Attacks

Also available in: Français Español عربي

Spotlight: Impunity Chechnya (Russia) Attacks Gender

New anti-LGBTQI+ crackdown in Chechnya

12 May 2019
Human Rights Watch (HRW)

Police in Chechnya have carried out a new round of unlawful detentions, beatings, and humiliation of men they presume to be gay or bisexual.

Egypt Attacks

Egyptian human rights defender facing government defamation campaign

Mohamed Soltan has been the target of a defamation campaign by the Egyptian government due to his advocacy work.

‎ Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS), Human Rights Watch (HRW)‎11 May 2019

Attacks Ukraine

Ukrainian journalist Vadim Komarov beaten into coma

Vadim Komarov's colleagues believe that the attack was connected to his work. He frequently wrote about corruption, embezzlement of city budget funds, administrative incompetence, illegal construction and prison conditions.

‎ By Cathal Sheerin ‎ 7 May 2019

Venezuela Attacks Free Expression & the Law

Challenges facing journalists trying to cover latest violence in Venezuela

Since April 30, journalists have been affected by tear gas when covering the protests; detention and prosecution at the hands of state security authorities is also a serious risk.

‎ Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)‎ 7 May 2019

Latest from Attacks

Ahmed Mansoor remains in isolation, despite unconfirmed report that hunger strike has ended

‎ Gulf Centre for Human Rights (GCHR)

United Arab Emirates Attacks Free Expression & the Law 6 May 2019
The Americas in April: An historic mission to Geneva, and two nations on the brink of collapse

‎ José Peralta for IFEX. Based on IFEX member reports

Americas Impunity Attacks 5 May 2019
Truth vs misinformation: The collective push back in South Asia

‎ International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

Access to Information Attacks Free Expression & the Law Asia & Pacific 3 May 2019
On press freedom, human rights and democracy

‎ By Annie Game, Executive Director of IFEX

International Attacks Digital Rights World Press Freedom Day 2 May 2019
Saudi Arabia executes 37 citizens, Sisi could rule Egypt until 2030, Yemeni journalists tortured

‎ Joey Ayoub for IFEX. Based on IFEX member reports

Middle East & North Africa Attacks Free Expression & the Law 1 May 2019
Flood emergency triggers crackdown on journalists in Iran

‎ Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Attacks Iran Censorship 1 May 2019
IFJ demands release of tortured Yemeni journalists

‎ International Federation of Journalists (IFJ)

Attacks Yemen 1 May 2019
Cuban police detain and beat journalist Roberto Jesús Quiñones in Guantánamo

‎ Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Cuba Attacks Free Expression & the Law 1 May 2019
Under Abiy, Ethiopia's media have more freedom but challenges remain

‎ Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Ethiopia Attacks Free Expression & the Law 1 May 2019
AFEX reminds African leaders of possibility to chart new course around FoE

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX)

Access to Information Africa Attacks 30 April 2019
High levels of impunity on the continent for crimes against journalists

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX)

Impunity Africa Attacks 24 April 2019
ATI and safety of journalists of paramount importance for credible elections

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Access to Information Zimbabwe Attacks 24 April 2019
In Peru, journalist Gustavo Gorriti, other media blamed for ex-president's suicide

‎ Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ)

Attacks Peru 24 April 2019
CIHRS: Why we're pushing back against the Egyptian president's constitutional coup

‎ Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS)

Egypt Attacks Free Expression & the Law 24 April 2019
Radio stations taken off air for hosting opposition leader

‎ Human Rights Network for Journalists - Uganda (HRNJ-Uganda)

Uganda Attacks Censorship 22 April 2019
MFWA documents 152 FoE violations in the region during 2018

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Africa Attacks Freedom of Assembly 21 April 2019
AFEX condemns impunity for crimes against journalists

‎ African Freedom of Expression Exchange

Impunity Africa Attacks 21 April 2019
Well-known Syrian citizen-journalist probably died in detention in 2013

‎ Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Syria Attacks Free Expression & the Law 20 April 2019
RSF's World Press Freedom Index shows decline in "safe" countries for journalists

