries, marking one of the steepest drops worldwide. RSF attributes this decline to several authoritarian shifts: the government stigmatized journalists, dismantled public media outlets, and weaponized state advertising to pressure independent outlets. President Milei personally escalated the hostility, threatening to dismiss or even arrest critical reporters from major...
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Belarus: International Pressure Demands Release of Imprisoned Journalists
December 10, 2024
Belarus: International Pressure Demands Release of Imprisoned Journalists
December 10, 2024 - Belarus -  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has intensified calls for the immediate release of all Belarusian journalists imprisoned under President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime, now the largest jailer of journalists in Europe. As of June 2025, at least 40–45 independent media workers remain behind bars, serving lengthy sentences of up to 15 years. They face charges ranging from "extremist activity" and treason to passive defamation—a sweeping criminalization of routine reporting. Among them is Volha Radzivonava, a journalist convicted in December 2024 for "insulting the president" and sentenced to four years...
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RSF Urges Ghana to Uphold Press Freedom During 2024 Elections
December 10, 2024
RSF Urges Ghana to Uphold Press Freedom During 2024 Elections
December 10, 2024 - Ghana -  As Ghana concluded its December 2024 presidential elections—won by John Mahama—Reporters Without Borders (RSF) issued a set of five recommendations aimed at safeguarding press freedom throughout the electoral process. While Ghana has long been regarded as a democratic leader in West Africa, RSF emphasized that recent challenges, including disinformation, harassment, and access restrictions, threatened to undermine that reputation. First and foremost, RSF called for the safety of journalists covering political rallies and polling centers. Zubaida Ismail, RSF’s representative in Ghana, stressed that journalists must not only be protected by...
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FAJ Demands Urgent Action to Halt Rising Attacks on Journalists Across Africa
December 10, 2024
FAJ Demands Urgent Action to Halt Rising Attacks on Journalists Across Africa
December 10, 2024 - Senegal -  The Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), the regional arm of the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), issued a stark warning about the escalating wave of violations targeting media professionals across the African continent. In a statement released from Senegal, FAJ condemned what it described as an increasingly hostile environment for journalists marked by violence, legal persecution, and widespread impunity. FAJ detailed a disturbing pattern: physical assaults, arbitrary arrests, prolonged detentions, and even assassinations of journalists have become more frequent, especially in countries facing political instability. In many cases, perpetrators...
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Press Freedom Groups Urge EU to Oppose Türkiye’s “Agent of Influence” Bill
December 10, 2024
Press Freedom Groups Urge EU to Oppose Türkiye’s “Agent of Influence” Bill
December 10. 2024 - Turkey -  A coalition of 55 press freedom and human rights organizations—including the International Press Institute (IPI), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and ARTICLE 19—sent a joint letter to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, urging the EU to publicly oppose Türkiye’s proposed “agent of influence” bill. The controversial legislation, currently under parliamentary consideration, poses a significant threat to democratic freedoms and civil society in Türkiye. The bill would criminalize any act considered to be conducted “in the interest of a foreign state or organization” that...
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Azerbaijan’s Post-COP29 Repression Targets Independent Media
December 10, 2024
Azerbaijan’s Post-COP29 Repression Targets Independent Media
December 10, 2024 - Azerbaijan - Following its high-profile hosting of the COP29 climate summit, Azerbaijan has launched a sweeping crackdown on independent journalism, drawing widespread condemnation from global rights organizations. On December 6, 2024—just days after the summit concluded—seven journalists affiliated with Meydan TV and the Baku School of Journalism were arrested on charges of “foreign currency smuggling,” a vaguely defined offense punishable by up to eight years in prison. Those detained include Meydan TV’s editor-in-chief Aynur Ganbarova and journalists Aytaj Ahmadova, Khayala Agayeva, Natig Javadli, Aysel Umudova, and Ramin Jabrayilzade, along with media...
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Murdered for Reporting: The Fatal Price of Environmental Journalism in Cambodia
December 10, 2024
Murdered for Reporting: The Fatal Price of Environmental Journalism in Cambodia
December 10, 2024 - Cambodia -  Cambodian environmental journalist Chhoeung Chheng, aged 63, was shot in the abdomen while investigating illegal timber transport in Boeung Peam Wildlife Sanctuary, Siem Reap province. Transporting his findings alongside colleague Moeun Ny, Chheng was ambushed near Trapeang Phluoh village. He succumbed to his injuries three days later on December 7, at a Siem Reap hospital, with the suspected logger assailant arrested on December 5 and charged in connection with the shooting. Chheng worked for online outlet Kampuchea Aphivath, documenting illegal logging that, since 2002, has decimated 72% of Beng...
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U.S. Renews Search for Journalist Austin Tice Following Assad’s Fall
December 9, 2024
U.S. Renews Search for Journalist Austin Tice Following Assad’s Fall
December 9, 2024 - Syria/USA - More than a decade after his disappearance in Syria, American journalist Austin Tice has become the focus of a renewed search effort by the U.S. government, now intensified in the wake of Bashar al-Assad’s fall in December 2024. Tice, a former Marine and freelance reporter for outlets including The Washington Post and McClatchy, was abducted in August 2012 while reporting in Damascus. His fate has remained unknown for over 12 years. With Assad’s regime dismantled and rebel factions such as Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) now in control of large...
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Azerbaijan’s Ongoing Crackdown: Photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar Sentenced to 20 Days
December 9, 2024
Azerbaijan’s Ongoing Crackdown: Photojournalist Ahmed Mukhtar Sentenced to 20 Days
December 9, 2024 - Azerbaijan - Azerbaijani authorities continued their campaign against independent media by detaining photo‑reporter Ahmed Mukhtar, a long‑standing contributor to outlets such as Meydan TV. Mukhtar was arrested alongside several Meydan TV journalists on December 6, charged under Articles 510 (“petty hooliganism”) and 535.1 (“failure to obey police orders”) of the administrative offenses code. On December 8, he was sentenced to 20 days’ administrative detention. Mukhtar’s arrest occurred amid broader trials targeting Meydan TV contributors accused of supposedly “smuggling foreign currency.” While those colleagues have faced criminal charges and pre‑trial detention, Mukhtar received a lesser...
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Doha Forum 2024 Champions Innovation as Key to Global Resilience
December 7, 2024
Doha Forum 2024 Champions Innovation as Key to Global Resilience
December 7, 2024 - Qatar - At the 22nd Doha Forum held in December 2024, Qatar positioned innovation and technology as central to addressing the world’s most pressing crises—from climate change and global security to economic development and digital governance. Under the theme “Diplomacy, Dialogue, Diversity,” the event brought together world leaders, policy experts, and academics to focus on sustainable, inclusive solutions driven by modern innovation. A highlight of this year’s forum was the launch of a major report titled The Innovation Imperative: Tech-Governance, Development & Security at a Crossroads, produced by the Stimson Center...
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Fresh Hope for Austin Tice as U.S. Reaffirms Journalist is Alive
December 7, 2024
Fresh Hope for Austin Tice as U.S. Reaffirms Journalist is Alive
December 7, 2024 - Syria/USA - Twelve years after American journalist Austin Tice was abducted in Syria, his case has taken on new urgency following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in late 2024. The U.S. government, backed by newly surfaced intelligence and shifting geopolitical dynamics, has renewed its search efforts, with President Joe Biden affirming that officials believe Tice is still alive and that “we think we can get him back.” Tice, a former Marine and freelance journalist, was kidnapped near Damascus in August 2012 while covering the Syrian civil war. For years, his...
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Guinea Under Fire After Journalist Habib Marouane Camara Abducted by Armed Men
December 7, 2024
Guinea Under Fire After Journalist Habib Marouane Camara Abducted by Armed Men
December 7, 2024 - Guinea - In a chilling reminder of the dangers facing journalists in military-ruled Guinea, investigative reporter Habib Marouane Camara, founder of the news site LeRévélateur224, was abducted on December 3, 2024, by uniformed men believed to be affiliated with the country’s security forces. The attack occurred in the capital, Conakry, while Camara was in his car with a companion. Witnesses reported that masked men in police or military gear smashed his windshield, beat him unconscious with batons, and dragged him away without presenting any warrant or identifying themselves. Camara had been...
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Israeli Forces Arrest Three Journalists Near Ramallah Amid Escalating Crackdown
December 6, 2024
Israeli Forces Arrest Three Journalists Near Ramallah Amid Escalating Crackdown
December 6, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Israeli troops arrested three Palestinian journalists in Sinjil, a town north of Ramallah in the occupied West Bank. The detentions occurred as journalists were covering events in the area; no official charges were immediately disclosed. This incident marks the latest in a sharp rise of press suppression in the West Bank and Gaza since October 7, 2023. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), at least 76 Palestinian journalists and media workers have been detained by Israeli forces—50 of whom remain held, including 20 under administrative detention—a process...
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Cambodia Mourns Environmental Reporter Killed Investigating Illegal Logging
December 6, 2024
Cambodia Mourns Environmental Reporter Killed Investigating Illegal Logging
December 6, 2024 - Cambodia - Cambodian environmental journalist Chhoeung Chheng, aged 63, was fatally shot while conducting field reporting in Siem Reap province, near Trapeang Phluoh village, as he investigated illegal logging activities in the Boeung Per Wildlife Sanctuary. Chheng, a veteran reporter for Kampuchea Aphivath, was ambushed by an unidentified man wielding a firearm during a routine check of timber transport on December 4. He was struck in the abdomen and died three days later in a Siem Reap hospital. Witnesses say the assailant lay in wait, prompting suspicions that the attack was...
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Bosnian Journalist Under Threat: Calls for Assassination Protection After Organised Crime Plot
December 6, 2024
Bosnian Journalist Under Threat: Calls for Assassination Protection After Organised Crime Plot
December 6, 2024 - Bosnia & Herzegovina - Bosnia’s Journalists’ Association and Free Media Help Line raised the alarm over an assassination plot targeting investigative journalist Avdo Avdić, who has repeatedly exposed high-level links between drug cartels, organised crime syndicates, and politicians in Bosnia and Herzegovina (BiH). Avdić came under threat after commanding reports on Dino “Cezar” Muzaferović, a suspected crime figure arrested in Slovenia over a murder case tied to his organisation. Slovenian authorities alerted their Bosnian counterparts that Muzaferović's network had discussed plans to kill Avdić. The seriousness of this threat prompted immediate...
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Murder of Two Syrian Journalists Sparks Global Demands for Independent Probe
December 6, 2024
Murder of Two Syrian Journalists Sparks Global Demands for Independent Probe
December 6, 2024 - Syria - The recent killing of two Syrian journalists near the town of Al-Hari in eastern Hama has ignited international condemnation and renewed calls for accountability in one of the world’s most dangerous countries for media workers. The bodies of the two men, both correspondents for local press outlets, were discovered on December 5, 2024, showing signs of execution-style killings. Their identities have not yet been publicly released due to ongoing family notifications, but the circumstances of their deaths point toward targeted violence. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Syrian Center...
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U.S. Court Sends Strong Message With Prison Sentences for Stalking Journalists
December 6, 2024
U.S. Court Sends Strong Message With Prison Sentences for Stalking Journalists
December 6, 2024 - USA - In a decisive move to protect press freedom, a U.S. federal court sentenced a New Hampshire man and several accomplices to significant prison terms for their roles in a targeted harassment campaign against two journalists from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR). The attacks, which took place in 2022, were retaliation for investigative reporting into allegations of sexual misconduct by a local businessman, a personal associate of the lead perpetrator. Keenan Saniatan, 36, of Nashua, New Hampshire, was sentenced to 30 months in federal prison after pleading guilty to conspiracy...
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Meydan TV Denounces Illegal Arrests Amid Escalating Media Crackdown in Azerbaijan
December 6, 2024
Meydan TV Denounces Illegal Arrests Amid Escalating Media Crackdown in Azerbaijan
December 6, 2024 - Azerbaijan - Berlin-based Meydan TV publicly condemned the arrests of six of its journalists—Ramin Jabrayilzade, Aynur Elgunesh, Aytaj Ahmadova, Aysel Umudova, Khayala Aghayeva, and Natig Javadli—as part of the so-called “currency smuggling” case; all were taken into custody by Baku authorities on claims of illegal foreign currency importation under Article 206.3.2 of the Criminal Code. Meydan TV’s management slammed the detentions as unlawful, refuting the allegations and describing the actions as part of a long-running persecution of their reporters and families, involving travel bans, Pegasus spyware surveillance, cyberattacks, and a longstanding website block since 2017. By December 8,...
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Journalism Under Fire: Palestinian and Lebanese Reporters Face Escalating Deadly Threats
December 5, 2024
Journalism Under Fire: Palestinian and Lebanese Reporters Face Escalating Deadly Threats
December 05, 2024 - Palestine/Israel/Lebanon -  The Mancunion shed light on the increasingly perilous conditions facing journalists in Gaza and southern Lebanon, where local reporters are bearing the brunt of regional conflict with limited protection and escalating danger. The article highlights a disturbing trend: journalists are not just collateral damage—they are being deliberately targeted. In Gaza, where foreign media have been largely barred, Palestinian journalists are now the sole chroniclers of events on the ground. Over 120 have been killed since October 2023, with at least 35 cases involving what watchdogs have identified as direct...
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Rwanda Detains Journalist and Opposition Figures in Repressive Crackdown
December 5, 2024
Rwanda Detains Journalist and Opposition Figures in Repressive Crackdown
December 05, 2025 - Rwanda -  Amnesty International condemned Rwanda for detaining journalist Théoneste Nsengimana alongside eight members of the unregistered opposition party Dalfa‑Umurinzi. The arrests stemmed from attendance at a training workshop on peaceful protest tactics, inspired by Srdja Popović’s Blueprint for Revolution, held in late 2021. The detainees—charged with forming a criminal association, inciting unrest, and distributing harmful propaganda—have endured nearly three years of pre-trial detention under vague legal definitions. Rwandan authorities are reportedly seeking sentences ranging from 20 years to life in prison. Amnesty’s Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Tigere Chagutah,...
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Malta OSCE Summit Puts Russia’s Jailing of Journalists Under Global Scrutiny
December 5, 2024
Malta OSCE Summit Puts Russia’s Jailing of Journalists Under Global Scrutiny
December 5, 2024 - Malta/Russia - At the OSCE Ministerial Council meeting held in Malta on December 5–6, 2024, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on member states to take a united stand against Russia’s widespread imprisonment of journalists. The appeal, timed with the arrival of Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov, highlighted the detention of 38 journalists—19 Russian and 19 Ukrainian—many held under harsh conditions or fabricated charges, including terrorism, espionage, or “extremism.” RSF urged OSCE states to publicly demand the unconditional release of all detained journalists and to press Russia to allow the International Committee...
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Two Charged in Stabbing of Iranian Journalist in London Amid Fears of Transnational Repression
December 5, 2024
Two Charged in Stabbing of Iranian Journalist in London Amid Fears of Transnational Repression
December 5, 2024 - UK - British prosecutors have charged two Romanian nationals over the stabbing of Pouria Zeraati, a British-based Iranian journalist known for his critical reporting on the Iranian regime. The attack, which took place on March 29, 2024, outside Zeraati’s home in Wimbledon, is being investigated as a potentially politically motivated assault amid growing fears of Iran’s transnational crackdown on dissidents abroad. The Crown Prosecution Service announced in early December that Nandito Badea, 19, and George Stana, 23, face charges of wounding with intent to cause grievous bodily harm and unlawful wounding....
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Death Threats Against Kosovo Journalist Spark Urgent Calls for Protection
December 5, 2024
Death Threats Against Kosovo Journalist Spark Urgent Calls for Protection
December 5, 2024 - Kosovo- Kosovo journalist and media founder Berat Buzhala received a chilling death threat via Facebook Messenger, warning that he and “some of your kind” would be killed. The message, sent from an anonymous account that was deactivated shortly after, is believed to be linked to Buzhala’s critical journalism and his outlet Nacionale’s independent editorial stance. This threat follows months of escalating pressure on Nacionale, including online harassment, smear campaigns, cyberattacks, and verbal attacks by government officials. Buzhala, a prominent figure in Kosovo’s media landscape and a former lawmaker, believes the threats...
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Journalists Brutalized During Georgia’s Pro-EU Protests Amid Democratic Backsliding
December 4, 2024
Journalists Brutalized During Georgia’s Pro-EU Protests Amid Democratic Backsliding
December 4, 2024 - Georgia - In a troubling development for press freedom, at least 50 journalists were violently assaulted while covering pro-European Union protests in Georgia between November 28 and December 3, 2024. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and other press freedom watchdogs have condemned the widespread police brutality and called on Georgian authorities to ensure accountability. Journalists were injured during clashes with riot police in Tbilisi, where demonstrators were protesting the ruling Georgian Dream party’s suspension of EU accession efforts. Among the most severe cases was Guram Rogava of Formula TV, who...
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Mexican Journalist Adriano Bachega Shot Dead in Monterrey Amid Growing Press Violence
December 4, 2024
Mexican Journalist Adriano Bachega Shot Dead in Monterrey Amid Growing Press Violence
December 4, 2024 - Mexico - Journalist Adriano Bachega Olvera was shot and killed in Monterrey, Nuevo León, becoming the latest victim of Mexico’s worsening violence against the press. Bachega, originally from Argentina and a naturalized Mexican citizen, was the editor-in-chief of Diario Digital Online and known for his work in media, business consulting, and communication strategy. According to reports, Bachega was driving along Avenida Lázaro Cárdenas, near the border of Monterrey and San Pedro Garza García, when his vehicle was ambushed by gunmen in at least two other cars. Witnesses say more than ten...
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U.S. Condemns Police Brutality Against Journalists in Georgian Protests
December 4, 2024
U.S. Condemns Police Brutality Against Journalists in Georgian Protests
December 4, 2024 - USA - The U.S. State Department sharply criticized Georgian authorities for their oppressive response to escalating pro-EU protests, including physical assaults and arrests targeting journalists. Spokesperson Vedant Patel declared that the “excessive use of force” against demonstrators—and the “assaults and arrests of journalists”—posed serious concerns for press freedom and press safety. The unrest began after Prime Minister Irakli Kobakhidze’s announcement on November 28, suspending Georgia’s European Union accession negotiations until 2028. Widespread demonstrations quickly followed, met with heavy-handed tactics. Riot police and unidentified masked forces disrupted rallies using water cannons, tear...
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Israeli Journalists Sound Alarm Over Government Plan to Muzzle Press
December 4, 2024
Israeli Journalists Sound Alarm Over Government Plan to Muzzle Press
December 4, 2024, - Israel -  A wave of concern swept through Israel’s media landscape as journalists, editors, and opposition lawmakers accused the Netanyahu government of launching a coordinated campaign to weaken press freedom. During an emergency session at the Knesset, media professionals warned that a proposed media reform package would place dangerous levels of control in the hands of the government, threatening the independence of journalism in Israel. The reforms, championed by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and backed by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, include proposals to privatize the Israel Public Broadcasting Corporation, commercialize Army...
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Niger’s Military Junta Detains Prominent Journalist Moussa Tchangari: Calls for His Immediate Release
December 4, 2024
Niger’s Military Junta Detains Prominent Journalist Moussa Tchangari: Calls for His Immediate Release
December 04, 2025 - Niger - Nigerian security forces forcibly arrested Moussa Tchangari, a respected journalist and human rights advocate serving as General Secretary of Alternative Espaces Citoyens (AEC), immediately upon his return from Abuja, Nigeria. Accompanied by others, plainclothes operatives surrounded his residence without presenting any warrant, seized his belongings, and took him to an undisclosed location. Tchangari, a veteran activist with over two decades in journalism and civil society, had attended high-profile meetings in West Africa—including sessions in Abuja and Abidjan—focused on democracy and humanitarian crises. He also lectures on human rights at...
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Indian Fact-Checker Mohammed Zubair Hit with New Sedition Charge Under Modernized Law
December 3, 2024
Indian Fact-Checker Mohammed Zubair Hit with New Sedition Charge Under Modernized Law
December 3, 2024 - India - Mohammed Zubair, the co-founder of Alt News, India’s prominent fact-checking website, faces renewed legal peril. On December 3, 2024, Uttar Pradesh police filed sedition charges against him under Section 152 of the newly enacted Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS), accusing him of “endangering the sovereignty and unity of India” through social media content. The case focuses on a video Zubair shared in October 2024 on X (formerly Twitter), which captured Hindu preacher Yati Narsinghanand making derogatory remarks about the Prophet Muhammad. Though the preacher was swiftly placed under house arrest, Zubair was accused...
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Mozambique: IPI Denounces Crackdown on Journalists Covering Post‑Election Protests
December 3, 2024
Mozambique: IPI Denounces Crackdown on Journalists Covering Post‑Election Protests
December 3, 2024 - Mozambique - Following Mozambique’s disputed October 9, 2024, general election, widespread protests erupted nationwide over alleged fraud and ballot tampering by the ruling FRELIMO party. Journalists reporting on the unrest—especially in Maputo and other urban centers—faced targeted harassment, unlawful detention, physical assaults, and equipment confiscation. The International Press Institute (IPI), alongside press freedom organizations, condemned the illegal arrests and detention of media professionals during these protests. IPI stated that journalists were often blocked from covering events, detained without cause, assaulted by police or masked individuals, and had their cameras and phones...
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A Voice for Gaza, Silenced in Marseille
December 3, 2024
A Voice for Gaza, Silenced in Marseille
December 3, 2024 - France - Marine Vlahovic, a prominent French journalist and pro-Palestinian documentarian, was found dead in late November 2024 on the rooftop terrace of her Marseille apartment. The 39-year-old journalist, known for her outspoken reporting on Palestine and her solidarity with Gaza’s people, had become a respected voice in European media for her coverage of the Middle East. Her sudden and unexplained death has sparked urgent calls from press freedom groups for a full, transparent investigation. Vlahovic had a long history of reporting from conflict zones, including a notable three-year period based...
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Silenced in Aleppo: Three Syrian Journalists Killed Amid Escalating Violence
December 3, 2024
Silenced in Aleppo: Three Syrian Journalists Killed Amid Escalating Violence
December 3, 2024 - Syria - Three Syrian journalists were killed in early December 2024 while covering the intensifying conflict in Aleppo, underlining once again the deadly risks faced by media workers in Syria. According to Gulf Times, the journalists—Ahmed Al-Omar, Alaa Al-Abrash, and Mustafa al-Sarout—were each targeted in separate incidents during their reporting, with both aerial attacks and ground gunfire involved. Ahmed Al-Omar and Alaa Al-Abrash were killed when regime airstrikes hit Aleppo University Hospital, where they had been reporting on the human toll of the bombardment. The hospital, considered a civilian sanctuary, was...
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Brutality in Tbilisi: Dozens of Journalists Attacked Amid Protests
December 3, 2024
Brutality in Tbilisi: Dozens of Journalists Attacked Amid Protests
December 3, 2024 - Georgia - A wave of assaults on journalists during pro-EU demonstrations in Tbilisi, Georgia, has drawn sharp condemnation from the International Press Institute (IPI) and 15 partner organizations. The attacks occurred in late November 2024 amid nationwide protests sparked by the Georgian Dream party’s announcement to suspend EU accession talks—a move seen by many as a rejection of democratic values and a pivot toward authoritarianism. According to monitoring networks, including the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) and Mapping Media Freedom, between 50 and 90 journalists were harassed, assaulted, or obstructed while...
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Democracy Under Pressure: Slovakia’s Media Freedom Eroding
December 3, 2024
Democracy Under Pressure: Slovakia’s Media Freedom Eroding
December 3, 2024 - Slovakia - A coalition of international press freedom organizations, led by the International Press Institute (IPI), issued a stark warning on Slovakia’s deteriorating media landscape following a mission held on November 25–26, 2024. The findings underscore a systematic erosion of press independence, driven by government-led legal changes and political interference. Central to this trend is Prime Minister Robert Fico’s populist Smer-led coalition, which has pushed through reforms weakening key institutions. Authorities disbanded the Special Prosecutor’s Office tasked with investigating corruption and assassinations—a move that, they argue, hampers justice for the 2018...
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Lebanese Journalist Ali Hassan Ashour Killed in Israeli Strike
December 3, 2024
Lebanese Journalist Ali Hassan Ashour Killed in Israeli Strike
December 3, 2024: - Lebanon/Israel - Lebanese media veteran Ali Hassan Ashour, a journalist with Al‑Nour Radio, was killed during an Israeli military operation in southern Lebanon amid the ongoing Israel–Hezbollah conflict that began on October 8, 2023. Al‑Nour Radio confirmed his death today, referring to him as a “martyr” of Israeli aggression. Although details remain scarce—the exact date, time, and location of the strike were not released—multiple credible sources align in reporting that Ashour died amid renewed Israeli bombardments targeting Hezbollah positions. His death brings to ten the number of journalists known to have been killed by...
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French Journalist Ariane Lavrilleux Facing Legal Challenge Over Exposé of Operation Sirli
December 3, 2024
French Journalist Ariane Lavrilleux Facing Legal Challenge Over Exposé of Operation Sirli
December 3, 2024 - France - Ariane Lavrilleux, a French investigative reporter with Disclose, is scheduled to appear before a Paris court on January 17, 2025, in connection with her groundbreaking 2021 exposé on “Operation Sirli”—a clandestine French military mission in Egypt. She faces charges of “appropriation and disclosure of a national defence secret,” punishable by up to five years in prison and a €75,000 fine. The investigation stems from her November 2021 report connecting French military intelligence to alleged extrajudicial killings of hundreds of Egyptian civilians, detailed through documents marked “confidentiel défense” sourced from the...
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Quiet Departure in Marseille: The Death of Marine Vlahovic, 39
December 3, 2024
Quiet Departure in Marseille: The Death of Marine Vlahovic, 39
November 3, 2024 - France - Marine Vlahovic, a French journalist and accomplished documentarian known for her deeply empathetic reporting on the Middle East and unwavering support for Palestinian voices, died suddenly on November 25, 2024, at her Marseille home. Discovered collapsed on her rooftop terrace by concerned friends—who had not received replies to her calls—Vlahovic was just 39 years old. Her passing sparked immediate alarm. After an initial autopsy revealed no clear indicators of foul play, French authorities opened an investigation and awaited toxicology results. Press freedom advocates, including Women Press Freedom, have demanded a "full and...
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Deadly Escalation: M23 Rebels Target Journalists in Eastern DRC
December 2, 2024
Deadly Escalation: M23 Rebels Target Journalists in Eastern DRC
December 2, 2024 - Congo - The M23 rebel group raided the Mpety Community Radio Station (RCMP) in Walikale territory, North Kivu, in a brazen attack that highlighted the escalating dangers facing journalists in eastern Democratic Republic of Congo. That evening, M23 fighters destroyed station equipment and abducted reporter and sports presenter Yoshua Kambere Machozi, whom they later murdered. His body was discovered on November 6 along a riverbank near Katobi, approximately four kilometers from Mpety. Evidence from local witnesses and human rights observers suggests Machozi was “slit… with a knife” before his body was dumped...
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Assault on Lebanese Journalist Daoud Rammal Triggers Legal Action and Political Fallout
December 2, 2024
Assault on Lebanese Journalist Daoud Rammal Triggers Legal Action and Political Fallout
December 2, 2024 - Lebanon - Lebanese journalist and Sky News Arabia analyst Daoud Rammal was physically assaulted in southern Lebanon—specifically in his hometown of Doueir, Nabatieh district—while reciting prayers at his mother's grave. The attack occurred approximately six months ago and has been widely linked to Hezbollah members, amid a broader pattern of intimidation targeting independent journalists in Lebanon. Rammal publicly condemned the assault as intended to "silence" his critical voice. In his statement, he vowed that the experience would "only strengthen my determination to continue fighting until the very end… regardless of the pressure...
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Egypt’s Journalist Sayed Saber Detained Over Social Media Posts
December 1, 2024
Egypt’s Journalist Sayed Saber Detained Over Social Media Posts
December 1, 2024 - Egypt - Prominent Egyptian journalist and satirist Sayed Saber was forcibly taken from his home by state security forces and held overnight at an undisclosed location before appearing before the Supreme State Security Prosecution in Cairo the following morning. Authorities have ordered a 15‑day detention, ostensibly to investigate his recent social media posts that sharply criticized Egypt’s military rule, describing it as “fascism”. Saber, an established journalist and author known for his satirical tone, is also affiliated with the Al-Karama Party, carrying on the Nasser-era Arab nationalist and socialist legacy. While formal...
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Journalist Beka Beradze Beaten and Detained Amid Tbilisi Pro‑EU Protests
December 1, 2024
Journalist Beka Beradze Beaten and Detained Amid Tbilisi Pro‑EU Protests
December 1, 2024 - Tbilisi - RFE/RL Georgian Service producer Beka Beradze was arrested and physically assaulted by security forces near Georgia’s parliament in Tbilisi during anti-government demonstrations. According to his lawyer, Beradze was walking with friends—off duty and not actively reporting—when he was suddenly seized by masked officers, beaten on the head, and taken to a police van. Beradze recounted that officers became more aggressive upon realizing he was a journalist. He was held in a police minivan for nearly an hour, during which he was repeatedly beaten. His forehead bore visible injuries, and he...
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Syria’s Journalists Caught Between Bullets and Censorship
December 1, 2024
Syria’s Journalists Caught Between Bullets and Censorship
December 1, 2024 - Syria - As military escalations continue across Syria, journalists remain among the most vulnerable groups, facing mounting threats from all sides of the conflict. A December 1, 2024, report by The Levant News outlines the dire conditions under which Syrian reporters operate, including frequent attacks, arbitrary arrests, forced exile, and growing state censorship. In northern and northeastern Syria—particularly in regions like Manbij, Kobani, and around Aleppo—journalists risk their lives covering shifting frontlines. In recent weeks, Turkish airstrikes and clashes involving rebel factions like Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) have intensified, killing at...
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Militants Behind Khalil Jibran’s Murder Killed in Khyber Operation
December 1, 2024
Militants Behind Khalil Jibran’s Murder Killed in Khyber Operation
December 1, 2024 - Pakistan - Pakistani security forces killed three militants allegedly involved in the assassination of journalist Khalil Jibran during a targeted operation in the Sultan Khel area of Landi Kotal, Khyber District. The Frontier Corps launched the operation based on intelligence reports linking the suspects to Jibran’s murder and the killings of two police officers in separate incidents. Khalil Jibran, a senior journalist and former president of the Landi Kotal Press Club, was murdered on June 18, 2024. He was returning home after dinner with friends when armed men intercepted his vehicle,...
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Senior Pakistani Journalist Matiullah Jan Granted Bail Amid Drug–Terrorism Case
November 30, 2024
Senior Pakistani Journalist Matiullah Jan Granted Bail Amid Drug–Terrorism Case
November 30, 2024 - Pakistan - Senior journalist and TV presenter Matiullah Jan was granted bail on November 30, 2024, by an Islamabad Anti‑Terrorism Court (ATC), along with a surety bond of PKR 10,000, following his arrest in a high-profile drug possession and terrorism case sparked three days earlier. On November 27, investigative reports state that Jan and his colleague Saqib Bashir were seized by unidentified individuals in black uniforms from a hospital parking lot while probing alleged casualties during a protest by supporters of former Prime Minister Imran Khan. Bashir was released after three hours, but...
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Journalist Emmanuel Monychol Akop’s Detention Sparks Outcry in South Sudan
November 30, 2024
Journalist Emmanuel Monychol Akop’s Detention Sparks Outcry in South Sudan
November 30, 2024 - Sudan - Emmanuel Monychol Akop, editor-in-chief of The Dawn Daily in Juba, was detained without charge by South Sudan’s National Security Service (NSS) on November 28, 2024, after responding to a summons to its Juba headquarters. No warrant was presented, and the newspaper’s staff had no clarity on the reasons for his arrest. Under South Sudanese law, detainees must be brought before a court within 24 hours—an obligation NSS did not meet in this case. In the weeks following his disappearance, neither Akop’s family nor The Dawn staff could establish his...
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Re‑Arrest of Citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan Highlights China’s Crackdown
November 30, 2024
Re‑Arrest of Citizen Journalist Zhang Zhan Highlights China’s Crackdown
November 29, 2024 - China - Shanghai authorities detained Zhang Zhan—widely known for her reporting from Wuhan in early 2020—under the charge of “picking quarrels and provoking trouble,” a vague offense frequently used against dissidents. This re‑arrest followed her release in May after completing a four-year sentence stemming from her independent pandemic coverage. Zhang’s initial imprisonment began in December 2020 when she was convicted of “fabricating” stories about Wuhan’s pandemic response, including claims that residents paid COVID‑19 testing fees and were provided rotten food during quarantine. She pleaded not guilty, and human rights groups noted Shanghai...
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Gaza’s Rising Journalist Death Toll Amid Israeli Strikes
November 30, 2024
Gaza’s Rising Journalist Death Toll Amid Israeli Strikes
November 30, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Since the war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, Palestinian journalists have faced unprecedented danger. As of December 1, 2024, the Gaza government media office reported 191 journalists killed—a number since revised upward to 192 and 193 in official counts. On November 30, journalist Mamdouh Ibrahim Qanaita, an editor at Al‑Aqsa Channel, was killed in a drone strike while leaving the Baptist Hospital courtyard in Gaza City. Eyewitnesses say he was shot in the head, and the Gaza government media office denounced it as part of “systematic targeting”....
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Turkey’s Crackdown on Unionists and Journalists Sparks Outcry
November 29, 2024
Turkey’s Crackdown on Unionists and Journalists Sparks Outcry
November 29, 2024 - Turkey - Turkish authorities launched a sweeping crackdown, arresting dozens of trade union leaders, journalists, and cultural workers in what labor and press freedom groups described as a politically motivated attack on democratic rights. The arrests were carried out just weeks before crucial minimum wage negotiations, intensifying suspicions that the detentions aimed to silence dissenting voices amid growing economic discontent. Among those detained were senior officials from the Confederation of Progressive Trade Unions of Turkey (DİSK), including Remzi Çalışkan of Genel-İş, and regional representatives actively engaged in labor advocacy. DİSK condemned...
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European Parliament Condemns Hong Kong Crackdown, Demands Release of Jimmy Lai and Journalists
November 29, 2024
European Parliament Condemns Hong Kong Crackdown, Demands Release of Jimmy Lai and Journalists
November 29, 2024 - China/Europe - The European Parliament overwhelmingly adopted a resolution condemning Hong Kong and Chinese authorities for the ongoing erosion of fundamental rights under the National Security Law (NSL). Passed by 473 votes to 23 with 98 abstentions, the resolution urgently calls for the “immediate and unconditional release” of jailed media tycoon Jimmy Lai and other detained journalists and pro-democracy activists. The resolution highlights numerous violations: over 200 people have been arrested under the NSL, and legal abuse continues. Lai, who has been in custody since August 2020, faces life imprisonment and has...
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Military Detains Leading Investigative Journalist, Sparking Outcry in Nigeria
November 29, 2024
Military Detains Leading Investigative Journalist, Sparking Outcry in Nigeria
November 29, 2024 - Nigeria - Investigative journalist and FIJ founder Fisayo Soyombo was detained by the Nigerian Army’s 6th Division during an anti–illegal oil-bunkering raid at a site near Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The army confirmed his arrest, alleging he was among individuals apprehended at the operation site, and seized his devices. Soyombo’s employer, the Foundation for Investigative Journalism, initially reported his disappearance and expressed deep concern about the seizure of his equipment and lack of communication, warning that as a journalist, his safety might be jeopardized. The arrest provoked widespread criticism. Media watchdogs, including...
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UK’s Lammy Criticized for Dismissing Journalists in Gaza
November 29, 2024
UK’s Lammy Criticized for Dismissing Journalists in Gaza
November 29, 2024 - Palestine/UK - British Foreign Secretary David Lammy faced strong backlash after stating there were “no journalists in Gaza” during a UK Parliament session—a remark widely denounced as inaccurate and insensitive. The comment drew immediate attention from Middle East Eye, which questioned Lammy’s awareness of the journalists killed or working amid the conflict. Lammy’s assertion sparked criticism, particularly from British and international media watchdogs, who pointed out that numerous Palestinian journalists were active in Gaza despite facing extreme danger. Social media, including Twitter/X, quickly echoed dismay over what was seen as a...
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The Fate of Viktoriia Roshchyna: Russia’s Torture and Killing of a Ukrainian Journalist
November 29, 2024
The Fate of Viktoriia Roshchyna: Russia’s Torture and Killing of a Ukrainian Journalist
November 29, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine - Ukrainska Pravda freelance writer Viktoriia Roshchyna, aged 27, disappeared on August 3, 2023, while reporting in occupied Zaporizhzhia for stories on Russian-held prisons. Russia officially confirmed her detention in May 2024 and notified her family of her death in October 2024—but only after months of silence. Investigations by Forbidden Stories, Ukrainska Pravda, The Guardian, and others revealed that Roshchyna was secretly moved through a series of facilities: from Melitopol to Taganrog’s SIZO-2 prison, without access to lawyers or family, and out of official records. When her body was repatriated in...
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Police Assault Journalists During Protest Crackdown in Tbilisi
November 29, 2024
Police Assault Journalists During Protest Crackdown in Tbilisi
November 29, 2024 - Georgia - Georgian police violently cracked down on journalists covering anti-government protests in Tbilisi, prompting alarm from media watchdogs and human rights groups. The protests, centered around opposition to the ruling Georgian Dream party’s political direction and stalled EU integration efforts, saw dozens of journalists physically assaulted, detained, or obstructed while reporting on the ground. According to Civil.ge, numerous journalists were attacked despite wearing visible press identification. Footage from the scene shows riot police using batons, pepper spray, and water cannons indiscriminately, with reporters from Formula TV, TV Pirveli, Radio Free...
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China Locks Down Journalist Dong Yuyu in Espionage Sweep
November 29, 2024
China Locks Down Journalist Dong Yuyu in Espionage Sweep
November 28, 2024 - China - In a closed-door trial on November 29, 2024, veteran Chinese journalist and former Guangming Daily editor Dong Yuyu was sentenced to seven years in prison on dubious espionage charges linked to meetings with Japanese diplomats. Dong, 62, was detained in February 2022 while having lunch with a Japanese diplomat and kept in prolonged secret custody. Authorities did not publicly charge him until March 2023, accusing him of passing intelligence via his “suspicious” meetings, without presenting any substantive evidence. A prominent commentator and moderate voice within state media, Dong advocated for reform and the rule...
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Lebanon’s Draft Media Law Threatens Press Freedom and Free Expression
November 28, 2024
Lebanon’s Draft Media Law Threatens Press Freedom and Free Expression
November 28, 2024 - Lebanon - Lebanon’s parliament began drafting a new media law to replace the Publications Law of 1962 and the 1994 Audiovisual Law. However, as scrutinized by the Coalition to Defend Freedom of Expression and Amnesty International, the proposed legislation is fraught with provisions that could severely restrict free speech, entrench state control, and punish dissent. A central concern is the re-criminalization of defamation and insult, including protections for “heads of state,” ambassadors, and recognized religions, with penalties of up to three years in prison and hefty fines, raising the stakes for...
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Targeted Repression: Turkish Operation Collars Pro‑Kurdish Journalists
November 28, 2024
Targeted Repression: Turkish Operation Collars Pro‑Kurdish Journalists
November 28, 2024 - Turkey - Turkish authorities launched widespread raids across four cities—Eskişehir, Diyarbakır, Batman, Sakarya, and Istanbul—detaining 18 individuals, including nine journalists, writers, poets, filmmakers, and cartoonists, in what prosecutors described as “membership in a terrorist organisation,” “terror propaganda,” and “financing terrorism”. Among those arrested was Bianet reporter Tuğçe Yılmaz, questioned over recurring freelance contributions to pro‑Kurdish outlet Yeni Özgür Politika between 2017 and 2020, as well as social media activity and a recent interview with philosopher Michael Hardt. Others from Diyarbakır—journalists like Sultan Mercen (known as Roza Metina), cartoonist Doğan Güzel, writer Ömer...
