IFEX
@ifex.org
IFEX is a nexus for free expression expertise contributed by over 100 member organisations, spanning 70 countries.
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✉️ Subscribe to IFEX's weekly newsletter: https://ifex.org/#signup
➡️ Follow IFEX on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/company/ifex
#Venezuela 🇻🇪 Espacio Público reports that journalist Rory Branker was released after nearly a year of arbitrary detention with no respect for due process. (In Spanish)
Excarcelan a Rory Branker este #4Feb tras casi un año detenido arbitrariamente · Espacio Público
Excarcelan a Rory Branker este #4Feb tras casi un año detenido arbitrariamente
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February 9, 2026 at 10:02 PM
#Venezuela 🇻🇪 Espacio Público reports that journalist Rory Branker was released after nearly a year of arbitrary detention with no respect for due process. (In Spanish)
#Algeria 🇩🇿 Authorities jailed Algerie Scoop director Omar Ferhat on politicized "false news" charges. @pressfreedom.bsky.social says this is a blatant attempt to silence critical journalism and calls for his immediate release. buff.ly/NxpCuMP
February 9, 2026 at 8:00 PM
#Algeria 🇩🇿 Authorities jailed Algerie Scoop director Omar Ferhat on politicized "false news" charges. @pressfreedom.bsky.social says this is a blatant attempt to silence critical journalism and calls for his immediate release. buff.ly/NxpCuMP
#Ghana 🇬🇭 The MFWA welcomes a probe into the assault on Media General journalist Solomon Kanaluwe, stressing that investigations must deliver real accountability.
Ghana: Military investigates assault of journalist
The Ghana Armed Forces has launched an investigation into the assault of Solomon Kwame Kanaluwe, a journalist with the Media General Group, by military personnel in Walewale, in Ghana’s North East…
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February 9, 2026 at 6:31 PM
#Ghana 🇬🇭 The MFWA welcomes a probe into the assault on Media General journalist Solomon Kanaluwe, stressing that investigations must deliver real accountability.
#Palestine 🇵🇸 @rsf.org captures how Gaza’s journalists are carrying grief for their murdered colleagues while continuing to work under blockade, isolation, and ongoing targeting, as global attention fades and conditions for reporting remain perilous. buff.ly/QnQLXV4
February 9, 2026 at 5:00 PM
#Palestine 🇵🇸 @rsf.org captures how Gaza’s journalists are carrying grief for their murdered colleagues while continuing to work under blockade, isolation, and ongoing targeting, as global attention fades and conditions for reporting remain perilous. buff.ly/QnQLXV4
#Turkey 🇹🇷 Convicted in 2017 on charges of 'terrorist propaganda', Kurdish artist Zehra Doğan spent nearly three years in prison before her release in February 2019. Her case is emblematic of the authorities' persecution of Kurdish voices. buff.ly/BqEfJgy
February 9, 2026 at 3:30 PM
#Turkey 🇹🇷 Convicted in 2017 on charges of 'terrorist propaganda', Kurdish artist Zehra Doğan spent nearly three years in prison before her release in February 2019. Her case is emblematic of the authorities' persecution of Kurdish voices. buff.ly/BqEfJgy
#Botswana 🇧🇼 MISA-Botswana warns that attacks on journalists and alleged political pressure inside public broadcaster, signals a dangerous retreat from constitutional guarantees.
MISA Botswana Condemns Emerging Threats to Media Freedom
The Constitution of Botswana (Section 12) guarantees freedom of expression and the media’s role as a watchdog. These rights are not concessions granted by political authority. They are fundamental …
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February 9, 2026 at 2:02 PM
#Botswana 🇧🇼 MISA-Botswana warns that attacks on journalists and alleged political pressure inside public broadcaster, signals a dangerous retreat from constitutional guarantees.
#Ukraine 🇧🇾 IMI reports that #Russia has placed Odesa-based journalist Vladyslav Balinskyi on an international wanted list. He is charged with "spreading disinformation about the Russian armed forces" and "damaging military memorials".
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February 9, 2026 at 12:02 PM
#Ukraine 🇧🇾 IMI reports that #Russia has placed Odesa-based journalist Vladyslav Balinskyi on an international wanted list. He is charged with "spreading disinformation about the Russian armed forces" and "damaging military memorials".
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buff.ly/MJs5Xrj
#Afghanistan 🇦🇫 The Afghanistan Journalists Center said "this restrictive measure has led to the closure of the provincial branch of the national TV station & has hindered visual content production across local media outlets."
