News

September 02, 2025 - France/Syria -  French judicial authorities have taken a decisive step against impunity by issuing European arrest warrants for seven senior former Syrian officials—including ex-president Bashar al‑Assad—in connection with the 2012 targeted bombing of a press center in Homs. This attack claimed the lives of prominent journalists Marie Colvin (American) and Rémi Ochlik (French), while seriously injuring others. The investigative probe, initiated in 2012 and progressively strengthened over more than a decade, broadened its scope from murder and attempted murder to encompass war crimes, crimes against humanity, and conspiracy to commit such...

September 02, 2025 - General -  A TRT World commentary has sharply condemned the international media’s muted response to Israel’s killing of journalists in Gaza, calling it part of a deliberate campaign to silence reporting from the besieged territory. Since the outbreak of war in October 2023, more than 274 Palestinian journalists have been killed, making Gaza the deadliest conflict for media workers in modern history. Among the latest casualties were Rasmi Jihad Salem, a cameraman for Manara Media, who died in an Israeli airstrike near Gaza City, and Eman al-Zamli, who was killed by...

September 02, 2025 – Nigeria – Journalists in Kwara North are facing mounting intimidation after being summoned to the palace of the Emir of Lafiagi, Alhaji Muhammad Kudu Kawu, and warned to cease reporting on terrorist and bandit attacks. The monarch reportedly delivered the threats at the behest of Kwara State Governor AbdulRahman AbdulRazaq, accusing media outlets of “embarrassing” the government with their coverage of insecurity in areas such as Lafiagi and Patigi. According to an anonymous source within the emirate, journalists were told that failure to comply could result in arrest. These developments follow...

September 02, 2025 – Ukraine – Former Kherson mayor Volodymyr Mykolayenko has revealed that Russian forces attempted to pressure him into luring prominent journalist Serhiy Nikitenko into a trap during the early days of the occupation. Mykolayenko, who was abducted by Russian troops in April 2022 for refusing to collaborate, recounted the ordeal after his release on August 24, 2025, following more than two years in captivity. According to Mykolayenko, Russian officers ordered him to contact Nikitenko, editor of the local outlet MOST, as well as volunteer Elika Markelia, and persuade them to attend a...

September 02, 2025 – Bangladesh – A Kurigram court has sent former Deputy Commissioner Sultana Parvin to jail after rejecting her bail in a long-running case over the abduction and torture of journalist Ariful Islam Rigan, the Kurigram correspondent for Bangla Tribune and Dhaka Tribune. The decision marks a rare victory for accountability in Bangladesh, where journalists frequently face threats, harassment, and violence in the line of duty. The case dates back to March 13, 2020, when Rigan was dragged from his home at midnight by local law enforcement and magistrates operating under Parvin’s orders....

September 02, 2025 – Turkey – A Turkish journalist has been jailed after uncovering an extortion scheme in the central province of Nevşehir, where local officials allegedly invoked the names of President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan and Interior Minister Ali Yerlikaya to pressure business owners for money. The journalist’s reporting detailed how officials leveraged political connections and Erdoğan’s image to lend credibility to their demands, creating fear among targeted citizens. Instead of investigating the allegations, Turkish authorities swiftly detained the journalist, accusing them of spreading disinformation and defaming state institutions. The decision has drawn sharp criticism...

September 02, 2025 - France/Syria - French judges have issued an arrest warrant for former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, accusing him of responsibility for the 2012 bombardment in Homs that killed American journalist Marie Colvin and French photographer Rémi Ochlik. The strike, which also injured other foreign reporters, targeted an informal press centre established to document atrocities committed during the brutal siege. The warrant represents a landmark moment in the pursuit of justice for crimes against journalists, directly implicating Assad in what investigators concluded was a deliberate attack to silence independent reporting. Colvin, a celebrated...

September 02, 2025 - Mexico - Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and the Mexican NGO Propuesta Cívica filed two new complaints before the United Nations Human Rights Committee in Geneva, demanding accountability for the enforced disappearances of two Mexican journalists, María Esther Aguilar Cansimbe and José Antonio García Apac. Both cases, dating back nearly two decades, remain unresolved and exemplify the persistent impunity that endangers journalists across Mexico. Aguilar Cansimbe, who reported on organized crime and public security, vanished in Michoacán in November 2009 after leaving her home. Investigations into her disappearance were marred by negligence,...