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Al Jazeera Journalist Talal Aruki Injured Amid Gaza Attacks
November 28, 2024
Al Jazeera Journalist Talal Aruki Injured Amid Gaza Attacks
November 28, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera journalist Talal Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Aruki, one of six correspondents named by the Israeli Defense Forces (IDF) in October 2024 as alleged militants, was wounded in Gaza, further highlighting the peril faced by media professionals in the region. In a statement circulated on social media, IDF claimed Aruki and five others were embedded with Hamas or Palestinian Islamic Jihad—labels that Al Jazeera firmly rejects as baseless and dangerous misinformation. The network argues these false allegations are being used to justify targeting its journalists and suppressing independent reporting in Gaza....
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Pakistan’s Arrest of Journalist Matiullah Jan Sparks Alarm Over Press Freedom
November 28, 2024
Pakistan’s Arrest of Journalist Matiullah Jan Sparks Alarm Over Press Freedom
November 28, 2024 - Pakistan - Veteran Pakistani journalist Matiullah Jan was arrested in Islamabad under serious charges, including terrorism, drug possession, and assaulting law enforcement. The arrest occurred after Jan and fellow journalist Saqib Bashir were taken by men in black uniforms from the parking lot of PIMS Hospital. While Bashir was released hours later, Jan was held without communication and transferred into police custody the following day. Authorities claimed Jan rammed a checkpoint, assaulted a police officer, and was found in possession of 246 grams of methamphetamine. He was charged under Pakistan’s Anti-Terrorism...
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Kazakhstan Must Ensure Fair Appeal for Journalist Daniyar Adilbekov
November 28, 2024
Kazakhstan Must Ensure Fair Appeal for Journalist Daniyar Adilbekov
November 28, 2024 - Kazakhstan - Investigative journalist Daniyar Adilbekov was handed a harsh 4½‑year prison sentence on October 18, 2024, by the Astana interdistrict court, convicted under criminal charges of “knowingly false denunciation” and “disseminating false information” through his Telegram channel “Wild Horde”. The charges stemmed from his October 2023 posts alleging corruption involving high‑ranking officials—Vice Energy Minister Yerlan Akkenzhenov, Astana Airport board chairman Yusuf Aljawder, and journalist Gulzhan Yergaliyeva. Adilbekov was arrested in late March 2024 and remained in custody throughout the trial. His appeal is scheduled in Astana, where rights groups stress that he...
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Serbian Journalist Jelena Mirković Assaulted as Press Freedom Deteriorates
November 27, 2024
Serbian Journalist Jelena Mirković Assaulted as Press Freedom Deteriorates
November 27, 2024 - Serbia - Serbian journalist Jelena Mirković of N1 TV was physically assaulted while covering a pro-government protest in Belgrade, marking a troubling escalation in attacks on independent media. Mirković, along with cameraman Aleksandar Cvrkotić, was shoved, struck, and verbally harassed by protesters. The assailants attempted to snatch her microphone, and the camera was damaged during the altercation. Mirković sustained a shoulder injury and later described the attack as the most violent incident in her decade-long career. This assault follows a disturbing pattern. Earlier in November, another N1 crew was attacked during...
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UN Report Exposes Systematic Repression of Journalists Under Taliban Rule
November 27, 2024
UN Report Exposes Systematic Repression of Journalists Under Taliban Rule
November 27, 2024 - Afghanistan - The United Nations has issued a scathing report urging the Taliban to end its systematic repression of journalists and ensure media freedom in Afghanistan. Covering the period from August 15, 2021, to September 30, 2024, the joint report by the UN Assistance Mission in Afghanistan (UNAMA) and the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) documents 336 cases of human rights violations against Afghan media professionals. These include 256 instances of arbitrary arrest and detention, 81 incidents of ill-treatment or torture, and 75 cases of threats and...
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Spanish MPs question government over kidnapping of Hichem Aboud
November 27, 2024
Spanish MPs question government over kidnapping of Hichem Aboud
November 27, 2024 - Spain/Algeria - Spanish authorities and lawmakers are grappling with the fallout of the attempted abduction of Algerian opposition journalist Hichem Aboud, who was forcibly taken in Barcelona in October 2024. Aboud, a prominent critic of the Algerian regime and former military officer, was reportedly kidnapped by men in balaclavas and driven across the country in an apparent attempt to smuggle him to Algeria by boat. The operation was interrupted by the Spanish Civil Guard near the Guadalquivir River in Lebrija, where Aboud was found bound and gagged. The kidnapping has raised...
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Journalists Attacked by PTI Protesters in Islamabad: A Blow to Media Safety
November 27, 2024
Journalists Attacked by PTI Protesters in Islamabad: A Blow to Media Safety
November 27, 2024 - Pakistan - During the climax of the “Final Call” protest by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in Islamabad’s Red Zone, dozens of journalists and media staff were physically attacked by PTI supporters, marking a disturbing escalation in press violence. Among those assaulted was Mohammad Yousaf, an Associated Press cameraman, who was struck on the head with an iron rod while covering events near G-10 Srinagar Highway. His equipment was also vandalized. Female reporter Quratul Ain was pushed and injured near Express Chowk. Numerous other journalists from both domestic and foreign outlets reported being...
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Gaza Journalists Killed in Record Numbers as Global Outcry Grows
November 27, 2024
Gaza Journalists Killed in Record Numbers as Global Outcry Grows
November 27, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - The Gaza Strip has become the deadliest place in the world for journalists, with the Association of Oil and Human Rights (AOHR) reporting that 190 Palestinian media workers have been killed by Israeli forces since the war began on October 7, 2023. The figure underscores what many rights groups and press freedom advocates are calling a systematic and deliberate campaign against journalists operating in the besieged enclave. Among the latest casualties is journalist Alaa Fawzy Barhoum, whose death further inflamed calls for international investigations. While the AOHR figure is...
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Russia Jails Journalist Nika Novak for Four Years Over ‘Foreign Cooperation’
November 27, 2024
Russia Jails Journalist Nika Novak for Four Years Over ‘Foreign Cooperation’
November 27, 2024 - Russia - Russian journalist Nika Novak was sentenced to four years in prison by a court in Chita, Siberia, under Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code, which criminalizes “confidential cooperation with a foreign organization.” The verdict marks a troubling escalation in the Kremlin’s crackdown on independent journalism and foreign-affiliated media. Novak, a freelance reporter and former editor at ChitaMedia, had contributed to U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL). Russian authorities accused her of publishing “inaccurate material” aimed at discrediting the Russian armed forces—charges rooted in her reporting on alleged military...
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Al‑Jazeera Reporter Talal Aruki Wounded in Gaza Blast
November 27, 2024
Al‑Jazeera Reporter Talal Aruki Wounded in Gaza Blast
November 27, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al‑Jazeera Mubasher correspondent Talal Mahmoud Abdul Rahman Aruki was wounded while covering Israeli air and drone strikes near the Nuseirat refugee camp in central Gaza. The assault occurred as Aruki documented ambulances and health officials responding to civilian casualties. Despite wearing visible “Press” markings, he was struck by shrapnel that hit his head, right hand, and leg. Colleagues described the incident as a deliberate targeting of an identified media professional. Israeli military officials had previously labeled Aruki, along with five other Al‑Jazeera journalists, as militant operatives—a claim that Al‑Jazeera...
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Israeli Forces Fire on Journalists in Lebanon Just Hours After Ceasefire Begins
November 27, 2024
Israeli Forces Fire on Journalists in Lebanon Just Hours After Ceasefire Begins
November 27, 2024 - Israel/Lebanon - Only hours into a ceasefire between Israel and Hezbollah, Israeli forces reportedly opened fire on a group of clearly identified journalists in the southern Lebanese town of Khiam. The incident occurred as reporters were documenting the Israeli military’s withdrawal operations and the civilian return to conflict-affected areas. The attack left at least two journalists injured, one working for the Associated Press and another for the Russian outlet Sputnik. Eyewitnesses described the moment the ceasefire was shattered. Abdelkader Bay, one of the wounded journalists, recounted how gunfire erupted as they...
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Russia Expels Two German Journalists in Escalating Media Retaliation
November 27, 2024
Russia Expels Two German Journalists in Escalating Media Retaliation
November 27, 2024 - Germany/Russia - The Russian Foreign Ministry announced the expulsion of two German journalists—Frank Aischmann, ARD’s Moscow correspondent, and Sven Feller, his cameraman—in what it called a “reciprocal measure.” The move was framed as retaliation against Germany’s decision not to renew visas for two Russian state media reporters working for Channel One in Berlin. While Germany cited local administrative procedures as the reason, Russia labeled the act as politically motivated and responded by stripping the German journalists of their accreditation. The expulsions are part of a growing trend of tit-for-tat actions between...
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Türkiye’s Conditional Releases Mask Deeper Repression of Journalists
November 27, 2024
Türkiye’s Conditional Releases Mask Deeper Repression of Journalists
November 27, 2024 - Turkey - Türkiye is facing renewed criticism from international press freedom groups over its continued detention and judicial harassment of journalists. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has called for the immediate and unconditional release of all detained media professionals, warning that the Turkish government is increasingly using legal tactics—such as conditional releases and restrictive judicial measures—as a substitute for outright imprisonment. One prominent case is that of Roza Metina, editor at the Kurdish feminist news agency JinNews, who was arrested on charges related to alleged links with the banned Democratic...
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Russia Intensifies Crackdown: Arrest Warrant Issued for France 24 Journalist in Sensational Case
November 26, 2024
Russia Intensifies Crackdown: Arrest Warrant Issued for France 24 Journalist in Sensational Case
November 26, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine - The Leninsky District Court in Kursk, Russia, issued an arrest warrant for France 24 journalist Catherine Norris Trent, accusing her of illegally crossing the border from Ukraine with Ukrainian forces into Russia’s Kursk region. The order—issued in absentia at the request of Russia’s Border Directorate (FSB)—carries a potential prison sentence of up to five years under Part 3 of Article 322 of the Russian Criminal Code. Trent isn’t the only Western correspondent embroiled in this case. Russia previously opened criminal cases targeting at least seven foreign journalists—including Italian reporters from RAI...
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Russia Imprisons Journalist Nika Novak Under Broad “Foreign Cooperation” Laws
November 26, 2024
Russia Imprisons Journalist Nika Novak Under Broad “Foreign Cooperation” Laws
November 26, 2024 - Russia - Russian authorities sentenced journalist Nika Novak, a former ChitaMedia editor and Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty (RFE/RL) contributor, to 4 years in prison under Article 275.1 of the Russian Criminal Code. The charge: “cooperating with a foreign organization,” a vaguely defined offense used to target independent reporters. Novak was arrested on December 25, 2023, following a Federal Security Service (FSB) raid on her Moscow apartment. Held in custody until February, she was eventually tried in Chita. The proceedings were held behind closed doors, and the court found her guilty of publishing...
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Pakistani Journalists Granted Bail After Politically Motivated Case Draws Backlash
November 26, 2024
Pakistani Journalists Granted Bail After Politically Motivated Case Draws Backlash
November 26, 2024 - Pakistan - A court in Hafizabad, Pakistan, granted pre-arrest bail to eight journalists who were accused of aiding “proclaimed offenders” during a press conference, an allegation widely condemned as flimsy and politically motivated. The journalists, including Amjad Pervez, Hafiz Azizur Rehman, Shahbaz Gul, Sheikh Javed, Asrar Shah, Javed Asad, Ehsanullah, and Shafaqat Wattoo, were each released on a surety bond of PKR 50,000. The charges stemmed from their coverage of a media event held at the residence of former MNA Mehdi Hassan Bhatti. Authorities claimed the journalists helped wanted individuals escape...
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Ringleader Sentenced to Over Three Years for Harassing NHPR Journalists
November 26, 2024
Ringleader Sentenced to Over Three Years for Harassing NHPR Journalists
November 25, 2024 - USA - Eric Labarge, 46, was sentenced to 46 months in federal prison on November 25, 2024, for orchestrating a targeted harassment and vandalism campaign against journalists from New Hampshire Public Radio (NHPR) and their families. Labarge will also serve three years of supervised release, pay a $10,000 fine, and provide over $34,000 in restitution. His sentencing marks the conclusion of a chilling case that has drawn national attention to the growing threat of retaliation against investigative journalists. The harassment began shortly after NHPR reporter Lauren Chooljian co-authored a March 2022...
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UN Experts Urge Immediate Medical Evacuation for Critically Injured Gaza Journalist
November 26, 2024
UN Experts Urge Immediate Medical Evacuation for Critically Injured Gaza Journalist
November 25, 2024 - Palestine/Israel/UN - A coalition of UN human rights experts issued a pressing appeal for the urgent medical evacuation of Fadi al‑Wahidi, a critically injured Al Jazeera cameraman in Gaza. The experts, including UN special rapporteurs on freedom of expression and the right to health, highlighted that al‑Wahidi sustained severe spinal injuries and paralysis after being shot in the neck during an Israeli military operation in October 2023. The UN statement stressed that al‑Wahidi continues to fight for his life in a Gaza hospital ill-equipped to address his serious condition. They warned that...
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Israel Sanctions Haaretz in Escalating Crackdown on Critical Media
November 25, 2024
Israel Sanctions Haaretz in Escalating Crackdown on Critical Media
November 25, 2024 - Israel - In a controversial move that has drawn widespread condemnation, the Israeli Cabinet voted unanimously on November 24, 2024, to impose formal sanctions against Haaretz, the country's oldest and most internationally recognized newspaper. The decision, spearheaded by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi, bars all government institutions from purchasing Haaretz, subscribing to its services, or engaging with its journalists in an official capacity. The government’s justification centers on recent remarks by Haaretz publisher Amos Schocken, who during a press event in London sharply criticized Israel’s leadership, accusing it of operating an apartheid...
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Azerbaijani Journalist Nargiz Absalamova Sentenced to 8 Years in Crackdown on Independent Media
November 25, 2024
Azerbaijani Journalist Nargiz Absalamova Sentenced to 8 Years in Crackdown on Independent Media
November 25, 2024 - Azerbaijan - Nargiz Absalamova, a 25-year-old investigative journalist with the independent outlet Abzas Media, has been sentenced to eight years in prison in Azerbaijan in what human rights groups are calling a politically motivated attack on press freedom. Her conviction stems from allegations of “smuggling foreign currency,” a charge that critics say was fabricated to punish her reporting on government corruption and civil unrest. Absalamova was arrested in November 2023 after covering environmental protests in Soyudlu, a village in western Azerbaijan. Authorities claimed that €40,000 in undeclared cash was found in...
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Israeli Airstrike That Killed Journalists in Lebanon May Constitute War Crime, Experts Say
November 25, 2024
Israeli Airstrike That Killed Journalists in Lebanon May Constitute War Crime, Experts Say
November 25, 2024 - Lebanon/Israel/USA - An Israeli airstrike that killed three journalists and injured three others in southern Lebanon on October 25, 2024, may amount to a war crime, according to legal experts and press freedom advocates. The journalists—Ghassan Najjar and Mohammad Reda of al-Mayadeen, and Wissam Qassem of al-Manar—were asleep in a clearly marked press chalet in the Tayr Harfa area when the building was hit by two U.S.-manufactured JDAM bombs dropped by an Israeli warplane. Investigations by The Guardian, which included on-site visits, satellite analysis, and interviews with survivors, revealed that the...
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Israel’s Killing of Lebanese Journalists with U.S. Bombs May Be a War Crime
November 25, 2024
Israel’s Killing of Lebanese Journalists with U.S. Bombs May Be a War Crime
November 25, 2024 - Lebanon/USA - Human Rights Watch (HRW) has concluded that the Israeli airstrike on October 25, 2024, which killed three journalists in southern Lebanon, likely constitutes a war crime. The investigation, backed by forensic evidence and eyewitness accounts, reveals that the journalists were deliberately targeted using a U.S.-supplied Joint Direct Attack Munition (JDAM) bomb guidance kit. The victims—Ghassan Najjar and Mohammad Reda from Al Mayadeen and Wissam Qassam from Al-Manar—were killed while resting in a marked press chalet in the village of Tayr Harfa. The building, situated far from any military activity,...
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Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Condemns Israeli Restrictions on Gaza Coverage
November 24, 2024
Palestinian Journalists Syndicate Condemns Israeli Restrictions on Gaza Coverage
November 24, 2024 - Palestine/Israel – The Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS) has sharply criticized Israeli authorities for barring both Arab and foreign journalists from covering events in Gaza, denouncing it as a deliberate tactic to suppress media access amid the ongoing military offensive. According to a statement published by the Palestinian news agency WAFA on December 4, 2024, the PJS accused the Israeli occupation of engaging in a "systematic policy" designed to prevent accurate reporting and hinder global understanding of the situation on the ground. Citing reports from journalists stationed near the Gaza Strip, the...
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Another Journalist Among 189 Killed in Gaza Amid Ongoing Israeli Airstrikes
November 23, 2024
Another Journalist Among 189 Killed in Gaza Amid Ongoing Israeli Airstrikes
November 23, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  A Gaza media office confirmed that Wael Ibrahim Abu Quffa, a journalist and lecturer at the Islamic University of Gaza, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on November 23, 2024, raising the number of media professionals killed in the Gaza Strip since October 7, 2023, to 189. Abu Quffa’s death is among the many cases that starkly illustrate the risks Palestinian journalists face in the conflict zone. This figure aligns with other regional sources, which reported the same toll and emphasized the accumulation of journalists killed since the war...
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Press Freedom Under Threat as Nearly 70 Journalists Arrested in Nigeria in 2024
November 22, 2024
Press Freedom Under Threat as Nearly 70 Journalists Arrested in Nigeria in 2024
November 22, 2024 - Nigeria - Lead Advocacy at Gatefield and the Centre for Journalism Innovation and Development (CJID) released alarming figures: nearly 70 journalists were arrested across Nigeria in 2024, double the number from the previous year. Shirley Ewang, spokesperson for Lead Advocacy, expressed deep concern during an Abuja event that highlighted a troubling atmosphere of intimidation that’s silencing journalists and curtailing public discourse. Christiana Longe of CJID stressed that despite constitutional protections under Sections 39 and 22 of the Nigerian Constitution, press freedom is under relentless pressure. She warned that daily threats, arbitrary arrests, and...
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Press Freedom Under Siege: Ongoing Attacks on Bangladeshi Journalists
November 22, 2024
Press Freedom Under Siege: Ongoing Attacks on Bangladeshi Journalists
November 22, 2024 - Bangladesh - Bangladesh has witnessed a surge of violent and legal attacks against journalists, alarming press freedom advocates. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), journalist Shahidul Islam—reporting for Khulna Gazette and News21 Bangla TV—was assaulted twice in one week in Rupsa Upazila. He was attacked by roughly 30 people wielding handheld weapons and required hospitalization. Around the same period, university journalist Mohammad Junayed Sheikh was also physically attacked on campus. In March 2025, two more journalists—N Amin Russell and Monirul Islam—were beaten while covering proceedings at Barishal Court; their...
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Harassment of Balkan Women Reporters Highlights a Global Crisis for Press Freedom
November 22, 2024
Harassment of Balkan Women Reporters Highlights a Global Crisis for Press Freedom
November 22, 2024 - Europe - Analysts warn that the recent wave of threats and assaults against female journalists in the Balkans is symptomatic of a larger, international crisis in press freedom. The November 2024 VOA article details a surge in online harassment of women reporters in North Macedonia and a physical attack in Montenegro, underscoring persistent gender-targeted aggression within and beyond Southeast Europe. In North Macedonia, female correspondents have endured harsh verbal harassment and sexist threats across social media platforms. In Montenegro, a reporter was physically attacked while covering a political event—an alarming escalation...
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Philippines: 15 Years After the Maguindanao Massacre, RSF Urges End to Impunity
November 22, 2024
Philippines: 15 Years After the Maguindanao Massacre, RSF Urges End to Impunity
November 22, 2024 - Philippines - Fifteen years on from the horrific Maguindanao (Ampatuan) Massacre—the world’s deadliest single attack on journalists—impunity remains deeply entrenched in the Philippines. On November 23, 2009, a convoy carrying the Family members of political rival Esmael Mangudadatu and 32 journalists was ambushed and brutally killed by gunmen linked to the powerful Ampatuan clan. In total, 58 individuals lost their lives, with at least 32 media professionals among the victims. In a public statement marking the massacre’s 15th anniversary, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) called on the Philippine government to "take decisive...
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Colombian Journalist Steven Andrés Fajardo Shot Dead in Antioquia, Press Groups Demand Justice
November 22, 2024
Colombian Journalist Steven Andrés Fajardo Shot Dead in Antioquia, Press Groups Demand Justice
November 22, 2024 - Colombia - Colombian journalist and radio presenter Steven Andrés Fajardo was shot and killed in the town of Doradal, Antioquia. Fajardo, who worked for the local station Triunfadora Stereo, was ambushed by unidentified assailants in broad daylight. His murder has triggered urgent calls for justice from international press freedom advocates and human rights organizations. Fajardo was known in the region for his community reporting and had previously survived a violent attack in 2018. His return to journalism, despite ongoing threats, underscored his commitment to serving the public. He was widely respected...
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Reporting Under Fire: Journalists Face Unprecedented Danger in Gaza War
November 22, 2024
Reporting Under Fire: Journalists Face Unprecedented Danger in Gaza War
November 22, 2024 - Palestine/Lebanon/Israel - Since the war in Gaza began on October 7, 2023, journalists—especially Palestinians—have faced unprecedented threats, making the conflict the deadliest for media workers in modern history. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least 178 journalists and media workers have been killed, most of them in Gaza. The majority were Palestinians reporting under constant bombardment, with limited protective gear and no safe corridors. A CBC News investigation highlights that Israel has barred international journalists from independently entering Gaza throughout the conflict. Foreign reporters can only access the...
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Hong Kong’s “47” Trial: Press Freedom Figures Among Those Jailed for Subversion
November 22, 2024
Hong Kong’s “47” Trial: Press Freedom Figures Among Those Jailed for Subversion
November 22, 2024 - China -  In a major escalation of Beijing’s crackdown, 45 members of the pro-democracy group known as the “Hong Kong 47” were sentenced in November 2024 under the national security law. Their alleged offense: organizing democratic primary elections in 2020 to nominate Legislative Council candidates, deemed a conspiracy to “subvert state power”. Sentences range from 4 years and 2 months to 10 years, with prominent figures like legal scholar Benny Tai receiving the longest at a decade. Significantly, three press-freedom defenders were among those imprisoned: media founder Frankie Fung, who received 4 years...
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IFJ Calls for Legal Action to End Gender-Based Violence Against Women Journalists
November 22, 2024
IFJ Calls for Legal Action to End Gender-Based Violence Against Women Journalists
November 22, 2024 - General -  Ahead of the International Day for the Elimination of Violence against Women on November 25, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) issued a strong call urging governments around the world to implement legal frameworks that explicitly outlaw gender-based violence, especially targeting women in journalism. The IFJ emphasized that despite global awareness, violence against women journalists—ranging from sexual harassment to online abuse and physical attacks—remains widespread and largely unpunished. The IFJ highlighted that these threats are not isolated incidents but part of a systemic pattern rooted in gender inequality and...
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A Farmer’s Festival and a Journalist’s Funeral
November 21, 2024
A Farmer’s Festival and a Journalist’s Funeral
November 21, 2024 - Nepal - In Nepal, the contrast between national celebration and national tragedy came sharply into focus this June. On the one hand, the government observed National Paddy Day with festive rice-planting ceremonies intended to symbolize agricultural renewal. On the other hand, Dalit journalist Suresh Bhul was murdered in a brutal act of caste-based violence that exposed deep fissures in Nepal’s social fabric. National Paddy Day was marked with symbolic gestures from top officials, including Agriculture Minister Beduram Bhusal, who participated in transplanting paddy in Bhaktapur. He assured farmers that fertilizer shortages...
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RSF Condemns Israel Government’s Attacks on Media Independence
November 21, 2024
RSF Condemns Israel Government’s Attacks on Media Independence
November 21, 2024 - Israel - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) issued an urgent appeal against the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, characterizing it as “openly targeting media independence and pluralism” in Israel. The statement criticizes several alarming measures proposed or enacted by Communications Minister Shlomo Karhi and his cabinet, illustrating a concerted effort to curb critical voices within Israel’s media landscape. A major flashpoint included a government‑mandated boycott of Haaretz, Israel’s oldest and most respected left‑leaning newspaper. Officials were directed to cease all advertising, subscriptions, and any interaction with Haaretz for its persistent critical coverage of...
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Two Moments of Sacrifice
November 21, 2024
Two Moments of Sacrifice
November 21, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera journalist Hossam Shabat was severely injured while covering the aftermath of an Israeli airstrike on a residential building in Gaza City. As he reported from the rubble, a second strike hit the same location, inflicting wounds on Shabat and killing a first responder nearby. He later shared harrowing details on social media: “The moment I stepped inside, the house was bombed again, and dismembered body parts of the wounded flew around me”. Then, on March 24, 2025, tragedy struck again. Shabat, now 23, was killed when his vehicle in northern Gaza’s...
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Press Freedom on Trial in Hong Kong
November 21, 2024
Press Freedom on Trial in Hong Kong
November 21, 2024 - China -  Selina Cheng, a veteran journalist and recently elected chair of the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA), is suing the Wall Street Journal (WSJ) for what she alleges was an unlawful and politically motivated dismissal. Cheng was informed in July 2024 that her role in WSJ’s Hong Kong bureau had been eliminated due to restructuring. However, she contends the real motive was retaliation for her leadership of the HKJA—an organization that has increasingly come under pressure amid Hong Kong’s declining press freedoms. Cheng alleges that WSJ editors pressured her to...
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Rana Ayyub: A Veteran Journalist Under Siege
November 21, 2024
Rana Ayyub: A Veteran Journalist Under Siege
November 21, 2024 - India - Investigative reporter and Washington Post columnist Rana Ayyub has faced a renewed wave of cyber‑harassment after her personal phone number was leaked online on November 8, 2024. The number was reportedly posted by a right‑wing account on X named Hindutva Knight, run by a meme creator associated with a BJP-linked consultancy firm. In response, Ayyub received over 200 explicit WhatsApp messages, video calls, and even repeated OTP requests—while authorities, she says, have yet to take substantial action despite her cybercrime complaint. This episode follows chronic abuse. Ayyub has long...
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Trapped Between Bullets and Silence: Journalists Targeted Amid Haiti’s Gang Chaos
November 21, 2024
Trapped Between Bullets and Silence: Journalists Targeted Amid Haiti’s Gang Chaos
November 20, 2024 - Haiti - As Haiti plunges deeper into chaos, journalists have become deliberate targets in the country’s spiraling gang violence. On November 11, 2024, reporter Wandy Charles narrowly escaped a shooting outside his home in a Port-au-Prince neighborhood that was taken over by armed gangs just hours later. Charles, who was with his family at the time, described the attack as calculated intimidation. Days earlier, on November 5, another journalist, Lookens Jean-Baptiste of Radio Tropic FM, had his home in Fort National torched by suspected gang members. The attackers allegedly justified the...
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Wounded in the Line of Duty: One of the Last Journalists in North Gaza
November 20, 2024
Wounded in the Line of Duty: One of the Last Journalists in North Gaza
November 20, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - As international journalists leave Gaza, Palestinian reporters remain, and one of them was grievously wounded but survived. In October 2024, after Israel publicly labeled several Al Jazeera journalists as “terrorists” with the apparent intent to silence them, the few remaining media workers in northern Gaza came under intensified threat. In November 2024, during a double‑tap airstrike on a residential compound, one such Al Jazeera journalist was critically injured—a targeted blow in an operation that seemed directed at silencing frontline reporting. The strike came merely a month after the IDF publicly threatened...
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IPI Mission Urges Turkey to Retract Repressive “Agents of Influence” Bill
November 20, 2024
IPI Mission Urges Turkey to Retract Repressive “Agents of Influence” Bill
November 20, 2024 - Turkey -  In mid‑November 2024, a coalition of international media freedom organizations—including the International Press Institute (IPI), Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), and the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF)—carried out a press freedom mission to Ankara. During meetings with Turkish judicial officials, government representatives, independent journalists, and diplomats, the mission raised alarm over draft amendments to Turkey’s espionage laws. Dubbed the “agents of influence” bill, the amendment would broaden espionage clauses to penalize individuals acting “in alignment with or under the direction of” foreign...
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Journalists and School Officials Sue Over Unconstitutional Arrests in Rural Alabama
November 20, 2024
Journalists and School Officials Sue Over Unconstitutional Arrests in Rural Alabama
November 20, 2024 - USA - a small-town legal drama in Escambia County, Alabama, exposed alarming misuse of prosecutorial and police powers. School board member and Atmore News co-owner Sherry Digmon, reporter Don Fletcher, bookkeeper Ashley Fore, and fellow board member Cindy Jackson were arrested under accusations of “revealing grand jury secrets.” However, no actual grand jury had convened, exposing the claims as baseless. At the heart of the controversy was a political tussle over Superintendent Michele McClung’s contract renewal. When the board rejected her reappointment twice in 2023, District Attorney Stephen Billy and Sheriff...
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1000 Days of War: At Least 13 Journalists Killed Covering Ukraine
November 20, 2024
1000 Days of War: At Least 13 Journalists Killed Covering Ukraine
November 20. 2024 - Russia/Ukraine -  As Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine entered its 1,000th day on November 20, 2024, data from IFEX and Media-Azi reveals a chilling statistic: at least 13 journalists have been killed while on assignment, underlining the perilous environment for frontline reporting. Of these fatalities, some were victims of indiscriminate shelling, while others appear to have been deliberately targeted. Notable cases include Arman Soldin of Agence France‑Presse, killed by a rocket near Chasiv Yar in May 2023, and Oksana Baulina, struck by Russian shelling in Kyiv in March 2022. Yet the...
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MADA Condemns the Killing of Palestinian Journalists Amid Israeli Airstrikes
November 20, 2024
MADA Condemns the Killing of Palestinian Journalists Amid Israeli Airstrikes
November 20, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) has strongly condemned the continued killing of Palestinian journalists by Israeli forces, particularly in the Gaza Strip. In its latest statement, MADA denounced the targeted airstrike that killed four journalists in Beit Lahia, northern Gaza, on March 15, 2025. The journalists—Bilal Abu Matar, Bilal Akila, Mahmoud Yahya Al-Saraj, and Mahmoud Salim Eslaim—were working with the Al-Khair International Foundation and had been documenting humanitarian efforts at a local shelter when their vehicle was struck. All four were killed instantly despite being...
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Wounded Al Jazeera Journalist Evacuated to Jordan for Treatment
November 20, 2024
Wounded Al Jazeera Journalist Evacuated to Jordan for Treatment
November 20, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera journalist Ismail Al-Attar, who was severely wounded while covering the war in Gaza, has been successfully evacuated to Jordan for urgent medical treatment. The transfer, completed on June 20, 2025, was coordinated by the Jordanian government in cooperation with Al Jazeera Media Network, following growing calls for immediate humanitarian intervention. Al-Attar, injured during an Israeli airstrike in the northern Gaza Strip, was one of the few journalists remaining on the frontlines of the besieged enclave. His condition was reported as critical after he sustained serious shrapnel wounds...
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‘Hit Among Cubs’: Single-Strike Kills Journalist, Sparks Outcry
November 19, 2024
‘Hit Among Cubs’: Single-Strike Kills Journalist, Sparks Outcry
19 November 2024 - Palestine/Israel - In a mother-and-child tragedy amid escalating Israeli bombardment in Gaza, a Palestinian journalist was severely injured — though not killed — and an infant lost their life in a single strike on June 28, 2025. According to reports from Middle East Eye and the state news agency WAFA, the strike targeted a residential area in southern Gaza City. The injured journalist, still alive but gravely wounded, had been covering the conflict; his evacuation and treatment were underway as of the latest update. This incident draws renewed attention to the...
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Ukraine: 1,000 Days into War, Journalists Keep Fighting
November 19, 2024
Ukraine: 1,000 Days into War, Journalists Keep Fighting
November 19, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine - After 1,000 days since Russia’s full-scale invasion began on 24 February 2022, Ukrainian journalists are pressing on despite escalating threats, according to IPI, ECPMF, and IMI data. IPI’s assessment underscores the intense risks: at least 13 media workers killed in combat reporting, countless journalist injuries, and well over 1,000 documented media-freedom violations, including cyberattacks, censorship, and surveillance. The death toll includes frontline reporters like Arman Soldin and Oksana Baulina, many victims of indiscriminate shelling or suspected extrajudicial executions. ECPMF and Media Freedom Rapid Response partner statements mark 19 November 2024...
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RSF Warns Israel Over Labeling Gaza Journalists as ‘Terrorists’
November 19, 2024
RSF Warns Israel Over Labeling Gaza Journalists as ‘Terrorists’
November 19, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has raised serious alarm at recent Israeli actions portraying Palestinian journalists in Gaza as “terrorists.” Director‑General Thibaut Bruttin, speaking in Geneva, condemned this as a deliberate effort by Israeli defense forces to recast frontline reporters—many of whom wear press vests and are civilians—as legitimate military targets. Bruttin described the trend as deeply troubling and unprecedented. He stressed that Gaza is essentially inaccessible to international media, meaning local journalists are “civilians at risk and journalists that might be targeted.” Labeling them terrorists makes it easier to...
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Mozambique’s Press in Peril: Journalists Under Fire Amid Post-Election Turmoil
November 19, 2024
Mozambique’s Press in Peril: Journalists Under Fire Amid Post-Election Turmoil
November 19, 2024 - Mozambique - In the wake of Mozambique’s disputed October 2024 elections, the once relatively secure environment for journalists has crumbled, thrusting media workers into a perilous landscape of violence, intimidation, and legal harassment. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists, at least nine journalists—both local and foreign—have been detained, while two international reporters expelled and Internet shutdowns further crippled independent reporting. On November 14 in Maputo, police apprehended South African journalists Bongani Siziba and Sbonelo Mkhasibe, along with local state broadcaster reporter Charles Mangwiro, detaining them in masked, militarized facilities. They were blindfolded, interrogated...
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Turkey: Journalist Furkan Karabay’s Release Highlights Ongoing Press Freedom Crisis
November 18, 2024
Turkey: Journalist Furkan Karabay’s Release Highlights Ongoing Press Freedom Crisis
November 18, 2024 - Turkey - Furkan Karabay, a court reporter for 10Haber, was arrested on several occasions in Turkey due to his investigative reporting and outspoken social media commentary on judicial and political figures. Most recently, he was detained on May 15, 2025, under charges of “targeting public officials involved in counter‑terrorism” and “insulting” President Erdoğan, connected to his reporting on the arrest of Istanbul's opposition mayor Ekrem İmamoğlu. This arrest followed a prior conviction in April 2025 for defamation and insulting the president, which resulted in a deferred sentence of 25 months. Similarly,...
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Jimmy Lai’s National Security Trial: A Litmus Test for Hong Kong’s Press Freedom
November 18, 2024
Jimmy Lai’s National Security Trial: A Litmus Test for Hong Kong’s Press Freedom
November 18, 2024 - China -  The ongoing national security trial of Jimmy Lai, founder of the pro-democracy newspaper Apple Daily, has become a stark symbol of Hong Kong’s diminishing press freedoms under Beijing’s tightening grip. Charged with “collusion with foreign forces” and “conspiracy to produce seditious publications,” Lai faces the possibility of life imprisonment. His prosecution stems from his media work and meetings with international officials, including U.S. lawmakers, which authorities allege were attempts to seek sanctions against China. The trial, which began in December 2023 and has stretched for over 140 days, has...
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Palestinian Journalists Honored for Courage and Mourning Fallen Reporter
November 18, 2024
Palestinian Journalists Honored for Courage and Mourning Fallen Reporter
November 18, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh, speaking at a press conference, praised the courageous work of Palestinian journalists amid the ongoing Gaza war. He emphasized their critical role in "publishing the facts that the occupation tried to hide," documenting child casualties, hospital bombings, starvation tactics, and forced displacement—efforts he said were vital for preserving truth and holding Israel accountable.. He highlighted that these journalists courageously brought Gaza's narrative and humanitarian realities to the world, under extremely dangerous conditions. The remarks reinforced President Mahmoud Abbas’s support for the journalists, acknowledging the...
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International Summit in Tehran Honors Martyred Journalists from Gaza & Lebanon
November 18, 2024
International Summit in Tehran Honors Martyred Journalists from Gaza & Lebanon
November 18, 2024 - Iran/Palestine/Israel -  Tehran hosted a poignant international summit titled “Assassination of Truth”, commemorating over 200 journalists from Gaza and Lebanon who were killed by Israeli fire in the past year. The emotionally charged event featured coverage by Iranian state media, including Press TV and Tehran Times. Iranian media figures—such as IRIB director Peyman Jebelli—spoke at the summit, offering tributes to the fallen reporters and repeating sentiments like Hezbollah’s Sayyed Hassan Nasrallah’s proclamation that “the time of victory has come”. Hundreds of local and international journalists, media activists, academics, and diplomats participated, paying...
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Global Support Rallied for Gaza Journalists Amid War’s Devastation
November 18, 2024
Global Support Rallied for Gaza Journalists Amid War’s Devastation
November 17, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  Amid the ongoing crisis in Gaza, international journalism organizations have united to spotlight the plight of Palestinian journalists and demand urgent protective measures. This global movement reflects growing concern over the deliberate targeting of media professionals amid Israel’s military operations. The Palestinian Information Center reported on November 17, 2024, that leading journalists in Gaza have intensified their reporting, spotlighting humanitarian crises such as hospital strikes and mass displacement. They emphasized the importance of keeping global attention on civilian suffering and Israel’s military tactics—a vital form of resistance against attempts...
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Mother’s Hunger Strike Pressures for Al Jazeera Cameraman’s Evacuation
November 17, 2024
Mother’s Hunger Strike Pressures for Al Jazeera Cameraman’s Evacuation
November 17, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Hiba Al‑Wahidi, the mother of Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi Al‑Wahidi, has launched a hunger strike to demand urgent medical evacuation for her critically injured son in Gaza. Fadi, one of the last remaining Al Jazeera field journalists in the besieged enclave, sustained severe injuries—reported to include paralysis—during Israeli military operations in northern Gaza. Local medical facilities have been overwhelmed, lacking the necessary resources to provide adequate care. In mid‑November 2024, Hiba began her hunger strike in Doha, where she traveled to raise international awareness of her son’s dire condition. She maintains...
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Palestinian Journalists Face Detention and Death Amid Escalating Repression
November 17, 2024
Palestinian Journalists Face Detention and Death Amid Escalating Repression
November 17, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Palestinian journalists are increasingly under siege, facing arrest, intimidation, and lethal attacks amid the intensifying conflict across the West Bank and Gaza Strip. In a troubling trend, Israel continues to detain journalists while simultaneously targeting media workers in Gaza with airstrikes, undermining press freedom and endangering those reporting from the frontlines. On June 2, 2024, journalist Rasha Harzallah, a correspondent for the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, was sentenced to six months in Israeli prison by a military court at Salem and fined 13,000 shekels. She had been arrested...
