Press freedom advocates urge Middle East action ahead of Human Rights Day

 JournalismPakistan.com |  Published 1 hour ago |  JP Middle East Desk

Ahead of International Human Rights Day, press-freedom organizations urged Middle East governments to release detained journalists, highlighting ongoing repression and calling for renewed protections for media workers.

Summary

CAIRO — Ahead of International Human Rights Day on December 10, 2025, leading press-freedom organizations have stepped up appeals to governments in the Middle East and wider Asia to release journalists detained for their reporting and uphold media rights. One prominent group issuing public calls is the independent watchdog the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ), which in recent days renewed pressure on authorities across the region to drop charges and allow reporters to work freely.

Press freedom groups highlight that many media workers remain behind bars, often prosecuted on vague or politically motivated charges. In a letter ahead of the observance of Human Rights Day, CPJ urged governments to permit detained journalists to return home and continue their work without fear of reprisal.

Rising global solidarity campaigns

These renewed appeals accompany global solidarity actions recently led by CPJ. At the 2025 Global Investigative Journalism Conference (GIJC25) in Kuala Lumpur, attended by more than 1,500 media professionals, participants reaffirmed their commitment to defend press freedom worldwide and called for the immediate release of imprisoned reporters. The conference action underlines growing international concern over media repression and rising pressure on governments that detain journalists. 

Expanding concerns over legal frameworks

In regions across the Middle East, legal frameworks and enforcement practices remain a point of concern. Although the December 8–9 appeals did not always specify every country, the message is clear: detaining or prosecuting journalists for their work undermines the public’s right to know and violates international commitments to freedom of expression. Governments are being asked to respect due process, end cases targeting reporters, and remove barriers to independent journalism.

The push for action ahead of Human Rights Day carries practical and symbolic weight. For journalists and media organizations, it emphasises the need to document legal harassment, demand transparent due process, and coordinate with international watchdogs. For governments and policymakers, it renews scrutiny over media-related abuses and reinforces commitments under human rights treaties.

KEY POINTS:

• Press-freedom organizations appeal to Middle East and Asian governments urging the release of jailed journalists
• CPJ is leading calls and demanding that the authorities allow reporters to continue their work without fear of reprisal
• The appeals follow a solidarity action at GIJC25 where more than 1,500 journalists joined to demand freedom for imprisoned media workers
• The campaign highlights widespread media repression and the use of arbitrary or politically motivated detentions across the region
• The effort seeks to uphold freedom of expression, protect journalists’ safety, and ensure access to independent reporting for the public

ATTRIBUTION: Based on official statements by CPJ and coverage of GIJC25 solidarity actions

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