AFJC condemns ban on publication of images of living beings and video interviews in Kapisa province - IFEX
Similar prohibitions are enforced in 24 of the country's 34 provinces.
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February 9, 2026 at 8:01 AM
#Afghanistan 🇦🇫 The Afghanistan Journalists Center said "this restrictive measure has led to the closure of the provincial branch of the national TV station & has hindered visual content production across local media outlets."
#Americas 🌎 Representatives from IPYS, Ipysvenezuela, and FUNDAMEDIOS will join members of Voces del Sur in Miami on Feb 18 to analyze the current state of journalism in the region. (In Spanish)
Voces del Sur presentará en Miami patrones de agresión contra la prensa en América Latina - Voces del Sur
Representantes de organizaciones que conforman la Red Voces del Sur se reunirán el miércoles 18 de febrero en Miami para analizar el contexto actual del periodismo en la región
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February 8, 2026 at 10:00 PM
#Americas 🌎 Representatives from IPYS, Ipysvenezuela, and FUNDAMEDIOS will join members of Voces del Sur in Miami on Feb 18 to analyze the current state of journalism in the region. (In Spanish)
#Lebanon 🇱🇧 Maharat Foundation warns that ridicule, smear campaigns, and security insinuations against MPs Halima Kaakour and Nada Bustani amount to violence against women in politics, not legitimate criticism, and erode democratic debate. (In Arabic) buff.ly/Ut9i9lf
Violence against women in politics: an exclusionary discourse that goes beyond freedom of criticism
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February 8, 2026 at 7:01 PM
#Lebanon 🇱🇧 Maharat Foundation warns that ridicule, smear campaigns, and security insinuations against MPs Halima Kaakour and Nada Bustani amount to violence against women in politics, not legitimate criticism, and erode democratic debate. (In Arabic) buff.ly/Ut9i9lf
#Africa 🌍 @globalfreemedia.bsky.social flags a chilling pattern - exposing how state forces are behind nearly 80% of media violations in 26 countries in just 3 months.
Africa Media Monitoring October to December 2025: Election-related media freedom violations in Tanzania, Uganda – ipi.media
IPI’s Africa monitoring programme documented at least 89 incidents of threats to press freedom across 26 countries in sub-Saharan Africa between October and December 2025. These threats included the…
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February 8, 2026 at 4:02 PM
#Africa 🌍 @globalfreemedia.bsky.social flags a chilling pattern - exposing how state forces are behind nearly 80% of media violations in 26 countries in just 3 months.
This week in #FreeExpression updates:
🔹 #Afghanistan: bans shut down visual reporting in Kapisa
🔹 #Lebanon: how women shaped wartime narratives despite censorship
🔹 #Global: #COP30 leaves children’s rights largely unmet
📬 Read more #IFEXThisWeek: buff.ly/PNZKtDr
🔹 #Afghanistan: bans shut down visual reporting in Kapisa
🔹 #Lebanon: how women shaped wartime narratives despite censorship
🔹 #Global: #COP30 leaves children’s rights largely unmet
📬 Read more #IFEXThisWeek: buff.ly/PNZKtDr
February 8, 2026 at 2:01 PM
This week in #FreeExpression updates:
🔹 #Afghanistan: bans shut down visual reporting in Kapisa
🔹 #Lebanon: how women shaped wartime narratives despite censorship
🔹 #Global: #COP30 leaves children’s rights largely unmet
📬 Read more #IFEXThisWeek: buff.ly/PNZKtDr
🔹 #Afghanistan: bans shut down visual reporting in Kapisa
🔹 #Lebanon: how women shaped wartime narratives despite censorship
🔹 #Global: #COP30 leaves children’s rights largely unmet
📬 Read more #IFEXThisWeek: buff.ly/PNZKtDr
#Hungary 🇭🇺 Declining press freedom, poor anti-corruption policies and a worsening environment for civil society are among the key issues raised by HCLU and others in their contribution to the EC Rule of Law Report 2026. Follow the link for the details. buff.ly/H6Np9eJ
February 8, 2026 at 12:01 PM
#Hungary 🇭🇺 Declining press freedom, poor anti-corruption policies and a worsening environment for civil society are among the key issues raised by HCLU and others in their contribution to the EC Rule of Law Report 2026. Follow the link for the details. buff.ly/H6Np9eJ
#India 🇮🇳 @sflcin.bsky.social unpacks the case facts and legal arguments, and tackles the implications of a court case involving the blocking of Proton Mail, a Switzerland-based end-to-end encrypted email service.