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Drone Strike Targets Gaza Journalist in Jabalia Refugee Camp
November 16, 2024
Drone Strike Targets Gaza Journalist in Jabalia Refugee Camp
November 16, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Palestinian journalist Mohammed Saleh Al-Sharif was killed in a targeted drone strike while inspecting the impact of the conflict near his home in the Jabalia refugee camp. Israeli forces deployed a quadcopter drone to open fire on Al‑Sharif and his cousin as they approached their residence in Beit Lahia. His cousin died instantly, and Al‑Sharif bled for more than two hours before succumbing to his injuries. The incident took place amid an intense Israeli military offensive in northern Gaza, with authorities simultaneously blocking civil defense and emergency medical teams...
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Lebanese TV Host Quits After Death Threats from Hezbollah Supporters
November 16, 2024
Lebanese TV Host Quits After Death Threats from Hezbollah Supporters
16 November 2024 - Lebanon -  Dr. Eman Shweikh, a well-known Lebanese journalist, TV host, and university professor, announced her resignation from MTV Lebanon on November 16, 2024, due to escalating death threats allegedly from Hezbollah supporters. She revealed on X that the threats included being followed home, chased on the road, and her family being harassed. The Samir Kassir Eyes Center reported that the intimidation began on November 12, accompanied by accusations of treason following her political commentary. Shweikh emphasized the absence of state protection in Lebanon, stating: “laws are inexistent…I do not want to expose my life...
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After Two Years in Insein Prison, Photojournalist Kyaw Swar Tun Freed from Myanmar Jail
November 16, 2024
After Two Years in Insein Prison, Photojournalist Kyaw Swar Tun Freed from Myanmar Jail
November 15, 2024 - India/Myanmar - Myanmar’s military-run Insein Prison, notorious for torture and inhuman conditions, saw the release of photojournalist Kyaw Swar Tun on November 14, 2024, after serving nearly two years of hard labor under Section 505(a) for allegedly insulting the state and inciting unrest—charges often wielded to silence dissenting journalists. Arrested in September 2022, Tun was detained following a phone message exchange with an ethnic armed group while working for Mizzima’s fact-checking unit. His unlicensed use of a drone drew official attention, triggering his conviction in January 2023 and sentencing to three years of forced labor. Upon...
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Azerbaijan Silences Journalists Under COP29 Spotlight
November 15, 2024
Azerbaijan Silences Journalists Under COP29 Spotlight
November 15, 2024 - Azerbaijan - As Azerbaijan hosted the COP29 climate summit in Baku in November 2024, international attention shifted briefly to the country’s environmental commitments. Yet behind the scenes, a harsh crackdown on independent journalists exposed the government’s continued assault on press freedom. In the months leading up to the summit, the Azerbaijani government ramped up arrests of critics. According to the International Press Institute (IPI), at least 18 journalists were detained in 2024 alone, many under charges such as “currency smuggling” and “abuse of office.” Eleven remain in pretrial detention, with some...
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Mozambique’s Journalists: Caught in the Crossfire of Post‑Election Chaos
November 15, 2024
Mozambique’s Journalists: Caught in the Crossfire of Post‑Election Chaos
November 15, 2024 - Mozambique/Nigeria - During Mozambique’s disputed October 9, 2024, general election, independent journalists found themselves under unprecedented pressure as protests swept the country. The violence—spurred by alleged electoral fraud—continued well into early 2025. In this turbulent environment, the press became a direct target, with journalists facing arrests, beatings, and equipment seizures. On November 14, 2024, News Central TV, a Nigerian outlet, confirmed that its correspondent Bongani Siziba and cameraman Sbonelo Mkhasibe—both based in South Africa—were detained in Maputo alongside translator Charles Mangwiro from Radio Moçambique. Blindfolded and held in a military‑style compound, they endured questioning...
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The Guatemalan court cancels the release order of journalist José Rubén Zamora and orders his return to prison
November 15, 2024
The Guatemalan court cancels the release order of journalist José Rubén Zamora and orders his return to prison
November 15, 2024 - Guatemala - José Rubén Zamora, the 68‑year‑old founder of El Periódico, remains at the epicenter of a highly politicized legal battle that offers a stark example of the shrinking space for investigative journalism in Guatemala. Arrested on 29 July 2022 on money‑laundering charges—amounting to about $38,000—Zamora and his publication had gained recognition for exposing government corruption. He has denied all accusations, maintaining the funds were donated to support his newsroom’s work. In June 2023, Zamora was convicted and sentenced to six years in prison, sparking international condemnation. Human rights groups like Amnesty International decried...
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Italian Investigative Team Threatened with “Charlie Hebdo–Style” Attack
November 15, 2024
Italian Investigative Team Threatened with “Charlie Hebdo–Style” Attack
November 15, 2024 - Italy - The editorial staff of Report, a prominent investigative program on Italy’s public broadcaster RAI3, received a chilling social media death threat explicitly referencing the 2015 Charlie Hebdo massacre. The message warned that the Report team “deserved it, Charlie Hebdo editorial team style,” in response to their reportage on the Israel–Gaza conflict. Sigfrido Ranucci, head of Report, revealed the threat was issued on November 12 and was immediately reported to police. Ranucci has been under police protection since 2021, following learned threats linked to an alleged assassination plot by organized...
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Montenegro Demands Justice for Assaulted Investigative Journalist Ana Raičković
November 15, 2024
Montenegro Demands Justice for Assaulted Investigative Journalist Ana Raičković
November 15, 2024 - Montenegro-  Montenegro has been rocked by the recent assault on freelance journalist Ana Raičković, triggering a wave of outrage from press freedom advocates. On November 2, 2024, Raičković and her cameraman were attacked outside the Podgorica court by a real estate developer and his security guards while investigating a controversial construction permit linked to local political and business interests. The assailants physically assaulted her cameraman and attempted to seize their equipment, while Raičković sustained minor injuries and psychological distress. The attack exposed glaring failures in preserving journalists’ safety when shining light...
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Nigerian Journalists Detained and Released Amid Mozambique’s Post‑Election Turmoil
November 15, 2024
Nigerian Journalists Detained and Released Amid Mozambique’s Post‑Election Turmoil
November 15, 2024 - Mozambique/Nigeria - Amid volatile protests following Mozambique’s contested October 2024 election, two Nigerian correspondents from News Central TV faced sudden detention while reporting in Maputo, drawing significant international attention and prompting calls for press freedom protections. On November 14, 2024, News Central TV journalist Bongani Siziba and cameraman Sbonelo Mkhasibe, both based in South Africa, were detained by Mozambican authorities alongside translator Charles Mangwiro. The trio was covering anti‑government demonstrations when police seized them at gunpoint, blindfolded them, and took them to an undisclosed location. Held overnight, they were denied medication...
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Bihar Journalists Arrested for Reporting on Floods and Religious Conversions
November 14, 2024
Bihar Journalists Arrested for Reporting on Floods and Religious Conversions
November 14, 2024 - India - Two journalists from Bihar—Mithun Mishra and Manish Kashyap—faced arrest and legal retaliation for reporting on flood mismanagement and alleged religious conversions, reflecting growing concerns over press freedom in India’s hinterlands. In October 2024, Mithun Mishra, a local journalist and YouTuber known for grassroots reporting, was arrested after covering flood-hit regions in the Muzaffarpur district. Mishra had filmed local protests against the government's inaction in relief distribution and exposed alleged evangelical activities in nearby villages. His live reporting gained traction online, sparking public outrage but also inviting state backlash. Authorities...
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VOA Persian Service Mourns Colleague Who Committed Suicide in Tehran
November 14, 2024
VOA Persian Service Mourns Colleague Who Committed Suicide in Tehran
November 14, 2024 - Iran - The Persian Service of Voice of America (VOA) is mourning the loss of their former colleague, journalist Kianoosh Sanjari, who tragically died by suicide in Tehran on November 12, 2024. His death is stirring concerns about his isolation and the pressures faced by journalists working under repressive conditions. Sanjari had previously worked for VOA Farsi in the United States; his career ended amid unconfirmed allegations of espionage. Unable to find work within Iran, he returned to Tehran in 2016. Colleagues described him as deeply distressed over his inability to...
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Global Press Freedom Under Fire: UN Raises Alarm on Journalists’ Safety
November 14, 2024
Global Press Freedom Under Fire: UN Raises Alarm on Journalists’ Safety
November 14, 2024 - UN/Mexico/Switzerland - At a UN press conference in Geneva on 14 November 2024, the atmosphere was grim: 80% of journalist murders worldwide go uninvestigated, human rights officer Renaud de Villaine warned, calling it a “persistence” of impunity both in war zones and peaceful nations. He emphasised that journalism remains perilous everywhere—from conflict zones like the Middle East and Ukraine to peaceful nations such as Mexico, where reporters exposing corruption, drug cartels, and environmental crimes continue to be targeted. De Villaine cited UNESCO data showing that a journalist is killed every four...
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CPJ Joins Global Call to Free Turkish Journalist Furkan Karabay
November 13, 2024
CPJ Joins Global Call to Free Turkish Journalist Furkan Karabay
November 13, 2024 - Turkey - The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), alongside six press freedom and free speech organizations, urged Turkish authorities to immediately release court reporter Furkan Karabay, who was detained during a November 8 police raid in Istanbul and jailed pending trial the following day. Karabay, a journalist with independent outlet 10Haber, was accused of “making targets of those who were tasked to combat terrorism,” “insulting a public servant,” and “knowingly distributing misleading information to the public,” after he named prosecutors involved in the investigation of an opposition mayor via social media....
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Sakina Mansour: Lebanese Journalist Killed Alongside Family in Israeli Strike
November 13, 2024
Sakina Mansour: Lebanese Journalist Killed Alongside Family in Israeli Strike
November 13, 2024 - Lebanon/Israel - Lebanese radio journalist Sakina Mansour Kawtharani, a correspondent for Radio al-Nour, was killed in an Israeli airstrike that hit her family home in the town of Joun, southern Lebanon. The attack, which also claimed the lives of her two young sons and multiple other family members, has sparked outrage across Lebanon and international media freedom circles. According to reports from Middle East Eye and Al Jazeera, the strike targeted a residential building sheltering displaced civilians. In total, 15 people were killed, including eight women and four children. Mansour had...
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Egypt Sentences Journalist to Life in Absentia Amid Ongoing Media Crackdown
November 12, 2024
Egypt Sentences Journalist to Life in Absentia Amid Ongoing Media Crackdown
November 12, 2024 - Egypt - In a striking escalation of Egypt’s repression of press freedom, a Cairo criminal court has sentenced a journalist to life imprisonment in absentia, despite the journalist reportedly being in government custody at the time of the ruling. The sentence was issued without the journalist being allowed to appear in court or defend himself—an act widely denounced by human rights groups and legal experts as illegal under both Egyptian and international law. The identity of the journalist has not been publicly disclosed, likely due to safety concerns, but media watchdogs...
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Syrian Journalists Trapped Between Repression and Deportation in Türkiye
November 12, 2024
Syrian Journalists Trapped Between Repression and Deportation in Türkiye
November 12, 2024 - Syria/Turkey - Syrian journalists living in perceived safety within Türkiye face an escalating crackdown marked by harassment, legal threats, and forced deportations. According to the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC), the Turkish authorities—leveraging anti-terrorism laws and migration protocols—have begun interrogating, detaining, and pressuring Syrian reporters, accusing them of overstaying visas or "spreading propaganda." Reportedly, journalists have been summoned to police stations, where they face warnings that any critical reporting—especially on Turkish politics or refugee policy—could result in deportation to Syria. One journalist described living in fear: “If I go out,...
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IPI Launches Observatory to Track Disinformation Against Journalists
November 12, 2024
IPI Launches Observatory to Track Disinformation Against Journalists
November 12, 2024 - General - The International Press Institute (IPI), in collaboration with Croatian fact-checking outlet Faktograf and German newspaper taz, has launched the Observatory of Disinformation Narratives Against the Media, a digital platform designed to monitor and expose coordinated disinformation attacks targeting journalists and independent media. Supported by the European Media and Information Fund, the initiative aims to systematically document the tactics used to discredit reporters, undermine trust in journalism, and silence critical voices. The Observatory tracks and analyzes recurring smear campaigns, false narratives, and online attacks that are increasingly employed by populist,...
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Mahdi Al‑Mamluk: Palestinian Journalist Fatally Shot Near School in Gaza
November 12, 2024
Mahdi Al‑Mamluk: Palestinian Journalist Fatally Shot Near School in Gaza
November 12, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Palestinian journalist Mahdi Al-Mamluk, a news manager at Wataneya Satellite Channel, was killed by Israeli gunfire while covering the humanitarian situation near a school-turned-shelter in the Nuseirat area of central Gaza. According to eyewitness accounts and media reports, Al-Mamluk was inside a vehicle marked as press when Israeli forces targeted it. He was reportedly shot multiple times and died on the scene. Al-Mamluk’s death has sparked condemnation from international press freedom organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which confirmed his killing and added his name to the...
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Dawit Isaak: Eritrea’s Longest-Imprisoned Journalist Honored After 23 Years Behind Bars
November 11, 2024
Dawit Isaak: Eritrea’s Longest-Imprisoned Journalist Honored After 23 Years Behind Bars
November 11, 2024 -Eritrea/Sweden - Dawit Isaak, a dual Eritrean–Swedish journalist and one of the founders of Setit, Eritrea’s first independent newspaper, has been imprisoned without trial since September 2001. His arrest followed Setit’s publication of a letter advocating democratic reforms, alongside other prominent intellectuals and politicians—a purge that led to the shutdown of all independent media in Eritrea. For over 23 years, Isaak’s fate has remained a mystery. Eritrean authorities have provided no official information about his whereabouts, well-being, or legal status. He remains in de facto detention—lacking contact with family, legal representation, or external...
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Wael Al‑Dahdouh: Gaza Bureau Chief Honored Amid Immense Personal Tragedy
November 11, 2024
Wael Al‑Dahdouh: Gaza Bureau Chief Honored Amid Immense Personal Tragedy
November 11, 2024 - General - Al Jazeera’s Gaza bureau chief, Wael Al‑Dahdouh, has received the prestigious 2024 International John Aubuchon Press Freedom Award from the U.S. National Press Club in recognition of his unwavering commitment to journalism under fire. The award, the National Press Club’s highest accolade for press freedom, was formally announced in November 2024 and presented at the club’s Fourth Estate Gala on November 21, 2024, in Washington, where President Emily Wilkins highlighted Dahdouh’s resilience and vowed continued support for journalists worldwide. Dahdouh’s journey has been marked by extraordinary hardship. On October 28, 2023, while...
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Frenchie Mae Cumpio: A Journalist’s 5-Year Ordeal Under Philippines’ Anti-Terror Laws
November 11, 2024
Frenchie Mae Cumpio: A Journalist’s 5-Year Ordeal Under Philippines’ Anti-Terror Laws
November 11, 2024 - Philippines - Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a community journalist from Tacloban and host at Eastern Vista, has been entangled in a long-running case dubbed the “Tacloban 5.” Arrested in February 2020 alongside fellow activists, she faced charges of illegal firearms possession and terrorism financing—accusations widely condemned as baseless, aimed at silencing her human rights reporting. For four years, her trial was stalled amid delays, court inefficiencies, and expanding charges. Initially accused merely of possessing firearms, she was later “red‑tagged” as a Communist insurgent and levied terrorism financing charges after a cash stash...
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Frenchie Mae Cumpio: A Five‑Year Fight Against Unjust Detention in the Philippines
November 11, 2024
Frenchie Mae Cumpio: A Five‑Year Fight Against Unjust Detention in the Philippines
November 11, 2024 - Philippines - Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a community journalist and host with Eastern Vista in Tacloban, has endured a prolonged legal battle since her arrest in February 2020. As part of the “Tacloban 5,” she initially faced charges of illegal firearms possession and graduated to accusations of terrorism financing—allegations widely dismissed by press advocates and rights organizations as politically motivated attempts to suppress dissenting voices and grassroots journalism. Over the ensuing years, Cumpio’s trial was plagued by delays and procedural obstacles. Despite presenting a clean record, her case was entangled in an expansive...
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The War Reporter Who Refuses to Surrender
November 10, 2024
The War Reporter Who Refuses to Surrender
November 10, 2024 - Ukraine/Russia - In a compelling 60 Minutes profile, veteran Ukrainian war correspondent Andriy Tsaplienko speaks to the indispensable role of journalism in his country’s fight for survival. As bombs fall and frontlines shift, Tsaplienko believes that Ukraine’s ability to resist Russia’s invasion is tied not only to its soldiers but also to the power of a free press. Tsaplienko has covered wars across the globe, but when Russia invaded Ukraine in 2022, he became a war reporter in his homeland. Wounded near Chernihiv by shrapnel, he continues to report from danger...
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184 Silenced, But Not Forgotten
November 9, 2024
184 Silenced, But Not Forgotten
November 9, 2024 -Palestine/Israel - The death toll of journalists in Gaza reached a staggering 184, according to the Gaza Government Media Office. This figure marks a grim milestone in what has become the deadliest conflict for media workers in modern history. Journalists, who serve as the eyes and ears of the world in times of war, have increasingly found themselves among the primary casualties of Israel’s relentless military campaign. The deaths span seasoned reporters, camera operators, fixers, and local correspondents who remained on the ground to document the human cost of the conflict. While...
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The Blood Price of Truth in Gaza
November 9, 2024
The Blood Price of Truth in Gaza
November 9, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - In one of the deadliest 24-hour periods for the press in Gaza, three more Palestinian journalists were killed amid continued Israeli bombardment, bringing the total number of media workers killed since October 2023 to at least 184. Reports from Press TV, Anadolu Agency, and the Palestine Chronicle detail the tragic losses of journalists who remained on the ground to document the war’s toll on civilians. The most recent victim named was journalist Yazan Ibrahim Al-Zwaidi, killed in an Israeli airstrike in central Gaza. Anadolu Agency confirmed his death as...
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UK Demands Justice for Crimes Against Journalists
November 9, 2024
UK Demands Justice for Crimes Against Journalists
November 8, 2024 - UK - The UK government and its human rights advocates have united in a powerful appeal for justice following a series of violent attacks and legal suppressions targeting journalists. Echoing broader international sentiment, these calls emphasize the pressing need to hold perpetrators accountable to safeguard press freedom. In recent months, British officials have urged comprehensive investigations into assaults on media workers, ranging from physical violence and sexual harassment to legal intimidation known as SLAPPs (Strategic Lawsuits Against Public Participation). They argue that such actions create a climate of fear, forcing journalists...
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Safeguarding Journalists’ Mental Well‑Being in Crisis
November 9, 2024
Safeguarding Journalists’ Mental Well‑Being in Crisis
November 8, 2024 - General - UNESCO, in partnership with the International Women’s Media Foundation (IWMF), has released a groundbreaking Guide for Psychologists in the Emergency Care of Journalists—a critical resource tailored to address the emotional and psychological challenges faced by journalists, especially during crises and online violence. The initiative responds to alarming statistics: over 73% of women journalists report experiencing online threats, harassment, or insults due to their work, with 25% facing physical or sexual violence. These risks compound significantly in conflict zones and during heightened election campaigns. At its core, the guide equips mental...
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EU Reaffirms Press Freedom at OSCE Council Amid Rising Threats
November 9, 2024
EU Reaffirms Press Freedom at OSCE Council Amid Rising Threats
November 8, 2024 - Albania/Herzegovina/Iceland/Montenegro/Bosnia & Herzegovina - At the 1495th meeting of the OSCE Permanent Council on November 7, 2024, the European Union delivered a forceful statement in Vienna emphasizing its deep concern over the deteriorating state of press freedom and human rights across the OSCE region. The EU reiterated its commitment to defending journalists, human rights defenders, and democratic institutions amid rising repression in several member states. The EU delegation called attention to the alarming targeting of journalists through intimidation, imprisonment, physical violence, and legal harassment, especially in countries like Russia and Belarus....
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Qatar Champions Global Shield for Journalists in Conflict Zones
November 8, 2024
Qatar Champions Global Shield for Journalists in Conflict Zones
November 8, 2024 - Palestine/Israel/Qatar - Qatar delivered a powerful appeal before the UN General Assembly’s Fourth Committee, urging the international community to reinforce protections for journalists operating in conflict zones. Second Secretary Sheikh Jassim bin Abdulaziz Al‑Thani emphasized that safeguarding press freedom requires a multi-pronged approach—physical safety, legal assistance, cutting-edge tools, and robust cooperation among states and institutions. Qatar’s proposal builds on its longstanding track record: hosting the landmark 2012 International Conference on the Protection of Journalists and producing the 2016 Doha Declaration. These efforts underlined the country’s dedication to embedding journalist safety into the global policy...
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When Exposing Corruption Becomes a Death Sentence
November 8, 2024
When Exposing Corruption Becomes a Death Sentence
November 8, 2024 - Iraq/Kurdistan - Veteran investigative journalist Wrya Abdulkhaliq of Bwar Media was ambushed in his orchard near Sulaymaniyah in Iraqi Kurdistan, shortly after publishing a groundbreaking exposé alleging obstruction by a Peshmerga Ministry official in a regional water and electricity project. At the hands of two assailants—an official’s nephew and his bodyguard—Abdulkhaliq sustained severe injuries: stabbed repeatedly in the abdomen, struck in the head with a gun butt, and had his car tires punctured to prevent escape. After undergoing surgery involving 21 stitches, he was reported in stable condition. Three suspects, including...
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Safety or Silence: Prioritizing Journalist Protection in Yemen
November 8, 2024
Safety or Silence: Prioritizing Journalist Protection in Yemen
November 08, 2024 - Yemen - In a country locked in a decade-long conflict, the safety of journalists has become a crisis of urgent proportions. On November 8, 2024, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), in collaboration with UNESCO and the Yemeni Journalists’ Syndicate (YJS), concluded a year-long project aimed at improving occupational safety for media workers in Yemen, training over 160 journalists across Aden, Taiz, Hadramawt, and Marib. The initiative comprised eight workshops culminating in the final session on October 31 in Taiz, attended by 20 media leaders. Discussions underscored the need for comprehensive safety measures: psychological...
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Haunted for Holding Truth: The Harassment of Rana Ayyub
November 8, 2024
Haunted for Holding Truth: The Harassment of Rana Ayyub
November 08, 2024 - India -  Indian investigative journalist Rana Ayyub embarked on a reporting trip to Manipur, only to find herself under constant surveillance by local intelligence personnel. CPJ sources revealed she was followed for four days—through villages, checkpoints, even to the washroom—ostensibly “for her safety,” though intended to intimidate and impede her work. On November 8, her mobile number was leaked on X (formerly Twitter) by a right-wing account known as “Hindutva Knight.” That night, Ayyub received at least 200 unsolicited phone and video calls, explicit WhatsApp messages, deepfake images, and repeated OTP requests flooding...
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States Must End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
November 8, 2024
States Must End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
November 8, 2024 - General - In a powerful call-to-action, the International Press Institute (IPI) urges governments worldwide to confront and eliminate impunity for attacks on journalists. According to IPI, a staggering majority of crimes against media professionals—particularly killings—go unpunished, enabling further violence and eroding press freedom. IPI highlights that impunity serves as a flame to an accelerating blaze: unchecked, it emboldens perpetrators and institutionalizes hostility against journalism. This trend—amplified in authoritarian regimes and conflict zones—is undermining the media's essential role as democracy’s watchdog. A focal point of IPI’s advocacy is environmental and climate journalism,...
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Bolivia’s Press Under Siege: At Least 25 Journalists Assaulted During Mass Protests
November 8, 2024
Bolivia’s Press Under Siege: At Least 25 Journalists Assaulted During Mass Protests
November 08, 2024 - Bolivia - Amid widespread anti-government protests sweeping Bolivia since early November, reporters and camera crews have faced escalating hostility. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), at least 25 journalists were violently attacked—physically assaulted, harassed, or obstructed—while covering protest actions such as road blockades and strikes in Santa Cruz and other regions. These incidents, RSF warns, reflect a disturbing erosion of press freedom in one of Latin America’s most politically charged environments. The violence has come from various sources. In several cases, journalists were attacked by police using excessive force. In others, demonstrators—some aligned...
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“Silenced Harvest: The Killing of Amun Abdullahi Mohamed”
November 8, 2024
“Silenced Harvest: The Killing of Amun Abdullahi Mohamed”
November 08, 2024 - Somalia/Sweden -  In a brutal reminder that journalism can be a death sentence, Somali‑Swedish investigative reporter Amun Abdullahi Mohamed was assassinated on October 19, 2024, in her hometown of Afgoye in the Lower Shabelle region of Somalia. Shot dead by gunmen suspected to be linked to al‑Shabaab, Mohamed’s killing shocked international media communities and prompted urgent demands for justice. Amun was not just any journalist—she was a trailblazer, celebrated for exposing al‑Shabaab’s recruitment operations both in Somalia and Sweden. She earned the 2010 Swedish Publicists’ Association Freedom of Speech Award and...
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Freedom on Trial: The Detention of Frenchie Mae Cumpio
November 8, 2024
Freedom on Trial: The Detention of Frenchie Mae Cumpio
November 08, 2024 - Philippines -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has urgently called on the Philippine government to release investigative journalist Frenchie Mae Cumpio, who has been detained since February 2020 on charges of “financing terrorism” and “illegal possession of firearms” that RSF and others label as fabricated. The government alleges weapons were found during a raid, but press freedom groups assert the evidence was planted—part of a wider “red-tagging” campaign that brands critical journalists as subversive. Cumpio, 26, directs Eastern Vista, an independent platform highlighting marginalized voices in Eastern Visayas. Her arrest followed her reporting on...
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Israel’s Assault on Press Freedom
November 7, 2024
Israel’s Assault on Press Freedom
November 7, 2024 - Palestine/Lebanon/Israel/USA - Freedom House warns that Israel’s democratic character is at grave risk due to escalating attacks on press freedom. While Israel has long maintained a reputation as a robust democracy with a diverse media landscape, recent government actions under Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu threaten to dismantle that foundation. Freedom House highlights a growing pattern of government hostility toward journalists, particularly those critical of the administration. Reporters are increasingly vilified as enemies of the state, with officials using rhetoric that frames the press not as a democratic pillar but as a...
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Exiled Editor Sentenced: Russia Cracks Down on Novaya Gazeta Europe’s Chief
November 7, 2024
Exiled Editor Sentenced: Russia Cracks Down on Novaya Gazeta Europe’s Chief
November 7, 2024 - Russia - In a stark escalation of its campaign against independent media, Russia has taken severe punitive action against Kirill Martynov, editor-in-chief of Novaya Gazeta Europe. Two interconnected legal assaults—his arrest in absentia and a subsequent 6-year prison sentence—underscore the Kremlin’s intensified drive to suppress dissent. On November 6, 2024, a Moscow court formally arrested Martynov in absentia, accusing him of “organizing the activities of an undesirable organization”. The charge stems from his leadership of Novaya Gazeta Europe (banned by prosecutors in June 2023) and the Free University, another independent project classified as “undesirable”....
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Mayor vs. Truth: Venelina Popova Threatened for Election Reporting
November 7, 2024
Mayor vs. Truth: Venelina Popova Threatened for Election Reporting
November 7, 2024 - Bulgaria - Investigative journalist Venelina Popova faced alarming intimidation from Galabovo Mayor Nikolay Tonev following her reporting on suspected electoral fraud during local elections in Bulgaria. Popova’s work exposed worrying irregularities—potential vote buying and procedural manipulation—prompting the mayor to respond not with transparency, but with threats intended to silence her journalistic inquiry. The news site Balkan Insight reports that after Popova published her findings, Mayor Tonev contacted her directly. While the exact nature of the threats isn’t detailed, they were serious enough to prompt action from Women Press Freedom, which publicly...
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Bulgaria’s Ballot Box Violence: Journalists Attacked During 2024 Elections
November 6, 2024
Bulgaria’s Ballot Box Violence: Journalists Attacked During 2024 Elections
November 6, 2024 - Bulgaria - During Bulgaria’s parliamentary elections on October 27, 2024, at least four journalists were attacked, harassed, or obstructed in the line of duty, prompting a wave of condemnation from international press freedom groups. In a joint statement released on November 6, the European Centre for Press and Media Freedom (ECPMF), International Press Institute (IPI), Free Press Unlimited (FPU), the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ), and OBC Transeuropa demanded full investigations and accountability for the perpetrators. The most serious incident involved a bTV camera operator who was physically assaulted by two...
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Rights Groups Urge EPC to Hold Azerbaijan Accountable
November 6, 2024
Rights Groups Urge EPC to Hold Azerbaijan Accountable
November 6, 2024 - Europe/Azerbaijan - Ahead of the European Political Community (EPC) summit in Budapest on November 6, 2024, the International Federation for Human Rights (FIDH) and partner organizations issued a strong call urging European leaders to address Azerbaijan’s worsening human rights and press freedom crisis. With the Azerbaijani government tightening its grip on civil society, journalists, and activists, the statement demands international action to end the ongoing crackdown. Following Azerbaijan’s presidential election in February and parliamentary election in September, the government has intensified its repression. Independent media outlets have been dismantled, environmental defenders...
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Closed‑Door Verdicts: Mongolia’s Press Freedoms on Trial
November 6, 2024
Closed‑Door Verdicts: Mongolia’s Press Freedoms on Trial
November 6, 2024 - Mongolia - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) sounded the alarm: a closed-door appeal trial for detained journalist Unurtsetseg Naran—conducted without public scrutiny or disclosed evidence—signals a dangerous regression for press freedom in Mongolia. Naran, founder of the independent news outlet Zarig, was initially convicted behind closed doors this July on dubious charges including “spreading false information,” “tax evasion,” and “money laundering.” Her sentencing, carried out without transparency, drew widespread condemnation from local and international observers. Her appeal hearing, also held in secret, deprived Naran of the most elemental judicial guarantees—open proceedings and...
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Sudan’s Journalists Hunted, Silenced, Disappeared
November 6, 2024
Sudan’s Journalists Hunted, Silenced, Disappeared
November 6, 2024 - Sudan - The Sudan Media Forum (SMF)—a coalition of independent outlets like Dabanga, Sudan Tribune, and the Sudanese Journalists Syndicate—launched the “Silence Kills: No Time to Waste for Sudan” campaign during events at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa. Coinciding with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the initiative aimed to highlight the catastrophic impact of Sudan’s ongoing war and mounting attacks on the media. Since conflict erupted on April 15, 2023, both the Sudanese Armed Forces and Rapid Support Forces have systematically silenced journalistic voices....
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Bosnia’s Investigative Beacon Under Threat: The Case of Nataša Miljanović‑Zubac
November 6, 2024
Bosnia’s Investigative Beacon Under Threat: The Case of Nataša Miljanović‑Zubac
November 6, 2024 - Bosnia & Herzegovina - Veteran investigative reporter Nataša Miljanović‑Zubac, a journalist with Radio Television of Republika Srpska, has endured a relentless campaign of intimidation for exposing corruption and organized crime. Over the past two and a half years, she’s survived at least seven criminal acts—including arson, violent threats, ominous messages, and psychological torture—all of which have gone unpunished. In mid-2022, unknown assailants torched her vehicle outside her home in Trebinje, which she described as her livelihood, and her reporting was significantly disrupted as a result. Following that, with no legal accountability, the...
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Israeli and Palestinian Journalists Honored for Courageous Storytelling
November 6, 2024
Israeli and Palestinian Journalists Honored for Courageous Storytelling
November 5, 2024 - General - French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot presented the second Anna Politkovskaya–Arman Soldin Prize for Courage in Journalism on November 5, 2024, to Israeli journalist Yuval Abraham and Palestinian journalist Basel Adra. This prestigious award, instituted by France in 2023, commemorates the legacy of slain Russian reporter Anna Politkovskaya and Franco-Bosnian journalist Arman Soldin, both revered for fearless conflict reporting. The jury—comprising prominent media figures—praised Abraham and Adra “for their work putting a spotlight on violence committed by settlers and the political and legal inequalities between Palestinians and Israelis". Their award-winning collaboration, the documentary No Other Land,...
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Upholding Truth in the Face of Violence: Africa’s Stand Against Impunity for Journalists
November 5, 2024
Upholding Truth in the Face of Violence: Africa’s Stand Against Impunity for Journalists
November 5, 2024 - General - The annual International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists—the African Commission on Human and Peoples’ Rights (ACHPR) marked the occasion with a powerful webinar calling attention to the dire circumstances facing media professionals across Africa. The ACHPR’s Special Rapporteur on Freedom of Expression emphasized that journalists routinely face grave threats—including detention, torture, kidnapping, and online harassment—raising significant obstacles to the free flow of information guaranteed under Article 9 of the African Charter. Such violations not only hinder public discourse but also deepen societal vulnerability by silencing critical voices....
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Cambodian Investigative Reporter Abandons Journalism After Arrest
November 5, 2024
Cambodian Investigative Reporter Abandons Journalism After Arrest
November 5, 2024 - Cambodia - Veteran investigative journalist Mech Dara, renowned for his hard-hitting exposés on human trafficking and cyberscam operations in Cambodia, has announced he will leave journalism to become a farmer. This decision came after a dramatic arrest in late September 2024 over social media posts, followed by a difficult stint in pre-trial detention. On September 30, Dara was detained by military police at a toll booth while traveling with his family. Authorities charged him with "incitement to commit a felony or cause social disorder," based on Facebook posts about quarrying at a revered...
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UK’s Leverage on Egypt: Human Rights Groups Demand a Halt to Financial Ties Until Alaa Is Freed
November 5, 2024
UK’s Leverage on Egypt: Human Rights Groups Demand a Halt to Financial Ties Until Alaa Is Freed
November 5, 2024 - UK/Egypt - The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)—joined by 14 British, Egyptian, and international organizations—issued a forceful appeal to UK Foreign Secretary David Lammy. The groups urged the UK to suspend all new economic, financial, and security cooperation with Egypt until British-Egyptian writer and activist Alaa Abd el-Fattah is released from detention. Abd el-Fattah, a prominent voice since the Arab Spring, was first arrested in 2014 and again in September 2019 amid anti-government protests. Convicted under charges of “spreading false news,” he received a five-year sentence in December 2021. Although his...
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Journalists Denied Entry: Press Freedom Breached at Greek-Albanian Border
November 4, 2024
Journalists Denied Entry: Press Freedom Breached at Greek-Albanian Border
November 4, 2024 - Albania - Two Albanian camera crews—Fjorela Beleshi and Elja Zotka from A2 CNN, and a TV Klan team—were unjustifiably detained at Greece’s Kapshtica/Krystallopigi border as they attempted to cover Albanian Prime Minister Edi Rama’s rally in Thessaloniki. The crews carried valid accreditation and verbal clearance from the Albanian Foreign Ministry, yet Greek authorities confiscated their passports, held them for over four hours, and refused entry without explicit approval from the Greek Foreign Ministry. Authorities also attempted to stop them from livestreaming the delay, impeding real‑time reporting and restricting the journalists from fulfilling...
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Uttar Pradesh Journalist Arrested Over Election Coverage
November 4, 2024
Uttar Pradesh Journalist Arrested Over Election Coverage
November 4, 2024 - India - Imran Khan, editor of the Ghaziabad-based Hindi daily Aap AbhiTak, was arrested on defamation charges following a six-month-old election report in which Congress candidate Dolly Sharma accused BJP MP Atul Garg of being involved in land grabbing. Sharma, during the Lok Sabha campaign, claimed Garg had seized 31,000 m² of public land to build a housing society—allegations that Khan faithfully reported under the headline: “BJP makes land‑mafia Atul Garg its candidate.” Despite a note of Sharma’s status as the source of the accusation—and no evidence added by Khan—the MP filed a...
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Lawyer Sentenced in Kosovo After Death Threat Against Journalist
November 4, 2024
Lawyer Sentenced in Kosovo After Death Threat Against Journalist
November 4, 2024 - Kosovo - The Pristina Basic Court sentenced Kosovo lawyer Driton Dobruna to 150 days in prison on November 4, 2024, after he admitted to sending a death threat to investigative journalist Vehbi Kajtazi, owner of the Paparaci news site. The threat stemmed from Kajtazi’s persistent reporting on corruption and public interest matters. Dobruna reportedly sent a chilling message indicating he would “douse him with gasoline”. His guilty plea at trial spared him a longer sentence, but still marked a rare instance of legal validation for the protection of journalists in Kosovo—a country where...
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Gaza Becomes World’s Deadliest Zone for Journalists
November 3, 2024
Gaza Becomes World’s Deadliest Zone for Journalists
November 3, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - In just one year since the Israel–Gaza war began on October 7, 2023, at least 183 Palestinian journalists have been killed—more than double the global average of journalist deaths in any given year. According to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate and confirmed by international press watchdogs, this represents an unprecedented level of media fatalities in modern history. The massacre, they say, is not collateral damage but a deliberate campaign to silence the press and erase witnesses from the conflict zone. Globally, an estimated 82 journalists are killed annually, based on...
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Iran Marks International Day to End Impunity Amid Deepening Clampdown
November 3, 2024
Iran Marks International Day to End Impunity Amid Deepening Clampdown
November 3, 2024 - Iran - The International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists cast a spotlight on Iran’s worsening media suppression, where the daily reality for journalists is arrest, torture, and even death. Human rights monitors and press-freedom researchers revealed a multi-pronged assault: journalists face arbitrary detention, flogging, threats to families, and violent raids on homes, reflecting a brutal effort to crush independent reporting. This crackdown extends far beyond Iran’s borders. Leaked court documents from early 2024 exposed that the judiciary is issuing judgments in absentia targeting exiled journalists, highlighting Tehran’s transnational...
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KDP Holds Roj News Editor Suleiman Ahmed Without Evidence for Over a Year
November 3, 2024
KDP Holds Roj News Editor Suleiman Ahmed Without Evidence for Over a Year
November 3, 2024 - Kurdistan - Journalist Suleiman Ahmed, editor at the Kurdish outlet Roj News, has been held by the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) for over 376 days without any proven charges. He was arrested on October 25, 2023, at the Fish-Khabur border while returning from visiting family in Aleppo. On July 29, 2024, the Duhok Criminal Court sentenced him in absentia to three years in prison, but the court provided no evidence or legal justification behind the verdict. Ahmed has been denied basic legal rights, including immediate access to lawyers. It took nearly 210 days before his counsel...
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U.S.-Iranian Journalist Reza Valizadeh Detained in Tehran: A Case of Hostage Journalism
November 3, 2024
U.S.-Iranian Journalist Reza Valizadeh Detained in Tehran: A Case of Hostage Journalism
November 3, 2024 - Iran/USA - Iranian–American journalist Reza Valizadeh returned to Iran after 13 years abroad, even seeking assurances from Iranian authorities. Instead, he was detained by security forces upon arrival, later sent to Evin Prison. According to multiple sources, Valizadeh—a former reporter at Radio Farda (the Persian service of U.S.-funded Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty)—was arrested again in late September and has remained locked up under Revolutionary Court supervision without publicly disclosed charges. On November 3, 2024, the U.S. State Department confirmed Valizadeh’s detention following reports by AP and Reuters. Officials stated they are...
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Afghanistan’s Journalists Silenced Under Taliban Reign
November 2, 2024
Afghanistan’s Journalists Silenced Under Taliban Reign
November 2, 2024 - Afghanistan - Since the Taliban returned to power in August 2021, Afghanistan has witnessed a dramatic escalation in attacks against journalists, with over 447 documented incidents of threats, arrests, and assaults, according to a new report from the Afghanistan Journalists Center (AFJC). Released on the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the report paints a dire picture of press freedom in a country where speaking the truth has become a life-threatening act. Of the 447 incidents, at least 220 involved arbitrary detentions, often without charges or due process....
