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August 12, 2025 – Palestine -  An Israeli airstrike near al‑Shifa Hospital in Gaza City killed five Al Jazeera journalists, including Anas al‑Sharif, Mohammed Qreiqeh, Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, prompting a surge of international outrage and calls for accountability. Condemnations were swift and widespread, spearheaded by a diverse coalition of global institutions, governments, and media watchdogs. Major Organisations & Countries Condemning the Attack: Al Jazeera Media Network called it a “targeted assassination” aimed at silencing the truth. The United Nations (Secretary‑General António Guterres and UN Human Rights Office) condemned the killings and demanded an...

August 12, 2025 – Germany/Palestine -  Mass protests erupted in Berlin following the Israeli drone strike that killed five Al Jazeera journalists in Gaza, including Anas al-Sharif. Demonstrators gathered in the city center, carrying portraits of the slain reporters and chanting slogans condemning what they called the deliberate targeting of media workers. The protests, organised by Palestinian solidarity groups and press freedom advocates, drew hundreds of participants, reflecting the international outrage over the incident. Footage from the demonstrations showed protesters holding banners demanding justice and accountability, as well as calling for an end to attacks...

August 12, 2025 – Nigeria -  Chief James Aiyepeku, father of 26-year-old photojournalist Ayobami Aiyepeku, tragically passed away on August 12, just weeks after his son was brutally killed in Lokoja, Kogi State. The loss compounds a family's grief and highlights the profound human cost of violence against journalists. Ayobami was allegedly lured and murdered by a serving officer of Nigeria’s Correctional Service, Adebayo Pelumi, on July 24. The suspect reportedly fled with Ayobami’s body but was later found dead in a hotel, apparently by suicide. Ayobami's remains were retrieved from the outskirts of the...

August 12, 2025 – Bangladesh -  The family of slain Gazipur journalist Asaduzzaman Tuhin has issued a seven-point demand aimed at ensuring justice, accountability, and safety for his loved ones and fellow media workers. Tuhin, a staff reporter for Dainik Protidiner Kagoj, was brutally killed while filming armed men in Chandana Chowrasta, an event that has drawn national outrage and calls for reforms. At a press conference held at the Gazipur Press Club, Tuhin’s widow, Mukta Begum, demanded the immediate arrest of all individuals involved, along with their financiers. She urged that a charge sheet...

August 11, 2025 - Palestine -  An article by Index on Censorship powerfully frames Israel’s campaign in Gaza as a targeted effort to silence journalists, calling it not just a war on Palestinian media, but on press freedom everywhere. Journalist Youmna El Sayed emphasises that Anas al‑Sharif and his colleagues were killed “because they refused to be silenced,” documenting atrocities like starvation and bombardment that threatened powerful narratives. Since October 7, 2023, Israel’s military operations in Gaza have claimed the lives of more than 260 Palestinian journalists and media workers, individuals armed with little more...

August 11, 2025 - AJMN Al Jazeera journalists and staff gathered at the network’s Doha headquarters for a solemn moment of silence to honour five colleagues killed in an Israeli airstrike outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. The strike, which occurred near a designated press tent, claimed the lives of correspondent Anas al-Sharif, cameraman Mohammed Qreiqeh, sound technician Ibrahim Zaher, and crew members Mohammed Noufal and Moamen Aliwa. The airstrike reportedly targeted the area as the journalists were on assignment. The Israel Defence Forces (IDF) later alleged that al-Sharif had ties to Hamas, claims that...

August 11, 2025 – Palestine - A Haaretz analysis has drawn attention to Israel’s calculated restrictions on foreign journalists in Gaza, warning that once international media are allowed in, the targeted killing of journalists will become far more difficult. The piece argues that the ongoing ban is not solely about operational security, but a deliberate strategy to maintain a shield of impunity over military actions against the press. According to the article, local Palestinian journalists have borne the brunt of Israel’s lethal media crackdown during the Gaza conflict, with hundreds killed since the start of...

August 11, 2025 - Palestine - This is what our beloved Anas requested to be published upon his martyrdom. This is my will and my final message. If these words reach you, know that Israel has succeeded in killing me and silencing my voice. First, peace be upon you and Allah’s mercy and blessings. Allah knows I gave every effort and all my strength to be a support and a voice for my people, ever since I opened my eyes to life in the alleys and streets of the Jabalia refugee camp. My hope was...