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February 8, 2026 at 8:00 AM
#India 🇮🇳 @sflcin.bsky.social unpacks the case facts and legal arguments, and tackles the implications of a court case involving the blocking of Proton Mail, a Switzerland-based end-to-end encrypted email service.
buff.ly/1Y7iYL7
buff.ly/1Y7iYL7
#Colombia 🇨🇴 Fundación Karisma warns that the decree regulating Law 2489 of 2025 risks undermining fundamental rights while claiming to protect children and adolescents, raising concerns about overreach and impacts on freedom of expression (In Spanish)
Proteger a niños, niñas y adolescentes sin sacrificar derechos: lo que preocupa del decreto que reglamenta la Ley 2489 de 2025
Como ha ocurrido con otras iniciativas similares, el riesgo es que, en nombre de la protección, se habiliten mecanismos de censura, vigilancia y recolección excesiva de datos que afectan la liberta…
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February 7, 2026 at 10:00 PM
#Colombia 🇨🇴 Fundación Karisma warns that the decree regulating Law 2489 of 2025 risks undermining fundamental rights while claiming to protect children and adolescents, raising concerns about overreach and impacts on freedom of expression (In Spanish)
#Bahrain 🇧🇭 ADHRB says opposition leader Ebrahim Sharif’s six-month sentence for criticizing Arab states’ stance on #Palestine reflects a wider Gulf crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech as Bahrain & the #UAE deepen ties with #Israel.
Palestine, Normalisation and the Gulf’s Crackdown on Dissent
The sentencing of Bahraini opposition figure Ebrahim Sharif has once again drawn attention to the tightening restrictions on political expression across the Gulf. Sharif had been arrested in November…
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February 7, 2026 at 7:01 PM
#Bahrain 🇧🇭 ADHRB says opposition leader Ebrahim Sharif’s six-month sentence for criticizing Arab states’ stance on #Palestine reflects a wider Gulf crackdown on pro-Palestinian speech as Bahrain & the #UAE deepen ties with #Israel.
#Kenya 🇰🇪 CIPESA warns the digital trade boom is widening Africa’s digital divide, with weak infrastructure and poor data & AI governance locking most countries out.
Why Data and AI Governance Are Central to Africa’s Digital Trade Ambitions – Collaboration on International ICT Policy for East and Southern Africa (CIPESA)
By CIPESA Writer | Digital technologies are changing how African businesses trade and connect across borders. However, digital trade on the continent remains hugely constrained, including by…
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February 7, 2026 at 4:02 PM
#Kenya 🇰🇪 CIPESA warns the digital trade boom is widening Africa’s digital divide, with weak infrastructure and poor data & AI governance locking most countries out.
This week in #FreeExpression news:
🔹 #US: reporters face growing risks covering ICE operations
🔹 #Russia: Odesa journalist placed on international wanted list
🔹 #MENA: Gulf states criminalise pro-Palestine speech
📬 Read more #IFEXThisWeek: buff.ly/PNZKtDr
🔹 #US: reporters face growing risks covering ICE operations
🔹 #Russia: Odesa journalist placed on international wanted list
🔹 #MENA: Gulf states criminalise pro-Palestine speech
📬 Read more #IFEXThisWeek: buff.ly/PNZKtDr
February 7, 2026 at 2:01 PM
This week in #FreeExpression news:
🔹 #US: reporters face growing risks covering ICE operations
🔹 #Russia: Odesa journalist placed on international wanted list
🔹 #MENA: Gulf states criminalise pro-Palestine speech
📬 Read more #IFEXThisWeek: buff.ly/PNZKtDr
🔹 #US: reporters face growing risks covering ICE operations
🔹 #Russia: Odesa journalist placed on international wanted list
🔹 #MENA: Gulf states criminalise pro-Palestine speech
📬 Read more #IFEXThisWeek: buff.ly/PNZKtDr
#Global 🌐 "As crises multiply worldwide, this aid work is vital in guaranteeing the public’s right to independent, reliable news" - @rsf.org provided 750 journalists from 76 countries with aid last year: check out the details in this recent report.
