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 press freedom in Hong Kong, which has seen a significant decline in its global press freedom ranking.

Other notable cases include:

• Shin Daewe, an award-winning documentary filmmaker from Myanmar, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for alleged drone possession.

• Frenchie Mae Cumpio, a Filipino journalist detained on terrorism-related charges, is raising concerns about the use of anti-terror laws to suppress dissent.

• Pham Doan Trang, a Vietnamese journalist and activist, was convicted of “anti-state propaganda,” reflecting the country’s intolerance for independent journalism.

These cases, among others from Belarus, Azerbaijan, Crimea, China, Kyrgyzstan, and Turkey, highlight a pervasive pattern of media suppression. Many of these journalists face inhumane detention conditions, are denied legal rights, or are subjected to torture.

The Committee to Protect Journalists reports that as of December 1, 2024, at least 361 journalists were imprisoned globally, marking the second-highest number since the organization began tracking such data.

The One Free Press Coalition’s initiative aims to draw international attention to these injustices and advocate for the immediate release of these journalists. The coalition emphasizes the critical role of a free press in upholding democratic values and the urgent need to protect journalists worldwide.

Reference – 

https://www.bostonglobe.com/2025/05/02/opinion/free-press-hong-kong-china-journalism/

https://www.businessinsider.com/journalists-imprisoned-list-urgent-cases-2025-4

https://www.forbes.com/sites/forbespr/2025/05/01/one-free-press-coalitions-10-most-urgent-list-for-2025-highlights-journalists-in-detention-and-governments-current-efforts-at-criminalizing-journalism/