September 02, 2025 - Qatar -  Al Jazeera Media Network officially appointed Sheikh Nasser bin Faisal bin Khalifa Al Thani as its new Director General, succeeding Dr. Mostefa Souag, who served in the position for over twelve years. The announcement marks a significant leadership transition for one of the world’s most influential media organizations, known for its global reach and commitment to press freedom. Sheikh Nasser, a Qatar University graduate, began his career at Barwa Real Estate before moving into the Qatari Ministry of Foreign Affairs in 2013. Over the next decade, he held several...

September 02, 2025 – Australia/Lebanon – Australian MP Bob Katter is facing mounting controversy after threatening to punch a reporter who asked about his Lebanese heritage during a press conference supporting an anti-immigration rally. The aggressive exchange was captured on video and has sparked widespread reactions from media condemnation to potential parliamentary sanctions. During a media appearance in Brisbane, when asked by Channel Nine reporter Josh Bavas about his Lebanese heritage, Katter accused him of racism and warned, “I punch blokes in the mouth for saying that.” He followed up by stating Bavas would “answer...

September 02, 2025 – Indonesia – In the wake of widespread protests across Indonesia, press freedom is facing heightened threats amid growing civil unrest. Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has condemned assaults and intimidation targeting at least 16 journalists covering the demonstrations, calling on President Prabowo Subianto to ensure accountability—especially when law enforcement officers are implicated—and to guarantee thorough, independent investigations. Among those affected, Antara photojournalist Bayu Pratama was reportedly attacked by police outside the Parliament in Jakarta, underscoring the perilous conditions for media personnel. These events unfold against the backdrop of a nationwide wave of...

September 01, 2025 - Malta/Palestine - MaltaToday participated in the Global Blackout Day for Gaza Press Freedom on September 1, 2025, issuing a symbolic yet urgent call to protect journalists in Gaza. The blackout—a coordinated international act—serves to underscore a sobering reality: journalists are being killed at an unprecedented rate in Gaza, and without them, the world risks losing vital insight into the conflict’s unfolding tragedy. The initiative gained momentum in the aftermath of the targeted killing of Al Jazeera journalist Anas al-Sharif and his colleagues in a deadly strike. This was shortly followed by a devastating double...

September 01, 2025 - Lagos -  The International Press Centre (IPC), through its Safety and Protection of Journalists (SPJ) Hub, has condemned in the strongest terms the police brutality inflicted on Daniel Ojukwu, a journalist with the Foundation for Investigative Journalism (FIJ), by officers at the Ikeja Police Command in Lagos on August 29, 2025. Ojukwu was at the police station’s Complaints Response Unit (CRU) pursuing information on officers accused of extorting detainees. During this attempt, three police officers reportedly seized his phone and searched its contents, shattered his eyeglasses, ripped off his wristwatch, damaged...

September 01, 2025 - Palestine - Dutch newspapers participated in an international media blackout to protest the targeting and killing of journalists in Gaza. Over 200 news outlets worldwide joined the action, coordinated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF), Avaaz, and the International Federation of Journalists (IFJ). In solidarity, activists across the Netherlands staged a walkout from workplaces and classrooms at noon to mark the protest. Among the Dutch participants, NRC printed a front page entirely in black, with the stark message: “Without reporters, the image from Gaza goes black.” Inside, the newspaper emphasized the demand...

September 01, 2025 - Palestine -  The Gaza war has tragically become the most lethal conflict for journalists in contemporary history. Over the past 22 months, at least 189 journalists and media workers—predominantly Palestinian—have been killed, according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), with some sources estimating the toll may be as high as 247. Key incidents underscore the violence. In one case, an Israeli strike hit a media tent outside al‑Shifa Hospital, resulting in the deaths of four Al Jazeera journalists. In another, a subsequent double-tap airstrike on Nasser Hospital in Khan Younis...

September 01, 2025 - Palestine -  Islam Muhareb Abed, a correspondent for Al-Quds Today TV, was killed in an Israeli airstrike in Gaza City. According to the Gaza Government Media Office, Abed was struck while covering the latest bombardments, making him the 247th journalist killed since the start of Israel’s war on Gaza last October. His death highlights once again the devastating toll on media workers in what rights groups and press freedom advocates are calling the deadliest conflict for journalists ever recorded. Abed’s employer, Al-Quds Today TV, issued a statement mourning the loss of...

September 01, 2025 - Palestine -  The Guardian’s latest feature humanizes the grief behind the headlines by spotlighting four Palestinian journalists whose lives—and families—were tragically cut short in the Israel–Gaza conflict. These individuals were not just reporters but beloved sons, fathers, and relatives who bravely chronicled the suffering and resilience of their communities under siege. Mohammed al-Khaldi, 36, was known for his investigative journalism on humanitarian issues—marked by a deep empathy that led him to avoid filming the most graphic scenes. He chose to highlight dignity amid devastation. Anas al-Sharif, 28, a father of two...