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Zhina Modares-Gorji Sentenced as Iran Tightens Grip on Kurdish Journalists
November 2, 2024
Zhina Modares-Gorji Sentenced as Iran Tightens Grip on Kurdish Journalists
November 2, 2024 - Kurdistan - Kurdish journalist and women’s rights activist Zhina Modares-Gorji has been imprisoned in Iran following a politically motivated trial that underscores the country’s escalating crackdown on dissenting voices, particularly those from marginalized communities. On November 2, 2024, she reported to Sanandaj Women’s Prison to begin serving a 16-month sentence after an appeals court reduced her original 21-year sentence handed down by a Revolutionary Court in May. Modares-Gorji was charged with “forming an illegal group to overthrow the state,” “propaganda against the regime,” and “collaborating with hostile opposition media.” While the...
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Targeted Deaths in Gaza: Two Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrikes
November 2, 2024
Targeted Deaths in Gaza: Two Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrikes
November 2, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Two Palestinian journalists, Bilal Rajab and photojournalist Baraa Ali Daghish, were tragically killed in Israeli airstrikes just 24 hours apart in central Gaza, sparking condemnation from Palestinian media groups and international press freedom organizations. On November 1, 2024, Bilal Rajab, an Al-Quds al-Youm TV correspondent, was struck and killed outside a school in Tuffah, Gaza City, when the Israeli military launched an airstrike on a civilian area. Less than a day later, on November 2, 2024, Baraa Ali Daghish, a freelance photojournalist, was killed during an airstrike on a...
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EU Demands Justice for Attacks on Journalists, Highlights Ukraine
November 2, 2024
EU Demands Justice for Attacks on Journalists, Highlights Ukraine
November 2, 2024 - General - On the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, November 2, 2024, the European Union issued a powerful joint statement condemning attacks on journalists and urging global accountability. EU High Representative Josep Borrell and Vice President Věra Jourová emphasized that violence, repression, and intimidation against media workers are not just attacks on individuals—they are assaults on truth, democracy, and international law. The statement particularly highlighted Ukraine, where journalists continue to risk their lives documenting Russia’s full-scale invasion. The EU noted that many media workers have been killed,...
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UN and UNESCO Demand Justice for Journalists on International Day to End Impunity
November 2, 2024
UN and UNESCO Demand Justice for Journalists on International Day to End Impunity
November 02, 2024 - General- On November 2, 2024, the United Nations and UNESCO marked the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists with renewed urgency, calling on world governments to confront the staggering rate of violence against journalists and the near-total lack of accountability that follows. Since 2006, over 1,700 journalists have been killed while doing their jobs, and nearly 9 out of 10 of those killings remain unsolved. UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a powerful message, emphasizing that when journalists are attacked, societies as a whole suffer. “Without accountability, the cycle...
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Azerbaijan Marks International Day to End Impunity as Journalists Remain Under Threat
November 2, 2024
Azerbaijan Marks International Day to End Impunity as Journalists Remain Under Threat
November 2, 2024 - Azerbaijan - On November 2, 2024, Azerbaijan formally recognized the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, echoing global efforts to combat violence and legal persecution targeting media workers. The state news agency AZERTAG noted that this year's international commemoration will occur on November 6–7 at the African Union headquarters in Addis Ababa, under the theme “Safety of Journalists in Crises and Emergencies.” The initiative commemorates the first IDEI event held in Strasbourg in 2014, following the UN resolution that established the observance in 2013 after two journalists were...
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South Africa’s Press Watchdog Sounds Warning on Global Journalist Safety
November 2, 2024
South Africa’s Press Watchdog Sounds Warning on Global Journalist Safety
November 2, 2024 - South Africa - The South African National Editors’ Forum (SANEF) marked the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists on November 2, 2024, underscoring the critical role that journalists play in democracy and urging governments worldwide to act decisively against impunity. SANEF echoed UNESCO and UN appeals for states to protect media personnel and their teams operating in conflict zones, emphasizing that threats to journalists strike at the heart of public accountability and the right to information. SANEF also joined the global condemnation of increasing online harassment faced by women...
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UNESCO Reports Alarming 38% Surge in Journalist Killings Worldwide
November 2, 2024
UNESCO Reports Alarming 38% Surge in Journalist Killings Worldwide
November 2, 2024 - General - UNESCO has sounded the alarm over a dramatic escalation in violence against journalists, with a new report revealing a 38% increase in journalist killings between 2022 and 2023 compared to the previous two-year period. Published on November 2, 2024—coinciding with the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists—the report documents 162 journalists killed during this time, averaging one journalist murdered every four days. The report highlights that more than half of these killings occurred in countries experiencing armed conflict. However, it also stresses that a growing number...
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Mexico Pledges to Combat Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists RSF Calls for Urgent Action
November 2, 2024
Mexico Pledges to Combat Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists RSF Calls for Urgent Action
November 01, 2024 - Mexico -  Ahead of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) held high-level meetings with Mexican authorities to address the country’s alarming record of violence against media workers. The discussions resulted in renewed commitments by the incoming government to overhaul mechanisms for protecting journalists and prosecuting their attackers. Mexico remains one of the deadliest countries in the world for journalists, with 37 media workers killed during the outgoing administration. The majority of these crimes remain unresolved, contributing to an impunity rate of nearly 98...
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Gaza’s Press in Crisis: Photojournalist Bilal Rajab Killed by Israeli Airstrike
November 1, 2024
Gaza’s Press in Crisis: Photojournalist Bilal Rajab Killed by Israeli Airstrike
Nov 1, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Bilal Muhammad Rajab, a 27-year-old camera operator for Al‑Quds Al‑Youm TV, was tragically killed by an Israeli airstrike near the Firas Market in central Gaza City while covering the unfolding conflict. According to the Gaza government’s Media Office and the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate, his death increases the number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 7 to 183. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that Rajab was collaborating with citizens at the scene around 3:30 p.m. when an Israeli aircraft carried out the attack. The strike was sudden and...
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Ukraine Loses Ninth Female Journalist in Russian Detention
November 1, 2024
Ukraine Loses Ninth Female Journalist in Russian Detention
Nov 1, 2024 - Ukraine/Russia - Ukrainian freelance reporter Victoria Roshchyna, just 27, became the ninth female journalist killed while covering the Russia–Ukraine war since February 2022. She disappeared in August 2023 while reporting from Russian‑occupied Zaporizhzhia and remained missing until a May 2024 admission by Russian authorities confirming her detention in Taganrog prison. In October 2024, Kyiv received notice that Roshchyna had died in Russian custody. Her body was repatriated in February 2025, but horrifyingly mutilated, missing vital organs like the brain, eyes, and larynx, with further signs of torture and possible electric shocks and...
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A Decade of Defiance: Media Freedom Coalition Demands Action on Journalist Impunity
November 1, 2024
A Decade of Defiance: Media Freedom Coalition Demands Action on Journalist Impunity
November 1, 2024 - General - Marking the 10th anniversary of the International Day to End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists, the Media Freedom Coalition (MFC) issued a powerful joint statement reaffirming its global commitment to press freedom and justice. The coalition, comprising over 50 countries and numerous civil society organizations, warned that impunity for attacks on journalists remains a critical threat to democracy and human rights. The MFC’s statement called on all states to prioritize accountability for crimes against journalists and to fully implement the UN Plan of Action on the Safety of Journalists....
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Calls Intensify for Swift Justice in Gerry Ortega’s Long-Delayed Murder Case
November 1, 2024
Calls Intensify for Swift Justice in Gerry Ortega’s Long-Delayed Murder Case
November 1, 2024 - Philippines - Thirteen years after the assassination of Filipino journalist Gerry Ortega, international press freedom groups are demanding a swift trial to finally deliver justice. In a joint statement, Free Press Unlimited, IFEX, and other media rights organizations called on the Philippine judiciary to act decisively and end years of legal delays that have denied accountability in one of the country’s most emblematic cases of impunity. Gerry Ortega, an environmentalist and investigative broadcaster, was gunned down in January 2011 in Puerto Princesa, Palawan. He had been a vocal critic of corruption...
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Algeria Pardons Journalist Ihsane El Kadi After 22 Months in Prison
November 1, 2024
Algeria Pardons Journalist Ihsane El Kadi After 22 Months in Prison
November 1, 2024 - Algeria - Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune issued a presidential pardon freeing prominent journalist Ihsane El Kadi, who had been detained since December 2022. This act coincided with national celebrations marking the 70th anniversary of Algeria’s Independence War, and included the release of over 4,000 prisoners—a gesture welcomed by press freedom advocates. El Kadi, 65, is a central figure of Algeria's independent media scene. He founded Maghreb Emergent and Radio M, key platforms during the 2019 Hirak protest movement. In April 2023, he was convicted under charges falsely alleging “foreign financing” and...
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Myanmar Among Worst Offenders for Impunity in Journalist Killings
November 1, 2024
Myanmar Among Worst Offenders for Impunity in Journalist Killings
November 1, 2024 - Myanmar - Myanmar has earned a grim reputation in press freedom, ranking 10th on the 2024 Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) Global Impunity Index, just behind Afghanistan and ahead of Pakistan, indicating widespread failure to hold killers of journalists accountable. This index highlights that nearly 80% of journalist murders globally remain unresolved—a figure that rises dramatically in conflict and authoritarian contexts, including Myanmar. The country debuted on the index in 2022 at eighth place following the military coup that intensified violence and repression against reporters. The implication is stark: Myanmar’s military...
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UN Chief Guterres Denounces Journalist Deaths in Gaza as “Unacceptable”
November 1, 2024
UN Chief Guterres Denounces Journalist Deaths in Gaza as “Unacceptable”
November 1, 2024 - Israel/Palestine/UN - UN Secretary-General António Guterres issued a stark warning about the escalating danger faced by media workers in Gaza during the first anniversary of the Israel–Gaza conflict. Speaking at the UN International Media Seminar in Geneva, Guterres condemned the unprecedented level of journalist fatalities, stating that “journalists in Gaza have been killed at a level unseen in any conflict” and labeling it “unacceptable". He highlighted the ongoing ban on international reporters entering Gaza, warning that obstructing press access “suffocates the truth even further.” Guterres criticized the escalating violence in the West...
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Al Jazeera Demands Global Action to Protect Journalists in Gaza
October 31, 2024
Al Jazeera Demands Global Action to Protect Journalists in Gaza
October 31, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - In a powerful public appeal, Al Jazeera has called for immediate international intervention to halt the systematic targeting of journalists in Gaza. The network condemned the ongoing attacks that have claimed the lives of six of its journalists during Israel’s military campaign, and joined a growing chorus of global voices demanding accountability and protection for media workers in conflict zones. Since the beginning of the war, Gaza has become one of the deadliest places on earth for journalists. Al Jazeera reports that its teams have come under direct fire,...
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Journalist Mauricio Cruz Solís Shot Dead After Interview in Mexico’s Michoacán State
October 30, 2024
Journalist Mauricio Cruz Solís Shot Dead After Interview in Mexico’s Michoacán State
October 30, 2024 - Mexico - Mexican journalist Mauricio Cruz Solís was gunned down in the city of Uruapan, located in the violence-ridden state of Michoacán. The 25-year-old reporter was shot shortly after conducting a live-streamed interview with Uruapan’s mayor, Carlos Manzo, for his media outlet Minuto x Minuto. Cruz was known for covering local politics and community issues. According to authorities, he was targeted while returning from his assignment, and a bystander was also wounded during the shooting. Cruz Solís’s killing has sent shockwaves through the press community in Mexico, as it marks the...
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Europe Calls for Justice and Protection Amid Rising Journalist Deaths
October 30, 2024
Europe Calls for Justice and Protection Amid Rising Journalist Deaths
October 30, 2024 - Europe/MEA - The European Union voiced grave concern over escalating violence in the Middle East and the growing global threat to journalists. These remarks came amid mounting civilian casualties and a rising death toll of media workers, especially in Gaza and Ukraine. On October 9, the EU addressed the humanitarian catastrophe unfolding in the Middle East, condemning all acts of terrorism and indiscriminate violence. While asserting Israel’s right to self-defense, the EU emphasized that all military responses must strictly adhere to international law. Crucially, the EU called for the protection of...
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Haiti and Israel Top Global Shame List for Journalist Killings
October 30, 2024
Haiti and Israel Top Global Shame List for Journalist Killings
October 30, 2024 - Palestine/Haiti/Israel - According to the Committee to Protect Journalists’ (CPJ) 2024 Global Impunity Index, Haiti and Israel are now the countries most likely to let the killers of journalists walk free. The annual index, which tracks countries with the highest rates of unsolved journalist murders relative to population, paints a grim picture of accountability and press freedom failures worldwide. Haiti ranks first, with seven unsolved journalist killings in the past decade. This marks a sharp deterioration from last year, when it entered the index in third place. The country’s institutional collapse,...
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Gaza Becomes the Deadliest Place on Earth for Journalists
October 28, 2024
Gaza Becomes the Deadliest Place on Earth for Journalists
October 28, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Gaza has become the most lethal environment for journalists in modern history. According to Palestinian media offices and multiple press freedom groups, over 225 journalists and media workers have been killed in Israeli attacks, the overwhelming majority of them Palestinian. This staggering toll surpasses journalist fatalities in any modern conflict, including World War II and the Iraq War. The most recent wave of killings saw five journalists die in a single Israeli strike, raising the death toll of media workers to over 220. These included individuals working for outlets...
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Three More Voices Silenced in Gaza’s Relentless War on Journalism
October 27, 2024
Three More Voices Silenced in Gaza’s Relentless War on Journalism
October 27, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Three more Palestinian journalists—Saed Radwan, Hamza Abu Salmiya, and Haneen Baroud—were killed in separate Israeli airstrikes across the Gaza Strip, pushing the confirmed death toll of journalists in the conflict to at least 180, according to Gaza’s Government Media Office. These media workers were affiliated with Al-Aqsa TV, Sanad News Agency, and the Al-Quds Foundation, respectively, and all were killed while reporting from active conflict zones. Their deaths are part of a devastating and ongoing pattern that has made Gaza the most lethal place in the world for journalists....
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Israel’s War on Journalism: A Critical Account by Chris Hedges
October 25, 2024
Israel’s War on Journalism: A Critical Account by Chris Hedges
October 25, 2024 - General - Veteran journalist Chris Hedges—former New York Times bureau chief and seasoned war correspondent—has sharply condemned Israel’s conduct in Gaza, labeling it “a war on journalism.” In heated essays for ScheerPost, he argues that Israeli forces have deliberately targeted Palestinian reporters and suppressed independent foreign reporting, effectively silencing the truth. Hedges highlights alarming cases: Al Jazeera cameraman Fadi al‑Wahidi, shot in the neck by a sniper while wearing protective press gear, now lies comatose. His colleague, Shireen Abu Akleh, was also deliberately targeted. Despite visible press identifiers, both journalists became victims...
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Belarus’s Media Purge Deepens with Two More Arrests
October 25, 2024
Belarus’s Media Purge Deepens with Two More Arrests
October 25, 2024 - Belarus - Belarusian authorities arrested two prominent journalists—Ihar Ilyash and Daniil Palianski—in a continuing crackdown on independent media. Their detentions, denounced by the International Press Institute (IPI) and Belarusian Journalists’ Association (BAJ), occurred within a week of each other and reflect intensifying repression under President Alexander Lukashenko. Ilyash, a veteran reporter and husband of imprisoned Katsiaryna Andreyeva (formerly of Belsat TV), was detained in late October. A video released by the KGB showed him confessing to “providing comments to independent media,” including interviews on his wife’s imprisonment and Belarus’s potential involvement...
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Three Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Southern Lebanon
October 25, 2024
Three Journalists Killed in Israeli Airstrike on Southern Lebanon
October 25, 2024 - Israel/Lebanon - An Israeli airstrike on the southern Lebanese town of Hasbaya killed three journalists and injured several others. The journalists were staying in a residential compound that housed members of the press covering the growing conflict along the Israel-Lebanon border. According to Lebanese officials and local media, the strike occurred around 3 a.m., hitting a building used by journalists and destroying vehicles marked with the word “PRESS.” The victims were identified as Ghassan Najjar, a cameraman for Al-Mayadeen TV; Mohammad Reda, a broadcast engineer for the same outlet; and Wissam...
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Council of Europe Urges Ireland to Strengthen Protections for Journalists
October 25, 2024
Council of Europe Urges Ireland to Strengthen Protections for Journalists
October 25, 2024 - Ireland - Partners of the Council of Europe’s Platform for the Protection of Journalism concluded a fact-finding mission in Dublin, calling on Irish authorities to take concrete steps to better protect press freedom. Their recommendations focus on three key areas: defamation law reform, source protection, and public media funding. One of the primary concerns raised is Ireland’s outdated and restrictive defamation laws. Journalists in Ireland face the risk of costly and intimidating lawsuits from powerful individuals and institutions, tactics commonly used to suppress investigative reporting. The delegation urged the Irish government...
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Russian Court Targets Romanian Journalist Over Ukraine Reporting
October 24, 2024
Russian Court Targets Romanian Journalist Over Ukraine Reporting
October 24, 2024 - Romania/Russia - The Lenin District Court of Kursk, acting on a petition from the regional FSB’s border guard department, issued an arrest warrant in absentia for Romanian journalist Mircea Barbu, a correspondent for HotNews.ro. He faces charges of “illegally crossing the Russian border” after reporting from the town of Sudzha, which fell under Ukrainian control during Kyiv’s incursion into Russia’s Kursk region in August 2024. Barbu traveled openly to Sudzha with a Ukrainian military convoy to document the conditions on the ground, filming interviews with residents about infrastructure outages and daily...
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Marked for Death: Israel Labels Six Al Jazeera Journalists as Militant Operatives
October 24, 2024
Marked for Death: Israel Labels Six Al Jazeera Journalists as Militant Operatives
24 October 2024 - Palestine/Israel - The Israeli military publicly named six Palestinian journalists working with Al Jazeera as alleged members of militant groups, sparking international outrage and fears for their safety. The journalists—Anas al-Sharif, Hossam Shabat, Ismail Abu Omar, Talal Arrouki, Ashraf Saraj, and Alaa Salameh—have been accused by Israel of belonging to either Hamas or Islamic Jihad. Israeli officials claim these allegations are based on documents recovered during operations in Gaza, though they have provided no verifiable evidence to support the claims. Al Jazeera has categorically rejected the accusations, calling them fabricated and...
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Rights Groups Condemn Egypt’s Widening Crackdown on Journalists
October 23, 2024
Rights Groups Condemn Egypt’s Widening Crackdown on Journalists
October 23, 2024 - Egypt - A coalition of 34 international and regional rights organizations has condemned Egypt’s latest wave of journalist arrests, calling for the immediate release of those detained and an end to the state’s ongoing repression of press freedom. In early September 2024, at least four independent Egyptian journalists—Ashraf Omar, Khaled Mamdouh, Ramadan Gouida, and Yasser Abu Al‑Ela—were arrested in a coordinated campaign that rights groups say constitutes enforced disappearance. The arrests, carried out without warrants or public charges, have reignited fears of a resurgence in Egypt’s crackdown on the independent press....
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IPI Urges Global Action to Protect Journalists in Gaza
October 23, 2024
IPI Urges Global Action to Protect Journalists in Gaza
October 23, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - The International Press Institute (IPI) has issued an urgent call to the international community to pressure Israel to uphold its obligations under international law and protect journalists covering the war in Gaza. As the death toll among media workers continues to rise, IPI warns that without immediate intervention, journalism itself is at risk of being extinguished in one of the world’s deadliest conflicts for the press. Since October 7, 2023, more than 170 journalists—almost all Palestinian—have been killed in Gaza and southern Lebanon. Many were identified as press and...
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Iranian Plot to Assassinate Journalist Masih Alinejad Exposed
October 23, 2024
Iranian Plot to Assassinate Journalist Masih Alinejad Exposed
October 23, 2024 - Iran - U.S. authorities have uncovered a chilling assassination plot targeting Iranian-American journalist and activist Masih Alinejad, allegedly orchestrated by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC). On October 25, 2024, federal prosecutors unsealed charges against Brigadier General Ruhollah Bazghandi, a high-ranking IRGC intelligence official, and six co-conspirators for attempting to hire Russian-speaking criminals to murder Alinejad on U.S. soil. According to the indictment, the plot began in mid-2022 and involved attempts to recruit organized crime networks to carry out the killing. Surveillance footage showed one of the suspects, Khalid Mehdiyev, loitering...
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Al Jazeera Condemns Israeli Allegations Against Its Journalists in Gaza
October 23, 2024
Al Jazeera Condemns Israeli Allegations Against Its Journalists in Gaza
October 23, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera has strongly condemned recent allegations by the Israeli military accusing six of its Gaza-based journalists of being members of Hamas or Islamic Jihad. The named journalists—Anas al-Sharif, Hossam Shabat, Ismail Abu Omar, Talal Arrouki, Ashraf Saraj, and Alaa Salameh—were accused without trial or independent verification, with Israel claiming to have recovered documents linking them to militant factions. These claims, Al Jazeera stated, are “baseless” and a dangerous attempt to justify targeting media workers. In an official press release, Al Jazeera denounced the accusations as “fabricated” and warned...
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Sri Lanka’s Mullaitivu Press Club Urges International Probe into Journalist Killings
October 22, 2024
Sri Lanka’s Mullaitivu Press Club Urges International Probe into Journalist Killings
October 22, 2024 - India - The Mullaitivu Press Club in northern Sri Lanka called for an international, “judicially empowered” investigation into the killings and enforced disappearances of journalists—especially Tamil journalists—spanning decades of conflict. Their appeal marks the 24th anniversary of journalist Mylvaganam Nimalarajan’s assassination and underscores a persistent culture of impunity that allows perpetrators to act without fear of consequences. Between 2004 and 2009, over 48 journalists and media workers were killed in Sri Lanka, 41 of them Tamil. More recent cases include the high‑profile disappearance of journalist Prageeth Ekneligoda in 2010, as well as...
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Iran Imprisons Journalists Under National Security Charges
October 22, 2024
Iran Imprisons Journalists Under National Security Charges
October 22, 2024 - Iran - Iran’s Revolutionary Courts have intensified efforts to silence journalists reporting on human rights and protests, notably those covering the Mahsa Amini uprising and socio-political issues. Armed with expansive “propaganda” and “national security” laws, the courts have handed down harsh sentences to several women journalists. Two leading journalists—Elaha Mohammadi and Niloofar Hamidi—took part in covering the Mahsa Amini protests in 2022. Initially sentenced to lengthy prison terms—six years (Mohammadi) and seven years (Hamidi) plus additional charges—their sentences were revised on appeal in October 2024. Although acquitted of “collaborating with a hostile foreign...
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Tamil Journalist Jailed for Exposing Corruption in Sri Lanka
October 22, 2024
Tamil Journalist Jailed for Exposing Corruption in Sri Lanka
October 21, 2024 - India/Sri Lanka - Tamil journalist Selvakumar Nilanthan was arrested by Sri Lankan police in what rights groups have condemned as a targeted attempt to suppress press freedom. Nilanthan, known for exposing local corruption and human rights abuses in the eastern Batticaloa region, was detained on October 21 by Eravur police without prior legal notice. His arrest followed renewed legal action stemming from a 2019 report he published about alleged misconduct by the Chenkalady Divisional Secretary. Alongside two civilians, he was accused of obstructing government duties and defamation. During his detention, Nilanthan...
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Guatemalan Investigative Journalist José Rubén Zamora Moves to House Arrest After 800+ Days Behind Bars
October 22, 2024
Guatemalan Investigative Journalist José Rubén Zamora Moves to House Arrest After 800+ Days Behind Bars
October 21, 2024 - Guatemala - After enduring more than 800 days behind bars, veteran Guatemalan investigative journalist José Rubén Zamora—founder of El Periódico—was transferred to house arrest on October 18, 2024. Judges ruled that his prolonged pre-trial detention had exceeded legal limits, prompting a shift to a restricted residence-based sentence pending retrial. A judge explicitly barred Zamora from leaving Guatemala and mandated his appearance before authorities every eight days, while worldwide pressure from press freedom advocates heightened the spotlight on his case. Zamora, a staunch voice in exposing corruption through his investigative journalism, had...
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Eroding Dissent: Egypt’s Detention of Economist Abdel Khaleq Farouk
October 21, 2024
Eroding Dissent: Egypt’s Detention of Economist Abdel Khaleq Farouk
October 21, 2024 - Egypt - Egyptian security forces arrested eminent economist and commentator Abdel Khaleq Farouk, 67, from his Cairo home over critical posts on Facebook targeting President Abdel-Fattah el‑Sisi’s economic agenda, including the New Administrative Capital project and the Gaza war stance. He was formally charged with “joining a terrorist organization,” “spreading false news,” and “misusing social media,” marking a stark escalation in Egypt’s crackdown on economic and political discourse. Farouk appeared before the Supreme State Security Prosecution on October 21, initiating a cycle of pretrial detentions renewed repeatedly, most recently for an...
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Raid at Dawn Silences Somali Journalist
October 20, 2024
Raid at Dawn Silences Somali Journalist
October 19, 2024 - Somalia - Somalia’s National Intelligence and Security Agency (NISA) executed a pre-dawn operation in Mogadishu's Boondheere district, forcibly abducting investigative journalist Abduqadir Mohamed Nur—also known as “Jakarta”—from his home at around 3 a.m. Security agents confiscated his phone and laptop before transporting him to the notorious Godka Jila’aow detention center, a facility long associated with torture and abuse. Nur, a senior reporter and editor with Risaala Media Corporation—producers of Radio Risaala and Risaala TV—had been openly critical of Somalia’s security services under President Hassan Sheikh Mohamud. His abduction represents a brazen attempt to...
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Taliban’s Grip Tightens: Afghan Journalists Silenced and Imprisoned
October 19, 2024
Taliban’s Grip Tightens: Afghan Journalists Silenced and Imprisoned
October 19, 2024 - Afghanistan - Afghanistan’s Taliban have escalated a brutal crackdown on journalists through the actions of their General Directorate of Intelligence (GDI). On October 5, reporter Mahdi Ansary, 27, working with Afghan News Agency, was arrested in Kabul’s Dasht-e-Barchi district by GDI agents. He was detained without formal charges, and even his family was left to search police stations before confirming his custody. A Taliban court later accused him of anti-regime “propaganda” based on his journalistic reports and Facebook posts, handing him an 18-month prison sentence effective from the arrest date. Ansary’s trial,...
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Undermining Press Freedom: The Repeated Detention of Thomas Allan Zgambo
October 18, 2024
Undermining Press Freedom: The Repeated Detention of Thomas Allan Zgambo
October 18, 2024 - Zambia - Investigative journalist Thomas Allan Zgambo was arrested at a Lusaka mall and detained at Ridgeway Police Station without formal charges—his third arrest in a year, highlighting systematic judicial harassment. Zgambo, known for his writing on the Zambia Whistleblower website, was targeted after publishing an article seen as critical of senior government figures. Authorities alleged criminal libel and cybercrime, though CPJ noted he remained uncharged when first detained. Amnesty International swiftly demanded Zgambo's immediate and unconditional release, reaffirming that "journalism is not a crime" and reminding Zambia of its constitutional...
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UK Police Raid Journalist’s Home in Alarming Press Freedom Breach
October 18, 2024
UK Police Raid Journalist’s Home in Alarming Press Freedom Breach
October 18, 2024 - UK - British counterterrorism police raided the North London home of Asa Winstanley, associate editor of The Electronic Intifada, seizing his electronic devices under suspicion of “encouraging terrorism.” Officers from the Metropolitan Police’s Counter Terrorism Command arrived at dawn and confiscated seven items, including laptops, phones, and hard drives, without arresting or formally charging Winstanley. The warrant cited Sections 1 and 2 of the Terrorism Act 2006 and referenced Winstanley’s social media commentary, though he was not accused of any violent activity. The raid provoked outrage among press freedom advocates. The...
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When Tax Codes Become Silencing Tools: Financial Laws as a Press Freedom Threat
October 17, 2024
When Tax Codes Become Silencing Tools: Financial Laws as a Press Freedom Threat
October 16, 2024 - General - Governments worldwide have begun weaponizing financial legislation—tax audits, anti‑money‑laundering rules, and defamation statutes—to intimidate and control independent media. A forthcoming UNESCO report, along with research by WAN‑IFRA and the Inter American Press Association, spotlights this emerging tactic used to suppress investigative journalism through economic coercion. These financial pressures often manifest as sudden, unexplained tax investigations, hefty fines following critical reporting, forced dissolution of nonprofit media, or freezing of bank accounts. Such actions drive newsrooms into defensive modes: reassigning editorial budgets to legal teams, culling investigative staff, or abandoning coverage...
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Robert Telles was convicted of stabbing Jeff German of Las Vegas Review-Journal who had written critical articles
October 17, 2024
Robert Telles was convicted of stabbing Jeff German of Las Vegas Review-Journal who had written critical articles
October 16, 2024 - USA - Former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles received a severe sentence for the 2022 murder of investigative journalist Jeff German, ending a case that shocked both Las Vegas and the broader journalism community. On October 16, Judge Michelle Leavitt sentenced Telles to life in prison, enforcing a minimum term of 28 years before parole eligibility. The sentence builds upon a jury’s earlier recommendation of a 20-year minimum for first-degree murder, with an additional eight years added due to sentencing enhancements including use of a deadly weapon, premeditation (lying in...
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Crackdown Continues: Belarusian Journalist Faces High Treason Charges
October 17, 2024
Crackdown Continues: Belarusian Journalist Faces High Treason Charges
October 17, 2024 - Belarus - Freelance journalist Danil Palianski, a 53-year-old reporter from Brest, disappeared shortly after returning from Russia. His detention was confirmed by the Belarusian Association of Journalists, marking the start of a harsh judicial assault. Palianski now stands accused of “high treason” — a charge punishable by up to 20 years in prison — as part of a sweeping crackdown on independent media. He is one of at least 34 journalists currently detained in Belarus, a country now regarded as the most dangerous in Europe for press freedom. Andrei Bastunets, head of...
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Crushed in Omdurman: The Killing of Halima Idriss Salim and the Call for Justice
October 16, 2024
Crushed in Omdurman: The Killing of Halima Idriss Salim and the Call for Justice
October 16, 2024 - Sudan - Halima Idriss Salim—30, a reporter for the online news outlet Sudan Bukra, was tragically killed in Omdurman when a vehicle belonging to the Rapid Support Forces (RSF) struck her as she reported on escalating conflict between the RSF and Sudanese Armed Forces. Despite the gravity of the incident, no formal investigation has been launched into her death nearly a year later. The International Press Institute (IPI) has called for a transparent, independent inquiry into her killing, emphasizing this demand ahead of the first anniversary of the fatal incident. IPI...
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Threats from the Top: Turkish Mayor Intimidates Journalist Sinan Aygül
October 16, 2024
Threats from the Top: Turkish Mayor Intimidates Journalist Sinan Aygül
October 16, 2024 - Turkey - In a chilling escalation of press intimidation, on August 15, 2024, the mayor of Tatvan in eastern Turkey publicly threatened local journalist Sinan Aygül, stating, “Sinan will know his place” and promising, “We will teach him his lesson” during a press conference, though Aygül was not present. Aygül, who serves as chief editor of the independent Bitlis News website and chairs the Bitlis Journalists Society, had previously been physically attacked in June 2023 by bodyguards of the former mayor in response to his investigative reporting into municipal spending. The current mayor...
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Honoring Daphne Caruana Galizia: A Rally for Journalists’ Safety
October 16, 2024
Honoring Daphne Caruana Galizia: A Rally for Journalists’ Safety
October 16, 2024 - Malta - Brussels, media freedom advocates—including Media Freedom Rapid Response, IPI, ECPMF, EFJ, CPJ, RSF, and others—gathered in front of the Résidence Palace to commemorate the seventh anniversary of the assassination of Maltese investigative journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia. Her murder in October 2017, the result of a car-bomb attack while investigating high-level corruption, remains a defining symbol of the threats investigative reporters face. Organizers emphasized Daphne’s legacy as a reminder of the urgent need for structural safeguards, calling on the EU and EU member states to adopt robust protective measures for...
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Violence and Homophobic Abuse at Düsseldorf Concert: DW Journalist Attacked
October 15, 2024
Violence and Homophobic Abuse at Düsseldorf Concert: DW Journalist Attacked
October 15, 2024 - Syria - Deutsche Welle Arabic reporter Adonis Alkhaled was physically assaulted and subjected to homophobic abuse by security guards while covering a concert in Düsseldorf, Germany. The incident occurred in a back alley after Alkhaled had conducted a post-performance interview. Without provocation, a group of guards verbally attacked him and his colleague, including using a homophobic slur, before physically assaulting Alkhaled. Video evidence shows one guard repeatedly punching him in the head. Both journalists were forced to flee and later filed a police report. The concert featured Iraqi artist Al-Shami, whose...
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Death of Photojournalist Ayman Ruwaished Underscores Gaza’s Escalating Toll on Reporters
October 14, 2024
Death of Photojournalist Ayman Ruwaished Underscores Gaza’s Escalating Toll on Reporters
October 14, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Gaza authorities confirmed the killing of Ayman Muhammad Ruwaished, a renowned photojournalist for Al‑Aqsa Satellite channel. His death, attributed to Israeli military fire, marked the 177th journalist killed in Gaza since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023. Ruwaished was covering the intense military operations unfolding in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza when he was killed, according to local media reports. The Government Media Office in Gaza condemned the attack as part of a deliberate pattern targeting journalists, urging the international community and press freedom organizations to...
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Sharpening the Repression: Iran Sentences Journalists Over Mahsa Amini Coverage
October 14, 2024
Sharpening the Repression: Iran Sentences Journalists Over Mahsa Amini Coverage
October 14, 2024 - Iran - Tehran’s judicial authorities upheld five-year prison sentences for journalists Niloofar Hamedi and Elaheh Mohammadi, marking a severe escalation in Iran’s campaign against press freedom following the Mahsa Amini protests. Both had initially received lengthy terms—Hamedi was handed seven years and Mohammadi six—for alleged charges including collaboration with a foreign government, propaganda against the state, and assembly against national security. Appeals courts later cleared them of the collaboration charge but maintained convictions on national security and propaganda accusations, capping their sentences at five years each. Both journalists were first arrested...
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Brutal Silence: The Death of Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna in Russian Custody
October 14, 2024
Brutal Silence: The Death of Ukrainian Journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna in Russian Custody
October 14, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine - 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna was confirmed dead while detained by Russian authorities. She had disappeared in August 2023 while reporting on torture in Russian-controlled southern Ukraine and was later transferred into Russian prisons, where her fate remained unknown for months. Roshchyna was the first Ukrainian journalist to die in Russian captivity and one of twelve killed due to their work during the conflict since 2022. The Russian Defense Ministry notified her father that she had died on September 19, 2024, and by February 2025, her body was returned to Ukraine...
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Lebanese Demand Justice for Reuters Journalist Issam Abdallah
October 14, 2024
Lebanese Demand Justice for Reuters Journalist Issam Abdallah
October 14, 2024 - Lebanon/Israel - Reuters video journalist Issam Abdallah was killed while reporting on cross-border clashes between Israel and Hezbollah in southern Lebanon. Abdallah, 37, and six other journalists from Reuters, AFP, and Al‑Jazeera were identified as press—wearing “PRESS” helmets and jackets—when they came under direct fire from Israeli tank shells. Investigations by the UN Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch concluded that Abdallah's death resulted from a deliberate attack on journalists. UNIFIL found no cross-border exchange of fire before the strike, indicating clear targeting;...
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Kidnap Ambush in Anambra Leaves Journalists Dead or Missing
October 12, 2024
Kidnap Ambush in Anambra Leaves Journalists Dead or Missing
October 12, 2024 - Nigeria - A team of Nigerian sports journalists traveling to cover an international football match was ambushed by gunmen in Anambra State, resulting in a deadly attack that left three people dead and one journalist still missing. The victims were part of a 14-member SuperSport broadcast crew en route to Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, to cover Nigeria’s Africa Cup of Nations qualifier against Libya. The attack took place on the Ihiala-Orlu Road, a region plagued by insecurity and frequent abductions. The assailants opened fire on the vehicle, killing a cameraman, a...
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Russian Court Orders Arrest of CNN Journalist Over Reporting in Kursk Region
October 12, 2024
Russian Court Orders Arrest of CNN Journalist Over Reporting in Kursk Region
October 12, 2024 - Russia - In a stark escalation of Russia's control over war coverage, a court in Kursk on October 11, 2024, issued an arrest warrant in absentia for CNN’s Chief International Security Correspondent Nick Paton Walsh. The court accused him of illegally entering Russian territory by reporting from Ukrainian-held Sudzha in the Kursk region following Ukraine's August incursion. Authorities have requested his extradition, declaring he should be arrested "on Russian territory or upon extradition". The move builds on a criminal case opened in August 2024, with Russia’s FSB charging Paton Walsh and...
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Venezuela Uses Passport Revocation to Silence Critics After Disputed Election
October 12, 2024
Venezuela Uses Passport Revocation to Silence Critics After Disputed Election
October 12, 2024 - Venezuela - In the wake of Nicolás Maduro’s contested July 2024 re‑election, Venezuela has quietly revoked the passports of at least 40 journalists and human rights activists, according to Caracas–based Laboratorio de Paz, as documented by Financial Times and Reuters. Many learned of the cancellations only when attempting to travel, with documents being seized without explanation at the country’s main airport. This tactic aligns with Maduro’s broader strategy of targeted repression—dropping airport seizures and overt violence for subtler, systemic intimidation. Laboratorio de Paz explained that “unlike murder or torture, which have...
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Deliberate Silence: How Journalists Became Targets in Gaza
October 11, 2024
Deliberate Silence: How Journalists Became Targets in Gaza
October 11, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - An in-depth investigation by The Intercept, published on October 11, 2024, has revealed disturbing evidence suggesting that Israeli forces have deliberately targeted journalists in Gaza since the start of the war in October 2023. Drawing from eyewitness testimonies, verified videos, and open-source intelligence, the report alleges that the killings of several Palestinian journalists were not accidental but the result of direct and intentional strikes. The report highlights that local journalists, many of whom were wearing marked "PRESS" vests and working in areas known to be occupied by media crews,...
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A Voice Silenced: Gaza Mourns Journalist and Teacher Omar Al-Balaawi
October 11, 2024
A Voice Silenced: Gaza Mourns Journalist and Teacher Omar Al-Balaawi
October 11, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera cameraman and teacher Omar Al-Balaawi was fatally shot by Israeli forces in the Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. The 26-year-old journalist was on assignment, covering the devastation in the densely populated area, when he was hit by gunfire. His colleague, fellow cameraman Fadi Al-Wahidi, was critically injured in the same attack after being shot in the neck. Al-Balaawi’s death marks yet another grim addition to the rising toll of Palestinian journalists killed during Israel’s ongoing assault on Gaza. Al-Balaawi was more than just a journalist. He...
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The Arrest of US Journalist Jeremy Loffredo by Israeli Forces
October 11, 2024
The Arrest of US Journalist Jeremy Loffredo by Israeli Forces
October 11, 2024 - Israel/USA - American journalist Jeremy Loffredo, known for reporting on Middle Eastern conflicts, was detained by Israeli authorities in the occupied West Bank. Loffredo, working as a freelance correspondent for European media outlets, had reported critically on Israeli military operations and Iranian-linked missile activity in Gaza. His arrest came days after coverage accusing Hamas of obscuring battlefield setbacks and alleged ties to Iran. Israeli military and security forces accused Loffredo of violating censorship rules during an active operation and conducting unauthorized field reporting. They held him for approximately nine hours, during...
