Since the Iran war began in February, CPJ has documented a sweeping crackdown on the press across the Gulf, tracking unpublicized cases of arrests, intimidation, and legal and financial actions against journalists and their media outlets. Read CPJ's latest report on the Gulf. cpj.org/2026/05/press-crackd…

⚽️ As Tunisia kicks off its first World Cup match, CPJ calls on Tunisian authorities to immediately release former football journalist Mourad Zghidi. On June 4, Zghidi began a hunger strike in protest of his unjust conviction and the continued judicial harassment he has faced for his work. Read more ⤵️ cpj.org/data/people/mourad-z…

Ahead of #Tunisia's first match in the 2026 FIFA World Cup, CPJ spoke with the daughter of imprisoned Tunisian sports journalist Mourad Zghidi. We call on Tunisian authorities to immediately release Mourad Zghidi and all imprisoned journalists across the country. Watch the video⤵️ #FreeMourad

Israeli authorities’ denial of entry to French journalist Alice Froussard, who has reported on the West Bank for years, is just the latest indication of a growing pattern of restrictions on foreign journalists covering Israel and the occupied Palestinian territories. Preventing a journalist from entering because of her reporting undermines press freedom and the public’s right to independent information. Israeli authorities must reverse this decision and stop obstructing journalists from reporting freely.

أصدرت دائرة الاتهام بمحكمة الاستئناف بتونس بطاقة إيداع بالسجن في حق الصحفي زياد الهاني وذلك في إطار ملف عقاري مرتبط ببلدية قرطاج يعود أصله إلى عقد معاوضة أُبرم سنة 1967، عندما كان يبلغ الهاني من العمر 3 سنوات، بين البلدية وإحدى العائلات في إطار مشروع لإعادة إسكان متساكنين تم ترحيلهم من منطقة المعلقة. ويأتي القرار قبل يومين فقط من جلسة النظر في استئناف الحكم الابتدائي القاضي بسجنه سنة نافذة في قضية أخرى تتعلق بتصريحات إعلامية حول حرية الصحافة واستقلال القضاء. وتفيد المعطيات بأن الملف يعود إلى فترة لم يكن فيها الصحفي زياد الهاني قد تجاوز الثالثة من عمره، حيث تمت التسوية الإدارية والقانونية الأساسية للعقار قبل سنوات طويلة من توليه أي مسؤولية داخل بلدية قرطاج، وأن المعطيات الرسمية المتاحة لا تحدد بدقة أي قرار شخصي يُنسب إليه في هذا الملف. كما أثار القرار موجة من الانتقادات، خاصة في ظل تعدد التتبعات القضائية التي يواجهها الهاني خلال السنوات الأخيرة على خلفية نشاطه الصحفي ومواقفه الناقدة لقيس سعيد، وسط دعوات لاحترام قرينة البراءة وضمانات المحاكمة العادلة وعدم توظيف القضاء للتضييق على حرية التعبير والعمل الصحفي. #Tunisia #Tunisie #تونس

#Kuwait: CPJ welcomes @UN_SPExperts expressing serious concern about the arbitrary arrest, detention, and prosecution in Kuwait of journalist @aseisfree in apparent retaliation for his legitimate work as a journalist. We urge Kuwaiti authorities to heed their call. ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…

#Kuwait: UN experts concerned about arbitrary arrest, detention & prosecution of Ahmed Shihab-Eldin, in apparent retaliation for his work as a journalist. “States must ensure that journalists can work without fear of arrest, harassment or reprisals.” ohchr.org/en/press-releases/…

CPJ welcomes the conviction of two Romanian men found guilty of wounding journalist Pouria Zeraati in London in 2024 in a carefully planned attack that prosecutors said was linked to the Iranian state. cpj.org/2026/06/cpj-welcomes…

Iranian-American journalist Reza Valizadeh has been jailed by Iran for his work since September 2024. He is serving 10 years in prison and has reported physical and psychological abuse as well as being denied critical medical care inside Tehran’s Evin Prison. The U.S. government must intensify diplomatic efforts to secure Valizadeh’s release, who has been designated as wrongfully detained by the U.S. State Department. The U.S. must also press Iran for transparency and accountability regarding Valizadeh’s reports of mistreatment and his need to access urgent medical care. cpj.org/2026/06/cpj-alarmed-… @kwelkernbc @freerezav #FreeReza

#Egypt: CPJ joined other organizations, expressing concern over Egypt’s failure to show meaningful progress on human rights, democracy, or the rule of law, despite the European Union presenting such progress as a key condition of the €5 billion macro-financial assistance (MFA) package provided to the North African country. cpj.org/2026/06/cpj-partners…

#Morocco: "Preventing journalist Maati Monjib from traveling to France to speak at a conference is yet another example of the Moroccan authorities’ relentless targeting of one of the country’s most prominent independent journalists. After more than a decade of surveillance, prosecutions, asset freezes, and travel restrictions, this latest arbitrary ban underscores the authorities’ intolerance of critical voices. Moroccan authorities must immediately restore Monjib’s freedom of movement and end their harassment of independent academics, journalists, and human rights defenders.” Sara Qudah.

#Libya: @pressfreedom is investigating reports that, on June 4, protesters outside the UNHCR office in Tripoli forcibly removed an Al Jazeera correspondent from the protest because of objections to the channel’s coverage. Journalists must be able to report freely and safely from public events, regardless of editorial disagreements. CPJ condemns this incident and calls on all parties to respect press freedom and the public’s right to information.