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February 03, 2026 - General - Two journalists recognised for their courage and dedication to press freedom have been named winners at the Free Press Awards 2025, an annual programme organised by Free Press Unlimited that celebrates exceptional journalism and defends media freedom globally. The awards ceremony, held in late 2025, honoured a Sudanese war correspondent as Newcomer of the Year and a wrongfully imprisoned Azerbaijani journalist for their outstanding commitment to independent reporting under extreme pressure. The Newcomer of the Year accolade was awarded to **Abdelrahim Ahmed (Abdelrahim Al-Dabang)*, a Sudanese war reporter whose...

February 03, 2026 - General - A prominent human rights organisation has issued a warning that journalists, humanitarian aid workers, and other civilian personnel operating in conflict-affected regions are facing escalating threats to their safety, including targeted violence, kidnappings, and protection barriers, according to a report released in early February 2026. The findings underscore growing risks for those documenting violence or delivering assistance in war-torn areas around the world. The Center for Human Rights and Global Justice (CHRGJ), based at a major U.S. university, detailed trends observed across multiple theatres of conflict where non-combatants are...

February 03, 2026 - Turkey - A Turkish high-profile legal case concerning a now-deceased newspaper columnist has taken an unexpected turn after authorities reportedly sought an apology to President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan in exchange for reversing the journalist’s conviction, raising fresh concerns about judicial independence and political influence over media freedoms. The developments were reported on 3 February 2026 by press freedom organisations and independent outlets monitoring press rights in Turkey. The case centres on a prominent political columnist whose writings had been critical of government policy and figures. Following a criminal conviction on charges...

February 03, 2026 - USA - Students at the Hubbard School of Journalism and Mass Communication at the University of Minnesota are receiving specialised training aimed at preparing them for reporting in dangerous or rapidly evolving situations, part of an expanded effort to equip the next generation of journalists with practical skills and ethical judgement in high-risk environments. Faculty members and programme leaders say the initiative, known as Crisis Ready Media, emphasises real-world preparedness without pressuring students into unsafe conditions, focusing instead on professional judgment, safety, and ethical responsibility when covering protests, civil unrest, disasters,...

February 03, 2026 - Belarus - The criminal case against investigative journalist Pavel Dabravolski, who has been held in pre-trial detention for more than a year, has now been formally transferred to the Minsk City Court, marking a significant escalation in legal proceedings against a well-known independent media figure. The move was confirmed by the Belarusian Association of Journalists (BAJ) and comes as authorities continue to intensify pressure on independent journalism within the country. Dabravolski, 36, was detained in January 2025 shortly after returning to Belarus. He faces charges under Part 1 of Article 356...

February 03, 2026 - Germany - Two journalists working for the Italian public broadcaster RAI were physically attacked by masked demonstrators while covering clashes between protesters and police during a large rally in Turin on 31 January 2026, prompting a call from the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) for a thorough investigation and accountability. The incident occurred amid violent confrontations linked to the eviction of the Askatasuna community centre, a long-standing autonomous social space, as parts of the protest escalated into violent clashes with law enforcement. Reporter Elia Nardini and camera operator Gennaro Giordano were...

February 03, 2026 - Ukraine - Journalists in Ukraine’s capital are maintaining rigorous reporting despite widespread power, heating, and water outages, extreme winter temperatures, and ongoing Russian strikes targeting critical infrastructure — challenges that have reshaped everyday newsroom operations and underscored the vital role of independent media in wartime. Since late January 2026, repeated Russian drone and missile strikes on energy facilities have forced mass blackouts across Kyiv and other regions, leaving homes and workplaces without electricity and central heating for extended periods. Temperatures have fallen well below freezing — often below −20°C — compounding...

February 03, 2026 - Russia/Ukraine - Russian authorities have added Vladyslav Balinskyi, an Odesa-based investigative journalist and environmental scientist, to an international wanted list, escalating a years-long campaign of legal pressure and public vilification over his reporting and research related to the Russia-Ukraine conflict and environmental damage in the Black Sea region. The announcement was made following a 29 January 2026 hearing in the Basmanny District Court of Moscow, according to a statement from the National Ecology Center of Ukraine. Balinskyi, who serves as chief editor of the Zelenyi Lyst news outlet and as a...