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Victoriia Roshchyna: Ukraine’s Journalist Killed in Russian Custody
October 11, 2024
Victoriia Roshchyna: Ukraine’s Journalist Killed in Russian Custody
October 11, 2024 - Ukraine/Russia - 27-year-old Ukrainian journalist Victoriia Roshchyna went missing after traveling to Russian-occupied eastern Ukraine for reporting. She last checked in on August 3, before vanishing while covering the occupied Zaporizhzhia region.. Her disappearance remained unexplained until April 2024, when Russia confirmed she was being held in detention, at one point in Taganrog’s notorious SIZO-2 prison. Roshchyna, a freelancer for outlets including Ukrainska Pravda, Hromadske, and Radio Free Europe, was an award-winning journalist. She received the 2022 Courage in Journalism Award for her courageous reportage from Mariupol during its prolonged siege. On October 10,...
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European Parliament Warns on Shrinking Media Freedom in Turkey
October 11, 2024
European Parliament Warns on Shrinking Media Freedom in Turkey
October 11, 2024 - Turkey - The European Parliament passed a resolution highlighting a concerning deterioration in press freedom in Turkey, as the judiciary continues granting prison sentences to journalists and activists. The motion condemned what it called systemic suppression of independent media, irregular prosecutions under vaguely defined laws, and politically motivated censorship actions. The resolution is timely: 2024 marked “a lost year” for Turkish media, with journalist associations reporting a sharp uptick in judicial harassment and sentencing. According to Index on Censorship, 36 journalists received convictions in the year leading up to May 2025—resulting...
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Shot for Reporting: Two Al Jazeera Cameramen Critically Wounded in Gaza
October 10, 2024
Shot for Reporting: Two Al Jazeera Cameramen Critically Wounded in Gaza
October 10, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Two Al Jazeera cameramen, Ali al-Attar and Fadi al-Wahidi, were critically injured in separate Israeli strikes while reporting from Gaza. Both were wearing marked press vests and documenting the humanitarian crisis in refugee camps when they were shot by Israeli forces, in what media watchdogs describe as a deliberate assault on journalists. Fadi al-Wahidi, a veteran journalist, was struck by sniper fire in the neck while filming in Jabalia refugee camp. He was immediately rushed to Al-Ahli Hospital, where doctors revealed that the bullet had damaged major arteries and...
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Al Jazeera Condemns Systematic Targeting of Journalists by Israeli Forces
October 9, 2024
Al Jazeera Condemns Systematic Targeting of Journalists by Israeli Forces
October 09, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera Media Network released a press statement sharply criticizing Israeli Occupation Forces for the deliberate targeting of its journalists in Gaza. The escalation began with the shooting of two cameramen—Ali al‑Attar and Fadi al‑Wahidi—in different parts of northern Gaza. Al‑Wahidi sustained a neck wound while covering a military assault in Jabalia camp, and two days prior, al‑Attar was injured while documenting displaced civilians in Deir al‑Balah. The network stated that these were "grave violations" of journalistic safety and international law. Al Jazeera rejected Israeli military claims, labeling six of its reporters as...
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Tragic Toll: Photojournalist Mohammad al‑Tanani Killed in Northern Gaza
October 9, 2024
Tragic Toll: Photojournalist Mohammad al‑Tanani Killed in Northern Gaza
October 09, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Israeli warplanes struck an Al‑Aqsa TV news crew near the Abu Sharakh roundabout in Jabalia refugee camp, northern Gaza. The strike killed photojournalist Mohammad al‑Tanani and injured reporter Tamer Lubbad, according to Al‑Aqsa TV’s Telegram announcement. The targeting appeared intentional, aimed at media crews, and ambulances were reportedly delayed from accessing the scene. This tragic incident marks yet another escalation in the violence against journalists in Gaza. With al‑Tanani’s death, the Gaza Media Office placed the total number of journalists killed since the start of the intensified Israeli offensive...
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Hassan Hamad’s Killing Highlights Alarm Over Journalist Safety in Gaza
October 7, 2024
Hassan Hamad’s Killing Highlights Alarm Over Journalist Safety in Gaza
October 06, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  19-year-old freelance journalist Hassan Hamad was killed when an Israeli artillery strike hit his home in Jabalia refugee camp in northern Gaza. In the days before his death, Hamad had received explicit threats via WhatsApp from an individual posing as an Israeli officer, warning him to stop filming Israeli military actions or face deadly consequences—a chilling precursor to the strike that ended his life. A freelance reporter whose footage had been featured by major outlets like Al Jazeera and Middle East Eye, Hamad's work focused on exposing the impacts of...
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A Year of Silence: Over 1,000 Violations Against Palestinian Media
October 6, 2024
A Year of Silence: Over 1,000 Violations Against Palestinian Media
October 10, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Marking one year since Israel launched its military campaign on Gaza in October 2023, the Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) and IFEX released a harrowing report detailing 1,029 Israeli violations against Palestinian media and journalists. The report, titled “A Palestinian Media Nakba,” reveals a systematic, year-long assault on press freedom, which both organizations argue amounts to an intentional silencing of Palestinian voices. The violations include killings, injuries, arrests, censorship, and destruction of media infrastructure. Among the most devastating findings is the death toll: at least 130...
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The Death of Journalism in Malaysia: Shrinking Media, Growing Censorship
October 6, 2024
The Death of Journalism in Malaysia: Shrinking Media, Growing Censorship
October 05, 2024 - Malaysia - Malaysian media watchers raised the alarm over a dramatic collapse of independent journalism. A collaborative analysis by Malaysia Today and Eurasia Review paints a stark portrait: over 71 journalists laid off since February, two online news outlets shuttered, and a creeping “new regime of censorship” reshaping the media landscape. This crackdown is driven by the Malaysian Communications and Multimedia Commission (MCMC), which has blocked dozens of websites and journalists after negative coverage of the government. In return, the state offers conditional funding, dictating allowable content and effectively neutering editorial...
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September Onslaught: 185 Violations Against Palestinian Journalists in One Month
October 6, 2024
September Onslaught: 185 Violations Against Palestinian Journalists in One Month
October 05, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli forces committed 185 documented violations against Palestinian journalists in Gaza and the occupied West Bank, according to the Palestinian Journalists Syndicate (PJS). The figures, released in a detailed report, underscore a deliberate campaign to silence Palestinian media voices amid intensifying conflict and occupation. Among the violations, the most severe were two journalist fatalities in Gaza and the injury of nine others in the West Bank by live ammunition while covering protests or military operations. These incidents, PJS states, were not isolated or accidental but part of an escalating...
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Silencing Their Own: Palestinian Authority Condemned for Shutting Down Al Jazeera
October 6, 2024
Silencing Their Own: Palestinian Authority Condemned for Shutting Down Al Jazeera
October 04, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  The Palestinian Authority (PA) sparked outrage by suspending Al Jazeera’s broadcasts in the occupied West Bank. Citing accusations of incitement, the PA moved to silence one of the region’s most prominent news outlets during a period of heightened tension. The action immediately drew condemnation from journalist unions, human rights groups, and civil society, who warned that this internal repression mirrors the very authoritarian tactics Palestinians have long opposed. According to Middle East Eye, several groups, including the Palestinian Media Forum and the Lawyers for Justice group, denounced the suspension...
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Ethiopian State Journalist Detained in Amhara Amid Crackdown
October 6, 2024
Ethiopian State Journalist Detained in Amhara Amid Crackdown
October 04, 2024 - Ethiopia -  Yeshihasab Abera, deputy editor at the state-owned Bekur newspaper in Bahir Dar, Amhara region, was forcefully taken from his office by Ethiopian security forces. His whereabouts have remained unknown since his transfer to a detention facility in Dangila. Authorities have refused to disclose any charges or allow communication with legal counsel or family, raising alarm among press freedom advocates. Abera’s arrest occurred amid a broader government offensive in Amhara targeting civilians, academics, and media professionals under the guise of "law enforcement operations" following the integration of regional militias into...
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UK Tribunal Rules Northern Ireland Police Illegally Spied on Journalists
October 6, 2024
UK Tribunal Rules Northern Ireland Police Illegally Spied on Journalists
October 04, 2023 - Ireland/UK -  In a landmark ruling in December 2024, the UK’s Investigatory Powers Tribunal (IPT) found that the Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) and the Metropolitan Police unlawfully conducted covert surveillance on journalists Trevor Birney and Barry McCaffrey in 2018. The covert operation—authorized by then-Chief Constable Sir George Hamilton—took place during the investigation into the Loughinisland massacre documentary, No Stone Unturned, which accused police of collusion in the 1994 killings of six Catholic men during the Troubles. The tribunal determined that the surveillance violated human rights and journalistic source protections because it failed to assess whether...
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Fear and Repression: CPJ Sounds Alarm Over Attacks on Journalists in Senegal
October 6, 2024
Fear and Repression: CPJ Sounds Alarm Over Attacks on Journalists in Senegal
October 04, 2024 - Senegal -  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has issued a stark warning over the growing threats to press freedom in Senegal following a wave of arrests and physical attacks targeting journalists. Between September 30 and October 2, 2024, at least four media workers faced detention or assault in a troubling escalation of state and non-state hostility toward the press. On September 30, journalist Kader Dia, a political commentator for Sen TV, was arrested by the cybercrime police after making televised remarks that allegedly insulted Senegalese police officers. He was held...
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Twelve Months of Courage: Global Solidarity with Gaza’s Journalists
October 4, 2024
Twelve Months of Courage: Global Solidarity with Gaza’s Journalists
October 04, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) marked one year since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza, calling it the deadliest period for journalism in recent history. In 12 months, at least 128 Palestinian journalists were killed, with the total number of journalist fatalities in the region—including Israel, Lebanon, and Syria—reaching 138. The IFJ described the devastation as a “media Nakba,” a term evoking both human tragedy and cultural erasure. The relentless Israeli bombardment not only took lives but also dismantled Gaza’s media infrastructure. Twenty-one radio stations were destroyed...
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Slovakia’s Prime Minister Fico Files SLAPP Lawsuit Against Prominent Editor
October 4, 2024
Slovakia’s Prime Minister Fico Files SLAPP Lawsuit Against Prominent Editor
October 04, 2024 - Slovakia -  Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico initiated a strategic lawsuit against public participation (SLAPP) targeting Peter Bárdy, editor-in-chief of Aktuality.sk, and publisher Ringier Slovak Media. The lawsuit concerns the use of Fico’s photograph on the cover of Bárdy’s book titled Fico – Obsessed with Power. Fico is seeking €100,000 in damages from each defendant, claiming misuse of his likeness and non-material harm, despite not challenging the book's content. The International Press Institute (IPI), along with nine press freedom organisations, including CPJ, RSF, EFJ, ECPMF, and others, condemned the legal action as a...
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Judicial Harassment in Peru: Paola Ugaz’s Communications Secrecy Lifted
October 4, 2024
Judicial Harassment in Peru: Paola Ugaz’s Communications Secrecy Lifted
October 04, 2024 - Peru - Peruvian investigative journalist Paola Ugaz—known for exposing sexual, physical, and financial abuses within the Catholic lay organization Sodalitium Christianae Vitae—faces a disturbing escalation in legal pressure: a court has ordered the lifting of confidentiality on her phone records and geolocation data from 2013 to 2020. This unprecedented judicial move stems from two stacked criminal suits against Ugaz: one for alleged money laundering in 2021, and a broader illicit enrichment inquiry initiated in August 2023. These cases, part of a long campaign of intimidation by interests tied to the Sodalitium,...
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Russia Targets Foreign Journalist with Threats and Legal Action over Kursk War Coverage
October 4, 2024
Russia Targets Foreign Journalist with Threats and Legal Action over Kursk War Coverage
October 04, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine -  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has condemned the Russian government's threat against Italian journalist Davide Maria De Luca, marking a new low in the country's ongoing crackdown on independent war reporting. De Luca, a freelance correspondent for the Italian newspaper Domani, had been reporting from the Russian border region of Kursk following a Ukrainian incursion in late September 2024. While embedded with Ukrainian forces, De Luca produced a series of reports and videos documenting the aftermath of the conflict, including footage from Sudzha, a Russian town briefly entered by Ukrainian troops....
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Censorship and Crackdowns: Israeli Journalists Face Rising Repression Amid Gaza War
October 4, 2024
Censorship and Crackdowns: Israeli Journalists Face Rising Repression Amid Gaza War
October 04, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  In the year following Hamas’s October 2023 attack and the ensuing war on Gaza, Israeli journalists have faced an alarming rise in state repression, censorship, and intimidation, according to a new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF). While much of the world’s focus has been on the devastation in Gaza, the media climate inside Israel has also deteriorated sharply, with press freedom increasingly sacrificed in the name of national security. RSF outlines how the Israeli government has expanded censorship laws, particularly targeting media outlets perceived as critical of its...
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Azerbaijan’s Press Freedom Crisis Deepens as 11 Journalists Remain Detained Ahead of COP29
October 4, 2024
Azerbaijan’s Press Freedom Crisis Deepens as 11 Journalists Remain Detained Ahead of COP29
October 04, 2024 - Azerbaijan -  In a politically charged crackdown coinciding with Azerbaijan’s hosting of COP29 in Baku, authorities have prolonged the pretrial detention of 11 journalists from independent media outlets, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). These individuals face criminal charges related to alleged currency smuggling—accusations widely criticized as politically motivated and aimed at silencing dissent. The journalists represent four critical outlets: Toplum TV, Kanal 13, Abzas Media, and Meclis.info. Pretrial detention extensions by as much as three months were issued in August and September 2024. Among those affected are Alashgar...
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Gaza in the Dark: How Israel Engineered a Year-Long Media Blackout
October 3, 2024
Gaza in the Dark: How Israel Engineered a Year-Long Media Blackout
October 03, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  One year since the outbreak of war on October 7, 2023, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has exposed how Israeli forces have systematically dismantled Gaza’s media landscape, orchestrating a near-total blackout on independent journalism. The conflict has become the deadliest for journalists in recent history, and the deliberate targeting of media infrastructure has stripped both local and global audiences of critical access to information. According to RSF, over 130 journalists have been killed in Gaza over the past year, with at least 32 of them deliberately targeted while on assignment....
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Two Belgian Journalists Wounded While Covering Beirut Airstrikes
October 3, 2024
Two Belgian Journalists Wounded While Covering Beirut Airstrikes
October 03, 2024 - Belgium/Lebanon -  Two Belgian reporters working for Flemish broadcaster VTM News—correspondent Robin Ramaekers (49) and cameraman Stijn De Smet (37)—were wounded on October 2, 2024, while covering Israeli airstrikes in central Beirut, as part of the broader Israel–Hezbollah conflict. Their injuries occurred during a live report on bombing strikes targeting Hezbollah-related sites in the city’s southern suburbs. Ramaekers sustained facial fractures, while De Smet was shot in the leg. Both were quickly hospitalized and survived the attack, which also killed six civilians and injured eleven others in that blast. Their coverage, alongside...
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France 24’s Wassim Nasr Faces Terrorism Investigations in the Sahel
October 3, 2024
France 24’s Wassim Nasr Faces Terrorism Investigations in the Sahel
October 03, 2024 - France -  France 24 journalist Wassim Nasr, an expert on jihadist movements in the Sahel region, is under formal investigation in September 2024 by the military-led governments of Burkina Faso, Mali, and Niger. Prosecutors in all three countries accuse him of “complicity” and “apology for terrorism” following his coverage of jihadist attacks, including the deadly September 17 bombing in Bamako and violence in Djibo, Burkina Faso. These governments, which came to power through coups and have subsequently distanced themselves from Western allies, claim Nasr’s commentary “amounts to blatant support” for terrorist groups...
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Cuban Journalist Yeris Curbelo Aguilera Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Reporting
October 3, 2024
Cuban Journalist Yeris Curbelo Aguilera Sentenced to Two Years in Prison for Reporting
October 03, 2024 - Cuba - Independent Cuban journalist and activist Yeris Curbelo Aguilera has been sentenced to two years in prison in what press freedom advocates call a politically motivated move aimed at silencing dissent. Curbelo, who reports for non-state outlets Palenque Visión and CubaNet, was convicted on September 24, 2024, of “causing minor injuries” during an altercation with several young men in Guantánamo earlier this year. He was originally arrested on June 16, detained for two days, and released on bail pending trial. Curbelo and human rights groups maintain that the confrontation was...
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Press Freedom in Georgia Threatened by Polarization and Political Pressure
October 3, 2024
Press Freedom in Georgia Threatened by Polarization and Political Pressure
October 03, 2024 - Georgia -  A recent press freedom mission to Georgia by international media watchdogs, including the Council of Europe’s Safety of Journalists Platform and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR), has issued a stark warning: Georgia’s press environment is deteriorating rapidly amid growing political polarization and state hostility. Their report, “Press Freedom and the Safety of Journalists in Peril,” reveals that journalists in the country are facing systemic harassment, legal intimidation, and a climate of fear ahead of the 2024 parliamentary elections. The findings highlight a troubling pattern of verbal and physical...
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JTI Expands Auditing Reach in France to Strengthen Trusted Journalism
October 3, 2024
JTI Expands Auditing Reach in France to Strengthen Trusted Journalism
October 03, 2024 - France - The Journalism Trust Initiative (JTI), launched by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) in 2019, is bolstering its capacity to promote transparency, ethics, and editorial independence by expanding its network of accredited auditors in France and neighboring regions. Previously limited to a single auditor, the JTI now includes two ISO‑17065-accredited firms—CEVA Solution and ICPF, authorized to independently audit media outlets in France, Belgium, and Switzerland. This expansion supports around 120 media outlets already engaged in the JTI process, including approximately 50 entering audits, by offering more local options and greater flexibility....
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Senegal’s Cybercrime Crackdown: Political Journalist Questioned and Detained
October 3, 2024
Senegal’s Cybercrime Crackdown: Political Journalist Questioned and Detained
October 03, 2024 - Senegal -  Respected Senegalese political analyst and journalist Cheikh Yerim Seck was summoned to the cybercrime division of Dakar police and detained following remarks made on private television channel 7 TV. During the broadcast, Seck challenged official government figures on the country’s economic conditions, citing data from the Ministry of Finance. Authorities subsequently charged him with "spreading false news" and defamation. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), alongside the Coordination of Press Associations (CAP) and the Senegalese journalists’ union SYNPICS, denounced the detention as arbitrary and abusive. IFJ Secretary General Anthony Bellanger...
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Russia Intensifies Crackdown on Foreign Journalists Over ‘Illegal’ Border Reporting
October 3, 2024
Russia Intensifies Crackdown on Foreign Journalists Over ‘Illegal’ Border Reporting
October 03, 2024 - Russia - Russia has escalated its crackdown on independent war reporting by launching criminal proceedings against several foreign journalists who covered Ukraine’s brief incursion into the Kursk region in August 2024. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has condemned the charges as politically motivated and is urging Russian authorities to drop them immediately. Among those targeted are Kathryn Diss, Europe bureau chief for Australia’s ABC News, and Italian journalists Stefania Battistini and Simone Traini from RAI. All three were reporting from the Russian border town of Sudzha while embedded with Ukrainian...
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Catholic Journalist killed in DR Congo, possibly for just $5
October 2, 2024
Catholic Journalist killed in DR Congo, possibly for just $5
October 2, 2024 - Source: cruxnow.com - YAOUNDÉ, Cameroon – A Congolese journalist and coordinator of Radio Maria – a Catholic radio station found in the war-ravaged eastern town of Goma in the Democratic Republic of the Congo – has been killed. Edmond Bahle Monja was shot point blank in Ndosho, a district of Goma. He was returning from work when he was killed. His sister, Irene Semakuba told journalists that when she learned that his brother had been murdered, she didn’t believe it. “I had the courage to rush to the spot where his...
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Sudan journalists: ‘90% of media infrastructure wiped out by war’
October 2, 2024
Sudan journalists: ‘90% of media infrastructure wiped out by war’
October 2, 2024 - Source: dabangasudan - The Sudanese Journalists Syndicate (SJS) report that the war in Sudan has decimated the country’s media sector, destroying 90 per cent of its infrastructure and displacing around a thousand journalists. Many media institutions were systematically looted, forcing journalists to flee or seek work in other professions, according to statements made at the SJS conference in Cairo on Tuesday. Eman Fadul, Secretary of Freedoms at the SJS, outlined these challenges, stating that “80 per cent of Sudan’s states were cut off from internet and communications, making it difficult to report on...
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Six Years On: Khashoggi’s Murder Remains Unpunished, Global Outcry Persists
October 2, 2024
Six Years On: Khashoggi’s Murder Remains Unpunished, Global Outcry Persists
October 02, 2024 - Turkey/Saudi Arabia -  Washington Post journalist Jamal Khashoggi was brutally murdered inside the Saudi consulate in Istanbul—lured for consular paperwork, strangled, and dismembered by a team of Saudi agents. Despite overwhelming international evidence, including U.S. and U.N. intelligence pointing to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s involvement, justice has remained elusive. In 2019, Saudi Arabia quietly tried and convicted eight individuals—five sentenced to death (later pardoned) and three imprisoned—for the murder. However, the trial held behind closed doors failed to implicate any senior officials, igniting widespread concern that this was a staged display...
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Death Threats Against Serbian Journalists Over Kosovo Reporting
October 2, 2024
Death Threats Against Serbian Journalists Over Kosovo Reporting
October 02, 2024 - Kosovo/Serbia -  Serbian news agency Tanjug is facing grave threats to its staff following coverage of Kosovo that sparked a chilling death threat. On September 30, 2024, the agency received an email threatening to “shoot journalists in the back of the head” if they entered Kosovo. The sender accused Tanjug of being a propaganda tool of Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić and condemned its use of the term “Kosovo and Metohija,” a phrase rejected by many Kosovar Albanians as a denial of Kosovo’s sovereignty. The threat included surveillance claims, stating the sender...
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Digital Retaliation: Hackers Strike Ukrainian Investigative Outlet Slidstvo.Info
October 2, 2024
Digital Retaliation: Hackers Strike Ukrainian Investigative Outlet Slidstvo.Info
October 02, 2024 - Ukraine -  Within an hour after Slidstvo.Info published a high‑profile investigation detailing a luxurious apartment secretly owned by the mother‑in‑law of Vitalii Koval—Ukraine’s newly appointed Minister of Agrarian Policy and Food—the outlet’s website came under a targeted cyber‑attack. According to the platform’s security provider, the DDoS (Distributed Denial of Service) assault began precisely at 17:00 local time, just sixty minutes after the article’s 16:01 publication, lasting around 30 minutes. Though the website remained online, the timing strongly indicates the attack was a calculated attempt to disrupt the outlet’s reporting. The exposé had...
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“I Chose Freedom Over Justice”: Assange Speaks at Landmark Council of Europe Hearing
October 1, 2024
“I Chose Freedom Over Justice”: Assange Speaks at Landmark Council of Europe Hearing
October 01, 2024 - UK -  Julian Assange, the WikiLeaks founder, recently released after 14 years of legal limbo, made his first public remarks on October 1, 2024, addressing the Parliamentary Assembly of the Council of Europe (PACE) in Strasbourg. In a powerful and emotional testimony, Assange reflected on the personal cost of his prosecution and the broader threat it poses to press freedom worldwide. Appearing before European lawmakers, Assange said he had pleaded guilty not because he believed he committed a crime, but because it was the only path to freedom. “I pleaded guilty...
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Senegalese Editors Join IFJ Initiative to Strengthen Ethical Reporting
October 1, 2024
Senegalese Editors Join IFJ Initiative to Strengthen Ethical Reporting
October 01, 2024 - Senegal -  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) has taken a vital step in reshaping how migration is covered in the media by consulting editors in Senegal on the ethical and accurate reporting of migration-related issues. This initiative, part of a broader effort across West Africa, aims to equip newsroom leaders with the tools and awareness needed to guide journalists in reporting migration stories with sensitivity, depth, and responsibility. Migration remains a deeply personal and politically charged issue in Senegal, where thousands undertake perilous journeys in search of better opportunities. Media...
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Ten Years for Truth: Cameroonian Journalist Kingsley Njoka Jailed in Military Court
October 1, 2024
Ten Years for Truth: Cameroonian Journalist Kingsley Njoka Jailed in Military Court
October 01, 2024 - Cameroon -  Cameroonian journalist Kingsley Fumunyuy Njoka has been sentenced to 10 years in prison by a military tribunal, drawing international condemnation for what press freedom advocates describe as an egregious attack on journalism. Njoka, a freelance journalist known for reporting on the Anglophone crisis, was convicted on September 24, 2024, of “secession” and “complicity with an armed group”—charges widely regarded as politically motivated and baseless. Njoka was first arrested in May 2020 in Douala without a warrant. Authorities accused him of managing WhatsApp groups allegedly linked to separatists and claimed...
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Anti-Corruption Blogger Otabek Sattoriy Muzzled After Prison—RSF Raises Alarm
October 1, 2024
Anti-Corruption Blogger Otabek Sattoriy Muzzled After Prison—RSF Raises Alarm
October 01, 2024 - Uzbekistan - Otabek Sattoriy, a prominent independent anti-corruption blogger in Uzbekistan, remains eerily silent and unreachable eight months after his judicial “release,” Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports. Despite a February 5, 2024, court decision commuting his original sentence to “correctional work” and a fine equivalent to 20% of his income, Sattoriy has neither appeared publicly nor maintained any contact with media, family, or civil society. He also hasn’t posted on social media, contradicting the court’s mandate that he be permitted to do so.  Sattoriy's troubles began with his coverage of corruption...
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Two Journalists Charged Over Reporting on President’s Exit Plan
October 1, 2024
Two Journalists Charged Over Reporting on President’s Exit Plan
October 01, 2024 - Gambia - In a troubling attack on media freedom, Gambian authorities have arrested and charged two respected journalists—Charles Faye, publisher of The Standard, and Babucarr Mbye, editor of The Trumpet—for allegedly publishing “false news” related to President Adama Barrow’s succession plans. The arrests took place on September 25, 2024, after the outlets ran a report claiming Barrow would delay stepping down for another term—an assertion the presidency quickly called “unverified and false.” The journalists are now facing charges under Section 133(1) of The Gambia’s Criminal Code, a provision frequently criticized for...
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Shut Out of the Debate: RSF Urges UK Parties to End Media Access Restrictions
October 1, 2024
Shut Out of the Debate: RSF Urges UK Parties to End Media Access Restrictions
October 01, 2024 - UK -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has strongly criticized political parties in the United Kingdom for increasingly restricting journalists' access to their annual conferences. Citing multiple reports of denied accreditations and opaque press entry procedures, RSF warned that such practices are incompatible with democratic principles and threaten the integrity of political discourse in Britain. The warning follows a series of incidents in which media professionals, including those from smaller outlets, freelancers, and international journalists, were either barred from attending or faced excessive hurdles to obtain access to key party gatherings. These...
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Damascus Strike Claims Life of Prominent State TV Anchor Safaa Ahmad
October 1, 2024
Damascus Strike Claims Life of Prominent State TV Anchor Safaa Ahmad
October 01, 2024 - Syria -  Israeli airstrikes rocked Damascus, hitting the Mezzeh district and its surroundings. Refugee and news agencies reported that at least three civilians were killed, and nine injured, as Syrian air defenses scrambled in response to incoming drones and missiles—allegedly launched from the occupied Golan Heights. Among the dead was Safaa Ahmad, a well-known presenter on Syria State TV. Joining the station in 2002, she hosted cultural talk shows and the flagship morning program "Sabah Al-Kheir". Her death marked the first journalist killed in Syria in 2024. The International Federation of Journalists...
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Salvini Sparks Debate Over RAI Independence After Unfiltered Monologue Airing
October 1, 2024
Salvini Sparks Debate Over RAI Independence After Unfiltered Monologue Airing
October 01, 2024 - Italy -  A single four-minute video of Italy’s Deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini aired uncritically on public news channel Rainews24 on September 14 has reignited concerns about political influence over RAI’s editorial independence. The clip, in which Salvini defended his handling of the 2019 Open Arms migrant rescue crisis ahead of his trial for alleged kidnapping, was broadcast directly from his social media, with no accompanying commentary or critical analysis—a move that prompted alarm from journalists and media freedom advocates. RAI’s editorial board swiftly condemned the broadcast, accusing political figures of exploiting...
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Silenced for Spotlight: Award-Winning Investigative Journalist Mech Dara Arrested in Cambodia
October 1, 2024
Silenced for Spotlight: Award-Winning Investigative Journalist Mech Dara Arrested in Cambodia
October 01, 2024 - Cambodia -  Cambodian investigative journalist Mech Dara, renowned for uncovering human trafficking and online scam networks, was detained on September 30, 2024, by military police at a toll booth near Sihanoukville while traveling with his family. He was formally charged on October 1 under Cambodian anti-incitement laws—specifically articles 494 and 495—for “inciting social unrest” related to Facebook posts that highlighted environmental damage to a sacred mountain site from quarry activity. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court remanded him in pretrial detention at Kandal Provincial Prison, where he may face up to two years...
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Fiction Turned Threat: JD Vance’s False Claims Spark Real-World Attacks on Journalists
October 1, 2024
Fiction Turned Threat: JD Vance’s False Claims Spark Real-World Attacks on Journalists
September 30, 2024 - Haiti -  Republican vice-presidential candidate J.D. Vance has come under fire from press freedom advocates after promoting a fabricated story that sparked a wave of threats against journalists and immigrant communities in the United States. The controversy erupted in September 2024 when Vance repeated a baseless claim that Haitian migrants in Springfield, Ohio, were stealing and eating local pets. Despite the story having no factual basis and being debunked by police, Vance defended his use of the false narrative, stating he would “create stories so the American media pays attention.” The...
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RT Still Reaching Europe: RSF Sounds Alarm Over Evasion of EU Sanctions
September 30, 2024
RT Still Reaching Europe: RSF Sounds Alarm Over Evasion of EU Sanctions
September 30, 2024 - France/Russia -  Despite being officially banned across the European Union since March 2022, Russia’s state-controlled broadcaster RT continues to reach French and wider EU audiences with ease through its website and mirror links. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned what it calls a “glaring loophole” in the EU’s sanctions regime, warning that the Kremlin’s propaganda machine is bypassing restrictions with minimal resistance. RT’s satellite and cable broadcasts were halted in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, as part of a broader EU strategy to combat disinformation and state propaganda. However, RSF’s...
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Balkan Gateway: How RT Circumvents EU Sanctions to Spread Kremlin Propaganda in Serbia
September 30, 2024
Balkan Gateway: How RT Circumvents EU Sanctions to Spread Kremlin Propaganda in Serbia
September 30, 2024 - Kosovo/Serbia/Russia -  Although the European Union has banned Russia’s state-run RT from broadcasting within its borders, RT Balkan continues to push Kremlin-aligned content throughout the Western Balkans, most notably from its base in Belgrade. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) warns that this ongoing media operation poses a serious threat to the EU’s efforts to combat disinformation and safeguard media integrity. Operating outside the jurisdiction of EU sanctions, Serbia has allowed RT Balkan to flourish. From Belgrade, the outlet publishes a steady stream of pro-Russian narratives that are widely picked up by local...
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RSF Unveils Propaganda Monitor to Expose Global Disinformation Networks
September 30, 2024
RSF Unveils Propaganda Monitor to Expose Global Disinformation Networks
September 30, 2024 - General Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has launched a major new initiative called The Propaganda Monitor, a multimedia investigative platform designed to uncover and analyze the global machinery of state-led propaganda and disinformation. Announced on September 30, 2024, the project aims to strengthen media literacy, expose propaganda disguised as journalism, and support policymakers, journalists, and the public in countering false narratives that threaten democratic societies. The Propaganda Monitor will provide in-depth investigations, profiles of key propagandists, expert interviews, and a wide range of resources to explain how authoritarian states—particularly Russia—weaponize media to...
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Unprecedented Carnage: 128 Journalists Killed in Israel-Gaza War Amid Mounting Calls for Accountability
September 30, 2024
Unprecedented Carnage: 128 Journalists Killed in Israel-Gaza War Amid Mounting Calls for Accountability
September 30, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  The Israel-Gaza conflict has become the deadliest war for journalists in modern history, with at least 128 media workers killed between October 7, 2023, and October 2024. According to a joint report from The NewsGuild and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the majority of the victims—123—were Palestinian, alongside four Israeli journalists and one Lebanese. This staggering toll has shattered all previous records since CPJ began documenting journalist fatalities in 1992. Many of the journalists killed were not caught in crossfire but were deliberately targeted. CPJ has confirmed that...
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Diana Panchenko: From Ukrainian Journalist to Kremlin Propagandist
September 30, 2024
Diana Panchenko: From Ukrainian Journalist to Kremlin Propagandist
September 30, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned Ukrainian-born journalist Diana Panchenko for actively spreading Kremlin propaganda under the guise of independent journalism. Once a presenter on Ukrainian television, Panchenko has transformed into a key figure in Russia’s international disinformation strategy, using sophisticated video content and pseudo-journalistic framing to push narratives that support Moscow’s agenda and undermine Ukraine’s sovereignty. Panchenko began her media career in Ukraine, working for outlets like NewsOne and First Independent stations later sanctioned for their pro-Russian stances. Following Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine in 2022, she relocated...
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Georgia’s “Family Values” Bill Silences Media Coverage of LGBTQ+ Issues
September 30, 2024
Georgia’s “Family Values” Bill Silences Media Coverage of LGBTQ+ Issues
September 30, 2024 - Europe -  Georgia’s ruling Georgian Dream party passed a sweeping legislative package titled “On Family Values and Protection of Minors”, adopting the bill through its third and final reading by a vote of 84–0. This package amends 18 existing laws—including the Freedom of Speech Act and broadcasting regulations—and explicitly bans media outlets from covering LGBTQ+ content. Under Article 8, broadcasters are prohibited from promoting “identification with a gender other than one’s biological sex or relationships between individuals of the same biological sex based on sexual orientation.” Violators face fines of 1,000 GEL...
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Italy’s Kremlin Ally: Propagandist Spreads Disinformation from Ukraine to West Africa
September 30, 2024
Italy’s Kremlin Ally: Propagandist Spreads Disinformation from Ukraine to West Africa
September 30, 2024 - Burkina Faso/Russia/Ukraine -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has unveiled the operations of Italian national Vittorio Nicola Rangeloni, a self-proclaimed journalist who has spent nearly a decade amplifying Kremlin propaganda across conflict zones—from Russian-occupied Ukraine to Burkina Faso. RSF’s investigation reveals how Rangeloni’s work blurs the line between journalism and state-backed disinformation, positioning him as a key player in Moscow’s global information war. Rangeloni, a 32-year-old from Lecco, Italy, with partial Russian heritage, rose to prominence by producing media content in Eastern Ukraine that mirrored the Kremlin’s narrative. Fluent in Russian and...
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Haitian Journalist Threatened After Exposing Reuters’ Gifts to Gang Leader
September 30, 2024
Haitian Journalist Threatened After Exposing Reuters’ Gifts to Gang Leader
September 30, 2024 - Haiti -  Widlore Mérancourt, editor-in-chief of Haiti’s investigative outlet AyiboPost, has been forced into hiding after receiving death threats for publishing a report revealing that Reuters journalists gave gifts to notorious Haitian gang leader Jimmy “Barbecue” Cherizier. Mérancourt’s September 18, 2024, article detailed how Cherizier showed off items—including balaclavas, alcohol, and cigarettes—that he claimed were provided by a Reuters reporter and photographer. The article sparked national attention and raised serious concerns about the ethics of foreign media reporting from crisis zones. Just a week after publication, Cherizier issued a chilling threat...
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Russia-Linked Disinformation Spoofs European Media to Spread Propaganda
September 30, 2024
Russia-Linked Disinformation Spoofs European Media to Spread Propaganda
September 30, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine -  The International Press Institute (IPI) has revealed a coordinated campaign of mass spoofing targeting European news outlets, exposing a new and alarming tactic in Russia-linked disinformation efforts. Fake websites mimicking trusted media brands are being used to spread pro-Kremlin narratives while eroding public trust in journalism across the continent. According to IPI’s investigation, dozens of spoofed domains have been identified in recent months, including counterfeit versions of prominent outlets in Ukraine, France, Germany, and the Balkans. These sites replicate the design, logos, and even the URLs of legitimate news...
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Unlocking Information, Empowering Democracy: IFJ and FAJ Urge Stronger Access Laws in Africa
September 28, 2024
Unlocking Information, Empowering Democracy: IFJ and FAJ Urge Stronger Access Laws in Africa
September 28, 2024 - Africa -  On the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its African affiliate, the Federation of African Journalists (FAJ), called on African governments to adopt and enforce meaningful access-to-information (ATI) laws. They emphasized that robust information access is not just a media issue—it’s a cornerstone of democratic governance, transparency, and accountability. In many African countries, journalists still struggle to obtain basic public data necessary for reporting. Weak or outdated ATI laws, bureaucratic red tape, and state secrecy all contribute to...
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Collateral Freedom: RSF Restores Access to Censored News in Russia and China
September 27, 2024
Collateral Freedom: RSF Restores Access to Censored News in Russia and China
September 27, 2024 - China/Russia -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has reignited its digital resistance campaign, Operation Collateral Freedom, unblocking nearly 50 censored news websites in Russia and China. By creating mirror versions of independent media outlets hosted on major cloud services, RSF is helping millions reclaim access to journalism suppressed by authoritarian regimes. Launched in observance of the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the operation targets two of the world’s most heavily censored countries. In Russia, where the government has blocked or dismantled most independent outlets since the invasion of Ukraine, RSF...
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Legal Intimidation in Ukraine: IPI Condemns Lawsuit Campaign by Politician Andriy Portnov
September 27, 2024
Legal Intimidation in Ukraine: IPI Condemns Lawsuit Campaign by Politician Andriy Portnov
September 27, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine -  The International Press Institute (IPI) has strongly condemned a campaign of defamation lawsuits filed by Ukrainian politician and lawyer Andriy Portnov against several independent media outlets and journalists. The organization warns that this strategy represents a dangerous attempt to silence critical reporting through legal harassment, posing a significant threat to press freedom in Ukraine. Portnov, a former deputy head of ex-President Viktor Yanukovych’s administration, began filing lawsuits in 2023 targeting journalists and outlets such as the Kyiv Independent, Hromadske, and the investigative unit Schemes. These lawsuits primarily object to...
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Tsunami of Digital Hate: Over 37,000 Online Attacks Target Brazilian Journalists Before Local Elections
September 27, 2024
Tsunami of Digital Hate: Over 37,000 Online Attacks Target Brazilian Journalists Before Local Elections
September 27, 2024 - Brazil -  As Brazil prepares for its October 2024 municipal elections, a disturbing wave of digital hostility has engulfed the country’s press. According to a new report by the Coalition in Defense of Journalism (CDJor), with support from Reporters Without Borders (RSF), more than 37,000 online attacks were recorded against journalists in just six weeks—from August 15 to September 27. The majority of these attacks took place on X (formerly Twitter), which accounted for 90% of all incidents. Posts often included derogatory slurs like “trash,” “shame,” or “activist,” and painted journalists...
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No to Secrets: Journalists Worldwide Demand End to Information Blackouts
September 27, 2024
No to Secrets: Journalists Worldwide Demand End to Information Blackouts
September 27, 2024 - General -  On the occasion of the International Day for Universal Access to Information, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) launched a global campaign titled “No to Secrets,” urging governments around the world to stop restricting access to public information. The campaign highlights the vital role of transparency in upholding democracy, combating corruption, and empowering citizens to hold their leaders accountable. In recent years, many governments have tightened controls over information, using national security, anti-terrorism laws, and state secrecy provisions to shield official documents and data from public view. These legal...
