News

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...

June 02, 2025 - Palestine -  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...

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...

June 01, 2025 - Palestine -  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...

June 01, 2025 - Palestine -  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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

May 31, 2025 - Palestine -  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...

May 30, 2025 - Palestine -  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...

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,...

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...

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...

May 29, 2025 - Palestine -  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...

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...

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...

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,...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...