News

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...

May 28, 2025 - Palestine -  Reporters Without Borders (RSF) has formally requested the International Criminal Court (ICC) to allow Palestinian journalists affected by the war in Gaza to participate in its war crimes investigation. RSF argues that these journalists, who have suffered devastating personal losses and attacks in the line of duty, should be recognized as victims and allowed to share their testimonies during the proceedings. The move is part of RSF’s ongoing efforts to seek justice for journalists targeted during the Israel-Gaza conflict. The organization submitted two victim participation requests to the ICC...

May 27, 2025 - General -  In a recent feature by The Guardian, journalists from various conflict zones have shared their accounts of the immense challenges and dangers they face while reporting from war-torn regions. Their stories shed light on the physical threats, psychological trauma, and unwavering commitment to truth that define their profession. Stephen, a journalist in the Democratic Republic of the Congo, has been covering conflicts in North Kivu for years. His work has made him a target for M23 rebels, forcing him to conceal his identity and cease public reporting to protect...

May 27, 2025 - Congo -  The Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) reported that journalist Samy Kambere Malikidogo was shot by a police officer while covering a public demonstration against crime and violence in Durba, a town in the northeastern province of Haut-Uélé, Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC). The incident occurred as Malikidogo was documenting the protest, highlighting the risks faced by journalists in the region. CPJ has called on DRC authorities to swiftly, thoroughly, and transparently investigate the shooting and hold the responsible officer accountable. Angela Quintal, CPJ’s Africa program coordinator, emphasized the...

May 27, 2025 - China - A recent investigation by the International Consortium of Investigative Journalists (ICIJ) has uncovered that the Chinese government targeted individuals connected to Shohret Hoshur, a U.S.-based journalist for Radio Free Asia (RFA), as part of a broader campaign to suppress dissent among the Uyghur diaspora. Leaked documents from the Tekes County Public Security Bureau in Xinjiang listed 42 individuals labeled as “sensitive and special” due to their association with Hoshur. These individuals, including an author who had been “dealt with by the public security authorities on political suspicion,” were subjected...

May 27, 2025 - Palestine  -  On May 27, 2025, Israeli forces injured two Palestinian children and two journalists during military operations in the occupied West Bank, specifically in the cities of Qalqilia, Jenin, and Bethlehem. In Qalqilia, soldiers fired rubber-coated steel bullets during a morning raid, injuring a child in the leg. The child was transported to Darwish Nazzal Government Hospital for treatment. Additionally, Israeli forces stormed the Qalqilia Municipality building and nearby commercial shops, detaining several individuals, including Louay Fathi Al-Ashqar, Alaa Ayad Daoud, Muhammad Yasser Amer, and Anhar Muhammad Abdul Jawad. In...

May 27, 2025 - Azerbaijan -  Ulviyya Ali (also known as Ulviyya Guliyeva) is an Azerbaijani journalist and human rights activist who was arrested on May 7, 2025, in connection with the "Meydan TV case." She was charged under Article 206.3.2 of the Azerbaijani Criminal Code, which pertains to smuggling committed by a group of persons acting in concert. Ali has denied any affiliation with Meydan TV and asserts that her detention is solely due to her journalistic activities. Before her arrest, Ali had been reporting on human rights issues for Voice of America (VOA)...

May 26, 2025 - Bangladesh -  A Dhaka court has denied bail to Zakir Hossain, the main accused in a shocking attack on journalists at the Dhaka Reporters Unity (DRU) premises in Segunbagicha on May 21, 2025. The court, however, granted bail to his wife, Beauty Khatun, who is also implicated in the case. The couple was arrested on May 24 and brought before the court the following day, following a swift police investigation that identified them as central figures in the violence. The attack, which unfolded in broad daylight, involved around 50 individuals armed...

May 25, 2025 - Somalia -  Former Somali President Sharif Sheikh Ahmed has strongly criticized the Somali government for its recent arrests of journalists in Mogadishu, calling it a direct attack on press freedom and democratic principles. His comments come in response to the detention of multiple journalists following their coverage of political unrest and anti-government sentiments. Speaking out on May 24, 2025, the former president labeled the government’s actions as a “blatant violation” of journalists' rights and the country’s constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression. He warned that the escalating crackdown on media professionals...

May 25, 2025 - Pakistan -  Abdul Latif, a Baloch journalist known for his coverage of human rights issues in Pakistan's troubled Balochistan province, was shot dead on May 23, 2025, in the town of Turbat. The attack, which occurred in front of his family, has been widely condemned as a targeted killing, further exposing the dangers journalists face in the region. Latif, who worked with local media outlets and contributed to several human rights advocacy platforms, was reportedly ambushed by armed assailants while returning home. Witnesses say he was gunned down at close range...

May 25, 2025 - Palestine -  Palestinian journalist Hassan Abu Warda was killed in an Israeli airstrike on Gaza, marking another grim milestone in the mounting toll on media workers amid the ongoing war. Abu Warda, who worked as a freelance photojournalist, lost his life on May 19, 2025, in the northern Gaza Strip while covering the effects of the Israeli military campaign. According to the official Palestinian news agency WAFA, Abu Warda was killed during a targeted airstrike in Jabalia, a densely populated refugee camp that has faced repeated bombardments. His death was reported...