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Digital Battleground: 37,000 Online Attacks Target Journalists Ahead of Brazil’s Local Elections
September 27, 2024
Digital Battleground: 37,000 Online Attacks Target Journalists Ahead of Brazil’s Local Elections
September 27, 2024 - Brazil -  In the month leading up to Brazil’s October 2024 municipal elections, journalists faced an unprecedented wave of online hostility. According to a report by the Coalition in Defense of Journalism (CDJor), more than 37,000 online attacks were recorded against journalists between August 15 and September 27—an alarming figure that underscores a growing crisis for press freedom in Brazil’s digital sphere. The majority of these attacks—nearly 90%—were launched on X (formerly Twitter), where journalists were systematically targeted with slurs, threats, and campaigns aimed at discrediting their work. Reporters Without Borders...
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Truth Without Borders: IJ4EU Awards Honor Cross-Border Journalism’s Impact
September 26, 2024
Truth Without Borders: IJ4EU Awards Honor Cross-Border Journalism’s Impact
September 26, 2024 - General -  At the 2024 UNCOVERED Conference in Athens, the Investigative Journalism for Europe (IJ4EU) Impact Awards celebrated the power of cross-border collaboration in exposing injustice and holding the powerful to account. Three groundbreaking investigations were each awarded €5,000 for their significant public impact, innovative reporting methods, and international reach. One of the award-winning investigations, The Pylos Shipwreck: Reconstruction of a Catastrophe, meticulously uncovered the details of a 2023 migrant boat disaster off the Greek coast that claimed over 500 lives. Through forensic modeling, survivor interviews, and collaboration between outlets like...
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Polarized Voices, Fragile Freedoms: Armenia’s Struggle for Independent Journalism
September 26, 2024
Polarized Voices, Fragile Freedoms: Armenia’s Struggle for Independent Journalism
September 26, 2024 - Armenia -  Armenia’s media landscape has made important strides since the 2018 Velvet Revolution, but a new analysis by the International Press Institute (IPI) reveals that press freedom remains on uncertain footing. Despite climbing to 34th in the 2025 World Press Freedom Index, Armenia faces mounting challenges, including rising political polarization, waning public trust, and weak legal protections for journalists. One of the most pressing concerns is the growing perception that media outlets are politically biased. Many prominent news platforms are closely aligned either with the ruling Civil Contract Party or...
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Kyrgyzstan’s Media Under Siege: Prosecutors Push for Six‑Year Jail Terms for Investigative Journalists
September 26, 2024
Kyrgyzstan’s Media Under Siege: Prosecutors Push for Six‑Year Jail Terms for Investigative Journalists
September 26, 2024 - Kyrgyzstan -  In a troubling escalation of media repression in Kyrgyzstan, prosecutors have demanded six-year prison sentences for 11 journalists associated with Temirov Live, a prominent independent investigative outlet. The charges against them—ranging from “calling for mass unrest” to “creating an organised criminal group”—follow a January 2024 raid on their homes and offices. The case centers on journalists, including current and former staff: Makhabat Tajibek kyzy, Aktilek Kaparov, Aike Beishekeyeva, and Azamat Ishenbekov, four of whom remain in detention, while others are under house arrest or travel bans. Prosecutors claim the group’s reports contained "indirect" incitement, even...
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“At This Rate, Journalists in Gaza Will Vanish”—RSF Sounds the Alarm
September 26, 2024
“At This Rate, Journalists in Gaza Will Vanish”—RSF Sounds the Alarm
September 26, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has issued a stark warning: since October 7, over 130 journalists have been killed in Gaza—at least 32 while reporting—a number so high that RSF fears the enclave may soon be without frontline media workers. Across Gaza, press vests no longer offer protection; instead, they have become targets. On September 26, RSF coordinated flash protests in ten countries, protesting the relentless killings and demanding urgent safeguards for journalists and granting safe access for foreign press. Director-General Thibaut Bruttin underscored that the “massacre of journalists…threatens to...
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Crackdown Continues: Hong Kong Editors Sentenced to Jail Under Colonial-Era Sedition Law
September 26, 2024
Crackdown Continues: Hong Kong Editors Sentenced to Jail Under Colonial-Era Sedition Law
September 26, 2024 - China -  In a stark signal of shrinking press freedoms in Hong Kong, two senior editors from the pro-democracy outlet Stand News—Chung Pui‑kuen and Patrick Lam—have been convicted under the colonial-era Sedition Ordinance. On 26 September 2024, a Hong Kong court sentenced Chung, the former editor-in-chief, to 21 months in prison, and Lam, who had served pretrial custody, received 11 months before time already served and health considerations led to his release. This marks the first use of the sedition law against media figures since the 1997 handover, escalating concerns about the city’s rapid...
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UN Demands Justice in Killing of Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya
September 25, 2024
UN Demands Justice in Killing of Pakistani Journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya
September 25, 2024 - Pakistan/Kenya - Nearly two years after the fatal shooting of Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif in Kenya, calls for justice have intensified. The UN Special Rapporteur on freedom of expression, Irene Khan, has urged both Kenyan and Pakistani authorities to ensure full accountability for what she described as an "unlawful killing" that demands an independent and transparent investigation. Arshad Sharif, a prominent investigative journalist and vocal critic of Pakistan’s military, was forced into exile in 2022 following threats and legal harassment in his home country. He was killed on October 23, 2022,...
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Lethal Frontlines: Nine Journalists Killed in Lebanon Amid Gaza Conflict Spillover
September 25, 2024
Lethal Frontlines: Nine Journalists Killed in Lebanon Amid Gaza Conflict Spillover
September 25, 2024 - Lebanon/israel -  Since the outbreak of war in Gaza in October 2023, Lebanon has become one of the deadliest places for journalists outside the Palestinian territories. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), at least nine journalists and media workers have been killed in Lebanon as a result of Israeli airstrikes and escalating cross-border violence. These fatalities highlight the growing dangers faced by reporters covering one of the region’s most volatile frontlines. Among the most recent victims was Kamel Karaki, a cameraman with Al-Majd News, who was killed on 24...
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Alaa Abdel Fattah’s Ongoing Detention Sparks Global Outcry
September 25, 2024
Alaa Abdel Fattah’s Ongoing Detention Sparks Global Outcry
September 25, 2024 - Egypt/UK -  British-Egyptian blogger and activist Alaa Abdel Fattah remains imprisoned in Egypt despite completing his five-year sentence in September 2024, prompting renewed international condemnation. Press freedom organizations, including Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the International Press Institute (IPI), alongside a recent UN ruling, have declared his continued detention both arbitrary and illegal under international law. Alaa, a key figure in Egypt’s 2011 revolution and a longtime critic of government repression, was convicted in 2021 on charges of "spreading false news"—a broadly defined offense often used by Egyptian authorities to silence...
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Hong Kong Denies Entry to AP Photojournalist in Alarming Blow to Press Freedom
September 25, 2024
Hong Kong Denies Entry to AP Photojournalist in Alarming Blow to Press Freedom
September 25, 2024 - China -  Hong Kong’s government has denied entry and refused a visa renewal for French photojournalist Louise Delmotte, who was working for the Associated Press. Her expulsion marks yet another troubling sign of the shrinking space for press freedom in the once semi-autonomous city. Delmotte had been based in Hong Kong since March 2023 and was widely recognized for her coverage of politically sensitive topics, including the trial of jailed pro-democracy media tycoon Jimmy Lai. According to reports, Delmotte’s work visa application was rejected without explanation earlier this year. On September...
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Croatia’s Fragile Media Landscape Faces Legal, Political, and Economic Hurdles
September 25, 2024
Croatia’s Fragile Media Landscape Faces Legal, Political, and Economic Hurdles
September 25, 2024 - Croatia - A recent press freedom mission by the International Press Institute (IPI) and the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) has found that Croatia’s media environment is under serious threat from entrenched political interference, outdated laws, and economic instability. While Croatia is an EU member and its constitution guarantees freedom of expression, the practical reality for journalists and media outlets is increasingly precarious. One of the most pressing concerns is the misuse of defamation and insult laws. These criminal statutes are frequently used in strategic lawsuits against public participation (SLAPPs), designed...
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From Whistleblower to Accused: Cambodian Journalist Charged with the Crime He Exposed
September 24, 2024
From Whistleblower to Accused: Cambodian Journalist Charged with the Crime He Exposed
September 24, 2024 - Cambodia - In a disturbing twist, Cambodian journalist Ouk Mao, who helped expose illegal deforestation in the Phnom Chum Rok Sat community forest, now finds himself accused of the very crime he uncovered. Mao, 49, was charged with deforestation and incitement—serious offenses in Cambodia that carry prison terms of up to 10 and 2 years respectively—after he reported on land seizures and forest destruction linked to powerful political and military interests. Mao’s investigative work revealed how the Lin Vatey company, allegedly connected to military figures, had taken over large swaths of...
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Detained Without Transparency: Kurdish-Iranian Journalist Fardin Mostafaei Held in Secret
September 24, 2024
Detained Without Transparency: Kurdish-Iranian Journalist Fardin Mostafaei Held in Secret
September 24, 2024 - Iran -  Iranian security forces arrested Fardin Mostafaei, a 39-year-old Kurdish investigative journalist and administrator of the popular Telegram channel Saqqez Rudaw, in a café in Saqqez, Kurdistan Province. He has since been held at an undisclosed location, with authorities neither revealing charges nor location—a form of enforced disappearance. Mostafaei’s tensions with the state began in November 2023 when Saqqez's cyber police (FATA) summoned him following complaints from the city’s governor. He was interrogated for allegedly "spreading false information" and “disturbing public opinion” related to his reporting on local socio-economic issues. PEN...
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Six Years of Impunity: RSF Denounces the Unsolved Killing of Mexican Journalist Mario Gómez Sánchez
September 24, 2024
Six Years of Impunity: RSF Denounces the Unsolved Killing of Mexican Journalist Mario Gómez Sánchez
September 24, 2024 - Mexico -  veteran reporter Mario Leonel Gómez Sánchez, a correspondent for El Heraldo de Chiapas, was gunned down outside his home in Yajalón, Chiapas—Europe's most violent region for the press in Mexico—reportedly shot by two men on a motorcycle. Gómez, 41, had long exposed organized crime and corruption in local government, including threats received in 2016 from a congressman’s associate after he reported on alleged abuses. Though three suspects were arrested and convicted years later—with one receiving 25 years and two others 19 years—the intellectual authors behind the murder remain unidentified. The Chiapas...
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Yemen’s Journalism Schools Adopt Landmark IFJ–UNESCO Safety Curriculum
September 24, 2024
Yemen’s Journalism Schools Adopt Landmark IFJ–UNESCO Safety Curriculum
September 24, 2024 - Yemen -  In a milestone for press freedom and journalist protection, two Yemeni universities—Saba Region University in Marib and Al Mahrah University—have become the first in the country to adopt the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and UNESCO’s Media Safety Curriculum. The integration of this course into journalism programs marks a proactive step toward equipping future reporters with the tools and knowledge necessary to navigate the dangerous and politically unstable media landscape in Yemen. The curriculum, developed by IFJ and UNESCO with support from the Multi-Donor Programme on Freedom of Expression...
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Local Lifelines Under Fire: RSF and 547 Sahel Radio Stations Demand Urgent Protection
September 24, 2024
Local Lifelines Under Fire: RSF and 547 Sahel Radio Stations Demand Urgent Protection
September 24, 2024 - Sahel - In a bold regional initiative, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), alongside 547 community radio stations across the Sahel, has launched an urgent appeal to protect local journalism from growing threats. The joint statement, released during a large-scale mobilization event in Bamako on September 24, 2024, underscores the vital role community radio plays in informing rural populations in Mali, Burkina Faso, Niger, and Chad—regions increasingly plagued by violence, extremism, and media suppression. Community radio stations in the Sahel are often the only accessible source of independent news for millions of people....
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Afghanistan Silenced: Taliban Ban Live Political Broadcasts in Sweeping Censorship Drive
September 24, 2024
Afghanistan Silenced: Taliban Ban Live Political Broadcasts in Sweeping Censorship Drive
September 24, 2024 - Afghanistan -  The Taliban have intensified their clampdown on press freedom by banning all live political broadcasts in Afghanistan, marking a chilling escalation in their control over the country’s media landscape. The directive, issued on September 21, 2024, by the Taliban’s Ministry of Information and Culture, mandates that all political and current affairs programs be pre-recorded and vetted before airing. Broadcasters must also select their guests from a pre-approved list of 68 individuals and submit detailed plans of their programs in advance. This unprecedented restriction extends to both television and radio,...
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The Future Is Fragile Without a Free Press
September 23, 2024
The Future Is Fragile Without a Free Press
September 23, 2024 - General -  United Nations Summit of the Future in New York, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), backed by 123 civil society organizations, called for urgent and concrete action to safeguard press freedom globally. Their appeal came days before the Summit opened on September 22 and emphasized that democratic principles and sustainable development cannot survive without free, independent media. The focus was on the UN’s “Pact for the Future,” a landmark document intended to guide global cooperation and sustainable development in the coming decades. CPJ acknowledged that the latest version of...
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Belarus Jails Journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich in Renewed Crackdown on Dissent
September 23, 2024
Belarus Jails Journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich in Renewed Crackdown on Dissent
September 23, 2024 - Belarus -  Belarusian authorities have detained and sentenced journalist Yauhen Nikalayevich in what press freedom advocates are calling a clear act of retaliation against independent journalism. The 2024 arrest and subsequent sentencing mark yet another alarming chapter in Belarus’s ongoing suppression of critical voices under President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. Nikalayevich, a former video reporter for Media Polesye, was initially targeted in 2020 after covering mass protests in Pinsk demanding Lukashenko’s resignation. He was arrested, reportedly beaten, and served 10 days in administrative detention before fleeing the country and ceasing his journalistic...
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Somalia Must End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
September 23, 2024
Somalia Must End Impunity for Crimes Against Journalists
September 23, 2024 - Somalia -  Somalia is still grappling with a severe crisis: attacks on journalists persist while perpetrators rarely face justice. According to the International Press Institute (IPI), an alarming number of journalists killed in Somalia have never seen their killers prosecuted. In November 2023, IPI and the Somali Journalists Syndicate (SJS) formally urged national institutions—including the Attorney General’s Office, the National Media Council, and the Ministry of Information—to prioritize journalist safety and thoroughly investigate at least 11 documented killings dating back to 2016. Despite constitutional guarantees of media freedom and commitments under...
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Turkey Targets Kurdish Journalist Rabia Önver Over Crime Reporting
September 23, 2024
Turkey Targets Kurdish Journalist Rabia Önver Over Crime Reporting
September 23, 2024 - Kurdistan/Turkey -  Turkish authorities have launched a formal investigation into Kurdish journalist Rabia Önver, accusing her of “publicly spreading disinformation” after she reported on alleged corruption, narcotics trafficking, and prostitution involving officials in Hakkari province. The case marks a troubling escalation in the Turkish government’s use of its 2022 disinformation law to suppress independent journalism. On September 20, 2024, police reportedly raided Önver’s home in Hakkari under a prosecutor’s warrant, confiscating digital equipment and seeking her arrest, though she was not present at the time. The investigation was triggered by her reporting...
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Indian TV Journalist Salman Ali Khan Gunned Down Calls for Justice Intensify
September 23, 2024
Indian TV Journalist Salman Ali Khan Gunned Down Calls for Justice Intensify
September 23, 2024 - India -  Broadcast journalist Salman Ali Khan, aged 35 and affiliated with a local TV channel and YouTube, was tragically shot dead by three unidentified assailants on motorcycles near a hospital in Rajgarh district, Madhya Pradesh, on the evening of September 17, 2024. He was riding with his nine-year-old son when attackers opened fire; Khan was rushed to the hospital but died upon arrival. Earlier in February 2023, Khan had suffered a violent assault, attacked with a sword and knife, possibly motivated by a personal feud, which also injured his brother. The International...
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Taliban Jamming of Afghanistan International: Sharp Media Crackdown in Kabul
September 23, 2024
Taliban Jamming of Afghanistan International: Sharp Media Crackdown in Kabul
September 23, 2024 - Afghanistan -  The Taliban began jamming broadcasts of Afghanistan International (AITV), a London-based station delivering independent news to Afghan audiences. Starting September 5, Kabul viewers experienced intermittent “no signal” messages, while video evidence confirmed intentional disruption of the station’s satellite feed. CPJ condemned the move, labeling it “a new low” and urging the Taliban to halt its interference with AITV’s broadcasts. CPJ Program Director Carlos Martínez de la Serna warned that the use of “sophisticated technology” for jamming is alarming and emblematic of expanding efforts to silence independent journalism. An investigative report...
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Sri Lanka’s New President Faces Urgent Call to Restore Press Freedom
September 23, 2024
Sri Lanka’s New President Faces Urgent Call to Restore Press Freedom
September 23, 2024 - Sri Lanka -  Election of Anura Kumara Dissanayake as Sri Lanka’s new president, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has issued a direct and urgent appeal, urging him to commit to restoring press freedom in a country where journalists have long endured censorship, harassment, and violence. Sri Lanka currently ranks 150th out of 180 countries in RSF’s World Press Freedom Index, reflecting a deep and ongoing erosion of media rights. RSF’s statement, released on September 23, highlights the deteriorating state of journalism under the previous government, where legislation such as the Prevention of...
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UN Summit of the Future Breaches Promise on Right to Information and Expression
September 22, 2024
UN Summit of the Future Breaches Promise on Right to Information and Expression
September 22, 2024 - UN -  At the United Nations Summit of the Future in September 2024, expectations were high that global leaders would commit to robust protections for freedom of expression and access to information. However, according to Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Article 19, the summit ultimately delivered a diluted outcome, prioritizing rhetoric over decisive action. RSF sharply criticized the final Pact for the Future and accompanying Global Digital Compact, describing them as “a missed opportunity” for advancing journalism and democratic information governance. These documents—adopted by UN member states on September 22—mention protecting journalists...
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Israeli Forces Raid and Close Al Jazeera Office in Ramallah
September 22, 2024
Israeli Forces Raid and Close Al Jazeera Office in Ramallah
September 22, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  Heavily armed and masked Israeli soldiers launched a pre-dawn raid on Al Jazeera's office in Ramallah, in the occupied West Bank. The raid was broadcast live, showing troops forcibly entering the bureau and handing a 45‑day closure order to bureau chief Walid al‑Omari, citing alleged “incitement to and support of terrorism”. Journalists were instructed to evacuate with only personal belongings; cameras, documents, and archives were confiscated. Tear gas was reportedly deployed, and soldiers dismantled a poster of the late Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh. Al Jazeera condemned the raid as a “criminal...
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China Re-Arrests Zhang Zhan: RSF Condemns Renewed Persecution of Citizen Journalist
September 22, 2024
China Re-Arrests Zhang Zhan: RSF Condemns Renewed Persecution of Citizen Journalist
September 20, 2024 - China -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned the re-arrest of Chinese citizen journalist Zhang Zhan, calling it a renewed act of repression against independent journalism in China. Zhang, a former lawyer who rose to prominence for her reporting from Wuhan during the initial COVID-19 outbreak in 2020, was detained again in August 2024, just three months after completing a four-year prison sentence for “picking quarrels and provoking trouble.” Zhang’s earlier imprisonment followed her courageous documentation of the lockdown in Wuhan, where she livestreamed images, interviewed locals, and challenged the official...
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Russia Fines 11 Journalists and Restricts Media Outlets in Ongoing Assault on Press Freedom
September 20, 2024
Russia Fines 11 Journalists and Restricts Media Outlets in Ongoing Assault on Press Freedom
September 20, 2024 - Russia -  Russian authorities escalated their crackdown on independent journalism, issuing fines to 11 journalists and imposing legal restrictions on two media outlets under the guise of “anti-state” legislation. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), these actions are part of a broader effort to suppress dissenting voices amid the ongoing war in Ukraine. Journalists were fined under a range of repressive laws, including those governing so-called “foreign agents,” “undesirable organizations,” and wartime “disinformation.” Among them was Aida Ivanova, editor-in-chief of the Siberian outlet SakhaDay, who was fined for sharing...
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France Launches ‘Voices in Exile’ to Support Displaced Journalists
September 20, 2024
France Launches ‘Voices in Exile’ to Support Displaced Journalists
September 20, 2024 - France -  In a bold initiative to protect independent journalism and support displaced media professionals, France has launched the “Voices in Exile” program, making Paris a central hub for exiled journalists. Spearheaded by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Canal France International (CFI), SINGA, and the Maison des Journalistes—with support from the French Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs—the program offers a comprehensive support system for journalists forced to flee repressive regimes. Officially launched in September 2024, the three-year initiative will support four cohorts of displaced journalists through a nine-month process, including a...
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Poland at a Crossroads: Press Freedom Progress Demands Bold Reform
September 20, 2024
Poland at a Crossroads: Press Freedom Progress Demands Bold Reform
September 20, 2024 - Poland -  Poland is experiencing a rare window of opportunity to restore and strengthen press freedom, according to a recent fact-finding mission by the International Press Institute (IPI) and its Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners. In a report released following their September 2024 visit to Warsaw, the delegation acknowledged early improvements but emphasized the urgent need for comprehensive and ambitious reforms to secure long-term media independence. Recent steps taken by Poland’s new government have included reducing political influence over public media, ending biased state advertising practices following the sale of...
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Azerbaijani Dissident-Blogger Bahruz Samadov Jailed for 15 Years in Broad Anti‑Dissent Crackdown
September 20, 2024
Azerbaijani Dissident-Blogger Bahruz Samadov Jailed for 15 Years in Broad Anti‑Dissent Crackdown
September 20, 2024 - Azerbaijan -  Bahruz Samadov, a prominent researcher, peace activist, and freelance journalist, has been sentenced to 15 years in prison in a closed‑door trial by Baku’s Grave Crimes Court, following treason charges stemming from his August 2024 detention. Initially arrested on August 21 while visiting family in Baku, Samadov was accused of passing unspecified information to Armenia—charges he vehemently denies. Prosecutors sought a 16‑year sentence; Samadov is reported to have attempted suicide and begun a hunger strike amid trial proceedings, highlighting the dire conditions he faced. Samadov, born in 1995, holds a doctoral degree...
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Free Narges Coalition Demands Urgent Release of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Ahead of Iran’s UN Week
September 20, 2024
Free Narges Coalition Demands Urgent Release of Nobel Laureate Narges Mohammadi Ahead of Iran’s UN Week
September 20, 2024 - Iran -  The Free Narges Coalition—a partnership of PEN America, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Front Line Defenders, and the Narges Mohammadi Foundation—is urging Iran for the immediate and unconditional release of Nobel Peace Prize laureate Narges Mohammadi as Iranian President Masoud Pezeshkian prepares to address the United Nations General Assembly on September 24, 2024. Mohammadi, a senior figure in Iran’s human rights and press freedom movement, has been detained in Evin Prison since November 2021. Her health has severely deteriorated: her coronary artery, already stented in 2021 for a 75 percent blockage, has worsened; she...
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Malaysia Upholds Defamation Ruling Against Journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown
September 20, 2024
Malaysia Upholds Defamation Ruling Against Journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown
September 20, 2024 - Malaysia -  Malaysia’s Federal Court dismissed British investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown’s final appeal in a civil defamation case tied to her 2018 book The Sarawak Report, which investigated the massive 1MDB corruption scandal. The court ruled that the appeal lacked sufficient merit to be heard, thereby upholding a lower court's decision ordering Rewcastle Brown and two others to pay RM 300,000 (approximately USD 71,000) in damages and RM 120,000 in legal costs to the Sultanah of Terengganu, who claimed she was defamed in the book. The court also imposed an...
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UN Raises Alarm Over Jimmy Lai’s Prolonged Solitary Confinement in Hong Kong
September 19, 2024
UN Raises Alarm Over Jimmy Lai’s Prolonged Solitary Confinement in Hong Kong
September 19, 2024 - Switzerland/China/UN -  During the 57th session of the UN Human Rights Council in Geneva, the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), represented by its international legal team, formally voiced grave concerns over the deteriorating physical and mental health of Jimmy Lai. The Apple Daily founder has been held in extreme solitary confinement since December 2020, spending over three and a half years confined to a cell for over 23 hours daily, with only 50 minutes of limited outdoor time. Lai is charged under Hong Kong’s National Security Law—a sweeping measure enacted by Beijing—and...
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RSF Sharpens Focus on Right to Information and Fight Against Propaganda
September 19, 2024
RSF Sharpens Focus on Right to Information and Fight Against Propaganda
September 19, 2024 - General -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reaffirmed its strategic commitment to defending the right to reliable information and combating the growing influence of state-sponsored propaganda. As global press freedom deteriorates, RSF is intensifying efforts to protect independent journalism and expose disinformation campaigns, which it warns are eroding democracy worldwide. At the core of RSF’s strategy is the belief that access to trustworthy, pluralistic information is a fundamental right. The organization has observed that authoritarian regimes and powerful private actors are increasingly manipulating public discourse through propaganda, censorship, and information warfare. To...
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Alterthess SLAPP Appeal Highlights Growing Threat to Press Freedom in Greece
September 19, 2024
Alterthess SLAPP Appeal Highlights Growing Threat to Press Freedom in Greece
September 19, 2024 - Greece - Independent Greek news outlet Alterthess and its editor, Stavroula Poulimeni, are facing a critical legal battle that press freedom advocates have condemned as a Strategic Lawsuit Against Public Participation (SLAPP). The case stems from a defamation suit filed against the outlet over its investigative reporting, with the plaintiffs initially demanding €100,000 in damages. Although the court later reduced the penalty, the case has become a symbol of the growing use of litigation to silence independent journalism in Greece. Poulimeni had reported on environmental and business issues involving powerful corporate...
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Samoa Tightens Media Controls Ahead of CHOGM Press Freedom at Risk
September 19, 2024
Samoa Tightens Media Controls Ahead of CHOGM Press Freedom at Risk
September 19, 2024 - Samoa -  As Samoa prepared to host the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in October 2024, the government introduced sweeping restrictions on media coverage that raised alarm among journalists and international bodies. Announced publicly on September 11, 2024, these measures severely limit media access and threaten transparency during a major regional event. At a press briefing, Lefaoalii Unutoa Auelua‑Fonoti, co-chair of the CHOGM media subcommittee, confirmed that only state-backed outlets—Radio 2AP and TV9—working in collaboration with New Zealand firm MMG Communications, would have the exclusive right to film and broadcast CHOGM sessions....
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The case of Dawit Isaak: RSF international joins its Swedish section to file a complaint for crimes against humanity against Eritrea’s president Isaias Afwerki
September 19, 2024
The case of Dawit Isaak: RSF international joins its Swedish section to file a complaint for crimes against humanity against Eritrea’s president Isaias Afwerki
September 18, 2024 - Source: RSF - Reporters Without Borders (RSF), together with the Swedish legal team of imprisoned journalist Dawit Isaak, has filed a complaint against Eritrean leaders – including President Isaias Afwerki – with the Swedish Prosecution Authority for crimes against humanity. On 23 September 2024, journalist and writer Dawit Isaak will have spent 23 years in detention without trial in Eritrea. Isaak, a Swedish citizen, and his Eritrean colleagues Seyoum Tsehaye, Temesgen Ghebreyesus and Amanuel Asrat are the longest-detained journalists in the world. Ten years ago, Isaak’s legal team filed a criminal complaint with the Swedish Prosecution Authority. The...
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Nicaragua’s continued attack on journalism: where is Fabiola Tercero?
September 19, 2024
Nicaragua’s continued attack on journalism: where is Fabiola Tercero?
September 18, 2024 - Source: RSF -  Despite the release of 135 political prisoners in Nicaragua, journalist Fabiola Tercero Castro remains missing, with no updates on her whereabouts since 12 July. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) calls on the Nicaraguan government to urgently shed light on her case and guarantee her safety, as there are growing concerns the authorities may be involved in her disappearance. No one has seen or heard from freelance journalist and feminist activist Fabiola Tercero Castro since 12 July 2024, when she reported a raid on her home by government agents under the command of Commissioner...
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Bangladesh Targets Journalists Linked to Ousted Leader in Widening Crackdown
September 19, 2024
Bangladesh Targets Journalists Linked to Ousted Leader in Widening Crackdown
September 19, 2024 - Bangladesh - Student-led uprising that unseated Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina, Bangladeshi authorities have launched a sweeping crackdown on journalists perceived as supportive of the former leader. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), at least four media professionals have been arrested, while many more face harassment, criminal investigations, or charges in what observers describe as a politically motivated purge. Among the most high-profile arrests are Ekattor TV journalists Farzana Rupa and her husband Shakil Ahmed, who were detained on August 21 at Dhaka’s main airport. Both face charges in a...
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Belarusian journalist Andrei Tolchyn released following presidential pardon
September 19, 2024
Belarusian journalist Andrei Tolchyn released following presidential pardon
September 18, 2024 - Source: CPJ -  The Committee to Protect Journalists welcomes the September 17 release of Belarusian journalist Andrei Tolchyn, who received a presidential pardon after serving almost a year of a two-and-a-half-year prison sentence. “While we welcome the release of journalist Andrei Tolchyn, he should not have spent a single day in prison,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s Europe and Central Asia program coordinator, in New York. “Despite the recent releases of political prisoners, Belarus remains Europe’s worst jailer of journalists and one of the most hostile places in the world for independent journalism. The authorities...
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Russia Issues Arrest Warrant in Absentia for Exiled Journalist Armen Aramyan
September 19, 2024
Russia Issues Arrest Warrant in Absentia for Exiled Journalist Armen Aramyan
September 19, 2024 - Russia -  The Basmanny District Court in Moscow, on September 18, 2024, issued an arrest warrant in absentia for journalist and DOXA co-founder Armen Aramyan, who has been living in exile since April 2022. He is accused of “justifying terrorism online” and spreading “false information” about the Russian military through unspecified publications, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Aramyan helped establish DOXA, a student-run outlet, which in April 2022 was accused of involving minors in unauthorized protests and was subsequently banned. Along with two other co-founders, he fled Russia...
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Georgia Bars Foreign Journalists Amid Rising Crackdown on Independent Media
September 19, 2024
Georgia Bars Foreign Journalists Amid Rising Crackdown on Independent Media
September 19, 2024 - Georgia - Georgian authorities have intensified efforts to restrict press freedom by denying entry to several foreign journalists, raising serious concerns among international watchdogs. At least four journalists from France and the Czech Republic have been barred from entering the country since early 2024, with no clear legal justification provided. Media freedom groups warn this trend marks a dangerous authoritarian shift, particularly as Georgia approaches key political milestones. In February 2024, French journalist Clément Girardot was turned away at Tbilisi International Airport without explanation. His colleague Jérôme Chobeaux faced a similar...
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RSF Pushes U.S. Senate to Enact “PRESS Act” Federal Shield Law Before Time Runs Out
September 18, 2024
RSF Pushes U.S. Senate to Enact “PRESS Act” Federal Shield Law Before Time Runs Out
September 18, 2024 - USA -  With the 118th U.S. Congress concluding on January 3, 2025, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) is urging the Senate to urgently pass the PRESS Act, a federal shield law designed to protect journalists from being compelled to reveal sources or disclose sensitive materials—something not currently guaranteed at the national level. Although nearly every U.S. state and the District of Columbia already provide shield protections, a federal statute would establish a consistent standard across jurisdictions and guard reporters operating in federal contexts, such as federal court proceedings, congressional investigations, or national security inquiries....
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Georgia: Exiled Belarusian journalist and Armenian journalist denied entry without explanation
September 18, 2024
Georgia: Exiled Belarusian journalist and Armenian journalist denied entry without explanation
September 17, 2024 - Source: IFJ -  On 15 September, Belarusian journalist Andrei Mialeshka was denied entry to Georgia, where he has lived for the past three years after facing political persecution in Belarus. On 17 September, Armenian journalist Arsen Kharatyan, editor-in-chief of an independent non-profit bilingual Georgian-Armenia media platform Aliq Media based in Tbilisi, was also denied entry to Georgia. The International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ-EFJ) condemn the denial of entry of both journalists and call on the Georgian authorities to uphold freedom of access for all journalists. Andrei Mialeshka was returning...
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El Salvador Sees Alarming Rise in Digital Attacks on Journalists
September 18, 2024
El Salvador Sees Alarming Rise in Digital Attacks on Journalists
September 18, 2024 - El Salvador -  Between March and May 2024, the Association of Journalists of El Salvador (APES) documented 50 attacks against journalists, revealing a disturbing increase in both digital and physical aggression. These findings were released in APES’ first quarterly report on press attacks, alongside its Digital Listening Report for the first half of 2024. Journalists are being targeted through online harassment, legal threats, censorship, and stigmatizing public statements. The digital space, especially platforms like X (formerly Twitter) and YouTube, has become a major battleground. Attacks range from smear campaigns and defamation...
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Timor‑Leste: Female Journalist Detained, Camera Seized as Authorities Crack Down on Public-Interest Reporting
September 17, 2024
Timor‑Leste: Female Journalist Detained, Camera Seized as Authorities Crack Down on Public-Interest Reporting
September 17, 2024 - Timor - Timor‑Leste police arrested Antonieta Kartono Martins, a reporter with Média Diligente Online, while she was covering an eviction operation against street vendors in Dili ahead of Pope Francis’s visit—a rare case of targeting a female journalist in the country. She was held for approximately four hours and released without charges, but the detention highlighted growing pressure on journalists covering public-interest events. Simultaneously, Suzana Cardoso, a journalist from Média One Timor, had her camera confiscated and footage documenting the eviction operation deleted by security forces. Video evidence shows police and masked individuals using...
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Romania Reopens Smear Campaign Case Against Investigative Journalist Emilia Șercan
September 17, 2024
Romania Reopens Smear Campaign Case Against Investigative Journalist Emilia Șercan
September 17, 2024 - Romania - Romanian authorities have reopened a criminal investigation into the coordinated smear campaign targeting journalist Emilia Șercan, marking a significant development in a case long emblematic of institutional failure and media repression. The move follows a September 5 court decision ordering the case to be re-examined after prosecutors previously shelved it without sufficient action. Șercan, known for exposing plagiarism by top officials, faced a torrent of intimidation beginning in January 2022 after she revealed that then–Prime Minister Nicolae Ciucă had plagiarized his doctoral thesis. The following day, she received anonymous...
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RSF Warns of Rising Press Freedom Threats Ahead of Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election
September 17, 2024
RSF Warns of Rising Press Freedom Threats Ahead of Sri Lanka’s Presidential Election
September 17, 2024 - Sri Lanka -  With Sri Lanka’s presidential election set for September 21, 2024, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has issued a grave warning over the rapid decline of press freedom in the country. The organization highlights an alarming rise in journalist arrests, legal intimidation, and systemic censorship that threaten the integrity of democratic processes. At least two journalists have already been arbitrarily detained this year. G.P. Nissanka, editor of Ravana Lanka, was arrested after reporting on alleged corruption involving a police official. Freelance journalist Bimal Ruhunage was detained for filming a peaceful...
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Israel Revokes Al Jazeera Journalists’ Press Credentials Amid Escalating Media Crackdown
September 17, 2024
Israel Revokes Al Jazeera Journalists’ Press Credentials Amid Escalating Media Crackdown
September 17, 2024 - Israel/Qatar -  Amid growing tension over its coverage of Gaza, Israel has revoked the Government Press Office (GPO) credentials of four Al Jazeera journalists—two Israeli citizens and two Palestinian residents of East Jerusalem. Announced on September 12, 2024, this action follows the earlier shutdown and banning of Al Jazeera’s Israeli and West Bank bureaus, part of what press freedom advocates describe as a coordinated media crackdown. The GPO defended the decision, accusing Al Jazeera of disseminating "false content" and "incitement" that threatens Israeli soldiers and national security. The revoked journalists, primarily full-time...
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Belarusian Journalist Andrey Gnyot Faces Extradition Threat in Serbia, Sparking International Backlash
September 17, 2024
Belarusian Journalist Andrey Gnyot Faces Extradition Threat in Serbia, Sparking International Backlash
September 17, 2024 - Belarus/Serbia -  Belarusian investigative journalist and filmmaker Andrey Gnyot—also known as Andrei Gnyot—remains under house arrest in Belgrade amid efforts by the Belarusian government to secure his extradition on politically motivated charges. Serbian authorities initially detained him in October 2023 on an Interpol red notice for alleged tax evasion—a charge Gnyot and press-freedom advocates say serves as a thinly veiled attempt to silence him. On May 31, 2024, Serbia’s Higher Court in Belgrade ruled in favor of extraditing Gnyot to Belarus. The decision was later communicated officially in mid-June, prompting condemnation from...
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Romania: RSF Demands Thorough Probe into ‘Kompromat’ Campaign Against Journalist Emilia Șercan
September 16, 2024
Romania: RSF Demands Thorough Probe into ‘Kompromat’ Campaign Against Journalist Emilia Șercan
September 16, 2024 - Romania -  In an open letter, Reporters Without Borders (RSF), alongside nearly 40 media outlets and rights organizations, called on Romanian authorities to launch a comprehensive and independent investigation into the highly orchestrated smear campaign targeting investigative journalist Emilia Șercan. The campaign—commonly referred to as a “kompromat” operation—involved the illicit dissemination of intimate photos of Șercan. These images had been stolen and distributed widely online, a tactic designed to intimidate and discredit her following her exposure of plagiarism among high-level Romanian officials. While a Bucharest court did eventually order the reopening of...
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RSF Condemns Malaysian Court Ruling in Defamation Case Targeting Investigative Journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown
September 16, 2024
RSF Condemns Malaysian Court Ruling in Defamation Case Targeting Investigative Journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown
September 16, 2024 - Malaysia/UK -  The Federal Court of Malaysia has dismissed British investigative journalist Clare Rewcastle Brown’s final appeal in a civil defamation lawsuit brought by the Sultanah of Terengganu. This ruling upholds a December 2023 decision that she must pay RM 300,000 (approx. £52,800) in damages and RM 135,000 in legal costs—totaling over RM 435,000 (£76,600)—after being found civilly liable for erroneously listing the Sultanah in her 2018 book on the 1MDB corruption scandal. Rewcastle Brown had corrected the mistake soon after publication, clarifying that it was the Sultan’s sister — not his wife — associated with a businessman...
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Vietnam Jails Journalist Nguyen Vu Binh for Seven Years Over “Anti-State Propaganda”
September 16, 2024
Vietnam Jails Journalist Nguyen Vu Binh for Seven Years Over “Anti-State Propaganda”
September 16, 2024 - Vietnam -  A Hanoi court sentenced veteran journalist and blogger Nguyen Vu Binh to seven years in prison on charges of “making, storing, and distributing anti-state propaganda.” The 56-year-old was convicted under Article 117 of Vietnam’s Penal Code, which has been widely criticized for its use against dissenting voices. His arrest and sentencing are part of an intensifying crackdown on independent journalism in Vietnam. The charges stem from four videos Binh posted in early 2022 on TNT Media Live, in which he discussed political, social, and economic issues. Authorities claimed the...
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Post-Election Crackdown in Venezuela Sees Record Number of Journalists Jailed, Press Forced Underground
September 16, 2024
Post-Election Crackdown in Venezuela Sees Record Number of Journalists Jailed, Press Forced Underground
September 16, 2024 - Venezuela - In the wake of Venezuela’s contested July 28, 2024, presidential election, the country has witnessed an unprecedented wave of repression targeting journalists. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the number of detained media professionals has reached levels not seen in decades. Security forces have arrested reporters with alarming frequency—often without warrants and sometimes demanding bribes of up to US$4,000 to avoid detention, CPJ reports. At least 14 journalists have had their passports revoked without explanation, severely restricting their ability to travel or report internationally. One of the most...
