American nonprofit defending press freedom worldwide
NAZA, an 80-minute documentary by Israeli filmmakers Yuval Abraham and Rachel Szor, has premiered at the Venice Film Festival and has presented anonymous testimony from 24 Israeli military and intelligence whistleblowers alleging an AI-assisted targeting system and routine strikes that killed large numbers of Palestinian civilians in Gaza. Israel's defence establishment has rejected the claims and senior ministers have threatened action against the directors.
A German journalist, Eva Maria Michelmann, has been released from a Damascus prison and has returned to Berlin. Her Kurdish-Turkish colleague Ahmet Polad remains detained and unaccounted for. The German government and CPJ had pressed for her release amid a high-profile case that drew international attention.
Several Al Jazeera journalists have been killed in Gaza in recent days, with Ahmed Wishah among the latest. Reports indicate Israeli strikes targeted houses in the Bureij refugee camp, drawing ongoing accusations from both sides and renewed calls for press protection.
The ceasefire in Gaza remains fragile as Israeli strikes persist and Palestinian casualties rise. Multiple incidents near Beit Lahiya and Khan Younis have killed civilians, including a 13-year-old, and drawn international concern. Authorities say casualties continue to mount since the October 2023 war, despite a formal ceasefire.
Lebanese authorities have released Fadel Shaker on bail after questions over allegations including army involvement, funding militias, and money laundering related to the Sidon clashes in 2013. Shaker, once a famed singer, has a long history linked to the Al-Assir faction and subsequent legal proceedings.
Independent bookstores in Hong Kong have faced a third round of arrests under the 2024 national security law, with two shops raided and five people arrested for suspected displaying and selling seditious materials. Authorities say the operation targets materials that incite hatred toward the government, judiciary and police. The decoupled sales of such titles have intensified amid ongoing questions about freedom of expression in the city.
The Department of Homeland Security has replaced the duration of status system with fixed periods for foreign journalists and students, aiming to improve vetting. Journalists face a maximum stay of 240 days (and 90 days for Chinese reporters), with extensions possible. The policy takes effect 60 days after publication, drawing criticism from press groups who warn of restricted reporting.
The White House Correspondents’ Association re-stages a scaled dinner after a chaotic April event. Trump has attacked the press during the event, amid broader tensions over media access and First Amendment rights. Organisers and critics debate whether the gala can uphold press freedoms while the president remains adversarial.
Pakistan’s Foreign Media Facilitation Guidelines 2026 have been issued, requiring accreditation and travel clearance for reporting outside Islamabad, Lahore and Karachi. Rights groups call the move a restriction on press freedom; the government says it provides a transparent framework for registration and reporting.
Human Rights Watch, Amnesty International and Lebanons Legal Agenda have released investigations finding that Israeli strikes on 22 April in al-Tiri have targeted journalists Amal Khalil and Zeinab Faraj, described the attacks as war crimes and said Israeli forces impeded rescue efforts. Israel has denied deliberately targeting journalists and said it struck Hezbollah-linked targets.
Independent Ethiopian outlets face escalating government pressure. Journalists detained or harassed, offices raided, and licenses revoked as authorities push for tighter control over reporting on unrest and elections. CPJ urges due process and the protection of press freedom.
Rights groups report a sustained crackdown on civil society in Tunisia, with arrests, financially targeting NGOs, and suspensions widening under President Saied. The move is described as a strategic clampdown on dissent amid protests and deteriorating living conditions.