Ishrat Fatima’s enduring voice rises above the noise of fake news
October 20, 2025: Fake news falsely claimed Ishrat Fatima’s death, sparking outrage. Colleagues condemn digital misinformation and honor her enduring legacy.
JournalismPakistan.com | Published last year
Join our WhatsApp channel
The Coalition for Women in Journalism (CFWIJ) has strongly condemned the arrest of Georgian journalist Maka Tsitsikashvili, who was detained and charged with petty hooliganism for her role in holding a member of parliament accountable during a protest against the controversial foreign agent bill. This arrest occurred amidst a series of demonstrations in Georgia, where tensions have been high over the proposed legislation.
CFWIJ and other press freedom advocates have demanded the immediate release of Tsitsikashvili and the dropping of all charges against her. The coalition highlighted that this arrest is a blatant violation of press freedom and called for urgent investigations and protections for journalists in Georgia.
The foreign agent bill in question has sparked significant controversy in Georgia. The legislation requires non-governmental organizations and media outlets receiving more than 20 percent of their funding from abroad to register as foreign agents. Critics argue that this bill mimics similar laws in Russia and is intended to stifle dissent and limit the operations of independent media and civil society groups.
This incident with Tsitsikashvili is not isolated. Over the past few years, there have been multiple instances of journalists facing harassment, threats, and violence in Georgia. The arrest of Tsitsikashvili, along with the recent violence against protesters and journalists, underscores a troubling trend towards the erosion of press freedom in the country.
The Coalition for Women in Journalism has called on the Georgian authorities to respect their international commitments to press freedom and to ensure the safety and protection of journalists. They urge the government to drop all charges against Tsitsikashvili and to take concrete steps to safeguard media freedom in Georgia.
October 20, 2025: Fake news falsely claimed Ishrat Fatima’s death, sparking outrage. Colleagues condemn digital misinformation and honor her enduring legacy.
September 26, 2025: Broadcast journalist Maleeha Hashmey alleges harassment in Pakistan, citing travel ban, frozen bank accounts, and SIM blocking amid growing concerns over press freedom.
September 18, 2025: Meher Bokhari’s frozen account exposes Pakistan’s deepening media clampdown. Why are journalists facing bans, no-fly lists, and financial blockades?
September 13, 2025: Pakistani journalist Samina Pasha says her bank account was frozen by NCCIA, calling it part of efforts to silence critical media voices.
September 12, 2025: CPJ hails the release of eight Belarusian journalists as the U.S. lifts airline sanctions, urging Belarus to free all reporters jailed for their work.
August 19, 2025: The Senate Standing Committee on Interior has sought a report from the Ministry of Interior on the cybercrime case filed under the controversial PECA Act against women journalists, including Nayyar Ali, Sehrish Qureshi, Myra Imran, and Shakeela Jalil.
August 19, 2025: Four senior women journalists in Pakistan face false cases under the controversial PECA law, sparking outrage from PFUJ. The union calls it an attack on press freedom and demands immediate withdrawal of charges.
August 18, 2025: The Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists (PFUJ) has strongly condemned the FIA’s registration of cases against senior women journalists under the PECA law. PFUJ calls the move an attack on press freedom and demands immediate dismissal of the cases.
October 28, 2025 Harvard University opens 2026 Nieman Fellowship applications for journalists worldwide. Apply by December 1, 2025 (international) or January 31, 2026 (U.S.) to join the prestigious program.
October 28, 2025 Sindh Police arrested four suspects linked to a banned outfit in the murder of journalist Imtiaz Mir, who was shot in Karachi in September 2025.
October 27, 2025 IFJ and over 300 global unions urge ASEAN to reject the Myanmar junta’s sham 2025 election, calling it an illegal attempt to legitimize military rule.
October 26, 2025 Riffat Ara Alvi, the mother of slain Pakistani journalist Arshad Sharif, has died, ending her relentless fight for justice following his killing in Kenya in 2022.
October 26, 2025 A veteran journalist reflects on the decline of newspapers, the rise of digital news, and how technology forever changed the rhythm and rituals of journalism.