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Iran Escalates Repression of Women Journalists Since Mahsa Amini’s Death, RSF Warns
September 16, 2024
Iran Escalates Repression of Women Journalists Since Mahsa Amini’s Death, RSF Warns
September 16, 2024 - Iran - Two years after the death of Mahsa Amini in police custody, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has released a detailed report exposing the systematic repression of women journalists in Iran. The report documents how female reporters have become primary targets of the Iranian regime’s crackdown on dissent following the mass “Woman, Life, Freedom” protests that erupted in September 2022. According to RSF, at least 42 journalists were arrested in the initial weeks of the protests, 15 of whom were women. Broader estimates suggest up to 79 journalists have been detained...
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Nigeria: WikkiTimes Publisher and Reporter Face Criminal Charges After Corruption Exposé
September 16, 2024
Nigeria: WikkiTimes Publisher and Reporter Face Criminal Charges After Corruption Exposé
September 16, 2024, - Nigeria -  In a troubling escalation against press freedom, Nigerian authorities have brought criminal charges against Haruna Mohammed Salisu, publisher of WikkiTimes, and reporter Yawale Adamu following a damning April 2024 investigation. The report exposed alleged embezzlement of public funds by federal lawmaker Mansur Manu Soro, who is accused of colluding with businessman Abubakar Abdullahi to siphon millions through inflated contracts, prompting Abdullahi to file suit two months later. On September 3, 2024, a magistrate court in Bauchi State issued a bench warrant for Salisu, who was abroad, and scheduled Adamu’s...
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Hong Kong Journalists Face Coordinated Harassment Campaign Targeting Families and Employers
September 14, 2024
Hong Kong Journalists Face Coordinated Harassment Campaign Targeting Families and Employers
September 14, 2024 - China -  A wave of coordinated harassment has targeted dozens of journalists in Hong Kong, marking one of the largest organized intimidation campaigns against the press in recent years, according to the Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA). The attacks, which took place between June and August 2024, involved threats directed not only at journalists but also at their families, landlords, workplaces, and schools. At least 15 journalists from more than a dozen media outlets—including Hong Kong Free Press, InMediaHK, and HK Feature—were affected. Anonymous emails, letters, and social media posts were...
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Two Journalists Killed in Pakistan as Violence Against Media Intensifies
September 13, 2024
Two Journalists Killed in Pakistan as Violence Against Media Intensifies
September 13, 2024 - Pakistan -  Pakistan’s deteriorating press freedom climate worsened further with the recent killings of two journalists, Muhammad Bachal Ghunio and Nisar Lehri, in separate incidents that underscore a disturbing rise in violence against the media. On August 27, 2024, Muhammad Bachal Ghunio, a reporter for Awaz TV, was shot and killed by unidentified gunmen in Sindh province. His brother and local police said the murder was likely linked to his investigative reporting. Authorities have since arrested a suspect and recovered a weapon believed to be used in the attack, though details...
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Crimean Journalist Remzi Bekirov Endures Continued Harassment and Solitary Confinement in Russian Prison
September 13, 2024
Crimean Journalist Remzi Bekirov Endures Continued Harassment and Solitary Confinement in Russian Prison
September 13, 2024 - Crimea -  Remzi Bekirov, an ethnic Crimean Tatar journalist from the Russian-occupied Crimea, continues to face severe harassment in jail as his court case approaches its next hearing on October 2, 2024. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and Bekirov’s attorney report escalating mistreatment, including repeated placements in solitary confinement and intense scrutiny by prison authorities. Bekirov, previously a correspondent for the independent media outlet Grani, was arrested following Russia’s annexation of Crimea. In March 2022, he was handed a draconian 19-year prison sentence on charges of “organizing the activities of...
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Southern African Journalists Launch United Front Against Disinformation
September 13, 2024
Southern African Journalists Launch United Front Against Disinformation
September 13, 2024 - Botswana -  Journalists from nine Southern African countries have formed a regional alliance to combat the growing threat of disinformation and misinformation, launching a coordinated campaign during a three-day conference held in Gaborone, Botswana, from September 10–12, 2024. The initiative, supported by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and UNESCO, brought together media union leaders from Angola, Botswana, Lesotho, Malawi, Mozambique, Namibia, South Africa, Zambia, and Zimbabwe. The conference aimed to strengthen the capacity of journalists to respond to false information through a Training-of-Trainers program on Media and Information Literacy (MIL)....
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Tunisia Upholds Conviction of Sonia Dahmani Amid Crackdown on Election Coverage
September 13, 2024
Tunisia Upholds Conviction of Sonia Dahmani Amid Crackdown on Election Coverage
September 13, 2024 - Tunisia -  In a concerning development for press freedom in Tunisia, an appeals court on September 10, 2024, upheld the conviction of lawyer and political commentator Sonia Dahmani for “spreading false news,” while reducing her prison sentence from one year to eight months. The ruling, issued without a hearing or the presence of her legal team, comes amid a broader campaign of media repression ahead of the October 6 presidential elections. Dahmani, a commentator on independent outlets IFM radio and Carthage Plus TV, was arrested on May 11, 2024, following critical remarks...
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Paraguayan Journalists’ Union Launches Training to Strengthen Labor Rights and Union Action
September 12, 2024
Paraguayan Journalists’ Union Launches Training to Strengthen Labor Rights and Union Action
September 12, 2024 - Paraguay -  The Sindicato de Periodistas del Paraguay (SPP) has launched a strategic training program aimed at reinforcing union strength and promoting collective labor rights within the media sector. Held in September 2024, the three-day workshop brought together 21 union delegates and executive members from seven media organizations across the country. Supported by Union to Union and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the training marked a significant step toward consolidating journalist-led labor activism in Paraguay. The program focused on three key areas. The first addressed the broader trade union landscape...
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Poland: IFJ and EFJ Support Bauer Media Workers Demanding Fair Wages and Labor Rights
September 12, 2024
Poland: IFJ and EFJ Support Bauer Media Workers Demanding Fair Wages and Labor Rights
September 12, 2024 - Poland - The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the European Federation of Journalists (EFJ) have joined forces with German media union dju/ver.di and Poland’s Society of Journalists to support workers at Bauer Publishing House Poland and its affiliate AKPA Agency. Employees are demanding improved pay and working conditions, citing low wages, lack of social benefits, and unfair salary structures amid soaring inflation. Since March 2024, staff at the two media companies have been engaged in negotiations with management, demanding three key reforms: a monthly salary increase of 1,000 Polish złoty...
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PTI Politician’s Harassment of Female Journalists Sparks Outrage in Pakistan
September 12, 2024
PTI Politician’s Harassment of Female Journalists Sparks Outrage in Pakistan
September 12, 2024 - Pakistan -  At a political rally in Islamabad on September 8, 2024, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur—a senior member of former Prime Minister Imran Khan’s PTI—delivered a verbal tirade against female journalists, igniting concerns over media safety and incitement. Speaking to a crowd, Gandapur accused reporters of being "sellouts" for not covering PTI stories and invited supporters to join him in mocking them. He singled out one female presenter, calling her “transgender,” “corrupt,” and alleging she “performed journalism for money”—in an episode that press freedom groups branded a dangerous...
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RSF and Society Magazine Spotlight Imprisoned Journalists in “The Prison Papers”
September 12, 2024
RSF and Society Magazine Spotlight Imprisoned Journalists in “The Prison Papers”
September 12, 2024 - General -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the French magazine Society have launched a powerful special edition titled “The Prison Papers”, shedding light on the lives and struggles of eight journalists currently imprisoned across four continents. The project combines long-form journalism, interviews, essays, and illustrations to document the personal and professional toll of incarceration for doing the work of reporting the truth. The stories featured represent a global spectrum of repression. Among them is José Rubén Zamora, the prominent Guatemalan journalist and founder of El Periódico, imprisoned since 2022 in what...
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Journalist Murat Ağırel Faces Death Threats and Surveillance in Escalating Press Freedom Crisis in Turkey
September 12, 2024
Journalist Murat Ağırel Faces Death Threats and Surveillance in Escalating Press Freedom Crisis in Turkey
September 12, 2024 - Turkey -  Investigative journalist Murat Ağırel, a prominent reporter for the Turkish daily Yeniçağ, is facing a growing wave of death threats and intimidation due to his reporting on corruption and criminal networks. His case has triggered alarm among international press freedom groups, who are calling on Turkish authorities to take immediate action to protect him and his family. The threats against Ağırel began in late 2023 and intensified throughout 2024. He reported receiving anonymous death threats on social media after publishing investigations into financial misconduct, illegal betting rings, and alleged...
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Mali Suspends TV5Monde and LCI in Escalating Clampdown on Foreign Media
September 12, 2024
Mali Suspends TV5Monde and LCI in Escalating Clampdown on Foreign Media
September 12, 2024 - Greece -  Mali’s media regulator, the High Authority for Communication (HAC), has suspended two French television channels—TV5Monde and LCI—over their coverage of sensitive security issues, deepening concerns about press freedom under the ruling military junta. On September 5, 2024, HAC imposed a three-month suspension on TV5Monde, citing its report on a drone strike in Tinzaouatene, northern Mali. The regulator accused the broadcaster of presenting unbalanced coverage by failing to include the Malian military’s perspective. The report, which aired in late August, discussed civilian casualties allegedly caused by the Malian armed forces....
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Circle 19 Emerges as Crucial Voice for Information Freedom in China
September 12, 2024
Circle 19 Emerges as Crucial Voice for Information Freedom in China
September 12, 2024 - China -  Circle 19, an independent collective of media professionals, scholars, and diaspora activists, has become a vital force in promoting the right to information for the Chinese public. Backed by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), the network advocates for access to verified, independent news in a country where state-controlled media dominates and censorship is systemic. Founded in 2019 and named after Article 19 of the Universal Declaration of Human Rights, Circle 19 brings together around 30 members, including well-known figures like Chang Ping, Kris Cheng, and Xiao Qiang. While some members...
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Former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes in Custody, Calls for Justice for Journalist Gerry Ortega
September 12, 2024
Former Palawan Governor Joel Reyes in Custody, Calls for Justice for Journalist Gerry Ortega
September 12, 2024 -Philippines - A 13-year legal saga reached a pivotal moment on September 11, 2024, when former Palawan Governor Joel T. Reyes, alleging mastermind behind environmental journalist Gerry Ortega’s 2011 murder, surrendered to the National Bureau of Investigation (NBI) in Metro Manila. Reyes had evaded justice since an arrest warrant was issued in 2023 by Palawan courts following a Supreme Court directive. His 2018 release by the Court of Appeals sparked renewed public outrage and legal pressure. Ortega, a respected radio broadcaster, was gunned down on January 24, 2011, shortly after speaking out against alleged...
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Vietnamese journalist sentenced to 7 years on propaganda charges
September 12, 2024
Vietnamese journalist sentenced to 7 years on propaganda charges
September 10, 2024 - Source: CPJ - A Hanoi court sentenced journalist Nguyen Vu Binh to seven years in prison on Tuesday on charges of propaganda against the state. Binh was convicted in connection to comments he made in videos on political, economic, and social topics posted on YouTube channel TNT Media Live in January and March 2022. The channel is owned by U.S.-based broadcasting outlet Tieng Nuoc Toi, or “My Country’s Language.” “Journalist Nguyen Vu Binh was arrested and sentenced to seven years for airing independent views, which Vietnamese authorities continue to treat as a criminal offense,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s...
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Turkmen journalist Ruslan Myatiev banned from entering Turkey
September 12, 2024
Turkmen journalist Ruslan Myatiev banned from entering Turkey
September 12, 2024 - Turkey - In a troubling show of cross-border repression, independent Turkmen journalist Ruslan Myatiev, editor-in-chief of the Netherlands-based Turkmen. news, was abruptly denied entry into Turkey on July 25, 2024, while traveling with his family for vacation. Turkish authorities detained him for four hours at Antalya airport before deporting him back to the Netherlands. He overheard officers say his entry ban—cited as “activity against state security” (code G‑82)—was imposed at the request of Turkmenistan’s government. A Netherlands-based exile journalist blocked from travel by a second country based on Turkmenistan’s demand signals...
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Anas al-Sharif: Reporting from Gaza’s Ruins with a Camera and Courage
September 11, 2024
Anas al-Sharif: Reporting from Gaza’s Ruins with a Camera and Courage
September 11, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif has become one of the most enduring voices reporting from northern Gaza, where he has remained throughout the relentless Israeli bombardment. Despite losing colleagues, enduring the death of his father in a strike, and facing direct threats from the Israeli military, al-Sharif continues to document the devastation with a clarity and urgency that has made him a symbol of press resistance under fire. A native of Jabalia refugee camp, al-Sharif holds a journalism degree from Al-Aqsa University. Since the war began in October 2023,...
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Gaza Becomes the Deadliest Place for Journalists in Modern History
September 11, 2024
Gaza Becomes the Deadliest Place for Journalists in Modern History
September 11, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - The Israel-Gaza war has marked a devastating chapter for press freedom, with journalist fatalities reaching historic levels. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), the conflict has become the deadliest for media workers since CPJ began keeping records in 1992. By mid-2025, at least 185 journalists and media workers will have been killed across Gaza, Israel, Lebanon, and the West Bank—an unprecedented toll in modern journalism. The vast majority of these deaths—over 80%—occurred in Gaza. In 2023 alone, 77 out of 99 journalist deaths worldwide happened in the...
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Philippine Ex-Governor Surrenders, Press Freedom Groups Demand Swift Justice in Journalist’s Murder
September 11, 2024
Philippine Ex-Governor Surrenders, Press Freedom Groups Demand Swift Justice in Journalist’s Murder
September 11, 2024 - Philippines -  Former Palawan Governor Joel T. Reyes—the alleged mastermind behind the 2011 killing of environmental journalist Gerry Ortega—surrendered to authorities in Metro Manila after evading arrest for over 13 years. Ortega, a popular broadcast reporter known for exposing political corruption on Palawan Island, was shot dead on January 24, 2011, shortly after challenging Reyes’s administration. A coalition of leading press freedom organizations—Free Press Unlimited, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), and Reporters Without Borders (RSF)—welcomed Reyes’s arrest and urged the Philippines to expedite a swift and impartial trial. They emphasized...
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Taliban Targets Independent Broadcaster, Escalates Media Crackdown in Afghanistan
September 11, 2024
Taliban Targets Independent Broadcaster, Escalates Media Crackdown in Afghanistan
September 11, 2024 - Afghanistan - The Taliban has labeled the independent news outlet Afghanistan International as an "enemy" of the state, further intensifying its suppression of press freedom. The accusation came after the London-based broadcaster reported on allegations of international aid misuse following devastating floods in Afghanistan’s Baghlan province. In a speech on September 4, Deputy Foreign Minister Abbas Stanekzai condemned the station for waging what he called a “propaganda war” against the Taliban, warning journalists to sever ties with the outlet. The backlash against Afghanistan International is part of a broader Taliban campaign...
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RSF Suspends Participation in Slovakia’s Press Freedom Advisory Body Over Government Interference
September 11, 2024
RSF Suspends Participation in Slovakia’s Press Freedom Advisory Body Over Government Interference
September 11, 2024 - Slovakia -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF), alongside the Investigative Centre of Jan Kuciak (ICJK), has suspended their participation in Slovakia’s government-backed Platform for the Promotion of Press Freedom and the Protection of Journalists. This move comes in protest against the government's controversial appointment of Dominik Papala—a radio host with a history of ethical breaches—to the advisory body's civil society seat (Platform), replacing respected journalist Zuzana Petkova. RSF and ICJK argue that his nomination violates the platform’s standards for expertise, professionalism, and genuine representation. Initially launched in October 2023 as a watchdog mechanism...
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Crackdown in Cairo: Rights Groups Demand Release of Detained Egyptian Journalists
September 10, 2024
Crackdown in Cairo: Rights Groups Demand Release of Detained Egyptian Journalists
September 10, 2024 - Egypt - A coalition of over 30 press freedom and human rights organizations, including the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), ARTICLE 19, and Cartooning for Peace, issued a joint statement on September 9, 2024, condemning the arrests and enforced disappearances of four Egyptian journalists. The group called for their immediate release and accountability for those responsible for their mistreatment. The detained journalists—Ashraf Omar, Khaled Mamdouh, Ramadan Gouida, and Yasser Abu Al-Ela—have all been charged under broad anti-terrorism laws for their journalistic work. Ashraf Omar, a cartoonist with the independent outlet Al-Manassa,...
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UNESCO report reveals 70% of environmental journalists have been attacked for their work
September 10, 2024
UNESCO report reveals 70% of environmental journalists have been attacked for their work
September 10, 2024 - Source: UNESCO - A new report published by UNESCO on World Press Freedom Day, 3 May, warns of increasing violence against, and intimidation of journalists reporting on the environment and climate disruption. At least 749 journalists or news media reporting on environmental issues have been attacked in the last 15 years, and online disinformation has surged dramatically in this period. UNESCO is calling for stronger support for environmental journalists and better governance of digital platforms. "Without reliable scientific information about the ongoing environmental crisis, we can never hope to overcome it....
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China Targets Exiled Uyghur Journalists to Silence Dissent Across Borders
September 10, 2024
China Targets Exiled Uyghur Journalists to Silence Dissent Across Borders
September 10, 2024 - China -  A new report by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reveals how the Chinese government is extending its authoritarian grip beyond its borders to target Uyghur journalists living in exile. The case of Kasim Abdurehim, a U.S.-based Uyghur journalist originally from Xinjiang, illustrates the Chinese state’s alarming use of transnational repression to suppress independent reporting and stifle dissent. Abdurehim, who fled China in 2017, has been subject to ongoing intimidation. According to RSF, at least twelve of his former colleagues, classmates, and friends still in China were detained and interrogated by...
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Azerbaijani Journalist Shahla Karim Detained Amid Crackdown on Election Coverage
September 10, 2024
Azerbaijani Journalist Shahla Karim Detained Amid Crackdown on Election Coverage
September 10, 2024 - Azerbaijan -  Azerbaijani freelance journalist Shahla Karim was forcibly detained while reporting on a protest led by opposition parliamentary candidate Vafa Nagi in the southern city of Neftchala. The demonstration was part of a broader outcry over alleged electoral fraud during the country’s September 1 parliamentary elections. Karim, who was documenting the event in her professional capacity, identified herself as a journalist but was still seized by a group of about ten masked plainclothes men. Karim was transported roughly 180 kilometers to the capital, Baku, where she was held for several...
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Philippines: Journalist Roy Barbosa Assaulted, Harassed and ‘Red‑Tagged’ During Protest Coverage
September 9, 2024
Philippines: Journalist Roy Barbosa Assaulted, Harassed and ‘Red‑Tagged’ During Protest Coverage
September 09, 2024 - Philippines -  Manila Today journalist Roy Barbosa, who identifies as non-binary, was violently confronted while live‑reporting a protest outside the Malolos Regional Trial Court in Bulacan, Philippines. The rally was staged in support of labor activists facing terrorism charges. Barbosa was approached by a masked man claiming to be a "vlogger" and repeatedly harassed—yelled at, spat upon—and subjected to gender-based insults including references to their “bakla” (gay) identity. He was told to delete his footage under threat of legal repercussions. Several police officers present did nothing to intervene. Though Barbosa managed to...
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Jordan’s Cybercrime Law Weaponized to Silence Journalists, RSF Warns
September 9, 2024
Jordan’s Cybercrime Law Weaponized to Silence Journalists, RSF Warns
September 09, 2024 - Jordan -  King Abdullah II enacted the new Cybercrime Law (Law No. 17 of 2023), significantly expanding restrictions on online speech and granting prosecutors sweeping powers to detain individuals—including journalists—without complaint under broadly defined charges of “fake news,” “defamation,” or undermining “national unity”. Over the following year, the law has been repeatedly exploited to suppress dissent during Jordan’s heightened protests over the Gaza war and domestic issues. RSF reports that at least four journalists have already been convicted under the law, with two still imprisoned. Jordan’s intelligence services have leveraged their authority...
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Bangladesh Investigates 28 Journalists Amid Crackdown on Protest Coverage
September 9, 2024
Bangladesh Investigates 28 Journalists Amid Crackdown on Protest Coverage
September 09, 2024 - Bangladesh -  authorities in Chittagong initiated legal proceedings against 28 journalists as part of a broader case targeting 109 protesters during nationwide student demonstrations that erupted in June. The charges include allegations of publishing “false or misleading news” alongside accusations of abduction and assault related to the protests. The journalists named in the case have been linked to national media outlets across print, television, and digital platforms. The targeting follows a notable erosion of media freedom in Bangladesh under both previous and current interim administrations. In recent months, dozens of journalists...
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Journalists Assaulted and Arrested by Mexico City Police During Human Rights Protest
September 9, 2024
Journalists Assaulted and Arrested by Mexico City Police During Human Rights Protest
September 09, 2024 - Mexico -  Mexico City police violently disrupted a human rights protest in Xochimilco, resulting in the assault and arrest of multiple journalists. The protest was organized in support of Otomí Indigenous activist Hortensia Telésforo and was met with force from law enforcement after tensions escalated between demonstrators and unidentified armed individuals. According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) and several rights groups, at least four journalists were directly affected by the police crackdown. Among those detained were Penélope Estefanía Galicia Argumedo of Radio Zapote and freelance reporter Elizabeth Díaz. Both...
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Rare arrest of a journalist in Timor-Leste: authorities reaffirm commitment to press freedom
September 9, 2024
Rare arrest of a journalist in Timor-Leste: authorities reaffirm commitment to press freedom
September 09, 2024 - Timor -  In an unusual incident for the Southeast Asian country, freelance reporter Antonieta Kartono Martins, working for Diligente Online, was arrested on the evening of September 4, 2024, while covering police eviction of street vendors in Dili. The detainment—lasting several hours at a police station—was widely seen as a problematic obstruction of journalism. RSF reports that while Martins was released without charges, police also confiscated footage from journalist Suzana Cardoso, who worked for Media One Timor-Leste, erasing critical evidence and raising serious media freedom concerns. President José Ramos-Horta responded swiftly, personally...
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Nicaragua deports 135 political prisoners, including journalist
September 7, 2024
Nicaragua deports 135 political prisoners, including journalist
September 07, 2024 - Nicaragua -  Nicaraguan authorities expelled 135 political prisoners, stripping them of citizenship and relocating them to Guatemala, a move brokered through US and Guatemalan mediation. Among those forced into exile was Víctor Ticay, a journalist formerly at Canal 10, who had been imprisoned since April 6, 2023, for live-streaming a Catholic Easter service—an act the Ortega regime criminalized under “undermining national integrity” and “false news” charges. Ticay's eight‑year sentence was condemned by the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), with Cristina Zahar noting that his detention “should have never occurred,” given that he was simply...
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Journalist Enrique Hernández Avilés Found Dead in Mexico After Two Months Missing
September 6, 2024
Journalist Enrique Hernández Avilés Found Dead in Mexico After Two Months Missing
September 06, 2024 - Mexico - Mexican journalist Enrique Hernández Avilés, who disappeared on June 20, 2024, in Taxco, Guerrero, was found dead over two months later in a clandestine grave near the area of his disappearance. His body was recovered on August 31, prompting widespread condemnation from press freedom organizations and international institutions, including UNESCO and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). Hernández Avilés, 55, was a seasoned reporter for the local magazine Contacto Policiaco, where he covered crime and public safety—subjects that often place journalists at serious risk in Mexico. His disappearance sparked...
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Despite Presidential Pledge, Iran’s Crackdown on Journalists Persists
September 6, 2024
Despite Presidential Pledge, Iran’s Crackdown on Journalists Persists
September 06, 2024 - Iran -  Iran’s newly elected president, Masoud Pezeshkian, had sparked cautious optimism in August 2024 when he announced plans to withdraw government complaints against journalists. However, that hope has quickly faded. According to Reporters Without Borders (RSF), at least seven journalists have been targeted in four new legal cases since Pezeshkian took office, indicating that the systematic persecution of the press remains entrenched. The president’s August 7 directive, which called on state bodies to retract existing legal actions against journalists, was widely welcomed by Iranian media workers. It followed persistent lobbying...
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Kyrgyz Authorities Threaten to Block Independent Outlets Over Presidential Reporting
September 5, 2024
Kyrgyz Authorities Threaten to Block Independent Outlets Over Presidential Reporting
September 05, 2024 - Kyrgyzstan -  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) issued a warning urging Kyrgyz authorities to reverse threats of blocking two independent online news outlets—Novye Litsa and Radio Azattyk—after they published a report linking President Sadyr Japarov to Russian political strategist ties, including connections to the late Wagner leader Yevgeny Prigozhin. In a directive issued by the Culture and Information Ministry on September 4, Novye Litsa was ordered to remove the August 30 article within 24 hours or face nationwide internet blocking. The outlet complied but insisted the piece was accurate. CPJ criticised the...
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Myanmar soldiers shoot dead 2 journalists in raid on home
September 5, 2024
Myanmar soldiers shoot dead 2 journalists in raid on home
August 23, 2024 – Source: CPJ — The Committee to Protect Journalists calls on Myanmar authorities to immediately and credibly investigate Wednesday’s killing of journalists Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu in a military raid on a home in southern Mon State. “The killing of journalists Win Htut Oo and Htet Myat Thu is an atrocity against the free press and must not go unpunished,” said Shawn Crispin, CPJ’s senior Southeast Asia representative. “Myanmar authorities must ensure swift and full justice for the country’s independent journalists who are being killed simply for reporting the news.” The bodies of Win...
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Guatemalan Journalist Carlos Monroy’s Home Shot at Amid Intimidation Over Reporting
September 4, 2024
Guatemalan Journalist Carlos Monroy’s Home Shot at Amid Intimidation Over Reporting
September 04, 2024 - Guatemala -  On the night of September 2, 2024, the home of veteran journalist Carlos Monroy, a correspondent for Nuestro Diario in Zacapa province, was struck by multiple bullets in what press freedom groups characterized as a clear act of intimidation tied to his reporting work. Miraculously, neither he nor his family was injured during the attack. Monroy specializes in covering crime and public security—a beat fraught with high risk in regions like Zacapa, where powerful local figures and criminal groups operate with impunity. The Association of Journalists of Guatemala (APG)...
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RSF Pledges €100,000 to Support Journalists in Gaza Facing Extreme Danger
September 4, 2024
RSF Pledges €100,000 to Support Journalists in Gaza Facing Extreme Danger
September 04, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has dedicated over €100,000 to assist more than 250 journalists still working in Gaza, offering emergency aid as conditions for reporters deteriorate amid the ongoing Israeli military operations. The funding, provided in coordination with the Arab Reporters for Investigative Journalism (ARIJ), is being used to deliver vital support to journalists facing unprecedented risks, shortages, and displacement. Since the war began on October 7, 2023, at least 130 journalists have been killed in Gaza, making it one of the deadliest places in the world for the...
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Two Armed Attacks on Journalists in One Week Spark Alarms in Colombia
September 3, 2024
Two Armed Attacks on Journalists in One Week Spark Alarms in Colombia
September 03, 2024 - Colombia - In a stark reminder of the dangers journalists face in Colombia, two armed attacks occurred within a single week in late August 2024, prompting urgent warnings from the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). The incidents reflect a troubling resurgence of violence targeting the press, particularly in rural and conflict-affected areas. The most serious case involved journalist Frank Caro, a correspondent based in the department of Cauca. On August 31, Caro was shot multiple times while driving near the outskirts of Popayán. The attackers opened fire on his vehicle, leaving...
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Russia Labels Exiled Journalist Galina Timchenko a “Foreign Agent” as Media Repression Intensifies
September 3, 2024
Russia Labels Exiled Journalist Galina Timchenko a “Foreign Agent” as Media Repression Intensifies
September 03, 2024 - Russia -  The Russian Ministry of Justice has officially branded Galina Timchenko, co-founder and editor-in-chief of the independent news site Meduza, as a "foreign agent," marking another effort by authorities to silence dissenting journalism. The designation, announced on September 3, 2024, accuses Timchenko of “spreading false information” about the Russian government, producing content for foreign entities, and opposing Moscow’s invasion of Ukraine. Timchenko, recipient of the 2022 CPJ Gwen Ifill International Press Freedom Award, now faces onerous reporting obligations under Russia’s Foreign Agents Law. She is required to submit regular activity...
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UK: IFJ and NUJ concerned over 24-hour arrest of journalist Richard Medhurst using terrorism legislation
September 3, 2024
UK: IFJ and NUJ concerned over 24-hour arrest of journalist Richard Medhurst using terrorism legislation
September 03, 2024 - Source: IFJ -  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the UK and Ireland, in voicing their grave concern on the apparent misuse of anti-terror legislation and consequential undermining of media freedom in the wake of the arrest of NUJ and IFJ member Richard Medhurst on 15 August upon his arrival at London Heathrow Airport. In a letter to Matt Jukes, UK Head of Counter Terrorism Policing, the NUJ and IFJ general secretaries have expressed their grave concern about an apparent crackdown on both...
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Bangladesh Paramilitary Assaults Journalist Amid Rising Press Threats Under Interim Cybersecurity Push
September 3, 2024
Bangladesh Paramilitary Assaults Journalist Amid Rising Press Threats Under Interim Cybersecurity Push
September 03, 2024 - Bangladesh -  Prothom Alo’s Dhaka University correspondent Asif Himadri was physically assaulted by members of Bangladesh’s paramilitary Ansar force while covering a protest at the Secretariat Complex in Dhaka. Himadri identified himself as a journalist documenting a clash between Ansar personnel demanding job nationalization and student protestors, but that did not prevent him from being attacked. The incident occurred during widespread unrest—carefully captured in footage of the assault—while around 40 students were also injured amid the melee. A total of 388 Ansar members were later sent to jail in connection with...
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Sierra Leone’s Exiled Journalist Faces Persistent Cyber-Harassment, RSF Warns of Deepening Impunity
September 3, 2024
Sierra Leone’s Exiled Journalist Faces Persistent Cyber-Harassment, RSF Warns of Deepening Impunity
September 03, 2024 - Sierra Leone -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned a sustained campaign of cyber-harassment and death threats against Sierra Leonean investigative journalist Dr. Chernoh Alpha M. Bah, who has been living in exile in the United States after exposing alleged government corruption. RSF highlights that these attacks—linked to his reporting on embezzlement involving high-ranking officials—remain unchecked, and the Sierra Leonean authorities have failed to safeguard his safety or allow him to return home. Dr. Bah, editor of the Africanist Press and a postdoctoral researcher at Northwestern University, has faced increasing online intimidation for more than...
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CNN Indonesia Fires 11 Journalists for Forming Union, Prompting IFJ and Media Groups to Condemn Union-Busting
September 2, 2024
CNN Indonesia Fires 11 Journalists for Forming Union, Prompting IFJ and Media Groups to Condemn Union-Busting
September 02, 2024 - Indonesia - In a brazen move that violates labor rights, CNN Indonesia terminated up to 11 journalists and media workers on August 31, 2024, just days after they registered a union via the Ministry of Manpower (Solidaritas Pekerja CNN Indonesia, SCPI) on August 27. The terminations coincided with unjustified salary cuts that began in June, affecting on‑air and digital staff without prior consultation (AJI highlighted unilateral decisions by management). The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), together with Indonesia’s Alliance of Independent Journalists (AJI), SINDIKASI, and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ...
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Mapping Where Journalists Disappear – Statista
August 30, 2024
Mapping Where Journalists Disappear – Statista
30 August 2024 - Source: Statista -  August 30 marks the International Day of the Victims of Enforced Disappearances. Enforced disappearances are the arrest or abduction of a person by or on behalf of the state, followed by that same authorities’ refusal to acknowledge it. The move is used as a means to silence opposition and to spread terror. The following chart looks specifically at the number of media workers that have disappeared over the past 24 years. According to the Reporters Without Borders (RSF) database, at least 217 media workers have disappeared since the year...
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Russian journalist Sergey Mikhaylov sentenced to 8 years in prison
August 30, 2024
Russian journalist Sergey Mikhaylov sentenced to 8 years in prison
August 30, 2024 - Russia -  The Committee to Protect Journalists condemns the sentencing Friday of Russian journalist Sergey Mikhaylov to eight years in prison on “fake news” charges and calls on Russian authorities to release him immediately. “The sentencing of journalist Sergey Mikhaylov to eight years in prison on what Russian authorities label as ‘fake news’ is another sign of the Kremlin’s fear of journalists telling the truth about the 2022 civilian massacre in Russian-occupied Bucha,” said Gulnoza Said, CPJ’s program coordinator for Europe and Central Asia. “Russian authorities should not contest Mikhaylov’s appeal and stop their prosecution...
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Indonesia: Eleven Journalists Attacked by Police During Protest Coverage
August 30, 2024
Indonesia: Eleven Journalists Attacked by Police During Protest Coverage
August 30, 2024 - Indonesia -  At least eleven journalists were violently assaulted by security forces while covering a mass protest in Jakarta on August 22, 2024, prompting strong condemnation from global and national press freedom organizations. The attacks occurred during demonstrations against the controversial Pilkada Bill, a proposed electoral reform that has sparked widespread unrest. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), the journalists were identified as the press but were still subjected to beatings, threats, and destruction of their equipment by members of both the National Police (Polri) and the Indonesian Armed...
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Over the Past Decade, 19 Journalists Have Disappeared Without a Trace
August 30, 2024
Over the Past Decade, 19 Journalists Have Disappeared Without a Trace
August 30, 2024 - General -  Over the past ten years, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) reports that 19 journalists have fallen victim to enforced disappearance by state actors and have yet to be found, accounting for the majority of the 32 journalists who vanished globally during this period. These deliberate abductions represent a grave escalation in the suppression of press freedom, undermining journalists’ safety and the public’s right to information. RSF defines enforced disappearance as a situation in which state agents detain individuals and refuse to acknowledge their whereabouts, effectively placing them outside the protection...
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Ismail al-Ghoul’s Killing Reflects Growing Pattern of Targeting and Discrediting Palestinian Journalists
August 30, 2024
Ismail al-Ghoul’s Killing Reflects Growing Pattern of Targeting and Discrediting Palestinian Journalists
August 30, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  The killing of Al Jazeera journalist Ismail al-Ghoul on July 31, 2024, in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza has drawn international condemnation and reignited concerns about the systematic targeting and posthumous discrediting of Palestinian journalists. Al-Ghoul, 27, was covering the aftermath of an Israeli strike when his marked press vehicle was hit near al-Shati camp, killing both him and his colleague, cameraman Rami al-Rifi. Their deaths brought the number of journalists killed in Gaza since October 2023 to well over 170, making it the deadliest conflict for media workers...
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Sudanese Paramilitary Group Kidnaps Journalist, Demands Escalating Ransom
August 29, 2024
Sudanese Paramilitary Group Kidnaps Journalist, Demands Escalating Ransom
August 29, 2024 - Sudan -  Freelance journalist Aladdin Abu Harba, based in East Nile, Khartoum, was abducted by armed men affiliated with the paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) on August 23, 2024, and held in an undisclosed location, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). Initially, the kidnappers demanded 1 million Sudanese pounds (approximately US$400) for his release, but upon payment, they raised the ransom to 2 million pounds, threatening to kill him if additional funds were not paid. The CPJ strongly condemned this act, calling on the RSF to immediately and unconditionally release...
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CPJ Flags Worsening Press Freedom in Iraq Ahead of UN Human Rights Review
August 29, 2024
CPJ Flags Worsening Press Freedom in Iraq Ahead of UN Human Rights Review
August 29, 2024 - Iraq - The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), in collaboration with MENA Rights Group and two Iraqi civil society organizations, has submitted a detailed report to the United Nations Human Rights Council ahead of Iraq’s fourth Universal Periodic Review (UPR), scheduled for 2025. The joint submission raises alarm over Iraq’s deteriorating press freedom environment and a deepening culture of impunity for crimes against journalists. The report outlines how Iraq has failed to uphold its previous UPR commitments, particularly regarding the safety and rights of journalists. Journalists in Iraq face increasing threats,...
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Former Nevada Official Sentenced for Murder of Journalist Jeff German
August 29, 2024
Former Nevada Official Sentenced for Murder of Journalist Jeff German
August 29, 2024 - USA - Justice has finally been served in the high-profile murder of investigative journalist Jeff German, who was killed in 2022 after reporting on workplace misconduct in a local government office. On August 28, 2024, a Nevada jury found former Clark County Public Administrator Robert Telles guilty of first-degree murder. He was sentenced to life in prison with the possibility of parole after 28 years, a rare but significant legal outcome in a country where murders of journalists often go unpunished. German, a veteran reporter for the Las Vegas Review-Journal, had...
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Pakistani Journalist Muhammad Bachal Ghunio Shot Dead in Sindh Amid Rising Threats to Press
August 29, 2024
Pakistani Journalist Muhammad Bachal Ghunio Shot Dead in Sindh Amid Rising Threats to Press
August 29, 2024 -Pakistan -  On August 27, 2024, Awaz TV reporter Muhammad Bachal Ghunio, aged 35, was brutally shot dead by unidentified gunmen while working in a field near his home in the Raunti area, Ghotki District, Sindh Province. The shooting took place as Ghunio, an investigative journalist, was covering reports on armed robbers (dacoits) operating in nearby riverine zones. Local authorities and his family suspect his professional reporting triggered the attack, while police have also referenced a personal feud as a possible motive. Witnesses and police noted that at least seven masked assailants...
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Las Vegas politician jailed for life for killing investigative journalist
August 29, 2024
Las Vegas politician jailed for life for killing investigative journalist
August 29, 2024 - Source: Al Jazeera - Former public administrator Robert Telles sentenced to life after being found guilty of 2022 murder of Jeff German. A Las Vegas politician has been jailed for life for killing an investigative journalist who wrote critical articles detailing wrongdoing in the department he headed. Robert Telles, a former Democratic public administrator, lay in wait outside the suburban home of 69-year-old reporter Jeff German and then stabbed him to death on September 2, 2022. “Justice has been served,” Clark County prosecutor Steve Wolfson told reporters. “Today’s verdict should send...
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CPJ Hails Conviction in Murder of Las Vegas Review‑Journal Reporter Jeff German
August 28, 2024
CPJ Hails Conviction in Murder of Las Vegas Review‑Journal Reporter Jeff German
August 28, 2024 - USA -  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) has welcomed the guilty verdict in the murder trial of former Clark County public administrator Robert Telles, marking a significant victory in the fight against violence targeting journalists. On August 28, 2024, a Las Vegas jury returned a unanimous verdict finding Telles guilty of first-degree murder in the fatal stabbing of investigative reporter Jeff German—a veteran journalist who had exposed corruption in Telles's office—and delivered a life sentence with a minimum of 20 years before parole eligibility German, age 69, was found stabbed to death...
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China Cuts Off Journalist Gao Yu’s Internet and Phone in Escalating Digital Crackdown
August 28, 2024
China Cuts Off Journalist Gao Yu’s Internet and Phone in Escalating Digital Crackdown
August 28, 2024 - China - Beijing authorities severed all forms of communication for veteran independent journalist Gao Yu, disabling her landline, mobile phone, and internet access. The disruption followed her publication of a critique of an Al Jazeera interview with Victor Gao, provoking what CPJ called a tactic of enforced isolation used to silence dissenting voices. At 80 years old, Gao found herself unable to contact emergency services, a distressing impact on her well-being. She reported having to rely on mobile data at cafés or at friends’ homes to stay connected. Telecom providers blamed non-payment, but...