August 11, 2025 - Palestine -  Al Jazeera Media Network condemns in the strongest terms the targeted assassination of its correspondents Anas Al Sharif and Mohammed Qraiqea, along with photographers Ibrahim Al Thaher and Mohamed Nofal, by the Israeli occupation forces in yet another blatant and premeditated attack on press freedom. In a statement by the Israeli occupation force, admitting to their crimes, the journalists were targeted by a directed assault towards the tent where they were stationed opposite Al-Shifa Medical Complex in Gaza. In which they were martyred. This attack comes amid the catastrophic...

August 11, 2025 - Palestine -  A targeted Israeli drone strike hit a clearly marked media tent outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City, killing five Al Jazeera journalists and two other individuals. Those killed were veteran correspondent Anas al-Sharif, fellow correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh, cameramen Ibrahim Zaher and Moamen Aliwa, and assistant Mohammed Noufal. The journalists were reportedly meeting in the tent to coordinate coverage when the strike occurred. The Israeli military justified the attack by claiming al-Sharif was a Hamas cell leader involved in orchestrating rocket attacks. However, Al Jazeera, the Committee to Protect Journalists...

August 11, 2025 – Palestine – In a devastating turn of events, Anas al-Sharif, a 28-year-old Al Jazeera Arabic correspondent, was killed in an Israeli airstrike on a tent housing journalists outside al-Shifa Hospital in Gaza City. Four others, including correspondent Mohammed Qreiqeh and camera operators Ibrahim Zaher, Mohammed Noufal, and Moamen Aliwa, also died in the strike. Seven people in total were killed during the attack. The Israeli military acknowledged launching the strike, asserting that al-Sharif was the head of a Hamas cell responsible for rocket attacks on Israeli targets. However, both Al Jazeera...

August 9, 2025 – Pakistan/USA – Pakistani journalist Asad Ali Toor was prevented from travelling to the United States to participate in the U.S. State Department’s International Visitor Leadership Program (IVLP) after being stopped at Islamabad International Airport. Immigration officials informed him that his name was on Pakistan’s Exit Control List (ECL), barring him from leaving the country. No official explanation was provided for his inclusion on the list. Toor denounced the move as an attack on press freedom, saying, “In Pakistan, journalism and speaking truth to power have been turned into crimes… Yes, I...

August 8, 2025 – United Kingdom - During ongoing anti-immigration demonstrations across the UK, GB News reporter Sophie Reaper and her camera operator were confronted with physical aggression from a protester in Whitehall, London. The incident occurred amid heightened tensions as protestors targeted the media presence, some chanting "GB News, off our streets" upon recognizing the broadcaster’s team. Video footage shows a man slapping the hand of the GB News camera operator, raising serious concerns about journalist safety while covering these volatile events Greater Manchester and other regions have similarly seen volatile anti-migrant protests as...

August 8, 2025 – European Union – The European Media Freedom Act (EMFA), a landmark EU regulation designed to protect press freedom and media pluralism, has come fully into force across all member states. The law, first adopted in April 2024, aims to safeguard journalists from political interference, promote transparency in media ownership, and limit government surveillance of media workers. Under the EMFA, editorial independence is legally protected, with strict rules ensuring that public service media outlets are free from political pressure and receive sustainable, adequate funding. The law requires media companies to disclose ownership...

August 8, 2025 - Afghanistan - Afghanistan’s media landscape continues to deteriorate under Taliban rule, with increasing censorship, arbitrary detentions, and systematic repression of journalists, particularly those working independently or in exile. According to 8 Am. Media, censorship has all but eliminated freedom of expression. Female journalists face the dual burden of general restrictions plus gender-based constraints. Several have been detained in provinces like Takhar and Ghazni over critical social media posts or collaboration with foreign media, their whereabouts largely unknown. Journalists also report that official sources now only supply information serving Taliban interests, suppressing...

August 8, 2025 – Turkey – Turkish authorities have ordered the blocking of veteran journalist Fatih Altaylı’s YouTube channel, citing national security and public order concerns. The decision, issued by the İstanbul 6th Criminal Judgeship of Peace on August 7, targets both the homepage of the channel and a specific video featuring former MP Emin Şirin. In the video, Şirin discusses political matters involving Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) leader Devlet Bahçeli and Kurdistan Workers’ Party (PKK) leader Abdullah Öcalan, which the court claimed posed risks to national security and could constitute criminal activity. Altaylı, detained...

August 8, 2025 – Belarus – Belarusian journalist Danil Palianski, 27, has been sentenced to 10 years in prison on charges of high treason, in a move widely condemned by press freedom advocates as part of an ongoing crackdown on independent media in the country. The verdict, delivered by the Minsk City Court in a closed trial, accused Palianski of “providing assistance to foreign organisations” deemed harmful to Belarus’ national security. Authorities have not disclosed the specifics of the alleged treason, but rights groups believe the charges are politically motivated and linked to his reporting....