‎ Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

International Attacks Digital Rights 18 April 2019
Violence against journalists and impunity a constant in Haiti

‎ Inter American Press Association

Impunity Attacks Haiti 15 April 2019
Liberia's minister of information promises to investigate death threats

‎ Center for Media Studies & Peace Building (CEMESP)

Liberia Attacks 15 April 2019
West African journalists dealing with detentions and assaults

‎ Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA)

Access to Information Africa Attacks Digital Rights 15 April 2019
Nepal: Journalist attacked while covering protests

‎ Freedom Forum

Nepal Attacks 12 April 2019
Egyptian journalist freed conditionally after being held for years without trial

‎ Reporters Without Borders (RSF)

Egypt Attacks Free Expression & the Law 11 April 2019
How pro-government media in Morocco use "fake news" to target and silence Rif activists

‎ Global Voices Advox

Morocco Digital Rights Attacks 7 April 2019
MISA-Zimbabwe condemns police deliberate attack on 263Chat journalists

‎ Media Institute of Southern Africa (MISA)

Zimbabwe Attacks 5 April 2019

At a glance

Attacks:

Threats, harassment, assaults, and worse – intimidation as a means of suppressing free expression.

More from Attacks

TRUTH VS MISINFORMATION: THE COLLECTIVE PUSH BACK

SOUTH ASIA PRESS FREEDOM REPORT 2018-2019

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) 3 May 2019
Annual Freedom of Expression Situation in Africa Report - 2018

African Freedom of Expression Exchange (AFEX) 10 April 2019
State of Pakistani media 2018

A report by Pakistan Press Foundation on the state of the country's media in 2018

Pakistan Press Foundation 31 March 2019

Prensa acorralada: un juego de violentos y poderosos

Informe sobre el estado de la libertad de prensa en Colombia 2018

Foundation for Press Freedom - FLIP 9 February 2019

Democracy in Retreat: Freedom in the World 2019

In 2018, Freedom in the World recorded the 13th consecutive year of decline in global freedom. The reversal has spanned a variety of countries in every region, from long-standing democracies like the United States to consolidated authoritarian regimes like China and Russia. The overall losses are still shallow compared with the gains of the late 20th century, but the pattern is consistent and ominous. Democracy is in retreat.

Freedom House 6 February 2019

Nepal: Sharp increase of press freedom violations in 2018

Freedom Forum recorded a total of 98 press freedom violations that directly affected at least 223 journalists in 2018.

Freedom Forum 7 January 2019

List of journalists killed by country in 2018

International Federation of Journalists (IFJ) 31 December 2018

Journalists: the bête noire of organized crime

Organized crime knows no borders, scorns the rule of law in democracies, and leaves little choice to journalists, who have limited resources and are extremely vulnerable. The only choice for reporters is often to say nothing or risk their lives.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 26 November 2018

West Africa Freedom of Expression Monitor July-September 2018

Thirty-five violations were recorded in 12 countries with Nigeria recording the highest number. The findings show a slight reduction in the cases of violations compared to the previous quarter (April June, 2018) which recorded 40 violations.

Media Foundation for West Africa (MFWA) 30 October 2018

Two Authorities, One Way, Zero Dissent

Arbitrary Arrest and Torture Under the Palestinian Authority and Hamas

Human Rights Watch (HRW) 23 October 2018

Aiding Repression in Egypt: Why the United States Needs to Keep Human Rights Conditions on Military Aid

Civil society leaders in Egypt are urging the U.S. government to continue to condition and withhold military aid to Egypt until the Egyptian government makes meaningful reforms to its human rights practices.

Cairo Institute for Human Rights Studies (CIHRS) 20 September 2018

Indonesia: Violence against women journalists

The Indonesian press has not been free from violence and abuse against journalists. There were more than 60 cases recorded from 2017 to March 2018, with at least 20 percent of the cases involving women journalists.

Southeast Asian Press Alliance (SEAPA) 4 May 2018

Press freedom under threat: International Press Freedom Mission to the United States May 2018

In recent years, press freedom organizations have become increasingly concerned by the challenges faced by the media in the United States (US).