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February 7, 2026 at 12:01 PM
#Global 🌐 "As crises multiply worldwide, this aid work is vital in guaranteeing the public’s right to independent, reliable news" - @rsf.org provided 750 journalists from 76 countries with aid last year: check out the details in this recent report.
buff.ly/wQ0xgVK
buff.ly/wQ0xgVK
#Pakistan 🇵🇰 Over an 18-month investigation, researchers uncovered new video and photographic evidence that allowed them to reconstruct journalist Shan Dahar’s final movements on the night of his murder in January 2014. @freepressunlimited.bsky.social
Despite promises, Pakistan fails to deliver justice for murdered journalists
On 1 January 2014, journalist Shan Dahar was shot in front of a local health clinic, where he was filming and taking photographs. His murder was never solved, emphasizing the problem of impunity for…
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February 7, 2026 at 8:00 AM
#Pakistan 🇵🇰 Over an 18-month investigation, researchers uncovered new video and photographic evidence that allowed them to reconstruct journalist Shan Dahar’s final movements on the night of his murder in January 2014. @freepressunlimited.bsky.social
#Ecuador 🇪🇨 FUNDAMEDIOS reports the dismissal of the habeas data lawsuit filed by Pedro Bejarano for publishing an alert on attacks against freedom of expression attributed to him. (In Spanish)
Jueza rechaza hábeas data contra Fundamedios por alerta sobre procesos judiciales
Jueza declaró improcedente el hábeas data contra Fundamedios y confirmó que su alerta se basó en expedientes judiciales e información de interés público.
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February 6, 2026 at 10:00 PM
#Ecuador 🇪🇨 FUNDAMEDIOS reports the dismissal of the habeas data lawsuit filed by Pedro Bejarano for publishing an alert on attacks against freedom of expression attributed to him. (In Spanish)
#Egypt 🇪🇬 CIHRS and rights groups demand a transparent probe after a pro-government journalist claimed he has information that forcibly disappeared former MP Mostafa El-Naggar was killed, saying this must be handled by courts, not media.
Egypt: Investigate Journalist’s Claims about ‘Murder’ of Disappeared Former MP Mostafa El-Naggar
The undersigned human rights organizations demand an urgent and transparent investigation into the complaint submitted by the Egyptian Commission for Rights and Freedoms to the Aswan Public…
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February 6, 2026 at 8:01 PM
#Egypt 🇪🇬 CIHRS and rights groups demand a transparent probe after a pro-government journalist claimed he has information that forcibly disappeared former MP Mostafa El-Naggar was killed, saying this must be handled by courts, not media.
#Chad 🇹🇩 @globalfreemedia.bsky.social condemns the arrest and threats against journalist Dikoua Innocent, warning that harassing reporters over natural resource governance chills public scrutiny.
Chad: Journalist arrested, threatened over post on management of country’s oil resources – ipi.media
IPI strongly condemns the arrest of journalist Dikoua Innocent in Chad after he published a story on TikTok criticizing the management of Chad’s oil resources. Innocent was detained on January 24,…
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February 6, 2026 at 6:30 PM
#Chad 🇹🇩 @globalfreemedia.bsky.social condemns the arrest and threats against journalist Dikoua Innocent, warning that harassing reporters over natural resource governance chills public scrutiny.
#Bangladesh 🇧🇩 @article19.bsky.social has expressed concern over the exposure of personal data of at least 14,000 journalists linked to security flaws in the Election Commission's newly introduced online accreditation system.
🔗 buff.ly/Vd2d05v
🔗 buff.ly/Vd2d05v
February 6, 2026 at 5:03 PM
#Bangladesh 🇧🇩 @article19.bsky.social has expressed concern over the exposure of personal data of at least 14,000 journalists linked to security flaws in the Election Commission's newly introduced online accreditation system.
🔗 buff.ly/Vd2d05v
🔗 buff.ly/Vd2d05v
#UnitedStates 🇺🇸 @pressfreedom.bsky.social shares accounts from Minnesota journalists reporting on ICE actions, highlighting the dangers they face, the pressure on local reporting, and the importance of community support to keep informing the public.
Minnesota reporters recount ICE actions, community solidarity: ‘I know it’s going to be dangerous’ - Committee to Protect Journalists
As Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) and Border Patrol operations have intensified in the Minneapolis and Saint Paul areas as part of the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) Operation…
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February 6, 2026 at 3:30 PM
#UnitedStates 🇺🇸 @pressfreedom.bsky.social shares accounts from Minnesota journalists reporting on ICE actions, highlighting the dangers they face, the pressure on local reporting, and the importance of community support to keep informing the public.