February 03, 2026 - Pakistan - The Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) has officially disposed of its suo motu proceedings into the 2022 killing of senior journalist Arshad Sharif, ruling that judicial supervision is no longer necessary now that the governments of Pakistan and Kenya are cooperating through diplomatic and legal mechanisms. The decision, issued on 3 February 2026, closes the high-profile court-led inquiry without further judicial intervention. Sharif, a prominent investigative journalist and television anchor, was fatally shot by Kenyan police on 23 October 2022 on the outskirts of Nairobi. Kenyan authorities described his death...

February 03, 2026 - General - Journalism’s value has taken on renewed significance as digital technologies transform how information is created, shared, and consumed, according to Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal Al Thani, director general of the Al Jazeera Media Network, who outlined strategic priorities at Web Summit Qatar 2026 on 3 February 2026. His comments reflect rising concerns about the influence of algorithm-driven platforms and the evolving role of news media within increasingly fragmented digital ecosystems. Sheikh Nasser cautioned that algorithmic systems and attention-based economic models — designed to maximise clicks and engagement — have...

February 02, 2026 - Iran -  Iranian intelligence agencies and the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) have recently summoned and threatened the families of exiled Iranian journalists and activists in an apparent effort to deter independent reporting and suppress dissent abroad. Rights groups report that relatives were warned to urge their family members to stop their media work or face serious restrictions and consequences, underscoring Tehran’s expanding campaign to stifle criticism beyond its borders. The move comes against a backdrop of unprecedented nationwide protests that erupted in late December 2025 over economic hardship and government...

February 02, 2026 - Afghanistan/Pakistan - Pakistani police have detained Sulaiman Aryan, an Afghan journalist living in Islamabad, as part of an intensified enforcement campaign against undocumented migrants that rights groups say is increasingly affecting media workers. The arrest, reported on 2 February 2026, highlights the precarious situation facing Afghan journalists in Pakistan who fled their home country following the Taliban takeover in 2021 but now face legal uncertainty and heightened risk of detention. According to sources cited by Amu TV, Aryan was taken into custody on Monday amid broader operations targeting Afghan nationals over...

February 02, 2026 - Nepal - Veteran Kantipur Daily journalist Deepak Sapkota is set to receive the Amar Nembang Memorial Award in recognition of his contributions to literature and journalism, alongside two other Nepali cultural figures. The announcement was made by the Amar Nembang Memorial Foundation, which selected Sapkota, poet Devendra Sakten Rai, and writer Malisha Yakthungba as this year’s awardees for the seventh edition of the annual honour. The award, given in memory of Amar Nembang—a respected writer and former chairperson of Falgunanda Rural Municipality—recognises individuals who have made notable contributions to Nepali arts,...

February 02, 2026 - Georgia - A coalition of media freedom organisations has sounded urgent warnings about a new legislative package in Georgia that could substantially deepen restrictions on independent media and civil society by criminalising foreign-linked funding without prior government approval. The Media Freedom Rapid Response (MFRR) partners, supported by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) and others, said the proposals — fast-tracked in Parliament and expected to be adopted on 3 February 2026 — risk effectively cutting off vital funding sources for journalists and media outlets. Under the draft amendments introduced by the...

February 02, 2026 - Iran - Iranian authorities have detained two more journalists as part of a broad government crackdown on independent reporting and media coverage of ongoing protests and civil unrest. The arrests, confirmed in early February 2026 by press freedom organisations, underline a sustained pattern of repression that rights groups say is aimed at silencing critical voices and restricting the flow of information within the country. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that the two journalists — whose names have not been publicly disclosed for security reasons — were taken into custody...

February 02, 2026 - Azerbaijan - Amnesty International has launched a global appeal urging Azerbaijani authorities to free 12 journalists and media workers imprisoned in connection with the crackdown on independent media linked to Meydan TV and affiliated outlets, warning that several detainees are in rapidly deteriorating health and facing harsh prison conditions. The human rights group’s statement, issued in late January 2026, stresses that these journalists were arbitrarily detained on politically motivated charges and are being denied necessary medical care. According to Amnesty’s urgent action update, at least three of the detained journalists—Shamshad Agha,...

February 02, 2026 - Namibia - A senior Namibian journalist was forcibly removed from a government press briefing and threatened with arrest after posing a critical question to President Hage Geingob about the nation’s burgeoning oil and gas industry, raising alarm among media freedom advocates. The incident took place on January 30, 2026, at a State House event where journalists were gathered to hear from the President and government ministers about national development priorities. Jemima Beukes, a senior reporter with The Namibian newspaper and host of a current affairs programme, asked Geingob direct questions about...