ARTICLE 19, Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), IFEX, Index on Censorship, International Press Institute (IPI) , Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 3 May 2018

Nepal annual press freedom report - May 2018

Hostility against the press continues to rise.

Freedom Forum 3 May 2018

RSF World Press Freedom Index 2018

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 25 April 2018

Audacity in Adversity: LGBT Activism in the Middle East and North Africa

Despite state-sponsored repression and social stigma, lesbian, gay, bisexual and transgender (LGBT) people in the Middle East and North Africa are finding ways to speak out. They are telling their stories, building alliances, networking across borders, developing national and regional movements, and finding creative ways to combat homophobia and transphobia.

Human Rights Watch (HRW) 16 April 2018

Media freedom violations in Palestine, March 2018

The Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) documented during March 2018 a total of 46 violations against media freedom in the Gaza Strip and the West Bank.

Palestinian Center for Development and Media Freedoms (MADA) 15 April 2018

Alternative Report on the Situation of Freedom of the Press and Violence against Journalists in Guatemala

In view of the examination of Guatemala before the Human Rights Committee in March 2018, the Centre for Informative Reports on Guatemala (CERIGUA), with the support of IFEX and the International Network for Human Rights (RIDH), produced an alternative report on the aforementioned issues covering the time- period between 2012 and February 2018, the month in which this report was completed.

Centro de Reportes Informativos sobre Guatemala - CERIGUA, IFEX 12 March 2018

Challenges for Independent Media 2017

Cambodia's facade of media freedom collapsed in 2017. Authorities shut- tered 32 radio stations carrying opposition, U.S.-funded or independent content,1 hit often-critical media outlets with tax investigations that closed down newsrooms, and threatened and arrested journalists for “incitement” and “espionage” amid heated rhetoric that claimed foreign agents were attempting to topple the government.

Cambodian Centre for Independent Media (CCIM) 7 March 2018

Women's rights: Forbidden subject

Covering women’s issues does not come without danger. A female editor was murdered for denouncing a sexist policy. A reporter was imprisoned for interviewing a rape victim. A woman reporter was physically attacked for defending access to tampons, while a female blogger was threatened online for criticizing a video game. For International Women’s Day, Reporters Without Borders (RSF) wants to turn the spotlight on violence against journalists covering these issues. This report does not address the status of women journalists, equal employment of women in journalism or sexist (or non-sexist) attitudes in the media. These issues have been widely covered and debated elsewhere. This report focuses specifically on threats and violence against both men and women reporters covering women’s rights.

Reporters Without Borders (RSF) 1 March 2018

Nepali media facing alarmingly hostile atmosphere

Freedom Forum recorded a total of 66 press freedom violations during this passing year 2017, which is a sharp rise compared to the previous year, 2016. Only 25 incidents were recorded in 2016.

Freedom Forum 21 February 2018

A crime outside coverage: Report monitoring grave violations in supressing Al Duraz peaceful assembly in Bahrain

Bahrain Center for Human Rights 18 December 2017

Prevent-protect-prosecute: Acting on UN Human Rights Council Resolution 33/2 2017

ARTICLE 19 26 September 2017

Free Expression Newsletter, April-June 2017: Anti-Press Incidents Decline; Policy Environment Still Regressive

According to Freedom Forum, anti-press incidents have declined in Nepal since April 2017 but the policy environment is still regressive.

Freedom Forum 12 July 2017

Report on violations of freedom of expression and opinion during the first round of local elections

Freedom Forum monitored FoE during the elections as it concerns citizens' freedom of expression through the ballot box. Therefore, any action creating an unfavourable atmosphere for the elections is also a violation of freedom of expression.

Freedom Forum 19 June 2017

Press freedom shows slight improvement, but remains abysmally low

A recent HKJA survey indicates a slight rise in the Hong Kong Press Freedom Index after two consecutive years of decline. Journalists on the ground believe that the situation has worsened in 2016, compared to the year before. HKJA chairperson Sham Yee-lan explained that the slight increase in the Press Freedom Index was likely to be related to the emergence of online media, which has led to some diversity in the industry.

Hong Kong Journalists Association 7 April 2017