Fears mount over fate of missing Turkmen dissidents in Turkey The pair vanished after being released from a Turkish deportation center, prompting concerns they were abducted or secretly returned to Turkmenistan. Turkey
Egypt holds second Senate vote as pro-Sisi parties dominate: What to know The Senate elections, dominated by pro-Sisi government parties, feature fewer party list and individual candidates compared to elections held in 2020. Egypt
Turkey’s Sozcu TV forced off air in latest crackdown on opposition: What to know As Istanbul's mayor remains jailed, pressure mounts on opposition-aligned media to soften their criticism, analysts say. Turkey
Turkey jails satirical magazine staff over alleged Prophet Muhammad cartoon Four staff members of the satirical weekly LeMan were arrested and charged with “publicly insulting religious values” amid protests against the image and government crackdown on the magazine’s social media accounts. Turkey
Feature Families of Kurdish journalists slain in suspected Turkish drone strike in Syria want their remains By Amberin Zaman Reporting on geopolitics, minorities, human rights, culture
US concerned after Moroccan court upholds journalist’s sentence The State Department said it was "concerned with the judicial process" that led to Omar Radi's six-year sentence. Morocco
Longtime loyalist newspaper ditches Netanyahu Israel Hayom newspaper is dramatically changing tack and now supporting Prime Minister Naftali Bennett rather than former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu. Israel
Erdogan tightens grip on media with circular on family values A midnight circular from President Recep Tayyip Erdogan calls on media outlets and regulatory groups to take decisive steps to protect youth and children from Western-inspired programs and certain symbols. Turkey
Turkish court jails journalist over proverb that 'insulted' Erdogan TV media figure Sedef Kabas is the latest among tens of thousands to be investigated over insulting the president during Erdogan's time in office. Turkey
El Salvador journalists reportedly targeted by Pegasus spyware A cyber watchdog report found the phones of at least 35 journalists and activists in the Latin American country were infected with the controversial Pegasus spyware. Israel
Journalists in Turkey see media domain narrowing as elections approach Media workers under pressure mark Working Journalists Day and fear further clampdown on independent journalism. Turkey
Middle East sees most hostage-taking of journalists in 2021, report says Reporters Without Borders said of the 65 journalists held by nonstate actors worldwide, nearly all were abducted in Syria, Yemen and Iraq. News Brief
European court orders Turkey to pay damages to journalist jailed over coup The European Court of Human Rights ruled that Turkey should pay $18,000 to political commentator and former lawmaker Nazli Ilicak for violating her rights. News Brief
BBC calls for Iran to stop 'campaign of harassment' against staff The British broadcaster has publicly called out Iran for cross-border threats and harassment of its journalists and their family members. Iran
Journalists covering Netanyahu trial harassed, attacked Supporters of former Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu harassed two journalists who came to cover his trial and struck one of them with a cane. Israel
Media freedom in Tunisia stirs wide debate The closure by the Independent High Authority for Audiovisual Communication of four media institutions, under the pretext of benefiting from the influence of some parties and political figures for broadcasting without regularizing their situation, has stirred wide controversy and growing concern about the fate of media institutions in Tunisia. North Africa
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. Tunisia