August 8, 2025 – Lebanon - Lebanese journalist Mohammad Shehadeh, director of the online platform Hawana Lebanon, was killed in an Israeli drone strike on the Zahrani Road in Nabatieh district, southern Lebanon. According to Lebanon’s state-run National News Agency (NNA), the targeted strike hit Shehadeh’s vehicle, killing him instantly. Civil defense teams later recovered his body from the wreckage. The attack took place along a key route connecting Sidon and Nabatieh, an area that has been under heightened tension due to ongoing cross-border hostilities. Shehadeh was a respected media figure known for his work...

August 7, 2025 – Bangladesh - Md Asaduzzaman Tuhin, a 38-year-old staff reporter for Daily Protidiner Kagoj in Gazipur, was brutally murdered on Thursday night in the Chandana Chowrasta area. While filming armed men with locally made weapons pursuing a young man, Tuhin was spotted by the group, who then chased and hacked him to death with machetes, according to CCTV footage examined by local police. Shocking video of the attack circulated widely on social media, prompting immediate outrage from the media community and human rights advocates. The cruelty of the act, targeting a journalist...

August 7, 2025 - India -  Two men accused of the murder of journalist Raghvendra Bajpai were killed in an encounter with Uttar Pradesh Police’s Special Task Force (STF) and local police in Sitapur. The accused, identified as brothers Raju Tiwari, also known as Rizwan, and Sanjay Tiwari, also known as Shibu or Shakeel Khan, were both carrying a bounty of ₹1 lakh each. According to police, the encounter occurred when the STF, acting on intelligence, intercepted the two men travelling on a motorcycle in the Pisawa area. Officials said the accused opened fire on...

August 7, 2025 – Pakistan - Pakistani journalists and media organisations have condemned a notice issued by the National Cyber Crime Investigation Agency (NCCIA) to investigative reporter Muhammad Akbar Notezai. The notice is linked to his investigative article in Dawn, published more than a year ago, which detailed allegations of administrative mismanagement, misuse of authority, and corruption in Balochistan. Critics say this move is a direct attack on press freedom, arguing that a newspaper article should not fall under the jurisdiction of a cybercrime agency. The NCCIA, launched in May to replace the cybercrime division...

August 7, 2025 – India - A distressing video captured in Batala, Punjab, shows two Punjab Police commandos brutally assaulting journalist Balwinder Kumar Bhalla, also known as Balvinder Singh. As he approached them to ask questions about their duty, one officer, clad in uniform, and another in plain clothes, grabbed him, delivering repeated punches and kicks. The attack continued even after Bhalla collapsed into a street puddle, with one officer mercilessly kicking him in the head, leaving him unconscious before walking away. In response to widespread public outrage and the viral video, authorities took immediate...

August 6, 2025 – Palestine/UK – Two major statements released this week have condemned the ongoing targeting, starvation, and killing of journalists in Gaza. One letter, signed by British lawmakers and supported by the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ), expresses deep concern over the systematic attacks on Palestinian media workers. Another, led by Al Jazeera and endorsed by over 150 media organizations and advocacy groups, demands an end to the forced starvation and deliberate killings of journalists in the besieged enclave. The UK letter calls on all parties in the conflict to adhere to international...

August 6, 2025 – Georgia -  Renowned Georgian journalist Mzia Amaghlobeli, co-founder of the independent outlets Batumelebi and Netgazeti, has been sentenced to two years in prison by the Batumi City Court. The sentence follows her conviction for slapping Batumi Police Chief Irakli Dgebuadze during a protest earlier this year. Initially charged with the more severe crime of assault, carrying a penalty of up to seven years, the charge was reclassified just before sentencing to "resistance, threats or violence against a public order defender," resulting in the two-year term. Her sentence has triggered widespread condemnation...

August 6, 2025 - South Africa -  On August 3, 2025, investigative journalist Pieter-Louis Myburgh of the Daily Maverick was offered a bribe of R60,000 in cash by two high-ranking officials of South Africa’s Independent Development Trust (IDT). The attempt was caught live on camera at a wine farm near Stellenbosch, where the suspended CEO of IDT, Tebogo Malaka, and the state agency’s spokesperson, Phasha Makgolane, tried to pay off Myburgh to prevent the publication of a report into a controversial R836 million oxygen plant contract. The oxygen plant deal has been under intense scrutiny...