September 01, 2025 – Palestine – Major international news organizations are urgently calling for enhanced protection for journalists covering the war in Gaza, warning that the conflict has become the deadliest ever recorded for media workers. On September 1, 2025, media organizations, including NPR, CNN, Reuters, AP, and others, signed a joint appeal—coordinated by Reporters Without Borders (RSF) and Avaaz—highlighting that more than 220 journalists have been killed by the Israeli army in under two years, with Palestinian counts reaching 247 fatalities. A Brown University study underscores the crisis by revealing that the number of...

September 01, 2025 – Palestine/Lebanon – Beirut’s Martyrs’ Square became a stage for an international day of media action to honor and stand in solidarity with Palestinian journalists relentlessly targeted by lethal Israeli operations amid the ongoing Gaza crisis. Organized jointly by Lebanese and Palestinian journalists, the demonstration sent a powerful message against the Israeli regime’s campaign of assassinations, bombardments, and sieges aimed at silencing the truth. Protesters carried slogans condemning these acts and demanded the freedom of journalists detained in occupation prisons. The Samidoun Palestinian Prisoner Solidarity Network played an active role, amplifying calls...

September 01, 2025 – Belarus/Poland – On the eve of his working visit to the United States, President Karol Nawrocki has been approached by a group of Belarusian and Polish journalists who urged him to raise the urgent issue of political prisoners during his meeting with U.S. President Donald Trump. The appeal reflects deep concern over the ongoing repression of independent media and civil society in Belarus and hopes that Nawrocki will amplify international attention on their plight during his discussions at the White House. President Nawrocki’s visit is scheduled for September 3, 2025, marking...

September 01, 2025 – Turkey – In August 2025, Turkish journalists encountered escalating threats, including physical assaults, legal prosecutions, and media censorship, according to a report from the Stockholm Center for Freedom. The report highlights the deteriorating environment for press freedom in the country. Two journalists were physically assaulted during this period, signaling a dangerous climate for those practicing investigative or critical reporting. One particularly alarming incident involved an armed attack targeting the Izmir bureau of the left-wing newspaper Evrensel, indicating not just intimidation but outright violence against media infrastructure. Censorship also surged in August....

September 01, 2025 – Palestine – A powerful open letter titled “With the deaths of journalists in Gaza, press freedom is also being assassinated” warns that, at the current pace of journalist casualties inflicted by the Israeli army, “there will soon be no one left to inform you.” The letter spotlights the escalating crisis in Gaza, where journalists are dying at an unprecedented rate. The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reports that approximately 197 journalists have been killed since the war began in October 2023. Other organizations estimate even higher figures, such as 246, as...

September 01, 2025 – Iran – Journalists working for Iran International, a London-based Persian‑language news outlet broadcasting globally, are living in fear as the Iranian regime intensifies intimidation campaigns against them—and even their families. Since the 12‑day conflict between Iran and Israel, threats have surged dramatically. About 45 journalists across eight countries and more than 300 of their relatives have reportedly received direct threats—some involving being followed, having trackers planted on their vehicles, and enduring harassing online abuse, including sexual harassment. In Australia, Alireza Mohebbi, Iran International’s Melbourne correspondent, shared that regime agents have called...

September 01, 2025 – Russia – Two Russian neo‑Nazis serving life sentences for high‑profile political murders have reportedly sought early release from prison to participate in the fighting in Ukraine. The individuals in question—Nikita Tikhonov and Ilya Goryachev—are former leaders of the now-defunct Battle Organization of Russian Nationalists (BORN), a neo‑Nazi group. Their request was revealed during a livestream on the Russian social media platform VK, conducted by pro‑war blogger Alexander Kots, who was asked whether inmates serving life terms could be pardoned to serve at the front. He confirmed that Tikhonov and Goryachev had...

September 01, 2025 – Palestine – A coalition of 131 Israeli journalists has issued a powerful petition demanding that their government cease what they describe as the targeting of press members in Gaza. The petition accuses the Israeli authorities of deliberately preventing foreign correspondents from entering the region, effectively blocking independent coverage despite repeated appeals made to the Supreme Court by the Foreign Press Association. This group’s appeal reflects growing concern over the accelerating death toll among journalists covering the Gaza war. According to data from the Committee to Protect Journalists, 168 reporters have already...