May 25, 2025 - Palestine -  As the humanitarian crisis in Gaza deepens, international media and human rights organizations are amplifying calls for unrestricted access and protection for journalists and medical personnel operating in the region. On May 29, 2025, the Arab Center, Washington, DC, in collaboration with Brave New Films and the National Writers Union, will host the national premiere of Gaza: Journalists Under Fire. This documentary highlights the stories of journalists Bilal Jadallah, Heba Al-Abadlah, and Ismail Al-Ghoul, who were killed while covering the conflict in Gaza. The film underscores the deliberate targeting...

May 25, 2025 - Palestine - The Palestinian National Council (PNC), the highest decision-making body of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), has issued a fervent appeal for the protection of journalists in the face of escalating Israeli attacks in Gaza and the occupied West Bank. This call comes as the toll on media professionals continues to rise, with at least 211 Palestinian journalists reported killed since October 2023. In a statement released ahead of Arab Media Day, the PNC condemned the deliberate targeting of journalists, asserting that such assaults aim to silence the Palestinian narrative....

May 25, 2025 - Afghanistan -  Amid a deepening crackdown on press freedom in Afghanistan, a group of women’s rights activists has launched the “Journalism Is Not a Crime” campaign. Led by the Afghanistan Women’s Protest Movements Coalition, the initiative calls for the immediate release of detained journalists and urges international attention to the Taliban’s escalating repression of the media. Since the Taliban’s return to power in August 2021, journalists across Afghanistan have faced widespread intimidation, detention, and violence. A recent United Nations report highlights 336 cases of harassment against media professionals, including 256 arbitrary...

May 23, 2025 - Iran -  Reza Valizadeh, an Iranian-American journalist and former employee of Voice of America and Radio Farda, has been detained in Tehran's Evin Prison. Authorities arrested him in September 2024, and he has since been held without access to legal representation. Valizadeh claims that his detention stems from his refusal to collaborate with Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) intelligence unit. He alleges that the IRGC offered him financial incentives to lure Iranian journalists abroad back to Iran under the guise of contractual work, which he declined. Subsequently, they proposed that...

May 23, 2025 - Mexico - José Carlos González Herrera, a prominent Mexican journalist and social media influencer known as "El Guerrero Fénix," was fatally shot on May 15, 2025, in downtown Acapulco, Guerrero. He was the administrator of the Facebook page El Guerrero, Opinión Ciudadana, which had over 140,000 followers and was recognized for its citizen journalism, political satire, and public accountability reporting. The attack occurred shortly after González Herrera had conducted a live broadcast, underscoring the risks faced by journalists in the region. This incident marks the fourth journalist killed in Mexico in...

May 23, 2025 - Samoa -  Lagi Keresoma, a veteran journalist and president of the Journalists Association of Samoa (JAWS), has been charged with criminal libel under Section 117A of Samoa’s Crimes Act 2013. The charge stems from a May 1 article published by Talamua Media, alleging that a former police officer sought assistance from the Head of State to have charges against him withdrawn. The former officer, currently facing two forgery charges, filed a complaint claiming the article was defamatory. The case has ignited widespread criticism from local and international media organizations. JAWS expressed...

May 22, 2025 - Ukraine/Russia -  Ukrainian journalist Viktoriia Roshchyna, known as Vika, dedicated her career to uncovering Russia’s covert detention facilities, often referred to as “black sites,” where civilians were subjected to torture and abuse. In August 2023, while investigating these sites in Russian-occupied Zaporizhzhia, she was detained by Russian forces. Her subsequent disappearance and death in captivity have drawn international attention to the plight of journalists and civilians under Russian occupation. In the latest episode of Today in Focus, The Guardian’s investigative team delves into Roshchyna’s final assignment. The podcast, titled “Vika: The...

May 22, 2025 - Cambodia -  Environmental journalist Ouk Mao was arrested without a warrant by Cambodian authorities on May 16, 2025, sparking widespread condemnation from international press freedom and human rights groups. Mao, who reports for Intriplus News, has been a vocal critic of illegal logging and environmental destruction in Cambodia’s protected areas, especially around the Prey Lang Wildlife Sanctuary. He now faces charges of “incitement to commit a felony” and “public defamation,” offenses that could result in several years of imprisonment. His arrest follows a pattern of ongoing harassment. In March 2025, Mao...

May 22, 2025 - Hong Kong -  In May 2025, Hong Kong's independent media sector encountered heightened scrutiny as the Inland Revenue Department (IRD) initiated a series of tax audits targeting at least six media outlets and approximately 20 journalists, including their family members. The Hong Kong Journalists Association (HKJA) described these audits as "unreasonable" and "strange," citing instances where individuals were taxed for non-existent companies or periods predating a company's establishment. Prominent outlets such as Hong Kong Free Press (HKFP), InMedia HK, and The Witness reported being subjected to extensive multi-year audits. HKFP's founder,...