Middle East Journalism & Media

 Published 4 months ago:  Rising military activity near the Strait of Hormuz is disrupting Middle East newsrooms, restricting access and increasing verification and misinformation risks.

 Published 4 months ago:  UAE authorities arrested 35 people for sharing AI-generated and manipulated videos that purported to show missile strikes, saying the content risked public panic and violated cybercrime laws.

 Published 4 months ago:  UAE charged about 20 people, including a British tourist, under cybercrime laws for filming and circulating videos of Iranian missile strikes.

 Published 4 months ago:  Two reporters, Eva Michelmann and Ahmed Polad, disappeared in Raqqa on Jan. 18 while reporting; CPJ urges authorities to disclose their whereabouts.

 Published 4 months ago:  Palestinian journalist Amal Shamaly was killed in an Israeli strike on tents sheltering displaced people in central Gaza on March 9, press freedom groups reported.

 Published 4 months ago:  An Indian reporter says Israeli authorities restricted media movement and reporting, limiting filming, hospital access and casualty data amid Iran-Israel fighting.

 Published 4 months ago:  Israeli airstrikes on March 2 struck multiple media offices in Lebanon, damaging Al-Manar, Al-Nour and Sawt Al-Farah facilities and endangering journalists.

 Published 4 months ago:  Iran's near-total internet blackout has created an information crisis, hindering journalists' ability to report and verify news as strikes and arrests escalate.

 Published 4 months ago:  Israel detained and released two CNN Türk journalists during a live Tel Aviv broadcast on March 3, drawing criticism and raising press freedom concerns.

 Published 4 months ago:  Bahrain, Kuwait and Qatar warned that sharing live footage of missile strikes or military ops on social media may breach cybercrime and state security laws.

 Published 4 months ago:  Syrian journalist Alaa Mohammed was found dead in Lattakia on Feb. 21; authorities say the investigation is ongoing with no confirmed suspect or motive.

 Published 4 months ago:  Israeli authorities banned five Palestinian digital outlets, including Alasima News and Maydan Al-Quds, alleging incitement linked to coverage in East Jerusalem.

 Published 5 months ago:  Turkish police arrested Deutsche Welle correspondent Alican Uludag over social media posts prosecutors say insulted President Erdogan and spread false claims.

 Published 5 months ago:  Israeli journalists warn the sale of 15% of Channel 13 to Patrick Drahi could erode editorial independence and weaken independent media ahead of elections.

 Published 5 months ago:  Iranian authorities intensified a crackdown on media, raiding homes, seizing equipment, blocking accounts and SIMs, and targeting journalists covering protests.

 Published 5 months ago:  Iran's judiciary sentenced Nobel laureate Narges Mohammadi to an additional seven-and-a-half years in prison, plus a two-year travel ban and internal exile after her sentence.

 Published 5 months ago:  BBC Persian journalists say Iran monitored exiled staff and threatened relatives to deter diaspora reporting, prompting concerns over cross-border repression.

 Published 5 months ago:  Saudi Media Forum in Riyadh gathered 300+ media leaders to discuss AI, digital transformation and ethics, and launched initiatives to boost media innovation.

 Published 5 months ago:  Armed individuals attacked the Aden Al Ghad newsroom in Yemen, injuring reporters, looting equipment, and halting operations; CPJ called for a transparent probe.

 Published 5 months ago:  Saudi Media Forum 2026 opened in Riyadh with 12 flagship initiatives and over 150 sessions on media innovation, AI ethics, startups and industry partnerships.

 Published 5 months ago:  The UAE Media Council now requires anyone posting promotional content online targeting UAE audiences to hold an Advertiser Permit; violations may incur fines.

 Published 5 months ago:  Israel's Supreme Court heard a challenge to the government's ban on journalists entering Gaza without military escort, arguing it unlawfully limits press freedom.

 Published 5 months ago:  Israel extended its ban on Al Jazeera for 90 days, prohibiting broadcasts, offices and online services, citing national security amid criticism over press freedom.

 Published 5 months ago:  Iran has ordered domestic media to report only official death tolls for protests and security incidents, barring independent casualty counts.

 Published 5 months ago:  AFP urges a transparent investigation after freelance photojournalist Abdel Raouf Shaat was killed in Gaza. Press freedom groups warn of rising dangers for journalists in the conflict zone.

 Published 5 months ago:  CPJ and RSF urge the Media Freedom Coalition to press Israel to lift Gaza entry limits on foreign journalists to safeguard independent reporting.

 Published 5 months ago:  BIA's 2025 report says Turkish authorities arrested at least 29 journalists and used courts, police and regulators to suppress critical reporting and media.

 Published 6 months ago:  Three Palestinian journalists were killed in a Gaza strike while documenting aid operations near a displacement camp, raising concerns about press safety.