Journalist who investigated Erdogan’s son jailed on 'disinformation' charges in Turkey Human rights organizations warn Ari’s detention signals a broader campaign against journalists probing government corruption and elite networks. Turkey
Analysis Iran’s longest-ever internet blackout leaves 99% offline: What to know Facing a historic internet blackout, Iranians are locked in a struggle with authorities to find loopholes to get around this communications crackdown, leading to "shutdowns within a shutdown." By Samuel Wendel In Washington, DC, reporting on regional business and tech
Qatar-based Al Jazeera commentators go dark on social media: What to know Saeed Ziad, who offered a pro-Iran perspective on the war, has not posted on X in days, and the account of Fatima al-Smadi was deleted, though their exact status is not known. Qatar
Israeli-Russian journalist removed from Netanyahu’s US flight: What to know Israeli-Russian journalist Nick Kolyohin was removed from the official Israeli Wing of Zion plane just before its departure for Washington, where Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu is scheduled to meet President Donald Trump. Israel
Intel: Democrats condemn US broadcasting CEO’s Middle East purges after expanding office’s powers President Donald Trump’s new CEO of the US Agency for Global Media on Wednesday fired the heads of at least three of its outlets who collectively oversaw its Middle East and Iran coverage. The move sparked immediate condemnation from key Democrats despite their previous bipartisan support for expanding the CEO’s powers. Congress
Egypt arrests prominent journalist after Al Jazeera interview Mohamed Monir, 65, is charged with joining a terrorist group and spreading false news. Egypt
Turkish courts reopen to backlog of press freedom cases The resumption of court hearings in Turkey has press freedom advocates anxious, amid fears of a second COVID-19 wave and ongoing pressure on the media covering the pandemic. Turkey
Turkey’s news channels can’t breathe Journalism in Turkey is choking under a censorship mechanism in which newsroom managers, leaders often act as “government commissars.” Turkey
Turkey ignores its own record, denouncing press clampdown in US protests Turkish officials have denounced the crackdown on journalists in the United States, drawing criticism given Ankara's own record on press freedom. Turkey
Prosecution of blogger over Quran parody ignites renewed fears of censorship The criminal case against Emna Chargui for a Ramadan Facebook post has raised questions about the limits of free speech in Tunisia, and given rise to passionate protests against the enforcement of Ben Ali-era laws. Tunisia
New banking regulations threaten press freedom in Turkey Recent measures seeking to limit damaging information on the financial system pose new threats to press freedom in Turkey. Turkey
Egypt releases, on bail, editor-in-chief of prominent independent news outlet Lina Attalah, editor-in-chief of Mada Masr, has been released on bail following her arrest Sunday. Egypt
Egypt steps up crackdown on journalists as world celebrates press freedom As the world celebrated World Press Freedom Day, journalists in Egypt were being subjected to an arrest campaign by Egyptian security forces, while the authorities banned the use of pseudonyms. Egypt
Press freedom watchdog criticizes suspension of Kurdish reporter in northeast Syria Rudaw's Vivian Fatah was suspended because she did not describe Kurdish fighters who had been killed in Syria as martyrs. Iraq
Media, rights groups decry Houthi court's execution orders Yemen is without a doubt hostile to the press, but the death sentences imposed on four journalists by a Houthi court shocked many observers. Yemen
Cloud of doubt surrounds coronavirus figures reported by Iraqi government There is great skepticism in Iraqi society and in the media about the government’s statistics of how many people have been infected by and died from the coronavirus. Iraq