February 02, 2026 - Afghanistan/Pakistan - Over the past two weeks, Pakistani police have detained five Afghan journalists and media workers, highlighting deepening concerns about press freedom and the precarious situation facing exiled Afghan reporters living in Pakistan. The Afghanistan Media Support Organization (AMSO) reported the arrests in a statement released on 2 February 2026, noting that those held were later released but that security threats and arbitrary detentions persist. Among those detained were veteran reporter Samim Forough Faizi and cameraman Ataullah Rahman Shirzad, while some colleagues have not had their identities publicly disclosed due...

February 01, 2026 - Nigeria - Journalists in Adamawa State have been equipped with specialized skills to enhance their coverage of police reform and accountability issues following a targeted capacity-building workshop. The one-day training initiative, led by the Rule of Law and Empowerment Initiative (Partners West Africa Nigeria) with support from the Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Office (FCDO), brought together more than 50 media practitioners in Yola to focus on advancing ethical, impactful, and gender-sensitive reporting on law enforcement reforms. The workshop, held under the theme “Enhancing Public Trust and Gender-Responsive Policing in Nigeria Through...

February 01, 2026 - Bangladesh - A major data protection failure at the Election Commission (EC) has exposed sensitive personal information of thousands of journalists, triggering widespread concern among media professionals and tech experts. The breach occurred on Saturday afternoon, when the EC’s online system inadvertently made public the full applications of around 14,000 journalists who had registered for accreditation and vehicle stickers ahead of the 13th national parliamentary election. The exposed information included applicants’ names, national identity numbers, mobile phone numbers, and complete application details. According to reports, users who accessed the commission’s website...

February 01, 2026 - Qatar - The Qatar Press Centre for Media Freedom has initiated a new Diploma in Political Analysis and Public Diplomacy aimed at strengthening the analytical and reporting skills of mid-career media professionals and diplomatic officials. The programme, launched on January 28, 2026, reflects Qatar’s broader commitment to professional development within journalism and international relations, equipping participants with tools to better interpret global political dynamics and communicate nuanced insights to diverse audiences. The training is structured as an advanced academic diploma in political analysis, delivered through a combination of theoretical study, case...

February 01, 2026 - Lebanon - On February 04, 2026, five years after the assassination of prominent Lebanese activist, publisher, and critic Lokman Slim, his family and supporters continued to demand accountability as the official investigation remained stalled and without charges or arrests. Slim’s death on February 4, 2021, at age 58, has become emblematic of Lebanon’s enduring culture of impunity surrounding politically sensitive killings. Slim, a Seventh Day activist and co-founder of the Umam Documentation and Research Centre, was a vocal critic of entrenched political power structures in Lebanon, including the Shiite movement Hezbollah,...

February 01, 2026 - Kashmir - The detention of freelance journalist Khushal Khawaja in North Kashmir has prompted sharp criticism from regional politicians and opposition parties, who accuse authorities of targeting him for reporting on the closure of a key mountain pass and its severe impact on residents. Police in Kupwara district held Khawaja on 29 January 2026 for several hours after he published video coverage showing how the Sadhna Pass closure—the only road link connecting Karnah Valley to mainland Kashmir—was stranding patients and contributing to the reported death of a young girl needing urgent...

February 01, 2026 - Turkey/Iran - Iranian-born journalist and human rights advocate Kaveh Taheri has been detained by Turkish authorities, sparking urgent calls from press freedom groups to secure his release and halt deportation proceedings that could send him back to Iran, where he could face imprisonment or worse. Taheri was arrested on January 26, 2026, in Sakarya while on a bus en route to a visa appointment at the French Consulate in Istanbul, according to his lawyer and international media watchdogs. Taheri is currently being held at the Kocaeli Removal Center, where Turkish authorities...

February 01, 2026 - Venezuela - Venezuela’s acting President Delcy Rodríguez has unveiled a sweeping amnesty bill that could lead to the release of hundreds of people detained on political grounds, including opposition figures, journalists, and human rights activists, marking a potential shift in the country’s approach to political incarceration. The announcement was made on 30 January 2026 during a televised event attended by judicial and military officials, with the ruling party-controlled National Assembly expected to consider the proposal urgently. Rodríguez described the measure as a means to “heal the wounds” created by decades of...