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Thai Ex-Junta Deputy PM Slaps Female Journalist, Igniting Press Freedom Outcry
August 27, 2024
Thai Ex-Junta Deputy PM Slaps Female Journalist, Igniting Press Freedom Outcry
August 27, 2024 - Thailand -  Duangporn Yiampop, a seasoned reporter from Thai PBS, was abruptly struck by General Prawit Wongsuwon—former deputy prime minister and leader of the Palang Pracharath Party—outside Government House in Bangkok. The attack unfolded after Yiampop inquired about Prawit’s absence from a crucial parliamentary vote, captured in a widely circulated video where he slapped her twice on the head while angrily demanding, “What did you ask?” before being escorted away by guards. The incident drew swift condemnation from media watchdogs, legal experts, and international press freedom organizations. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ),...
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The Security Adviser Who Dedicated His Life to Protecting Journalists
August 27, 2024
The Security Adviser Who Dedicated His Life to Protecting Journalists
August 27, 2024 - Ukraine/UK -  Ryan Evans, a 38-year-old British media safety adviser working with Reuters, was killed on the night of August 24, 2024, when a Russian missile struck the Hotel Sapphire in Kramatorsk, eastern Ukraine. A former British soldier from Wrexham, Wales, Evans had served in Iraq and Afghanistan before becoming a close-protection officer and later joining Reuters in 2022. Known for his calm demeanor and dedication, he provided safety and emotional support to journalists covering some of the world’s most dangerous assignments. The missile, believed to be an Iskander short-range weapon,...
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Bangladesh Journalist Couple Arrested at Airport Amid Student Protest Probe
August 27, 2024
Bangladesh Journalist Couple Arrested at Airport Amid Student Protest Probe
August 27, 2024 - Bangladesh - Prominent Bangladeshi journalists Shakil Ahmed and Farzana Rupa, formerly with Ekattor TV, were detained at Dhaka’s Hazrat Shahjalal International Airport. The couple, traveling with their young daughter on August 21, were arrested while attempting to fly to Istanbul. Police held them after questioning for two hours regarding allegations of inciting violence linked to a student-led demonstration that ousted former Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina and reportedly caused around 100 deaths on August 5, 2024. On August 22, they appeared before a Dhaka magistrate and were placed on four days of police remand. Prosecutors accused them under Sections 302...
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Tunisian Press Freedom Under Threat as Court Upholds Conviction of Journalist Walid Al‑Majri
August 26, 2024
Tunisian Press Freedom Under Threat as Court Upholds Conviction of Journalist Walid Al‑Majri
August 26, 2024 - Tunisia - The Court of First Instance of Tunis 1 provisionally upheld its earlier in‑absentia verdict against Walid Al‑Majri, director of the investigative news site Al‑Katiba, following his appeal. Al‑Majri was originally sentenced in January 2023 to one year in prison for “insulting” former President Béji Caïd Essebsi and the Interior Minister via Facebook posts—a conviction widely regarded as politically motivated. His initial trial, based on a 2017 complaint by the Interior Ministry, was conducted without his presence or official summons, raising serious concerns over due process. The appeal hearing has been...
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Spain’s Journalists Under Digital Siege: IPI Sounds Alarm on Online Intimidation
August 26, 2024
Spain’s Journalists Under Digital Siege: IPI Sounds Alarm on Online Intimidation
September 26, 2024 - Spain -  A troubling surge in online harassment is threatening press freedom in Spain. In September 2024, the Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) consortium—backed by the International Press Institute (IPI) and others—raised the alarm over a targeted campaign of digital attacks against an investigative team at La Sexta TV. The harassment was orchestrated by Daniel Esteve, CEO of eviction firm Desokupa, and involved repeated doxxing threats and broad intimidation across social media platforms, including X and Instagram. Esteve escalated the situation after La Sexta’s Equipo de Investigación aired an inquiry into...
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Press Freedom Groups Call on EU to Sanction Israel for Targeting Journalists
August 26, 2024
Press Freedom Groups Call on EU to Sanction Israel for Targeting Journalists
August 26, 2024 - Palestine/Israel/Europe - Sixty international press freedom and human rights organizations issued a joint statement urging the European Union to take immediate action against Israel for what they described as systemic violations of media rights. The coalition, which includes the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), Reporters Without Borders (RSF), International Press Institute (IPI), Free Press Unlimited, and Human Rights Watch (HRW), called for the suspension of the EU–Israel Association Agreement and the imposition of targeted sanctions on Israeli officials involved in press freedom violations. The groups highlighted an alarming pattern of violence,...
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Two media workers killed, 1 injured in drone strike in Iraqi Kurdistan
August 23, 2024
Two media workers killed, 1 injured in drone strike in Iraqi Kurdistan
August 23, 2024 - Iraq - On 23 August 2024, a suspected Turkish drone strike in Said Sadiq, Sulaymaniyah province, Iraqi Kurdistan, tragically claimed the lives of two female journalists working for Chatr Multimedia Production Company, affiliated with Sterk TV. The victims—40-year-old Turkish reporter Gulistan Tara and 27-year-old Iraqi Kurdish video editor Hero Bahadin—were killed when their vehicle was struck while on assignment. A third journalist, Rebin Bakir, was seriously injured but is now in stable condition at a Sulaymaniyah hospital. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) expressed deep sorrow over the incident, urging Turkish...
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Taliban Suspends 14 Media Outlets in New Crackdown on Independent Press
August 9, 2024
Taliban Suspends 14 Media Outlets in New Crackdown on Independent Press
August 09, 2024 - Afghanistan -  Afghanistan’s Taliban-run Afghan Telecom Regulatory Authority (ATRA) revoked 17 broadcast licenses covering 14 media outlets in eastern Nangarhar province—a mix of TV and radio channels, including Hamisha Bahar Radio & TV, Sharq, Arzasht, and eight regional radio stations. Authorities claimed license suspension stemmed from unpaid fees totaling approximately Afg 108,000 (~US $1,500) annually, though some debts dated back to the previous government. Watchdog groups swiftly condemned the move. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) called on Taliban authorities to reverse the decision, asserting it represents ongoing state pressure on independent media...
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Four Years On, Belarusian Press Faces Persistent Repression as 37 Journalists Remain Jailed
August 9, 2024
Four Years On, Belarusian Press Faces Persistent Repression as 37 Journalists Remain Jailed
August 09, 2024 - Belarus -  Marking four years since Belarus’s widely discredited presidential election, the International and European Federations of Journalists (IFJ and EFJ), along with the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ), called for the immediate release of 37 journalists currently imprisoned under President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime. According to BAJ, the 37 jailed media professionals—27 men and 10 women—have been detained solely for their journalistic work. Many face charges related to “extremism,” “inciting hatred,” or “threats to national security,” often tied directly to their reporting on protests, political dissent, or human rights abuses. Notable...
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Ten Years On, No Justice: The Case of Disappeared Maldives Journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla
August 8, 2024
Ten Years On, No Justice: The Case of Disappeared Maldives Journalist Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla
August 08, 2024 - Maldives -  Ahmed Rilwan Abdulla—a fearless journalist with Minivan News known for his critical reporting on religious extremism and advocacy for democracy—was forcibly disappeared after receiving consistent threats from extremist groups in the Maldives. Multiple eyewitnesses saw him at the Hulhumalé ferry terminal, and CCTV footage confirmed his presence there before he vanished under suspicious circumstances. Since then, Rilwan’s fate has been shrouded in silence, with no trace of justice in sight. Early legal action led to the arrest—but eventual release—of three suspects, with charges dropped due to what a court cited as...
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Kenyan Police Accused of Widespread Violence and Impunity as RSF Demands Justice for Targeted Journalists
August 8, 2024
Kenyan Police Accused of Widespread Violence and Impunity as RSF Demands Justice for Targeted Journalists
August 08, 2024 - Kenya -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned multiple incidents of police violence against journalists in Kenya, demanding immediate accountability and disciplinary action against officers responsible. Over seven weeks of anti-government protests—including rallies against alleged brutality, corruption, and the death of blogger Albert Ojwang—journalists faced a harrowing pattern of intimidation: rubber-bullet shootings, tear-gassing, arbitrary arrests, and equipment destruction. A notable victim, Catherine Wanjeri Kariuki of Kameme TV, was shot in the leg with a rubber bullet during a July 16 protest in Nakuru. She stated, “This policeman tried to kill me,” asserting she...
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UK Unions Condemn Surge in Violence Against Journalists Covering Riots
August 7, 2024
UK Unions Condemn Surge in Violence Against Journalists Covering Riots
August 07, 2024 - UK -  The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the National Union of Journalists (NUJ) in the UK and Ireland have sounded the alarm over a disturbing rise in violence targeting journalists covering recent riots across the country, calling for urgent intervention by employers and authorities. Since late July, far-right riots erupted in multiple UK towns in response to an anti-immigrant disinformation campaign following the Southport stabbings on July 29. Journalists reporting from the front lines have been attacked, harassed, and had their equipment destroyed. In one incident in Bolton on...
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Mexican Crime Reporter Alejandro Martínez Noguez Gunned Down Despite Police Protection
August 6, 2024
Mexican Crime Reporter Alejandro Martínez Noguez Gunned Down Despite Police Protection
August 06, 2024 - Mexico - Veteran Mexican crime reporter Alejandro Alfredo Martínez Noguez, also known as “El Hijo del Llanero Solitito,” was fatally shot in Guanajuato while inside a police-escorted vehicle, in broad daylight on a highway between Celaya and Villagrán. Martínez, who hosted a highly popular Facebook page reporting on local crime, had nearly 350,000 followers and had survived a prior assassination attempt two years earlier. Assigned municipal police bodyguards due to persistent death threats, Martínez began filming and livestreaming a recent traffic accident in Celaya minutes before the attack, criticizing poor infrastructure and...
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Nigerian Journalists Brutalized While Covering Protests as Press Freedom Faces Violent Clampdown
August 6, 2024
Nigerian Journalists Brutalized While Covering Protests as Press Freedom Faces Violent Clampdown
August 06, 2024 - Nigeria -  Nigerian security forces launched a violent crackdown on journalists covering nationwide #EndBadGovernance protests, with at least 56 media workers assaulted, detained, or harassed, according to reports by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). On August 3 alone, during demonstrations in Abuja and other major cities, 31 journalists were violently targeted. Among them was Yakubu Mohammed of Premium Times, who was beaten and struck with a rifle butt while reporting, despite clearly identifying himself as press. In another case, Daily Independent photojournalist Kayode...
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Indian Broadcast Journalist Beaten by Cop While Covering IDP Rally in Manipur
August 6, 2024
Indian Broadcast Journalist Beaten by Cop While Covering IDP Rally in Manipur
August 06, 2024 - India -  Broadcast journalist Mutum Rameshchandra (known as RC Mangang) of Impact TV was violently assaulted by a sub-inspector of the Manipur Police as he covered a protest by internally displaced persons (IDPs) in Akampat, Imphal East. Despite clearly identifying himself as press and showing his ID card, SI Nikhil Singh allegedly punched him multiple times, tore his shirt, broke his phone, and threatened him. Rameshchandra was hospitalized at Raj Medicity with facial injuries and trauma. The All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU), Editors’ Guild of Manipur (EGM), and other regional...
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Brazilian Government Accused of Threats and Harassment Against Journalist Glenn Greenwald
August 6, 2024
Brazilian Government Accused of Threats and Harassment Against Journalist Glenn Greenwald
August 06, 2024 - Brazil -  Then-President Jair Bolsonaro and his administration escalated a mounting campaign of threats and harassment against American‑Brazilian journalist Glenn Greenwald, co-founder of The Intercept Brasil. This came on the heels of Greenwald’s publication of leaked Telegram messages suggesting undue collusion between Chief Justice Sérgio Moro and Lava Jato prosecutors—an exposé exposing potential judicial misconduct. During a military ceremony on 27 July, Bolsonaro publicly threatened Greenwald with imprisonment, accusing him of undermining the government. His supporters echoed these attacks, labeling the journalist “aligned with criminal hackers.” Meanwhile, Greenwald and his team reported...
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Colombian Journalists Face Death Threats After Reporting on Criminal Groups in Cauca and Valle
August 1, 2024
Colombian Journalists Face Death Threats After Reporting on Criminal Groups in Cauca and Valle
August 01, 2024 - Colombia -  Journalists from the Proclama de Cauca y Valle media network are facing a wave of death threats following their reporting on the activities of armed criminal groups in southwestern Colombia. The threats, delivered through anonymous messages on July 10, 24, and 27, 2024, warned the outlet’s staff to stop publishing sensitive content or face fatal consequences. The July 27 threat was particularly explicit, escalating fears for the safety of both journalists and their families. The Proclama network operates across a region long troubled by the presence of armed factions,...
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Georgia’s “Foreign Agent” Law Threatens Media Freedom, IFJ Urges Immediate Withdrawal
August 1, 2024
Georgia’s “Foreign Agent” Law Threatens Media Freedom, IFJ Urges Immediate Withdrawal
August 01, 2024 - Georgia -  Georgia enacted a controversial Transparency of Foreign Influence law requiring media outlets and civil society organizations that receive over 20% of their funding from abroad to register as “foreign agents.” The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its European counterpart (EFJ) immediately condemned the measure, warning it could be weaponized to criminalize independent journalism and civil society, and demanded its immediate and unconditional withdrawal. The IFJ described the law as authoritarian, labeling it as a legal tool designed to stifle dissent, particularly targeting critics of the government under the...
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Greek Court Acquits Suspects in Murder of Investigative Journalist Giorgos Karaivaz
July 31, 2024
Greek Court Acquits Suspects in Murder of Investigative Journalist Giorgos Karaivaz
July 31, 2024 - Greece -  A mixed jury court in Athens cleared two brothers of charges related to the contract killing of veteran crime reporter Giorgos Karaivaz, who was shot dead outside his home on 9 April 2021. Prosecutors had claimed Karaivaz was poised to reveal links between organized crime and corrupt police officials, citing at least 10 gunshots fired at the journalist from a motorcycle. Nevertheless, the court found the evidence insufficient, leading to the acquittal on the principle of “reasonable doubt”. The verdict was met with strong criticism from press-freedom advocates. Reporters Without...
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Two Al Jazeera Journalists Killed in Deadly Israeli Airstrike in Gaza
July 31, 2024
Two Al Jazeera Journalists Killed in Deadly Israeli Airstrike in Gaza
July 31, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - On 31 July 2024, Al Jazeera correspondent Ismail al‑Ghoul (27) and cameraman Rami al‑Refee were killed in an Israeli airstrike targeting their vehicle while covering the aftermath of Hamas leader Ismail Haniyeh’s assassination in Gaza’s Shati refugee camp, west of Gaza City. The pair had been filming live near Haniyeh’s residence when they made a last call to their news desk reporting an earlier strike and were advised to leave immediately. Mere minutes later, their marked press vehicle came under direct attack, resulting in a fatal strike that decapitated both...
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Bangladeshi Journalists Face Deadly Crackdown Amid Quota Protests—Multiple Killed, Hundreds Injured
July 30, 2024
Bangladeshi Journalists Face Deadly Crackdown Amid Quota Protests—Multiple Killed, Hundreds Injured
July 30, 2024 - Bangladesh -  Amid the intense quota-reform protests in Bangladesh between June and August 2024, journalists endured a wave of brutal attacks by security forces and political actors while covering nationwide unrest. According to the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), at least two journalists were killed and over 160 were injured during the violent clashes that claimed more than 200 lives. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) confirmed the deaths of four media personnel—Hasan Mehedi, Md Shakil Hossen, Abu Taher Md Turab, and Mehedi Hasan—all killed while reporting on the protests. Dozens more suffered from...
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Somalia: Journalist Alinur Salaad detained over military criticism
July 25, 2024
Somalia: Journalist Alinur Salaad detained over military criticism
July 25, 2024 - Source: IFJ -  Journalist and head of Dawan TV, Alinur Salaad, was detained by regional police in Mogadishu on 22 July on charges of false reporting and insulting the armed forces. Salaad was taken to court on 23 July and remanded in custody for 45-days while investigations are undertaken and potential charges prepared. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and its affiliate, the National Union of Somali Journalists (NUSOJ), condemn this arbitrary arrest as an attack on press freedom and demand Salaad’s immediate and unconditional release. Journalist Alinur Salaad was detained...
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Bangladesh: Journalist killed as protests rage
July 23, 2024
Bangladesh: Journalist killed as protests rage
July 23, 2024 - Source IFJ - At least one journalist has been killed as protests against government hiring quotas continue across Bangladesh, with hundreds killed, injured or detained. The International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) joins its affiliate, the Bangladesh Manobadhikar Sangbadik Forum (BMSF), in strongly condemning the killing, and urging protestors and authorities to ensure the safety of journalists and media workers.  On July 18, Dhaka Times journalist Mehedi Hasan was killed after he was shot in the head while covering a clash between law enforcement and protesting students and activists in Dhaka’s southern...
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Egyptian Journalists Kidnapped, Forcibly Disappeared Amid Escalating Press Crackdown
July 23, 2024
Egyptian Journalists Kidnapped, Forcibly Disappeared Amid Escalating Press Crackdown
July 23, 2024 - Egypt - Within just one week in July 2024, Egyptian security forces arrested two media professionals at midnight and disappeared them without a trace, marking a disturbing intensification of repression against independent journalists. On 16 July, journalist Khaled Mamdouh Ibrahim of Arabic Post was hauled from his home in Cairo’s Mokattam district. Authorities confiscated his laptop and phone, then held him incommunicado for five days before officially bringing him before the Supreme State Security Prosecution. He's now held for 15 days under charges of “spreading false news” and “joining a terrorist...
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Lebanese AFP Photographer Severely Wounded in Israeli Strike Carries Olympic Torch to Advocate for Press Protection
July 21, 2024
Lebanese AFP Photographer Severely Wounded in Israeli Strike Carries Olympic Torch to Advocate for Press Protection
July 21, 2024 - Lebanon/Israel - Lebanese photojournalist Christina Assi, a staffer with Agence France-Presse (AFP), took part in the Olympic torch relay in Vincennes, France, on July 21, 2024, symbolizing solidarity with journalists wounded or killed in conflict zones. Assi was severely injured on October 13, 2023, during an Israeli shelling incident near the Israel-Lebanon border. The strike claimed the life of Reuters videographer Issam Abdallah and wounded six others from AFP, Reuters, and Al Jazeera. Assi suffered grave injuries to her right leg, which was later amputated. During the torch relay, Assi was...
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Bangladesh Protests Turn Deadly for Press: RSF Demands Clarity on Journalist Mehedi Hasan’s Death
July 19, 2024
Bangladesh Protests Turn Deadly for Press: RSF Demands Clarity on Journalist Mehedi Hasan’s Death
July 19, 2024 - Bangladesh - Bangladesh witnessed a brutal escalation during protests triggered by a High Court decision reinstating a government job quota system. The violent crackdown, led by security forces and ruling-party activists, led to widespread unrest and human rights abuses. On July 18, 35-year-old Hasan Mehedi, a journalist with Dhaka Times, was shot in the head and killed while covering clashes in Dhaka’s Jatrabari area between protesters and law enforcement. His death is notable as one of several journalist casualties amid the protests. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) described the incident as part...
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Pakistani Reporter Malik Hassan Zaib Gunned Down in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amid Surge in Journalist Killings
July 15, 2024
Pakistani Reporter Malik Hassan Zaib Gunned Down in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Amid Surge in Journalist Killings
July 15, 2024 - Pakistan - Malik Hassan Zaib, a journalist for the Urdu‑language Daily Aaj and a member of the Peshawar Press Club and Khyber Union of Journalists, was fatally shot by two masked motorbike assailants in Akbarpura Bazaar, Nowshera district, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP). The attackers fired through the vehicle’s window, instantly killing the 40‑year‑old journalist, while his brother—who accompanied him—escaped unharmed. Zaib became the seventh journalist killed in Pakistan in just over six months of 2024, illustrating a disturbing escalation in violence against media workers. KP province alone lost three journalists this year,...
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Indonesian Journalist and Family Killed in Apparent Arson Press Freedom Advocates Demand Justice
July 6, 2024
Indonesian Journalist and Family Killed in Apparent Arson Press Freedom Advocates Demand Justice
July 06, 2024 - Indonesia - Indonesian journalist Rico Sempurna Pasaribu, aged 47, along with his wife, daughter, and grandson, tragically perished in a house fire in Kabanjahe, North Sumatra. Pasaribu worked with Tribrata TV and had recently reported on an illegal gambling ring allegedly linked to a local army officer. The fire erupted around 3 AM. Witnesses reported seeing five unknown individuals near the home shortly before the blaze started, raising suspicions of foul play following Pasaribu’s investigative reporting on illegal activities involving military personnel . The journalist had previously received warnings from both military and police...
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Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Gordon unjustly sentenced to 14 years in Russian prison
July 3, 2024
Ukrainian journalist Dmytro Gordon unjustly sentenced to 14 years in Russian prison
July 03, 2024 - Russia - Moscow military court delivered a 14‑year prison sentence, in absentia, to renowned Ukrainian journalist and YouTuber Dmytro (Dmitry) Gordon. The court convicted him under multiple charges, including “public calls for terrorism,” inciting hatred, spreading “fakes” about the Russian military, and advocating violence against Russian leaders. Despite his distance from Russian territory, prosecutors accused Gordon of using his popular platforms to encourage violence against President Putin and Belarusian President Lukashenko and even calling for a nuclear war against Russia . Gordon is a high-profile figure in Ukraine, with millions of subscribers...
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Gaza War Becomes Deadliest Conflict for Journalists in Decades, with Dozens Targeted and Killed
June 25, 2024
Gaza War Becomes Deadliest Conflict for Journalists in Decades, with Dozens Targeted and Killed
June 25, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - A comprehensive investigation by The Guardian has revealed the Gaza war is now the deadliest conflict for journalists in the 21st century, with at least 180 journalists killed—nearly all Palestinian—since October 2023. The scale of fatalities, combined with mounting evidence of deliberate targeting, paints a devastating picture of what press freedom advocates describe as a war on journalism itself. Journalists have been killed in their homes, on the frontlines, and while wearing marked “PRESS” vests. In numerous cases, reporters were struck by drones or tank shells in circumstances suggesting...
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Global Surge in Violence Against Environmental Journalists Threatens Climate Reporting
June 14, 2024
Global Surge in Violence Against Environmental Journalists Threatens Climate Reporting
June 14, 2024 - General - A landmark UNESCO–IFJ report released in May 2024 reveals a sharp rise in attacks on environmental journalists over the past 15 years. Among the 905 respondents from 129 countries, more than 70% reported physical attacks, threats, harassment, or legal intimidation related to their work, and 44 were killed between 2009 and 2023. Of those, only five cases led to convictions, underscoring a profound climate of impunity. The report documents 749 instances of violence, including assaults, arbitrary detention, abduction, and murder. Alarmingly, this violence has more than doubled in recent...
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Sudanese Paramilitary Forces Kill Journalist Makawi Mohamed Ahmed and His Brother Amid Escalating War Crimes
June 7, 2024
Sudanese Paramilitary Forces Kill Journalist Makawi Mohamed Ahmed and His Brother Amid Escalating War Crimes
June 07, 2024 - Sudan -  Elements of Sudan’s paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) stormed the village of Wad Al‑Noura in Al Jazirah state, south of Khartoum. During an intense attack involving heavy artillery, RSF fighters killed veteran state reporter Makawi Mohamed Ahmed, 57, and his brother, Shamseddine Mohamed Ahmed. The assault reportedly resulted in approximately 100 civilian deaths across the village. Makawi was a seasoned journalist working with the Sudan News Agency (SUNA). According to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), his killing—alongside that of his brother—reflects a broader pattern of violent repression. CPJ's Latin...
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In Abiy’s Ethiopia, Over 200 Journalists Arrested Since 2019 Independent Media Under Siege
June 3, 2024
In Abiy’s Ethiopia, Over 200 Journalists Arrested Since 2019 Independent Media Under Siege
June 03, 2024 - Ethiopia -  Since Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed rose to power in 2018 amid high hopes for reform, Ethiopia has dramatically reversed course on press freedom. Initially celebrated for releasing exiled journalists and loosening media restrictions, the government has since launched sweeping crackdowns, particularly amid regional conflicts and internal dissent. According to Ethiopian Press Freedom Defenders, over 200 media professionals—including reporters, editors, and broadcast staff—have been arrested or detained since 2019. Arrests often occurred without warrants, with journalists held incommunicado for months on charges like “terrorism,” “hate speech,” or “spreading false information.”...
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Two Years After Frédéric Leclerc‑Imhoff’s Death in Ukraine, RSF and Family Demand Justice
May 30, 2024
Two Years After Frédéric Leclerc‑Imhoff’s Death in Ukraine, RSF and Family Demand Justice
May 30, 2024 - Russia/Ukraine -  Vetérán French journalist Frédéric Leclerc‑Imhoff, a camera operator with BFMTV, was killed by shell shrapnel near Sievierodonetsk while covering a humanitarian convoy extracting civilians from Luhansk Oblast during the Russian invasion of Ukraine. Despite wearing protective gear and traveling in a vehicle designated for civilian evacuation, his death sparked concerns that journalists were being targeted even in marked “humanitarian” situations . At a military court in Moscow on 1 July 2024, RSF reported that Leclerc‑Imhoff was posthumously sentenced, in absentia, to 14 years in prison—accused of “calls for terrorism,” hatred,...
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Pakistan Endures Deadliest May for Journalists on Record Four Killed, Others Attacked
May 29, 2024
Pakistan Endures Deadliest May for Journalists on Record Four Killed, Others Attacked
May 29, 2024 - Pakistan - Pakistan suffered its deadliest month on record for journalists, with four media workers killed across diverse regions and several others assaulted, prompting urgent demands from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for investigations and accountability. On May 21, Nasrullah Gadani, a reporter for the Sindhi-language newspaper Awami Awaz, was shot in the abdomen in Kori Goth, Ghotki district, Sindh. He died three days later in Karachi. Known for his courageous reporting against feudal lords and local politicians, Gadani’s assassination sparked outrage. Police arrested three suspects, but investigations remain ongoing....
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Palestinian Journalists in Gaza Honored with UNESCO and IPI Press Freedom Awards Amid Ongoing Conflict
May 21, 2024
Palestinian Journalists in Gaza Honored with UNESCO and IPI Press Freedom Awards Amid Ongoing Conflict
May 21, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - Palestinian journalists reporting from Gaza were jointly honored with two of the world’s most prestigious press freedom awards, recognizing their extraordinary courage, sacrifice, and commitment to reporting the truth under the most dangerous conditions. The UNESCO/Guillermo Cano World Press Freedom Prize was awarded to all Palestinian journalists covering the Gaza war, marking an unprecedented collective recognition of a press community. The award, conferred by an independent international jury, was given “in recognition of their courage, resilience, and commitment to freedom of expression.” Since the start of the war in...
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Syrian Journalist Mahmoud Ibrahim Detained for Social Media Posts Supporting Protests
May 17, 2024
Syrian Journalist Mahmoud Ibrahim Detained for Social Media Posts Supporting Protests
May 17, 2024 - Syria - Syrian regime forces arrested Mahmoud Ibrahim, an editor at the state-run Al-Thawra newspaper, in Tartus after he attended a court hearing. He was detained following a Facebook post expressing solidarity with peaceful protests in Suwayda, a southwestern city where demonstrators voiced opposition to the Assad regime and economic conditions. The charges, brought under the 2022 Anti-Cybercrime Law, include “supporting an armed rebellion,” “undermining the prestige of the state,” and “violating the constitution”. Since his arrest, Ibrahim has been held incommunicado at an undisclosed location, with no updates given to...
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Two Years of Impunity: No Justice for Palestinian-American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
May 10, 2024
Two Years of Impunity: No Justice for Palestinian-American Journalist Shireen Abu Akleh
May 10, 2024 - Palestine/Israel/USA -  Esteemed Palestinian-American Al Jazeera journalist Shireen Abu Akleh was shot and killed while reporting on an Israeli Defense Forces raid in the Jenin refugee camp. Wearing a helmet and press vest, Abu Akleh was identifiable as a journalist when the fatal bullet struck her head—an act widely condemned as a “cold‑blooded assassination” by her employer. In the two years since, multiple independent investigations—including by UN experts, Forensic Architecture, the New York Times, and the US State Department—have confirmed that Abu Akleh was most likely killed by Israeli forces. The IDF itself acknowledged the...
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Family Denounces ‘Sham’ Inquiry into Killing of Journalist Christopher Allen in South Sudan
May 8, 2024
Family Denounces ‘Sham’ Inquiry into Killing of Journalist Christopher Allen in South Sudan
May 08, 2024 - Sudan -  26-year-old photojournalist Christopher Allen, a dual British–American citizen, was shot dead while covering conflict in Kaya, South Sudan, near the Uganda border. Distressingly, images of his disrobed and desecrated body circulated online shortly afterward—a harrowing example of the tragedies journalists face in war zones. Despite public outcry, exact details surrounding his death and post-mortem treatment remain contested. After years of calls for truth and accountability from his family, international lawyers, RSF, and the UN, a South Sudanese inquiry committee finally published a 19-page report in March 2024—seven years after...
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Environmental Journalists Under Siege as Attacks Surge 42% in Five Years
May 3, 2024
Environmental Journalists Under Siege as Attacks Surge 42% in Five Years
May 3, 2024 - General - Environmental journalism is under growing assault, according to a sobering 2024 report by UNESCO released ahead of World Press Freedom Day. The report documents a 42% increase in attacks against environmental journalists and media outlets over the past five years. From 2019 to 2023, 305 cases of physical violence, threats, legal harassment, and digital abuse were recorded, up significantly from the previous five-year period. In total, 749 attacks have been documented since 2009, including 44 killings of environmental journalists. Shockingly, only five of those murder cases have resulted in...
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Niger’s Military Junta Tightens Grip on Media: Journalists Arrested, Intimidated and Press Freedom Dismantled
May 3, 2024
Niger’s Military Junta Tightens Grip on Media: Journalists Arrested, Intimidated and Press Freedom Dismantled
May 3, 2024 - Niger - Since the July 2023 coup, press freedom in Niger has been under severe assault by the military-led transitional government of the Conseil National pour la Sauvegarde de la Patrie (CNSP). Amnesty International warns that journalists reporting on security, conflict, and political dissent are being openly intimidated, surveilled, and arbitrarily arrested, contributing to an atmosphere of fear and self-censorship. Among those targeted was prominent BBC Hausa correspondent Tchima Illa Issoufou, who was accused of trying to “destabilize the country.” After receiving threats and being wanted by security services, she was...
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Georgian Police Injure Journalists Covering “Foreign Agent” Protests Amid Press Crackdown
April 19, 2024
Georgian Police Injure Journalists Covering “Foreign Agent” Protests Amid Press Crackdown
April 19, 2024 - Georgia - On the night of April 16, 2024, while journalists were reporting live from protests outside the Georgian Parliament against the proposed “Transparency of Foreign Influence” law, riot police physically assaulted at least four reporters, according to statements from CPJ and the Georgian Charter of Journalistic Ethics. These protests, which erupted across Georgia through April and May, saw tens of thousands of citizens rejecting legislation seen as a Russian-style assault on independent media. Riot police used pepper spray, tear gas, and physical violence, targeting media personnel as well as demonstrators. According...
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Targeted from Above: Israeli Drone Strikes Kill Journalists in Gaza Despite Visible Press Markings
April 12, 2024
Targeted from Above: Israeli Drone Strikes Kill Journalists in Gaza Despite Visible Press Markings
April 12, 2024 – Palestine/Israel - A joint investigation by ARIJ, Forbidden Stories, and global media outlets has uncovered disturbing evidence that Israeli drone strikes have killed or injured at least 18 journalists in Gaza since October 2023, many of them marked as press. The report, part of the Gaza Project, highlights how Israeli drone operations—designed for precision—are being used in ways that increasingly appear to intentionally target journalists, not protect civilians. Among the most shocking cases is that of Mahmoud al-Basos, a drone operator for Reuters and Anadolu Agency, who was killed on March...
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Six Months of Horror: Gaza’s Journalists Report Under Fire, Grief, and Genocide
April 6, 2024
Six Months of Horror: Gaza’s Journalists Report Under Fire, Grief, and Genocide
April 6, 2024 – Palestine/Israel - Al Jazeera’s The Listening Post episode “Reporting Under Genocide” offers a powerful chronicle of what it means to be a journalist in Gaza after six months of unrelenting war. With foreign correspondents largely barred from entry, the burden of documenting the conflict—and the atrocities—has fallen almost entirely on local Palestinian reporters. These journalists are not only covering a war; they are surviving it. The report weaves together first-person accounts of journalists who have endured bombings, drone attacks, the deaths of colleagues, and the destruction of media infrastructure. Many have...
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Palestinian Journalist Held as Premature Baby Suffers Without Breastfeeding
April 3, 2024
Palestinian Journalist Held as Premature Baby Suffers Without Breastfeeding
April 03, 2024 - Palestine/Israel -  Israeli authorities have refused to release Palestinian journalist Rula Hassanein, despite urgent appeals highlighting her newborn baby’s critical dependence on breastfeeding. The case has drawn international condemnation, as human rights organizations argue that Israel’s continued detention of Hassanein violates both press freedom and child welfare standards. Hassanein, a freelance journalist affiliated with Al Jazeera Arabic, was arrested on March 19, 2024, during a wave of Israeli detentions targeting Palestinian reporters in the occupied West Bank. She was charged with “incitement” based on her social media posts—an accusation frequently leveled...
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Russia Jails Four Journalists for Covering Navalny in Widening Crackdown on Independent Media
March 29, 2024
Russia Jails Four Journalists for Covering Navalny in Widening Crackdown on Independent Media
March 29, 2024 - Russia -  Four Russian journalists have been sentenced to five and a half years in prison for allegedly promoting “extremist” activity linked to the late opposition leader Alexei Navalny’s Anti-Corruption Foundation. The journalists — Antonina Favorskaya, Artyom Kriger, Sergey Karelin, and Konstantin Gabov — were convicted behind closed doors in Moscow in April 2025, in a move widely condemned by press freedom organizations and human rights advocates. All four journalists had previously covered Navalny’s court cases, protests, or political movement. The Russian government has designated Navalny’s organization as an extremist group...
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Queen Rania Honors Gaza Journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh in Doha
February 11, 2024
Queen Rania Honors Gaza Journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh in Doha
February 11, 2024 - Jordan/Palestine - In a poignant meeting in Doha, Queen Rania of Jordan sat down with renowned Al Jazeera journalist Wael Al-Dahdouh, a man who has become a symbol of truth and perseverance in Gaza. The encounter took place during Queen Rania’s visit to Qatar for the AFC 2023 Asian Cup final, but it was her private moment with Al-Dahdouh and his family that resonated far beyond the stadium. In a heartfelt tribute shared on social media, she honored his sacrifice, writing, “Few people sacrifice so much for the truth… May God...
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Justice Denied in Serbia: Acquittal in Slavko Ćuruvija’s Murder Sparks Outrage
February 6, 2024
Justice Denied in Serbia: Acquittal in Slavko Ćuruvija’s Murder Sparks Outrage
Feb 6, 2024 - Serbia - The Belgrade Court of Appeals has overturned the convictions of four former Serbian intelligence officers accused in the 1999 murder of journalist Slavko Ćuruvija, sparking international condemnation and fears of deepening impunity for crimes against the press. The February 2, 2024, ruling definitively acquitted Radomir Marković, Milan Radonjić, Ratko Romić, and Miroslav Kurak, citing a lack of direct and indirect evidence. The verdict is final and cannot be appealed. Ćuruvija, a prominent critic of Slobodan Milošević and publisher of the Dnevni Telegraf and Evropljanin, was shot and killed outside...
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Gaza War Drives 2023 to Deadliest Year for Journalists in Three Decades
January 15, 2024
Gaza War Drives 2023 to Deadliest Year for Journalists in Three Decades
January 15, 2024 - Palestine/Israel - The year 2023 marked a devastating milestone for press freedom, with the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) recording 99 journalist and media worker killings worldwide—the highest toll since the organization began keeping records in 1992. Over 75% of these deaths occurred during the Israel-Gaza war, making it the deadliest conflict for journalists in the 21st century. According to CPJ’s February 2024 report, at least 77 journalists were killed during the war in Gaza, including 72 Palestinians, 3 Lebanese, and 2 Israelis. These figures surged in late 2023 and continued...
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Azerbaijan’s Crackdown on Independent Media Intensifies
December 27, 2023
Azerbaijan’s Crackdown on Independent Media Intensifies
December 27, 2023 - Azerbaijan - Azerbaijan is undergoing a severe assault on press freedom, with a wave of arrests, prosecutions, and media shutdowns targeting independent journalists and outlets. Since late 2023, authorities have arrested more than 25 journalists, accusing many of “currency smuggling” and other economic crimes widely denounced as politically motivated. One of the central targets is Abzas Media, an independent investigative outlet known for reporting on government corruption. Its director, Ulvi Hasanli, along with several editors and reporters, was arrested and charged with smuggling. Offices were raided, equipment seized, and the team...
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Fatal Mission in Khan Younis: The Final Reporting of Samer Abu Daqqa
December 20, 2023
Fatal Mission in Khan Younis: The Final Reporting of Samer Abu Daqqa
December 20, 2023 – Palestine/Israel - Veteran Al Jazeera cameraman Samer Abu Daqqa was killed and correspondent Wael Al‑Dahdouh was injured during their final reporting assignment in Khan Younis, Gaza—a mission now documented by Forbidden Stories and ARIJ as part of the Gaza Project. Abu Daqqa, aged 45, and Al‑Dahdouh, both wearing marked press vests, accompanied Civil Defense rescue crews to the devastated Farhana girls’ school courtyard. Their goal: film the retrieval of an excavator stranded amid rubble. While packing up, they came under Israeli drone fire. Witnesses and first responders report Abu Daqqa was struck by at least two separate...
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Mozambique Mourns the Murder of Investigative Journalist João Chamusse
December 18, 2023
Mozambique Mourns the Murder of Investigative Journalist João Chamusse
December 18, 2023 - Mozambique -  João Fernando Chamusse — a prominent Mozambican journalist, co-owner and editor of the independent outlet Ponto por Ponto, and frequent commentator on TV Sucesso — was found dead in the backyard of his home in KaTembe, just outside Maputo. Neighbors recounted hearing his cries for help before discovering him with a severe head wound, a machete, and a gardening hoe nearby, and two mobile phones and a laptop missing. Chamusse had earned a reputation as a courageous voice against local corruption and government mismanagement. He previously co-founded the respected...
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Killed for Telling the Story: Eleven Palestinian Women Journalists Die in Gaza
December 13, 2023
Killed for Telling the Story: Eleven Palestinian Women Journalists Die in Gaza
December 13, 2023 - Palestine/Israel - As the war in Gaza continues to take a devastating toll, the Coalition for Women in Journalism has reported the deaths of eleven Palestinian women journalists, killed by Israeli airstrikes since the conflict began on October 7, 2023. Among the most recent victims are Nermin Qawwas and Hanan Ayyad, both young reporters who died in December while trying to live, work, and document the destruction around them. Nermin Qawwas, 28, a trainee journalist for Russia Today, was killed when an Israeli airstrike hit her family’s home in Gaza City....
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Protecting the Storytellers: How Media Outlets Can Support Journalists Facing Online Abuse
March 7, 2023
Protecting the Storytellers: How Media Outlets Can Support Journalists Facing Online Abuse
March 07, 2023 - General -  As online abuse against journalists grows in frequency and intensity, media outlets must act decisively to protect their staff. A guide published by International Media Support outlines practical and urgent steps newsrooms can take to shield journalists from digital harassment, which disproportionately affects women and minority reporters. First, media organizations should take proactive measures to safeguard sensitive personal information. Journalists often become vulnerable through exposed metadata, public profiles, or published details that can be weaponized by online attackers. Outlets must implement training and internal policies that help reporters secure...
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