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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...

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...

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...

May 15, 2025 - Palestine -  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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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....

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...

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...

May 13, 2025 - Palestine -  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...

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...

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...

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...

May 12, 2025 - Palestine - 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,...

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,...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...

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...