Tunisian journalists behind bars reflect growing repression of media freedom Tunisians have been concerned about the return of oppression and restriction on media freedoms following renewed military trials of civilians, arrests and attacks on journalists. Mohamed Ali Ltifi | Tunisia | Oct 9, 2021 Journalists hold up signs reading in Arabic (R to L) "freedom of the press is a red line," "fourth estate not kneeling estate," and "a government which does not respect the law," as they gather for a demonstration outside the headquarters of Tunisia's national Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency in the capital on April 15, 2021.
Jihadist group in Idlib bans pro-opposition news channel Hayat Tahrir al-Sham has banned the pro-opposition Orient News channel from media coverage in Idlib, raising fears about the state of press freedom in Syria’s Idlib. Sultan al-Kanj | Syria | Sep 9, 2021
Turkey plans further clampdown on independent media Recep Tayyip Erdogan's AKP says it won't allow "fifth column" activity from independent media organizations. Amberin Zaman | Turkey | Jul 22, 2021
Morocco sentences journalist Omar Radi in trial slammed by rights groups The court on Monday sentenced Omar Radi to six years in prison on espionage and rape charges he denies. Al-Monitor Staff | Morocco | Jul 19, 2021
Moroccan journalist's jailing draws rebuke from US State Department spokesman Ned Price said the United States is "disappointed" by a Moroccan court's five-year sentence of journalist Soulaiman Raissouni. Al-Monitor Staff | Morocco | Jul 13, 2021
Reports highlight crackdowns on press in Kurdistan Region The Iraqi Kurdistan Regional Government has rejected the charges, citing the independence of courts and media partnerships. Al-Monitor Staff | News Brief | Jul 9, 2021
Egypt to launch regional news channel Egypt is planning on launching a regional news channel, including joint projects and productions with Saudi Arabia. A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Jun 17, 2021
Israel says Hamas used AP, Al Jazeera building in Gaza to jam Iron Dome Israel will help rebuild AP offices in Gaza, said its UN ambassador. Al-Monitor Staff | Palestine | Jun 8, 2021
Egypt releases journalist Khaled Dawoud from prison Khaled Dawoud was arrested as part of a sweeping crackdown on anti-government protesters in 2019. Al-Monitor Staff | Egypt | Apr 14, 2021
Is Turkey going to crack down Muslim Brotherhood aligned TV in gesture to Egypt? The Turkish government has advised Brotherhood aligned stations against insulting Egyptian officials. A correspondent in Egypt | Egypt | Apr 2, 2021
Erbil court convicts journalists, activists of spying, organizing armed groups Five defendants, including journalists and activists, were sentenced to prison in Erbil in a decision that international rights groups say is an attack on press freedoms. Al-Monitor Staff | Iraq | Feb 22, 2021
Prominent Turkish lawyer defiant after jail sentence over media trial Eren Keskin, a prominent human rights lawyer, was among four defendants sentenced to prison on terror-linked charges Monday in a newspaper trial that raised concerns over media freedom in Turkey. Diego Cupolo | Turkey | Feb 17, 2021
Activists fear Iraqi cybercrime law could limit press freedoms The Iraqi cybercrime bill makes a reappearance amid widespread objections by civilians and activists who label it as repressive of freedoms and rights guaranteed in the Iraqi Constitution. Omar Sattar | Iraq | Dec 2, 2020
Egyptian, Iranian leaders criticize French president over comments on freedom of expression French President Emmanuel Macron angered many Muslim leaders when he defended images of the prophet of Islam after a Parisian teacher was beheaded for showing such images. Al-Monitor Staff | Egypt | Oct 28, 2020
Syrian journalists in Idlib face crackdown from jihadist-affiliated government The government affiliated with Hayat Tahrir al-Sham in Syria has decreed that journalists can’t work in their areas of control without a permit. An Al-Monitor correspondent | Syria | Oct 26, 2020
Intel: US lifts Iran-related sanctions, says no connection to nuclear deal Elizabeth Hagedorn | Iran | Oct 8, 2021
"The eighteen days of the revolution were the best days of my life," says Egyptian novelist Alaa Al Aswany
Journalists hold up signs reading in Arabic (R to L) "freedom of the press is a red line," "fourth estate not kneeling estate," and "a government which does not respect the law," as they gather for a demonstration outside the headquarters of Tunisia's national Tunis Afrique Presse (TAP) news agency in the capital on April 15, 2021.
